Renew my Membership

Good Standing - A member who does not have any other status listed below.

Resigned - A member whose resignation has been accepted by the Supreme Court under Rule 409, SCACR. Members in this status do not pay license fees.

Not in Good Standing - A member is not in good standing if:

• • The member is administratively suspended under Rule 419, SCACR.
  • The member's membership is administratively terminated under Rule 419, SCACR.
  • The member is suspended under Rule 413, SCACR. This includes interim suspensions.
  • The member is on incapacity inactive status under Rule 413, SCACR. This includes interim suspensions based on incapacity.
  • The member is disbarred under Rule 413, SCACR.
  • The member's admission has been vacated under Rule 402(h) or (i)(8), SCACR.

Good Standing - A limited member who does not have one of the statuses listed below.

Resigned - A limited member whose resignation has been accepted by the Supreme Court under Rule 409, SCACR.

Certificate Not Currently Valid - A limited member who is on interim suspension under Rule 413, SCACR, including an interim suspension for incapacity, or whose certificate is terminated for any of the reasons stated in Rules 405, 414 or 415, as applicable.

Any member who does not fall within any other class of membership.

Any regular member who has elected to become an inactive member.

Except as provided in section (q) of Rule 410, an inactive member may not engage in the practice of law in South Carolina. 

If an inactive member has engaged in the practice of a law in this or any other jurisdiction within the last twelve months, the inactive member may become a regular member by paying the fee specified in section (o) of Rule 410 if that member is current on mandatory continuing legal education requirements in that jurisdiction.

Otherwise, the inactive member may only become a regular member by paying the fee specified in section (o) of Rule 410 and providing proof that the inactive attorney has completed the continuing legal education requirements of a regular member under Rule 408, SCACR, within the last twelve months.

This class shall include any member who:

(i) Is a full-time judge for a South Carolina court (including a judge who continues to hold office while receiving benefits under S.C. Code Ann. § 9-8-60(7)).

(ii) Was a member under (i) in Rule 410, but has retired as a judge under a state or local retirement system, and has not engaged in the practice of law since retirement or elected to practice law under S.C. Code Ann. § 9-8-120.

(iii) Is a judge of a federal court (including those in senior status).

For the purpose of this rule, the term judge shall include a judge, justice, master-in-equity or magistrate.

Any member who is a law clerk, staff attorney or other attorney employed full-time by:

(i) the South Carolina Judicial Department, or any court or judge within the South Carolina unified judicial system.

(ii) the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit or the Supreme Court of the United States. This shall not include attorneys in a federal public defender organization.

Any member who is serving on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States for six months or more, including members of the National Guard and other reserve components, and elects to become a military member. Military members may not engage in the practice of law in South Carolina outside of their duties in the Armed Forces of the United States.

This class shall include any member who is a judge on the South Carolina Administrative Law Court, is a federal administrative law judge or is a South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commissioner.

Any member who has elected to retire due to age, serious illness, or total and permanent disability.

To be eligible for retired membership by reason of age, a member shall have attained age sixty-five or more; provided, however, that a member may elect to retire at the start of the license year in which the member will turn sixty-five years of age.

Except as provided in section (q) of Rule 410, a retired member may not engage in the practice of law in South Carolina. After being in this status for more than two years, the member may not become a regular member without completing fourteen hours of continuing legal education, including two hours on legal ethics and professional responsibility.

Any person who holds a limited certificate of admission to practice law in South Carolina. A person may hold only one limited certificate. Limited Members shall be further divided into the following subclasses:

(A) Limited Member - Rule 405 (Limited Certificate of Admission for In-House Counsel). Any person who holds a limited certificate under Rule 405, SCACR.

(B) Limited Member - Rule 414 (Limited Certificate of Admission for Clinical Law Program Teachers). Any person who holds a limited certificate under Rule 414, SCACR.

(C) Limited Member - Rule 415 (Limited Certificate of Admission for Retired and Inactive Attorney Pro Bono Participation Program). Any person who holds a limited certificate under Rule 415, SCACR.

(D)  Limited Member - Rule 427 (Limited Certificate of Admission for Judge Advocates). Any person who holds a limited certificate under Rule 427, SCACR.

(E) Military Spouse Attorney Member - Rule 430 (Limited Certificate of Admission for Military Spouse Attorneys). Any person who holds a limited certificate under Rule 430, SCACR.