Attorney Pro Hac Vice

An Attorney Pro Hac Vice is a lawyer who does not have a license in the state in which the case is being prosecuted, but has been granted permission by the court to participate in the case. In Latin, Pro Hac Vice loosely means, “for this occasion,” in other words, Attorney Pro Hac Vice means an attorney for one occasion. Usually, an attorney must be licensed to practice in the jurisdiction in which he is representing a client.

In order to be an Attorney Pro Hac Vice, the lawyer has to engage another attorney who is licensed in the state, and have this other attorney request that he be admitted to practice for the particular case. If the out-of-state attorney does not follow the proper procedures, he will be practicing law without a license, which can lead to disbarment.