The following information is provided by the Rhode Island Supreme Court and has been revised as of June 18th, 2024.
Question: Which Court Rules govern the registration of attorneys in Rhode Island?
Answer: Article IV, Rule 1 of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules on the Periodic Registration of Attorneys.
Question: How often do attorneys have to register with the Rhode Island Supreme Court?
Answer: All attorneys are required to register with the Rhode Island Supreme Court each year between April 1 and July 1 using the Rhode Island Supreme Court Attorney Portal (RISCAP).
Attorneys are also required to update their registration information in the records of the Supreme Court within thirty (30) days of any change. Attorney registration information must be changed online using the "MANAGE" link on your RISCAP homepage.
Instructions on how to create an account on RISCAP, how to submit your annual attorney registration on RISCAP, and how to update your attorney registration information on RISCAP are available here:
- How to Create an Account on RISCAP
- How to Submit Your Annual Attorney Registration on RISCAP
- How to Update Your Attorney Registration Information on RISCAP
- How to Change Your RISCAP Username
Question: What services are available on RISCAP?
Answer: Attorneys must use RISCAP for the following attorney services:
1. to update their registration information within thirty (30) days of any change;
2. to change their attorney status (active, inactive, etc.);
3. to submit the required annual attorney registration.
4. to request Certificates of Good Standing; and
5. to request to resign from the Rhode Island Bar.
Question: What are the different attorney statuses in Rhode Island?
Answer:
Active - Attorneys who maintain active status may practice law in Rhode Island. Active attorneys must register each year with the Supreme Court.
Inactive - Attorneys who maintain inactive status are on the Master Roll of Attorneys but cannot practice law in Rhode Island. Attorneys who maintain inactive status must still register each year with the Supreme Court.
Removed from the Master Roll of Attorneys - Attorneys may be removed from the Master Roll of Attorneys by the Supreme Court if they fail to timely submit their annual attorney registration or fail to comply with MCLE.
Suspended Bar Dues - The Supreme Court may suspend attorneys who fail to pay mandatory membership dues to the Rhode Island Bar Association.
Disciplinary Statuses - Attorneys who have been suspended or disbarred by the Supreme Court after disciplinary action are placed in the appropriate disciplinary status.
See the “How do I change my attorney status” question below for information on how attorneys can change their attorney status.
Question: What are the annual attorney registration fees?
Answer: Active attorneys are required to pay $200.00 by July 1 of each year. Inactive attorneys are required to pay $50.00 by July 1 of each year. Attorneys who fail to register by the July 1 deadline are assessed a $125.00 late fee and are removed from the Master Roll of Attorneys. Removed attorneys are not in good standing with the Supreme Court and are prohibited from practicing law in Rhode Island.
Question: What do I need to do if I fail to submit my annual attorney registration on time?
Answer: If you have failed to submit your annual attorney registration by the July 1 deadline and you have been removed from the Master Roll of Attorneys you must apply for reinstatement in order to return to good standing. Attorneys removed from the Master Roll of Attorneys must apply for reinstatement. Art. IV, Rule 1(e).
Instructions for how to apply for reinstatement on RISCAP are available here:
Question: Do I have to pay my annual attorney registration fees online using the RISCAP?
Answer: Yes, registering online using RISCAP is mandatory. There are two
(2) exceptions to the mandatory online filing requirement. First, the Court will accept a single registration fee payment manually when the payment is for five (5) or more attorneys. Single payments for five (5) or more attorneys must be accompanied by a completed Annual Attorney Registration Statement Single Payment Form which lists each attorney for whom payment is being submitted and which acknowledges that any changes to the registration information for those attorneys have been submitted online via RISCAP. The Annual Attorney Registration Single Payment form is available under the heading of Public Resources, Forms, Supreme Court on the Rhode Island Judiciary's website (www.courts.ri.gov). Second, attorneys may petition the Court for an exemption of the mandatory online filing requirement in accordance with the existing electronic filing waiver process set forth in Article X, Rule 3(c).
Question: What forms of payment are accepted on the RISCAP when paying annual attorney registration fees?
Answer: Annual attorney registration fees must be paid on RISCAP using a credit card or eCheck.
Please Note: American Express is not an accepted form of payment. Please see below for information regarding the current RISCAP processing fees.
- Credit Card Fee: 3.25% of the transaction amount
- eCheck Fee: 25¢ per transaction
Question: What is an e-Check?
Answer: An e-Check or electronic check is a method of paying by check online by entering your bank account routing number.
Question: How will I know my payment has been received?
Answer: You will receive confirmation by email.
Question: Do I need to register annually with the Rhode Island Supreme Court after assuming inactive status?
Answer: Yes, inactive attorneys must register annually with the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
Question: I have retired from the practice of law, now what?
Answer: If you have retired from the practice of law, you can stay in active status or you can go inactive or resign from the Bar. Inactive attorneys must still register annually with the Supreme Court but pay a reduced registration fee. The only way to be relieved of the annual attorney registration requirement is to resign from the Bar. Attorneys should be mindful that seeking reinstatement to active status after resignation requires filing a petition pursuant to Article III, Rule 16 and passing the MPRE after being resigned for one (1) year or more. Reinstatement to active status from inactive status requires submitting an application for reinstatement pursuant to Article IV, Rule 1(e).
Question: How do I change my attorney status?
Answer: Active to Inactive - Active attorneys can change to inactive status online using RISCAP using the "MANAGE" link on their RISCAP account homepage. Instructions on how to change your attorney registration status from active to inactive on RISCAP are available here:
Inactive to Active or Removed to Active or Inactive - Returning to active status or changing to active or inactive status after removal from the Master Roll of Attorneys or suspension for failure to pay bar dues requires filing an application for reinstatement on RISCAP.
Instructions for how to apply for reinstatement on RISCAP are available here:
Question: Can I get my attorney registration fees waived?
Answer: Rhode Island attorneys who are unable to comply with the attorney registration requirements "due to illness, financial or personal difficulties, may petition the court, with proper documentation, for an exemption." Sup.Ct. Rules Art. IV, Rule 1(e)(4). Accordingly, attorneys seeking to be exempt from any of the attorney registration requirements, including late fees, must obtain an exemption from the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Clerk's Office has no authority to waive attorney registration late fees.
Question: Do I have to notify the Rhode Island Supreme Court of changes to my contact information after I have registered?
Answer: Yes, all Rhode Island attorneys are required to notify the Supreme Court within thirty (30) days of any change to their registration information which includes contact information (telephone numbers and email addresses). Contact information can be changed at any time using the "MANAGE" link on the RISCAP account homepage.
Instructions on how to change your attorney registration status from active to inactive on RISCAP are available here:
Question: Do I have to notify the Rhode Island Supreme Court if my name changes and, if so, what do I need to do?
Answer: Yes, the requirement that you update your attorney registration information within thirty (30) days of any change includes name changes. Attorneys must use RISCAP to change their name in the records of the Supreme Court. To change your name on RISCAP use the “MANAGE” link and the “APPLY TO CHANGE” feature next to your name. You will need to upload a copy of a marriage certificate or court documents verifying the change.
Question: Is there an age exemption from the annual attorney registration requirements?
Answer: Inactive attorneys who are seventy (70) years of age or older are exempt from the annual attorney registration requirement but must notify the Clerk within thirty (30) days of any change to the registration information. If the attorney’s date of birth falls after the July 1 deadline, the attorney is required to submit annual attorney registration and the required fee.
Question: How do I resign from the Rhode Island bar?
Answer: Any attorney who wishes to resign from the Rhode Island Bar must file a Petition to Resign from the Rhode Island Bar on RISCAP. Attorneys should consult Article III, Rule 23 for information about resigning from the Bar and reinstatement after resignation.
Question: Can I get reinstated after resignation?
Answer: Resigned members seeking reinstatement must follow the procedures set forth in Article III, Rule 16. Reinstatement after being resigned for one (1) year or more requires passing the MPRE. The
questionnaire referred to in Rule 16 can be obtained by contacting the Office of Disciplinary Counsel at (401) 823-5710.
Question: How do I obtain a certificate of good standing?
Answer: You must request a certificate of good standing online using RISCAP. Select Request Good Standing Certificate from the Filing Options listed on the right of the RISCAP homepage.
Question: As a Rhode Island attorney, do I have to join the Rhode Island Bar Association?
Answer: Yes. The State of Rhode Island has a unified bar and, therefore, membership with the Rhode Island Bar Association is mandatory for all attorneys licensed to practice law in Rhode Island. As a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association, you must pay annual dues. The Rhode Island Bar Association annual dues are separate and apart from the Rhode Island Supreme Court annual attorney registration fees.
Question: What happens if I failed to pay my Rhode Island Bar Association annual dues?
Answer: The Rhode Island Bar Association may ask the Supreme Court to suspend you for failure to pay bar dues.
Question: Who should I contact with questions about attorney registration?
Answer: Please contact the Rhode Island Supreme Court Clerk's Office at attorneyreginfo@courts.ri.gov for questions about attorney registration. If you need technical assistance with RISCAP, please contact Tyler Technologies at 1-800-297-5377.
Question: Where can I obtain my bar card?
Answer: Please contact the Rhode Island Bar Association at info@ribar.com or by telephone at
(401) 421-5740.
Source: Rhode Island Attorney Registration FAQ (RI Courts website)