The State Board of Law Examiners has announced that the online license renewal process for 2025 will continue. Lawyers eligible for renewal, including those currently holding pro hac vice status, will receive an email by mid-November detailing how to renew their licenses online.
The board has clarified that no paper statements will be mailed. Lawyers can pay their license fees online using debit or credit cards, with a 4% third-party processing fee applied. Alternatively, payments can be made by check, money order, or cashier’s check after completing the online renewal process.
Bar section fees and donations are now separate from the license fee payment. The board encourages participation in SBAND and suggests making donations directly to SBAND.
For organizations with multiple attorneys, each attorney's license must be paid separately as single payments for multiple attorneys are no longer accepted.
The November renewal notice will be sent to each attorney's personal email address rather than their e-service email address. The board advises lawyers to ensure their contact information is current by updating it before November 1, 2024. Fully licensed lawyers can verify their email addresses in the Lawyers directory, while pro hac vice lawyers should confirm their details with the Board of Law Examiners.
Licenses for practicing law in North Dakota expire on December 31, 2024, regardless of when the fee was paid. According to N.D.C.C. § 27-11-01, practicing law without securing an annual license constitutes unauthorized practice and is classified as a class A misdemeanor.
For further inquiries, Petra Mandigo Hulm can be contacted at phulm@ndcourts.gov or 701-328-2221.