The Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands has the exclusive authority to admit attorneys to practice law before the Virgin Islands Bar. The Committee of Bar Examiners ("Committee") and the Office of Bar Admission are administrative arms of the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands. The inherent judicial functions of both offices are to assist the Supreme Court in the administration of the Virgin Islands Bar Examination, conducting character and fitness investigations, ascertaining the qualifications of all applicants for admission and moving for the admission of those applicants who meet those requirements.

Committee of Bar Examiners

The Committee of Bar Examiners consists of no less than five (5) members of the Virgin Islands Bar who are in good standing. All members are appointed by the Chief Justice and serve for varied terms.

The Supreme Court has adopted the American Bar Association's (ABA's) Model Immunity Rule entitled "Civil Immunity of Board of Law Examiners, its members, employees and agents, and entities providing information regarding an application to the board," which provides as follows:

[The Committee of Bar Examiners], and its members, employees, and agents are immune from all civil liability for conduct and communications occurring in the performance of their official duties relating to the examination, character and fitness qualification, and licensing of persons seeking to be admitted to the practice of law.

Records, statements of opinion and other information regarding an applicant for admission to the Bar communicated by entity including any person, firm or institution, without malice, to the [Committee of Bar Examiners], or its members, employees or agents are privileged, and civil suits predicated thereon may not be instituted.

Membership of the Virgin Islands Bar

Supreme Court Rules 201, 202, and 204 establish three classes of membership: regular, special, and pro hac vice.

Pro Hac Vice Admissions - Attorneys are admitted to the Virgin Islands Bar pursuant to the provisions of Supreme Court Rule 201.

Special Admissions - Attorneys are specially admitted to the Virgin Islands Bar pursuant to the provisions of Virgin Islands Supreme Court Rule 202. This includes the following types:

• Federal or Territorial Department or Agency, or Specified Public Interest Organization Attorneys admitted to practice law pursuant to Rule 202.
• Limited Permission to Practice as In-house Counsel pursuant to Rule 202.1.
• Limited Permission to Practice as Foreign Legal Consultant pursuant to Rule 202.2.
• Limited Permission to Practice as a Legal Intern pursuant to Rule 202.3.
• Special Admission for Military Spouses pursuant to Rule 202.4.

Regular Admissions - Attorneys are admitted to the Virgin Islands Bar pursuant to the provisions of Supreme Court Rule 204. This includes applicants seeking admission by exam or by admission on motion.

Office of Bar Admission

The Office of Bar Admission of the Supreme Court is an administrative arm of the court with inherent judicial functions overseeing the examination and admission process relative to the practice of law in the Virgin Islands. The office provides full support to the committee of bar examiners in accordance with VISCR 204. These duties include coordinating the character and filters investigation of applicants seeking admissions to the Virgin Islands Bar.

Additionally, the Office of Bar Admission administers the rules the governs the provisional and special admissions of attorneys who are admitted to practice law in another state, territorial jurisdiction of to the district of Columbia and have sought and obtain employment to practice law in the Virgin Islands on behalf of a federal or territorial government department agency, or a specific public interest organization.

The Office of Bar Admission also administers the Rules that governs limited permission to practice as In-house Counsel in accordance with VISCR 202.1; as Foreign Legal Consultants in accordance with VISCR 202.2; as Legal Intern in accordance with VISCR 202.3; and Special Admission for Military Spouses in accordance with VISCR 202.4.

Services to existing members of the Virgin Islands Bar

• Certificates of Good Standing: On behalf of the Clerk of the Court, the Office of Bar Admission performs the ministerial duties of ­reviewing and processing all attorneys' request for a Certificates of Good Standing indicating compliance with membership requirements.

• Status Changes: The Office of Bar Admission processes for the Court's review and determination all requests from regularly admitted members of the Virgin Islands Bar Association to change their membership status from active to inactive, or attorneys' request seeking permission to resign their membership.

• Attorney Registration: On behalf of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the Office of Bar Admission performs the ministerial duties of reviewing and processing all attorney registrations filed in accordance with VISCR 203, which established mandatory annual attorney registration.

All questions regarding bar admissions should be directed to the Office of Bar Admission.

Prior to admissions to the Virgin Islands Bar, all individuals desiring to practice law in the Virgin Islands Bar should familiarize themselves with the Rules of the Supreme Court, including, but not limited to the Rules that establish membership status and the mandatory continuing legal education; and the Rules which govern professional responsibility, discipline, and the Bylaws of the Virgin Islands Bar Association.