(A) (1) A copy certified by the Secretary of State of the articles of incorporation of any corporation formed pursuant to this rule shall be submitted electronically to the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Nebraska, together with a certified copy of all amendments thereto. At the time of filing the original articles with said Clerk, the corporation shall file with said Clerk a written list of shareholders setting forth the names and addresses of each and a written list containing the names and addresses of all persons who are not shareholders who are employed by the corporation and who are authorized to practice law in Nebraska.

   (2) Beginning July 1, 2023, any existing corporation shall electronically submit all required documents to obtain a Certificate of Authority from the Nebraska Supreme Court to operate in this state. The corporation shall annually submit a cover letter requesting the Certificate, and the required professional corporation form found as Appendix 1 to this rule listing the names and residence addresses of all shareholders and employees licensed to practice law. The corporation shall pay the $25 issuance fee through the online portal. All documents shall be submitted electronically to the Clerk of the Supreme Court to the email address certauthority@nejudicial.gov with the firm name in the subject line. All Certificates of Authority shall be issued electronically to the email address provided by the requestor. No paper Certificates shall be issued by the Clerk.

   (B) The corporation shall do nothing which if done by an attorney employed by it would violate the standards of professional conduct established for such attorney by this Court. The corporation shall at all times comply with the standards of professional conduct established by this Court and the provisions of this rule. Any violation of this rule by the corporation shall be grounds for the Supreme Court to terminate or suspend its right to practice law.

   (C) Nothing in this rule shall be deemed to diminish or change the obligation of each attorney employed by the corporation to conduct his or her practice in accordance with the standards of professional conduct promulgated by this Court; any attorney who by act or omission causes the corporation to act or fail to act in a way which violates such standards of professional conduct, including any provision of this rule, shall be deemed personally responsible for such act or omission and shall be subject to discipline therefor.

   (D) Nothing in this rule shall be deemed to modify the attorney-client privilege specified by statute, and any comparable common-law privilege.

Rule 2(A) amended March 13, 1996; Rule 2(A) amended February 25, 1998. Renumbered and codified as § 3-602, effective July 18, 2008; § 3-201(A) amended May 10, 2023.