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Attorney Admissions - Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I check my bar status?

    An attorney may access the Attorney Admission Status Checker to check his or her current status.

  • What are the possible statuses in the Court and what do they mean?

    Active - Attorney is eligible to practice in this Court

    Active on request - Attorney has not entered an appearance in this Court in the last five years, but has updated his/her contact information and has indicated that he/she wants to remain in active status in this Court.  Attorney is eligible to practice in this Court.

    Inactive - Attorney is not currently eligible to practice in this Court; Adjustment of bar status to active status is governed by R.A.D.E. 17.6.

    Disability Inactive - Attorney is currently on disability status and is not currently eligible to practice in this Court; Adjustment of bar status to active status is governed by R.A.D.E. 16.5.

  • How do I change my status to active?

    You must complete the Attorney Admission Renewal/Adjustment of Status Form.

  • I am active on request. How long will I remain in this status?

    The active on request status applies for five years from the date the status is assigned, unless the attorney enters an appearance in a case. If the attorney enters an appearance, the status will change from active on request to active and will remain counsel's status for five years from the date of the appearance. Each time a subsequent appearance is entered the five years starts anew. You may confirm the date of the most recent status update by consulting the Attorney Admission Checker. 

  • I entered an appearance in a case, but this entry of appearance does not appear as the last appearance entry in the Attorney Admission Checker. Why doesn't my most recent entry of appearance display?

    An entry of appearance is linked to the ECF filer who entered the appearance transaction on the Court's docket.  If someone other than the attorney (e.g. co-counsel) entered an appearance on that attorney's behalf, the entry of appearance is linked to that particular ECF filer and not the individual attorney. 

  • Why doesn't my information appear in the Attorney Admission Status Checker?

    The Attorney Admission Status Checker pulls data from the Court's ECF system. Although you may be admitted to the Court's bar, this information may have not been entered in the Court's ECF database but only appears in the Court's paper legacy files. You may request that your information be entered in the Court's ECF database by sending an email to attyadmissions@ca3.uscourts.gov requesting that your information be added. Please include your date of admission in the email along with a completed Attorney Admission Renewal/Adjustment of Status Form. 

    Some attorneys incorrectly believe that they have been admitted to the Court's bar. You will be notified if we are unable to locate an admission record in our legacy files. 

  • How do I update my contact information?

    If you are a Third Circuit ECF filer any updates to name, address, e-mail, phone numbers, etc. should be done through PACER using My Account tab.

    If you are NOT a Third Circuit ECF filer any updates to name, address, e-mail, phone numbers, etc. should be done by completing the Attorney Information Contact Update Form. 

  • How do I know if I am a Third Circuit ECF filer?

    An attorney may access the Attorney Admission Status Checker to check if he or she is an ECF filer. 

  • If I am a federal government attorney m