Pro Hac Vice

Pro hac vice is a court order that lets a lawyer who is not licensed in a particular state appear in that state's court for one specific case. The lawyer must usually team up with a local attorney who is licensed in that state. It is temporary permission, granted case by case.

Origin

The phrase is Latin, meaning "for this occasion" or "for this turn." American courts have used the practice since the early 1800s to let visiting counsel handle matters outside their home jurisdiction without going through full bar admission.

Significance in Asbestos Context

Asbestos cases are often handled by a small number of experienced law firms that have spent decades building expertise in specific industries, products, and corporate defendants. If your strongest legal team is based in another state, pro hac vice is the procedural tool that lets them represent you in your home state's court. You shouldn't be alarmed if your lead attorney is from out of state. This is normal in asbestos litigation, and your team will partner with a local attorney as required by the court. What matters to you as the patient is that the lawyers handling your case have deep experience with your disease, the products you were exposed to, and the defendants involved.

Example Sentence

The mesothelioma firm based in New York filed a pro hac vice motion so its lead trial attorney could represent the patient in the California Superior Court case.

Related Terms

Local Counsel, Jurisdiction, Venue, Attorney of Record, Multi-District Litigation, Forum

Notes

• Ask any out-of-state firm you are considering whether they have local counsel arrangements in your state and whether they have been admitted pro hac vice in your jurisdiction before.
• Pro hac vice motions typically require a filing fee (sometimes several hundred dollars) and a sworn statement; reputable firms cover these costs as part of their representation, not as an expense to you.
• Courts can revoke pro hac vice admission for misconduct, so confirm the firm has a clean record in the courts where they practice.
• If your case may be filed in more than one state (for example, where you were exposed versus where you now live), ask your legal team how pro hac vice and choice of venue affect your options.