Cost Effective Chicago Federal Local Counsel

The Law Office of Douglas B. Harper offers local counsel services to out-of-state lawyers and law firms, to assist them in complying with the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago. If you are an attorney located outside of Illinois, handling litigation in this federal district, you must designate local counsel.

In making your decision, choose Douglas B. Harper, an experienced member of the federal Trial Bar who offers local counsel services using cost-effective fee arrangements.

To Appear, You Must Designate Local Counsel

In the Northern District of Illinois, the court's rules require non-resident lawyers to designate local counsel. The requirement is imposed by the court's Local Rule 83.15 (a) which provides:

An attorney not having an office within this District (“nonresident attorney”) shall appear before this Court only upon having designated as local counsel a member of the bar of this Court having an office within this District upon whom service of papers may be made….

Mr. Harper is a member of the Trial Bar in the Northern District of Illinois, and has served many times as local counsel for out-of-state law firms in federal litigation.

His law office is located only a short walk from the federal courthouse, and he can provide whatever level of assistance you require from local counsel at a reasonable rate.

At Trial, You Must Be Accompanied by a Member of the Trial Bar

The Northern District of Illinois maintains two separate bars. The court maintains a General Bar under Local Rule 83.10 and a Trial Bar under Local Rule 83.11.

Members of the General Bar may appear alone for a status court appearance or argument, but only members of the Trial Bar may appear alone at trial. A lawyer who is not a member of the Trial Bar cannot appear at trial alone. He must be accompanied by a member of the Trial Bar. That restriction is imposed by the court's Local Rule 83.12 (b) which states:

An attorney who is a member of the trial bar may appear alone during testimonial proceedings. An attorney who is a member of the bar, but not of the trial bar, may appear during testimonial proceedings only if accompanied by a member of the trial bar who is serving as advisor. For the purposes of this rule the definition of the term testimonial proceedings is the same as in LR83.11(a)(1).

Even if you are admitted to appear pro hac vice, Local Rule 83.14 still requires you to designate local counsel.

Mr. Harper has over 30 years of litigation experience. In addition to the years he has spent practicing law, he has been teaching trial skills for over 20 years as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University, Pritzker School of Law, and he has been teaching deposition skills to practicing lawyers just as long as a faculty member with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA).

He is well-suited to accompany you at depositions, trial, and other testimonial proceedings.

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