(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, before an individual may practice law in the State, the individual shall: (1) be admitted to the Bar; and (2) meet any requirement that the Supreme Court of Maryland may set by rule. (b) This section does not apply to: (1) a person while representing a landlord in a summary ejectment or a rent escrow proceeding in the District Court of Maryland; (2) a person while representing a tenant in a summary ejectment or a rent escrow proceeding in the District Court of Maryland if the person is: (i) a law student practicing in a clinical law program at a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with the in-court supervision of a faculty member; or (ii) employed by a nonprofit organization receiving grants from the Maryland Legal Services Corporation and: 1. the person has training and experience; 2. the person is supervised by a lawyer; and 3. the supervising lawyer's appearance is entered in the proceeding; (3) an insurance company while defending an insured through staff counsel; (4) an officer of a corporation, an employee designated by an officer of a corporation, a partner in a business operated as a partnership or an employee designated by a partner, a member of a limited liability company or an employee designated by a member of a limited liability company, or an employee designated by the owner of a business operated as a sole proprietorship while the officer, partner, member, or employee is appearing on behalf of the corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or business in a civil action in the District Court of Maryland or an appeal from the District Court of Maryland if: (i) the action or appeal: 1. is based on a claim that does not exceed the amount set under § 4-405 of the Courts Article for a small claim action; and 2. is not based on an assignment, to the corporation, partnership, or business, of the claim of another; (ii) in the case of a designated employee, the employee: 1. is not assigned on a full-time basis to appear in the District Court on behalf of the corporation, partnership, or business; 2. provides the court a power of attorney sworn to by the employer that certifies that the designated employee is an authorized agent of the corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or sole proprietorship and may bind the corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or sole proprietorship on matters pending before the court; and 3. is not an individual who is disbarred or suspended as a lawyer in any state; and (iii) the corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or business does not contract, hire, or employ another business entity to provide appearance services; (5) an individual who is authorized by a county employee to represent the employee at any step of the county's grievance procedure; or (6) a director or an officer of a common ownership community while representing the common ownership community in a dispute, hearing, or other matter before a board or commission established to oversee one or more of the following common ownership communities: (i) a development subject to a declaration enforced by a homeowners association as defined in § 11B-101 of the Real Property Article; (ii) a residential condominium as defined in § 11-101 of the Real Property Article; or (iii) a cooperative housing corporation as defined in § 5-6B-01 of the Corporations and Associations Article. (c) (1) In this subsection, "practice patent law": (i) means to perform professional services that the Patent and Trademark Office requires to be performed by an individual registered to practice before that Office; and (ii) includes preparing a copyright application or assignment and submitting it to the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress. (2) While there is a Patent and Trademark Office in the State, an individual may practice patent law in the State if the individual is: (i) authorized to practice law in any other state; and (ii) registered to practice patent law before the Patent and Trademark Office. (3) Unless otherwise authorized under this title, an individual who practices patent law under this subsection may not: (i) appear as an attorney at law in a court; or (ii) practice law generally in the State. (d) (1) (i) In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated. (ii) "Affiliate" means a person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with an employer. (iii) "Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or by some other means, the management and policies of a person. (2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, this section does not apply to an individual who is admitted to the bar of any other state, while giving legal advice to the individual's employer or the employer's organizational affiliates. (3) An individual who gives legal advice under this subsection: (i) is subject to disciplinary proceedings as the Maryland Rules provide; and (ii) may not appear before a unit of the State government or of a political subdivision unless a court grants the individual a special admission in accordance with § 10-215 of this subtitle.
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