R.i. Sup. Ct. R. 16

As amended through June 7, 2024
Rule 16 - Reinstatement
(a) No attorney suspended or disbarred may resume practice until reinstated by order of this Court as provided in this rule.
(b) A person who has been disbarred after hearing or by consent may not apply for reinstatement until the expiration of at least five years from the effective date of the disbarment.
(c) Petitions for reinstatement by disbarred or suspended attorneys shall be filed with this Court and served upon Counsel at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of hearing. Petitions for reinstatement shall include a five hundred ($500) dollar filing fee payable to the Clerk of this Court. This Court shall promptly schedule a hearing at which the respondent-attorney shall have the burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that he or she has the moral qualifications, competency and learning in law required for admission to practice law in this State and that his or her resumption of the practice of law within the State will be neither detrimental to the integrity and standing of the Bar or the administration of justice nor subversive of the public interest. Respondent-attorney shall file a reinstatement questionnaire with Counsel at the same time as the filing of the petition.
(d) No attorney who has been suspended for more than one (1) year or has been disbarred shall be eligible for reinstatement unless he or she shall have successfully passed the Multi-state Professional Responsibility Examination within one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to his or her filing of the petition for reinstatement. The attorney applying for reinstatement shall pay all expenses of the examination.
(e) This Court in its discretion may direct that the necessary expenses incurred in the investigation and processing of a petition for reinstatement be paid by the respondent-attorney.

R.i. Sup. Ct. R. 16

Revised 11/1/2023.