The Oklahoma Bar Journal May 2026

NOTICE LEGAL INTERNSHIP COMMITTEE REGULATION CHANGE

Regulation 2(C)1 was amended on April 6, 2026, by the Legal Internship Committee in response to an inquiry from the Choctaw Nation regarding use of legal interns in tribal courts. Although LLI regulations permit legal interns to participate in tribal courts, Legal Internship Committee Chair Trent Baggett proposed amending Regulation 2(C)1 to clarify that the legal intern’s participation in tribal

court is contingent on the rules of the court, just as it would be in federal court. REGULATION 2: DEFINITION OF “IN COURT” PRACTICE EXPERIENCE (C) The definition of “in court” practice experience includes (See Interpretation 2020)

1. Actual participation by the Licensed Legal Intern in a courtroom proceeding in Oklahoma. However, it must be remembered that Under the Legal Internship Rules, the Licensed Legal Intern is not authorized to actually participate in Federal Court or tribal court proceedings unless an individual the judge grants permission or a Rule of the Federal Court or a rule of the tribal court permits such practice. REGULATION 2: DEFINITION OF “IN COURT” PRACTICE EXPERIENCE (C) The definition of “in court” practice experience includes (See Interpretation 2020) 1. Actual participation by the Licensed Legal Intern in a courtroom proceeding in Oklahoma. Under the Legal Internship Rules, the Licensed Legal Intern is not authorized to actually participate in Federal Court or tribal court proceedings unless the judge grants permission or a Rule of the Federal Court or a rule of the tribal court permits such practice. Comments may be sent to LLIComments@okbar.org.