Admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the U.S.

  1. Alumni
  2. Admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the U.S.

There is no higher or more powerful court in this country than the U.S. Supreme Court. For litigators, there is no greater or more elusive honor than to argue before this Court. To argue before the Court, you must apply and be admitted to the Supreme Court Bar. To qualify for admission to the Bar of this Court under Rule 5:

  • An applicant must have been admitted to practice in the highest court of a State, Commonwealth, Territory or Possession, or the District of Columbia for a period of at least three years immediately before the date of application; 
  • Must not have been the subject of any adverse disciplinary action pronounced or in effect during that three-year period; 
  • Must appear to the Court to be of good moral and professional character.

The Benefits

  • Participate in a special swearing-in ceremony in Washington D.C. on Monday, November 6, 2023. Only 12 slots are available 
  • Meet the Justices 
    • There are two options for admittance—in court and on motion. The most memorable by far is an in-court admission ceremony. This can take place on an argument day before the entire Court. There might even be an opportunity to meet and take pictures with one of the Supreme Court justices beforehand on November 6 during swearing-in ceremony
  • Special seating in the courtroom 
    • Public seating in the Supreme Court courtroom is very limited and members of the public usually have to stand in line for hours before arguments begin at 10 a.m. Members of the bar, however, have their own section and the best view of significant Court arguments. According to the Court’s website, “Attorneys who are admitted as members of the Supreme Court Bar may be seated in the chairs just beyond the bronze railing.”
  • Access to the Court’s library 
    • Supreme Court Rule 2.1 provides that no one but “appropriate” Court personnel, bar members, “Members of Congress and their legal staffs, and attorneys for the United States and for federal departments and agencies,” can use the library

How to apply

Please visit the Application form for Bar Admissions to download the PDF of the application form. Please send the completed form and all other required information to Director of Alumni Relations Maurice Willis at mwillis2@kentlaw.iit.edu. 

When completing the individual application, please note the following:   

  • The first page should be filled out online, completed in its entirety, and printed.  Do not use “all caps.” The second page may be filled out online and printed or handwritten (if legible).  
  • All signatures must be original (wet) signatures from both sponsors and the applicant on the same page. Certification and Oath of Admission sections must be complete. 
  • Each applicant must have two sponsors and a movant  
    • The sponsors must be members of the Bar of this Court who know you personally and are not related to you by blood or marriage. One of the sponsors may also move your admission  
    • Alternatively, the movant may be another member of the Bar of this Court, and may be a relative. 
  • Attach a Certificate of Good Standing from each applicant’s state supreme court or highest court. Do not submit a certificate from the state bar association or federal court. Only one state court certificate is required for each applicant. 
  • An admission fee of $200 must be submitted for each applicant along with the application package. The fee may be paid via cashier’s check, money order, or personal check made payable to “Supreme Court of the United States.” Personal checks must be dated for the day of admission. A group check is permitted, if it is submitted along with a complete group application package, and if it is sufficient to cover all applicants in the group.  
  • All forms and fees must be submitted to Chicago-Kent by Tuesday, August 15 to participate in the ceremony:
    Chicago-Kent College of Law
    Office of Advancement
    565 West Adams Street,
    Suite 535
    Chicago, IL 60601

Event Information

The swearing-in ceremony will take place on November 6. All participants are invited to attend a welcome dinner on November 5 and a special breakfast before the swearing-in ceremony at 8 a.m. The Court will be in session at 10 a.m. Each participant is permitted to bring one guest into the Supreme Court to witness the swearing-in: There are no exceptions to this rule. Children under the age of six are not admitted into the courtroom. All participants must pay for their own travel and hotel accommodations. 

Post-Ceremony Alumni Event

You are also invited to join the Illinois Tech Alumni Association for an event with local D.C. alumni on the evening of November 6. More details will be available closer to the event.