Law School Student Practice Certification

Formerly known as the 3L Practice Rule, the Student Practice Certification Rule, governed by the NC State Bar, allows law students the opportunity to gain legal experience through practice during law school. The student certification process is detailed in the Rules Governing the Practical Training of Law Students, 27 NC Admin. Code 1C, Sections .0200 through .0207.

The certification applies to law students in one of the following areas:

1. law school clinics
2. externships (academic credit received) or
3. internships (no academic credit received)

who are working either in a law firm, governmental entity, or organization and will:

1. Provide legal advice or services in matters governed by North Carolina law to eligible persons*, or
2. Provide legal advice or services to government agencies outside the organization, entity, agency, or law firm or,
3. Appear before any North Carolina tribunal or agency on behalf of an eligible person or a government agency. (Rule .0208(a))

*Eligible persons are defined under the rule as persons who are unable financially to pay for legal advice or services as determined by a standard established by a judge of the General Court of Justice, a legal services organization, a government entity, or a clinical legal education program. (Rule .0202(b))

Student practice certifications are processed through the Law School Legal Clinic Office. To streamline the process, all student practice certification requests and internship paperwork requests should be submitted through our one-stop-shop online platform.

The appropriate documents must be completed and uploaded to the online platform. Emailed requests are not accepted. For questions regarding the application, please contact our legal clinic paralegal, Gennell Curry.

Student Practice Certification Internship Paperwork Online Request

Law student certification requires the following three forms: 

1. Law School Certification (completed by law school administration) 
2. Law Student Certification (completed by law student) 
3. Supervising Attorney–Field Placement Certification (completed by supervising attorney) 

To streamline the process, forms #2 and #3 listed above must be completed and emailed directly to the NCCU School of Law Clinical Education department associate dean, Nakia Davis, not the State Bar (as indicated on the documents).

Law student certification requires the following forms: 

1. Law Student Certification (completed by law student) 
2. Supervising Attorney – Field Placement Certification (completed by supervising attorney) 
3. Non-Clinic Student Practice Certification Memorandum of Understanding (completed by both law student and supervising attorney(s) when internships are for non-clinic placement.

Each state bar sets rules to govern the process of certifying law students to gain practical experience in the practice of law. The rule provided above details the North Carolina State Bar process.

If you are seeking student practice certification in a state other than North Carolina, please visit the specific state bar website or contact the state bar directly to determine the process for certification. Please note that it is the responsibility of the law student and designated supervising attorney to ensure compliance with the state bar’s student practice certification rule(s).

When seeking law school approval for a state other than North Carolina, the law student will be asked to provide documentation of the state bar practice rule for that jurisdiction.

A state bar list along with website information has been provided for your convenience.  

State Bar List

• While the NCCU School of Law does not provide final approval of certification requests, the State Bar has asked us to assist in the process.
• Both supervising attorneys and students are expected to have read the NC State Bar’s Rules Governing Practical Training of Law Students to ensure full compliance with the State Bar.
• All certification forms are available for download at NC Bar Forms.
• If you have questions about the NCCU Law student certification process, please contact director Lakethia Jefferies.
• If you have questions about the rules or specifics of the certification process, please contact the North Carolina State Bar directly at 919-828-4620 or [email protected].  

• Student Certification 
• Revised Rules Governing Practical Training of Law Students
• Law School Certification 
• Field Placement Site Supervisor Certification 
• Clinic Supervising Attorney Certification