We provide the above transactional services where permitted by law. This is a bit vague because the laws change all the time. We are licensed to practice law throughout Texas and Pennsylvania so our ability to practice there is not limited. Also we can practice in those jurisdictions that do not require state-specific licensing. As of the date of this writing, those states that do not require in-house counsel to have state-specific licensing include Arkansas, Arizona, District of Columbia, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Washington.
At least twenty-six other states require special in-house licenses. The license requirements in most states are similar and straightforward. Ordinarily, an applicant must show that he or she: (1) has a law school degree; (2) is admitted to active practice in at least one state; (3) is in good standing in each admitted jurisdiction; and (4) practices solely for a corporation. Along with an admission fee, fulfillment of these requirements, entitles in-house counsel to limited admission, which generally authorizes in-house lawyers to counsel and otherwise represent their corporate employer.
It also matters whether the scope of the work rises to the level of practicing law. For instance, in many jurisdictions, briefly coming to a state to negotiate a contract is not practicing law.
In short, outside of Texas and Pennsylvania our right to practice law may be limited or restricted. So, each matter will need to be analyzed on a case by case basis as to the jurisdictional requirements, if any, the scope of the work, the extent of our contacts with that jurisdiction and whether or not we will obtain a special in-house license.
