Rule 1-312. Requirements of Signing Attorney

(a) General. In addition to having been admitted to practice law in this State, an attorney signing a pleading or paper in compliance with Rule 1-311 shall comply with one of the following three requirements. The attorney shall:

(1) maintain an office for the practice of law in the United States;

(2) be a regular employee of an agency of government or of a business or other nongovernmental organization or association and be authorized to sign pleadings on behalf of the employer. The attorney shall not sign pleadings and papers on behalf of other clients unless both of the following requirements are met: (A) a substantial portion of the attorney's duties performed for the regular employer in the regular course of employment must constitute the practice of law, and (B) the office address as shown on the pleadings must be located in the United States and a substantial amount of the attorney's time must be spent in that office during ordinary business hours in the traditional work week; or

(3) have a practice limited exclusively to participation in a legal services or pro bono publico program sponsored or supported by a local Bar Association as defined by Rule 19-601 (b), the Maryland State Bar Association, an affiliated bar foundation, or the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, and the attorney shall include on the pleading or paper the address and telephone number of (A) the legal services or pro bono publico program in which the attorney is practicing, or (B) the attorney's primary residence, which shall be in the United States.

Cross reference: Rule 19-605.

), the Maryland State Bar Association, an affiliated bar foundation, or the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, and the attorney shall include on the pleading or paper the address and telephone number of (A) the legal services or pro bono publico program in which the attorney is practicing, or (B) the attorney's primary residence, which shall be in the United States.

Cross reference: Rule 19-605.

(b) Definition of “Office for the Practice of Law”. In this Rule, “office for the practice of law” means an office maintained for the practice of law in which a substantial amount of the attorney's time is usually devoted to the practice of law during ordinary business hours in the traditional work week. An attorney is deemed to be “in” such an office even though temporarily absent from it if the duties of law practice are actively conducted by the attorney from that office.

Section (a) is derived from former Rule 302 c 2, and 3.

Section (b) is derived from former Rule 302 c 1.