(a)Appearances. An attorney will not be recognized as appearing in any case unless he or she is entered as counsel of record therein. The signature of an attorney on a record on appeal, motion, brief, or other document permitted by these rules to be filed in a court of the appellate division constitutes entry of the attorney as counsel of record for the parties designated and a certification that the attorney represents such parties. The signature of a member or associate in a firm's name constitutes entry of the firm as counsel of record for the parties designated. Counsel of record may not withdraw from a case except by leave of court. Only those counsel of record who have personally signed the brief prior to oral argument may be heard in argument.(b)Signatures on Electronically-Filed Documents. If more than one attorney is listed as being an attorney for the party or parties on an electronically-filed document, it is the responsibility of the attorney actually filing the document by computer to: (1) list his or her name first on the document, and (2) place on the document under the signature line the following statement: "I certify that all of the attorneys listed below have authorized me to list their names on this document as if they had personally signed it."(c)Agreements. Only those agreements of counsel which appear in the record on appeal or which are filed in the court where an appeal is docketed will be recognized by that court.(d)Limited Practice of Out-of-State Attorneys. Attorneys who are not licensed to practice law in North Carolina, but desire to appear before the appellate courts of North Carolina in a matter shall submit a motion to the appellate court fully complying with the requirements set forth in N.C.G.S. § 84-4.1. This motion shall be filed prior to or contemporaneously with the out-of-state attorney signing and filing any motion, petition, brief, or other document in any appellate court. Failure to comply with this provision may subject the attorney to sanctions and shall result in the document being stricken, unless signed by another attorney licensed to practice in North Carolina. If an attorney is admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals in a matter, the attorney shall be required to file another motion should the case proceed to the Supreme Court. However, if the required fee has been paid to the Court of Appeals, another fee shall not be due at the Supreme Court.287 N.C. 671; 324 N.C. 613; 354 N.C. 598; 354 N.C. 609; 363 N.C. 901.
Amended June 18, 2024, effective 6/18/2024.