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In Re Attorney System Amendments
Citations: 721 S.E.2d 411; 396 S.C. 242; 2011 S.C. LEXIS 346Docket: 2011-10-17-01
Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina; October 17, 2011; South Carolina; State Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of South Carolina issued an order on October 17, 2011, announcing the completion of a statewide case management system for circuit and magistrate courts across all 46 counties, with ongoing development for family and appellate courts. In response to the growing need for accurate attorney information, the South Carolina Judicial Department established the Attorney Information System (AIS) to manage contact details for all attorneys and foreign legal consultants licensed in the state. Under amended Rule 410 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules, attorneys and foreign legal consultants are required to verify and update their contact information on the AIS at least annually, or within five days of any changes. This includes maintaining a mailing address, email address, and phone number. By November 18, 2011, all attorneys and foreign legal consultants must log onto the AIS to verify and update their information, as failure to do so will prevent them from paying their 2012 license fee. Further instructions for logging on and updating information will be provided separately. The organization aims to uphold the U.S. and South Carolina Constitutions, promote respect for representative government, and enhance the justice system. It emphasizes high ethical standards in the legal profession, advances jurisprudence, and ensures quality legal education and services. The South Carolina Bar is tasked with fulfilling these purposes, possessing the authority to adopt and amend governance Bylaws, classify memberships, recommend rule amendments, and adjust membership fees. Active members with over three years of practice pay an annual fee of $245, while fees for other membership classes vary, as specified in the Bylaws. An additional fee structure includes specific amounts for different member categories, with funds allocated to support the Commission on Judicial Conduct, the Commission on Lawyer Conduct, and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Membership in the South Carolina Bar is mandatory for legal practice in the state, except as allowed by the Court's rules. The Attorney Information System (AIS) is a web-based platform for maintaining member data. New members must verify their information in the AIS within five days of admission, and the Clerk of the Supreme Court may release necessary information for this purpose. The South Carolina Bar may also require additional information from new members. Members of the South Carolina Bar are required to continuously verify and update their information in the Attorney Information System (AIS), ensuring it remains current and accurate. Essential contact details, including a mailing address, email, and telephone number, must be updated within five days of any change. Members must also confirm their details before annual bar license fee payments. If members cannot make updates directly in the AIS, they must file a discrepancy report for resolution. Individuals who have resigned, been disbarred, suspended, or whose licenses have been terminated without intent to seek reinstatement are exempt from this requirement. Foreign legal consultants, while not members of the South Carolina Bar, must also be added to the AIS upon licensing and share the same obligation to update their information. Additionally, foreign legal consultants are required to pay a $295 license fee by January 1st, with $50 allocated to support the operational costs of the Commission on Judicial Conduct, the Commission on Lawyer Conduct, and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.