There is a State Board of Law Examiners.

The Board consists of 7 members. Each member shall be a lawyer. The Supreme Court of Maryland shall appoint the members of the Board. Each member of the Board shall have been a lawyer for at least 5 years. The term of a member is 5 years and begins on January 1. The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on October 1, 1989. At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies. A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. The Supreme Court of Maryland may reappoint a member. A majority of the authorized membership of the Board is a quorum.

The Board shall pay all money collected under this title into the General Fund of the State.

Except as otherwise provided by law, before an individual may practice law in the State, the individual shall: be admitted to the Bar; and meet any requirement that the Supreme Court of Maryland may set by rule. This section does not apply to: a person while representing a landlord in a summary ejectment or a rent escrow proceeding in the District Court of Maryland; a person while representing a tenant in a summary ejectment or a rent escrow proceeding in the District Court of Maryland if the person is: a law student practicing in a clinical law program at a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with the in–court supervision of a faculty member; or employed by a nonprofit organization receiving grants from the Maryland Legal Services Corporation and: the person has training and experience; the person is supervised by a lawyer; and the supervising lawyer’s appearance is entered in the proceeding; an insurance company while defending an insured through staff counsel; an officer of a corporation, an employee designated by an officer of a corporation, a partner in a business operated as a partnership or an employee designated by a partner, a member of a limited liability company or an employee designated by a member of a limited liability company, or an employee designated by the owner of a business operated as a sole proprietorship while the officer, partner, member, or employee is appearing on behalf of the corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or business in a civil action in the District Court of Maryland or an appeal from the District Court of Maryland if: the action or appeal: is based on a claim that does not exceed the amount set under § 4–405 of the Courts Article for a small claim action; and is not based on an assignment, to the corporation, partnership, or business, of the claim of another; in the case of a designated employee, the employee: is not assigned on a full–time basis to appear in the District Court on behalf of the corporation, partnership, or business; provides the court a power of attorney sworn to by the employer that certifies that the designated employee is an authorized agent of the corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or sole proprietorship and may bind the corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or sole proprietorship on matters pending before the court; and is not an individual who is disbarred or suspended as a lawyer in any state; and the corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or business does not contract, hire, or employ another business entity to provide appearance services; an individual who is authorized by a county employee to represent the employee at any step of the county’s grievance procedure; a director or an officer of a common ownership community while representing the common ownership community in a dispute, hearing, or other matter before a board or commission established to oversee one or more of the following common ownership communities: a development subject to a declaration enforced by a homeowners association as defined in § 11B–101 of the Real Property Article; a residential condominium as defined in § 11–101 of the Real Property Article; or a cooperative housing corporation as defined in § 5–6B–01 of the Corporations and Associations Article; or an individual authorized to practice law in the State by the Supreme Court of Maryland. In this subsection, “practice patent law”: means to perform professional services that the Patent and Trademark Office requires to be performed by an individual registered to practice before that Office; and includes preparing a copyright application or assignment and submitting it to the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress. While there is a Patent and Trademark Office in the State, an individual may practice patent law in the State if the individual is: authorized to practice law in any other state; and registered to practice patent law before the Patent and Trademark Office. Unless otherwise authorized under this title, an individual who practices patent law under this subsection may not: appear as an attorney at law in a court; or practice law generally in the State. In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated. “Affiliate” means a person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with an employer. “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or by some other means, the management and policies of a person. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, this section does not apply to an individual who is admitted to the bar of any other state, while giving legal advice to the individual’s employer or the employer’s organizational affiliates. An individual who gives legal advice under this subsection: is subject to disciplinary proceedings as the Maryland Rules provide; and may not appear before a unit of the State government or of a political subdivision unless a court grants the individual a special admission in accordance with § 10–215 of this subtitle.

To qualify for admission to the Bar, an applicant shall be an individual who meets the requirements of this section. An applicant shall be of good character and reputation. An applicant shall be at least 18 years old as of the date of admission. An applicant shall: have completed the academic work necessary to meet the minimum requirements for admission to an American Bar Association approved law school; and have a degree of juris doctor or its equivalent from a law school that the Board recognizes. An applicant shall pass a written examination given by the Board under this subtitle. An applicant shall meet any other qualification or requirement that the Supreme Court of Maryland establishes by rule.

An applicant for admission to the Bar shall submit to the Board a petition to the Supreme Court of Maryland on the form that the Board provides. An applicant shall pay to the Board: an examination fee, as set by the Supreme Court of Maryland, not exceeding: $250 for fiscal year 2009; and $400 for fiscal year 2010 and thereafter; and any other fee set by the Supreme Court of Maryland.

An applicant who otherwise qualifies for admission to the Bar is entitled to be examined as provided under this section. Notwithstanding § 10–207(c) of this subtitle, an individual under the age of 18 years may take the examination. Subject to the rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Maryland, the Board periodically shall give examinations to applicants at the times and places that the Board determines. The Board shall give each applicant notice of the time and place of examination. Subject to the rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Maryland, the Board shall determine the subjects, scope, and form of and the passing score for examinations. The Board shall report to the Supreme Court of Maryland: the results of each examination that the Board gives; and recommendations about the character and reputation of each applicant who passes the examination.

An applicant who is a member of the bar of another state may become a member of the Bar of this State if the applicant: is of good character and reputation; provides adequate evidence that, for at least 5 of the 7 years immediately before applying for admission to the Bar, the applicant was practicing law or teaching law or was a judge; pays the application fee set by the Supreme Court of Maryland; and passes an examination given by the Board. The Supreme Court of Maryland may adopt rules to govern: the content and administration of an examination given under this section; the determination of the character and reputation of applicants; and any other matter necessary to provide for the admission to the Bar of applicants under this section.

If an applicant meets the requirements of this Part II of this subtitle, the Supreme Court of Maryland shall pass an order of admission of the applicant to the Bar.

On admission to the Bar, a lawyer shall take the following oath or affirmation in open court: “I do solemnly (swear) (affirm) that I will at all times demean myself fairly and honorably as an attorney and practitioner at law; that I will bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland, and support the laws and Constitution thereof, and that I will bear true allegiance to the United States, and that I will support, protect and defend the Constitution, laws and government thereof as the supreme law of the land; any law, or ordinance of this or any state to the contrary notwithstanding.”

Subject to subsection (b) of this section and while an admission to the Bar is in effect, the admission authorizes a lawyer to practice law in any court. Before a lawyer may practice law, the lawyer shall satisfy any additional requirement set by rule of the Supreme Court of Maryland.

The Supreme Court of Maryland may revoke an order of admission to the Bar that is obtained fraudulently or deceptively.

Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, on a motion filed as required by rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Maryland, a court may grant special admission to practice law in a particular case to an individual who is: admitted to the bar of another state; and employed by a party in the case before: a court or other unit of the State government; or a unit of a political subdivision of the State. A special admission to practice law may be granted only: by the court hearing the case for which an individual requests the special admission; or if the case is before a unit other than a court, by: the circuit court for the county where the unit has its principal office; or any circuit court to which the case may be appealed. An individual may practice law under this section only in connection with the case for which the special admission is granted. An individual who practices law under this section is subject to disciplinary proceedings as the Maryland Rules provide.

Subject to the evaluation and reestablishment provisions of the Maryland Program Evaluation Act, this subtitle shall terminate and be of no effect after July 1, 2030.