Pro Hac Vice

Term from Legal Consultancy industry explained for recruiters

Pro Hac Vice is a legal term that means allowing a lawyer to practice temporarily in a state where they aren't permanently licensed. Think of it like getting a temporary visitor's pass to practice law in another state. Lawyers need this when they want to represent a client in a different state's court. For example, if a New York lawyer has a client whose case is in California, they would need Pro Hac Vice permission to appear in California courts. It's common in big cases where clients want to keep working with their trusted lawyer even across state lines.

Examples in Resumes

Obtained Pro Hac Vice admission in 12 different state courts for complex litigation cases

Assisted senior partners with Pro Hac Vice applications in multiple jurisdictions

Successfully managed Pro Hac Vice proceedings for international client representations

Typical job title: "Legal Administrative Assistants"

Also try searching for:

Legal Assistant Paralegal Legal Secretary Litigation Support Specialist Court Filing Specialist Legal Administrative Coordinator

Where to Find Legal Administrative Assistants

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you handle multiple Pro Hac Vice applications across different states with tight deadlines?

Expected Answer: A senior candidate should discuss organizing requirements by state, maintaining a tracking system, coordinating with local counsel, and having a process for gathering attorney credentials and court-specific documents.

Q: What steps do you take to ensure Pro Hac Vice applications are completed correctly?

Expected Answer: Should mention checking state-specific requirements, verifying attorney credentials, confirming good standing certificates are current, coordinating with local counsel, and maintaining a checklist system.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What documents are typically needed for a Pro Hac Vice application?

Expected Answer: Should list certificate of good standing, attorney's bar numbers, local counsel information, case details, and any state-specific forms or fees required.

Q: How do you stay current with different states' Pro Hac Vice requirements?

Expected Answer: Should mention checking court websites regularly, maintaining relationships with local counsel, and using legal research resources to track requirement changes.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is Pro Hac Vice admission?

Expected Answer: Should explain that it's temporary permission for an out-of-state attorney to practice in another state for a specific case.

Q: What's the first step in processing a Pro Hac Vice application?

Expected Answer: Should mention identifying the specific court's requirements and gathering basic attorney information like bar numbers and certificates of good standing.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic court filing procedures
  • Document organization
  • Communication with attorneys
  • Basic understanding of legal terminology

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Managing multiple state filings
  • Coordinating with local counsel
  • Tracking application deadlines
  • Understanding court requirements

Senior (5+ years)

  • Complex multi-state applications
  • Training junior staff
  • Process improvement
  • Relationship management with courts

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No experience with court filings
  • Unfamiliarity with legal terminology
  • Poor attention to detail
  • Lack of deadline management skills