Attorney Registration

 Changes to Licensing Status

Active to Inactive

Attorneys seeking to change a status from active to inactive are required to submit a change of status request on the Rhode Island Supreme Court Attorney Portal (RISCAP).​

Any attorney who discontinues the practice of law in Rhode Island may elect to change the attorney’s status to inactive. Inactive attorneys shall pay an annual registration fee of $50.00. Inactive attorneys will no longer be eligible to practice law in Rhode Island but shall continue to register annually with the Court for as long as the attorney remains inactive.​

Inactive attorneys who are seventy (70) years of age or older are exempt from the annual attorney registration requirement but must notify the Clerk of the Supreme Court within thirty (30) days of any change to the attorney’s registr​ation information.​

​Inactive to Active​

Attorneys seeking reinstatement to active status after maintaining inactive status for a period of less than six (6) monthsmust file an Application for Reinstatement and pay a fee required by Article IV, Rule 1(e) of the Supreme Court Rules for Periodic Registration of Attorneys. Applications for Reinstatement filed with the Court for attorneys who have maintained inactive status for a period less than six (6) months will automatically return to active status.

Attorneys seeking reinstatement after maintaining inactive status for a period of six (6) months or more must file an Application for Reinstatement and pay the applicable fee required by Article IV, Rule 1(e).  Attorneys are required to submit a notarized affidavit with the application. Applications for Reinstatement filed with the Court for attorneys who have maintained inactive status for a period more than six (6) months will be presented to the Court for consideration.

Attorneys seeking reinstatement to active from inactive are required to submit an Application for Reinstatement on RISCAP.​

Removal From the Master Roll of Attorneys

Attorneys are subject to removal for the following reasons:
  • Failure to submit annual attorney registration with the Supreme Court;
  • Failure to comply with Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) requirements; and
  • Suspension for nonpayment of Rhode Island Bar Association dues.
Attorneys seeking reinstatement after having been removed for any of the above reasons must file an Application for Reinstatement and pay the applicable fee on RISCAP.
Attorneys seeking reinstatement to the Master Roll of Attorneys after having been removed for a period of less than six (6) months, who meet the requirements for reinstatement, will ​automatically return to good standing with the Supreme Court.
Attorneys seeking reinstatement to the Master Roll of Attorneys after having been removed for a period in excess of six (6) months will be presented to the Court for consideration.
An attorney in the practice of law in another jurisdiction and who is removed from the Master Roll for a period in excess of six (6) months shall first provide to the Supreme Court a Certificate of Good Standing and Letter of Grievance from the appropriate disciplinary tribunal of the jurisdiction in which the attorney has been practicing law indicating that the attorney is a member in good standing of the bar in such jurisdiction and no disciplinary action is pending against the attorney.​

Resigning From the Rhode Island Bar

Attorneys seeking to resign membership from the Rhode Island Bar shall file a motion to resign on RIS​CAP.  The motion to resign option is located under Filing Options of the RISCAP dashboard.  The motion will be submitted to the Court for consideration.
All attorneys who have formally discontinued the practice of law in this jurisdiction shall, for a period of five (5) years following the acceptance of the resignation, file the statements of registration presently required under Article IV, Rule 1 of the Supreme Court Rules for Periodic Registration of Attorneys.

Attorneys Seeking Reinstatement Following Resignation, Suspension, or Disbarment

If a resigned, suspended, or disbarred attorney desires reinstatement, the attorney may not resume practice until reinstated by order of the Supreme Court as provided in Article III, Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules for Disciplinary Procedure for Attorneys. Petitions for reinstatement by resigned members shall be filed with the Supreme Court as required by Article I of the Supreme Court Rules for Appellate Procedure. Petitions for reinstatement shall include the following:
  • A five-hundred-dollar ($500) filing fee payable to the Rhode Island Supreme Court;
  • Successful completion of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within thirty (30) days prior to filing the petition for reinstatement; and
  • A reinstatement questionnaire provided by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.​​​​​

 Changes to Licensing Status Fees

​​​
​​Reinstatement Type
​Fees
​Inactive to active
​$200.00
Removal from active within six (6) months
​$325.00
Removal from inactive within six (6) months
​$175.00
Removal for failure to register, MCLE noncompliance, or suspension for non-payment of Bar Association dues from six (6) months to three (3) years​​ ​$375.00
Removal for failure to register,  MCLE noncompliance, or suspension for non-payment of Bar Association dues more than three (3) years 
​$525.00
Suspended, disbarred, and resigned attorneys
​$500.00​​