(a) IN GENERAL. Except as provided by District of Columbia Court of Appeals Rules 48 and 49, only an active member of the District of Columbia Bar may appear in this court in a representative capacity for any purpose other than securing a continuance. This rule does not prevent a natural person from prosecuting or defending any action on the person's own behalf without counsel.
Rule 101.Appearance and Withdrawal of Attorneys
Group XII: Attorneys and Counsel · Last amended 2020 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 101 sets who may appear as counsel in DC Superior Court civil cases, how attorneys enter and withdraw an appearance, and the notice, motion, and grounds-for-denial requirements that protect clients when their lawyer wants to leave the case.
Full Text of Rule 101
(b) ENTRY OF APPEARANCE.
(1) In General. An attorney may enter an appearance on behalf of a party by:
(A) including the attorney’s name on the first pleading or paper filed on behalf of the party; or
(B) filing a notice entering the attorney's appearance and listing the attorney's address, e-mail address, telephone number, and D.C. Bar number.
(2) Nonacceptance. The clerk will not accept any paper signed by an attorney for filing unless the attorney is eligible to appear and has entered the attorney's appearance.
(c) WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE.
(1) Without Court Order. An attorney may withdraw the attorney's appearance in a civil action by filing a notice of withdrawal signed by the attorney and the attorney's client if:
(A) a trial date has not been set; and
(B) another attorney enters or has entered an appearance on behalf of the client at that time.
(2) Motion Required.
(A) In General. An attorney may withdraw the attorney's appearance only by order of the court on motion by the attorney if:
(i) a trial date has been set;
(ii) the client’s written consent is not obtained; or
(iii) the client is not represented by another attorney.
(B) Notice to Client. Unless the client is represented by another attorney or the motion is made in open court in the client's presence, the moving attorney must serve the client with a copy of the motion and a notice advising the client that:
(i) if the client objects to the attorney’s withdrawal, the client must file an objection to the attorney’s motion within 14 days after the motion is served; and
(ii) if the court grants the attorney’s motion to withdraw, the client must obtain other counsel or proceed without an attorney.
(C) Certificate. The attorney must file, together with the motion, a certificate that includes:
(i) the client's last known address; and
(ii) a statement that the attorney has served the client with a copy of the motion and the notice to the client required by Rule 101(c)(2)(B).
(3) Order. Unless leave to withdraw has been granted in open court in the presence of the client, the court or clerk must send to the client by first class mail, postage prepaid, a copy of any order granting leave to withdraw.
(4) Grounds for Denial. The court may deny an attorney's motion for leave to withdraw if the withdrawal would:
(A) unduly delay trial of the case;
(B) be unduly prejudicial to any party; or
(C) otherwise not be in the interests of justice.
Comment
This rule was amended consistent with the stylistic changes to the federal civil rules. In order to maintain consistency with the relevant appellate rules, the law student practice provisions and the provisions addressing the practice of law by attorneys not barred in D.C. have been replaced by references to District of Columbia Court of Appeals Rules 48 and 49. Subsection (c)(2), which addresses an attorney’s withdrawal by motion, has been amended to clarify the contents of the motion and the notice to the client.
This rule does not apply to limited appearances entered in accordance with an administrative order of the Chief Judge.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 101(a) limits representative appearances in Superior Court civil cases to active members of the District of Columbia Bar, apart from narrow exceptions recognized under the D.C. Court of Appeals' own rules. It leaves room, though, for anyone to represent themselves without a lawyer — that right to proceed without counsel stands apart from the Bar-membership requirement entirely.
Entering an appearance is simple under Rule 101(b): an attorney does it either by putting a name on the first pleading filed for a party or by filing a separate notice with contact information and D.C. Bar number. Leaving a case is not as simple. Rule 101(c) lets an attorney withdraw without a court order only in the narrow situation where no trial date has been set, a successor attorney has already stepped in, and the client signs the notice of withdrawal along with the attorney. Everyone else needs a motion — one that, once a trial date is set, requires notifying the client of the right to object within 14 days and of what happens if the withdrawal is granted, plus a certificate confirming that notice was given. The court can deny the motion if withdrawal would delay the trial, prejudice a party, or otherwise cut against the interests of justice.
Rule 101(d) and (e) route two other groups of practitioners through the D.C. Court of Appeals' own rules rather than duplicating requirements here: pro bono attorneys practicing under a limited license file a completed appellate court form with their appearance, and law students admitted to limited practice follow the appellate rule that governs their practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can appear in a DC Superior Court civil case on someone else's behalf?
Active members of the District of Columbia Bar, apart from the narrow exceptions the D.C. Court of Appeals' Rules 48 and 49 recognize; anyone may also represent themself without a lawyer.
How does a lawyer formally enter an appearance?
By including the attorney's name on the first pleading filed for the party, or by filing a notice listing the attorney's address, e-mail address, telephone number, and D.C. Bar number.
Can my attorney withdraw from my case without asking the court?
Only if no trial date has been set, another attorney has already entered an appearance on the client's behalf, and the client signs the notice of withdrawal along with the attorney. Otherwise, withdrawal requires a motion and a court order.
What happens if my attorney moves to withdraw after a trial date is already set?
The attorney must serve the client with a copy of the motion and a notice explaining that the client has 14 days to object and that, if withdrawal is granted, the client must obtain new counsel or proceed without an attorney; the attorney also files a certificate confirming that service.
Can a judge refuse to let an attorney withdraw from a case?
Yes. The court may deny the motion where withdrawal would unduly delay trial, be unduly prejudicial to any party, or otherwise not be in the interests of justice.
Source & verification. Rule text and official Comments are
reproduced verbatim from the District of Columbia Superior Court Rules of Civil
Procedure, adopted by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Last verified July 14, 2026.
· Official source
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