D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14, r. 14-3918
In any proceeding before the Rent Administrator, a party may be represented as follows:
Any individual who wishes to appear in a representative capacity before the Rent Administrator shall file a written notice of appearance stating the individual's name, local address, telephone number, District of Columbia Bar identification number, if applicable, and for whom the appearance is made. Written notice may be filed concurrently with a notice of appeal.
An attorney or other representative of record who is served with any documents related to a matter before the Rent Administrator, but who does not wish to or is no longer representing the party before the Rent Administrator, shall immediately notify the party of the service and, if the attorney or representative has entered an appearance before the Rent Administrator, shall file a motion to withdraw.
An attorney or other representative may limit the scope of his or her appearance by specifying in the notice of appearance the date, time period, activity, or subject matter for which the appearance is made. A limited appearance shall terminate automatically, without a motion to withdraw, upon the date or end of the time period specified, or upon the filing of a notice of completion with the Rent Administrator and service of the notice upon all parties.
Any person appearing before or transacting business with the Rent Administrator in a representative capacity may be required by order of the Rent Administrator to establish the authority to act on behalf of the represented party by affidavit, written authorization, bylaws of an organization, or other proof the Rent Administrator may deem sufficient.
A party who appears on his or her own behalf as provided in § 3918.1(b) may be assisted by a family member or close personal friend, where the party is incapable of presenting his or her case because of a language barrier or physical, mental, or intellectual disability.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the provision of technical assistance by a non-profit community service agency or the Office of the Tenant Advocate.
A person may be represented by an attorney or other person who may provide legal services if the attorney or provider is:
An attorney wishing to appear pro hac vice in accordance with § 3918.7(b) shall file a motion in which the attorney shall make, under penalty of perjury, all declarations required for admission pro hac vice in the Courts of the District of Columbia under D.C. App. R. 49(c)(7) and attest that the attorney has read the rules of the Rental Accommodations Division in this chapter.
A law student or recent graduate wishing to appear as an attorney in accordance with § 3918.7(c) shall:
An attorney who has appeared pro hac vice before the Office of Administrative Hearings pursuant to 1 DCMR § 2833 or the Commission pursuant to § 3812 of this title may appear before the Rent Administrator in the same matter if it has been remanded to the Rent Administrator without filing a new motion or notice to so appear.
An individual whose practice or appearance before the Office of Administrative Hearings or the Commission has been restricted shall be subject to the same restriction before the Rent Administrator.
The Rent Administrator may disqualify or deny, temporarily or permanently, the privilege of appearing or practicing before the Rent Administrator to any individual who is found by the Rent Administrator, after notice and an opportunity to respond, either to be lacking in the requisite qualifications to represent others or to have engaged in unethical, improper, or unprofessional conduct; provided, that any individual who is appearing or practicing before the Rent Administrator who willfully misleads the Rent Administrator or the staff of the Rental Accommodations Division by a false statement of fact or law shall be disqualified permanently.
An attorney who fails to comply with the provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct may be referred to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel or may be disqualified from appearing before the Rent Administrator.
An individual appearing before the Rent Administrator who is or ever has been a member of the District of Columbia Bar or the bar of any state shall be subject to the standards of conduct for an attorney under this section, regardless of whether that person appears as a non-attorney representative; provided, that nothing in this subsection shall prohibit an individual, receiver, or beneficiary from appearing pro se in accordance with § 3918.1(b).
In the event of any conflict between this section and D.C. App. R. 48 or 49, the D.C. App. R. shall control. If the D.C. App. R. would permit an individual to appear before a tribunal but this section would not, the individual may appear unless that individual's practice or appearance has been specifically restricted for other reasons or the individual fails to make any required filings with the Rent Administrator. Except to the extent permitted by D.C. App. R. 49(c)(5), allowing District agencies to regulate non-attorney practice, an individual not authorized to practice law in the District of Columbia may not appear in a representative capacity before the Rent Administrator.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14, r. 14-3918