(A) All lawyers admitted to the practice of law in another U.S. jurisdiction or the District of Columbia, not admitted in Nebraska, who are in active status in that jurisdiction, who are employed in Nebraska as counsel in any capacity exclusively for a single corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity, as well as any affiliate thereof, whose lawful business consists of activities other than the practice of law or provision of legal services, and who have a continuous presence in the State of Nebraska shall register as in-house counsel, or seek admission to the active practice of law in Nebraska, within 90 days of the commencement of employment as a lawyer under this rule or if currently so employed then within 90 days of the effective date of this rule as amended effective January 1, 2020. Initial registration terminates on December 31 of the year of original application and annual renewal pursuant to § 3-1203 is required thereafter. There are no exceptions to the requirement of registration as in-house counsel, except admission to the active practice of law in Nebraska, which admission includes payment of mandatory assessments pursuant to Neb. Ct. R. § 3-803(D).

   (B) Registration under Neb. Ct. R. §§ 3-1201 to 3-1204 is not a matter of right. In-house counsel registration is required of all lawyers working exclusively for a single corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity, as well as any affiliate thereof, regardless of the job title assigned to the attorney. At the discretion of the Nebraska Supreme Court, any applicant for such in-house counsel registration may be required to provide proof of good moral character and fitness to practice law by the jurisdiction in which he or she was admitted to practice law or the Supreme Court may procure the character investigation services of the National Conference of Bar Examiners, at the lawyer's expense, in any matter in which substantial questions regarding the lawyer's character or fitness to practice law are implicated.

   (C) Any lawyer not licensed in Nebraska who is employed in any capacity exclusively for a single corporation, partnership, association, or ther legal entity, as well as any affiliate thereof in Nebraska on January 1, 2020, shall not be subject to discipline for the failure to register under the Nebraska Rules of Professional Conduct, Neb. Ct. R. Prof. Cond. §§ 3-501.0 to 3-508.5, if application for registration is made within 90 days of January 1, 2020, or the lawyer has submitted an application for admission to the active practice of law in Nebraska pursuant to Neb. Ct. R. § 3-100 et seq. within 90 days of January 1, 2020.

   (D) Pro bono practice. A lawyer registered under this section is authorized to provide pro bono legal services through an established not-for-profit association, pro bono program or legal services program or through such organizations specifically authorized in Nebraska.

§ 3-1004(A)-(C) amended December 18, 2019, effective January 1, 2020.