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Assignment of Counsel

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(TYPE OR PRINT IN BLACK INK)

In The General Court Of Justice

District Superior Court Division

File No.

Additional File Nos.

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

Name Of Defendant

County

Social Security No.

Has No Social Security No.

NOTE: The Office of Indigent Defense Services or Office of the Capital Defender completes this form.

ASSIGNMENT OF COUNSEL
BY OFFICE OF INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVICES
IN THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
(OR UNDESIGNATED DEGREE OF MURDER)
CASES AT THE TRIAL LEVEL

G.S. 7A-451(c), (d); 7A-452

I. TRIAL APPOINTMENT

NOTE: The IDS Office or the Office of the Capital Defender will complete this form in any first-degree murder case or murder case where the degree is undesignated. See IDS Rules for Providing Legal Representation in Capital Cases, Part 2A, Rule 2A.1 (2001).

1. Having found that the defendant has been charged with first-degree murder (or an undesignated degree of murder), the IDS Director/Capital Defender appoints the attorney named below on a provisional basis to conduct a preliminary investigation, determine whether the defendant is indigent and needs appointed counsel, and protect the defendant's rights pending appointment of trial counsel by the IDS Director/Capital Defender.

Date

Name And Address Of Attorney

Telephone

Fax

Email

2. The Court having determined that the defendant is indigent and has been charged with first-degree murder (or an undesignated degree of murder), the IDS Director/Capital Defender appoints the attorney named below as trial counsel for the defendant.

Name And Address Of Attorney

Telephone

Fax

Email

3. The Court having determined that the defendant is indigent and has been charged with first-degree murder (or an undesignated degree of murder), and the IDS Director/Capital Defender having determined that the case will likely proceed capitally as defined by law, the IDS Director/Capital Defender appoints the attorney named below as second trial counsel for the defendant.

Name And Address Of Attorney

Telephone

Fax

Email

4. Having appointed the attorney(s) named above to represent the defendant in this case, the IDS Director/Capital Defender also appoints the attorney(s) to represent the defendant on the following related charges, which were brought contemporaneously with or have been joined with the principal offense:

II. NOTIFICATION

The Office of Indigent Defense Services/Office of the Capital Defender has provided a copy of this assignment of counsel order to the Clerk of Superior Court where the charges are pending, the District Attorney, the appointed attorney(s), and the defendant.

Name Of IDS Director/Capital Defender (Type Or Print)

Signature of IDS Director/Capital Defender

AOC-CR-624, Rev. 9/02

© 2002 Administrative Office of the Courts

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What an Assignment of Counsel Is

An Assignment of Counsel is a written instrument by which a client or party designates, substitutes, or confirms an attorney as the acting counsel for a particular case, matter, or administrative proceeding. The document typically identifies the client and attorney, states the scope of representation and effective date, and records any limitations or instructions. Courts and agencies use the assignment to route service and notices; many filings also require a separate notice of appearance. Electronic execution is generally recognized under ESIGN and UETA when the transaction meets applicable legal requirements.

Why a Clear Assignment Matters

A properly executed Assignment of Counsel reduces disputes about who may act for a party, creates a clear service point for pleadings and notices, and documents consent and scope for courts and opposing counsel.

Why a Clear Assignment Matters

Who Typically Completes This Document

Common users: clients, retained attorneys, public defenders, and administrative representatives who need to document representation authority.

  • Private clients and law firms documenting substitution or engagement for litigation or administrative matters.
  • Public defenders or appointed counsel when courts accept an appearance or substitution.
  • In-house counsel or corporate representatives assigning outside counsel for specific disputes or transactions.

Confirm party capacity and signature authority before filing; courts, agencies, and opposing counsel often require proof of authority or additional local forms.

Typical Signatories and Their Roles

Lead Counsel

The attorney of record signs to accept representation and to specify the scope; include bar number, firm name, and contact details. Courts rely on this information for service, docketing, and verifying counsel authority during hearings or motions.

Client Representative

The client or an authorized corporate officer signs to consent to representation and any limits. When a corporate entity signs, attach proof of authority—such as a corporate resolution or officer certification—to avoid filing delays or challenges to signatory authority.

Security and Compliance Considerations

Encryption: AES-256 at rest; TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit
Access Control: Role-based permissions with SSO options
Audit Trail: Detailed timestamps, IPs, actions recorded
HIPAA BAA: Business Associate Agreement available on request
21 CFR Part 11: Compliant controls for FDA-regulated records
Data Residency: EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework available

Risks When an Assignment Is Incorrect

Invalid Signature: Document may be unenforceable
Late Filing: Court or agency sanctions possible
Incorrect Party: Authority disputes and delays
Missing Consent: ESIGN consumer disclosure failure
I-9 Violations: Penalties per 8 CFR, fines apply
Tax Penalties: IRC §6721 penalties for misfiled forms

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using an unsigned or initial-only block where the document requires a full signature causes courts to reject the filing or question counsel authority.
  • Failing to specify the scope or limiting language can lead to disputes when counsel acts outside intended authority, increasing litigation costs and delays.
  • Submitting without confirming the client’s capacity or corporate signatory authority can void the assignment and require additional documentation or affidavits.
  • Not following local court rules for notices of appearance or substitution commonly results in rejection or a requirement to refile with corrected forms.

Step-by-Step: Prepare, Execute, and File

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, sign, and file an Assignment of Counsel correctly for most U.S. jurisdictions.

  • 01
    Draft: Describe the scope, effective date, and limitations succinctly.
  • 02
    Review: Confirm client capacity, attorney consent, and firm details.
  • 03
    Sign: Have client and attorney sign and date the document.
  • 04
    File: Serve opposing parties and file with court or agency per local rule.

How the Assignment Moves Through Workflow

Typical routing for an Assignment of Counsel moves from drafting to signatures, then to service and court or agency filing.

  • Prepare: Generate the document and populate party and counsel information.
  • Authorize: Obtain signatures from client and attorney; notarize if required.
  • Serve: Deliver copies to opposing counsel and stakeholders.
  • File: Submit to clerk or agency; retain proof of service and filing.

Configure an Online Workflow for Assignments

Set up a digital workflow to collect signatures, authenticate signers, and retain an auditable record for the Assignment of Counsel.

Field Configuration
Signer Authentication Email plus SMS code or KBA where required
Signing Order Client signs before attorney to confirm consent
Notarization Enable RON or local notary step as needed
Storage Save final PDF and certificate in secure repository

Platform and Integration Requirements

Use platforms that support PDF and DOCX, provide audit trails, signer authentication, and secure storage for counsel assignments.

  • Formats: PDF, DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Case management and cloud storage
  • Auth Methods: Email, SMS, OAuth, KBA

Typical Timing and Deadlines to Watch

Key dates for Assignments of Counsel depend on procedural rules; below are common deadlines and timing considerations.

Effective Date:

Date parties agree; use MM/DD/YYYY format

Service Deadline:

Serve opposing counsel per local rule, often immediately

Court Filing:

Some courts require filing within days of substitution

I-9 Timing:

If assignment affects employment, retain related I-9s per regulations

Record Retention:

Keep executed copy per retention schedule and regulatory requirements

Key Milestones from Engagement to Archival

Process milestones outline the typical life cycle from engagement to final archival.

01

Engagement Signed

Client and attorney sign to create representation authority

02

Notice Served

Provide opposing parties and clerk with substitution or notice

03

Court Acceptance

Judge or clerk enters appearance or substitution on the docket

04

Archive

Store executed documents and audit trail in secure system

eSignature Vendor Pricing and Feature Snapshot

Compare common eSignature vendor prices and core capabilities for executing Assignments of Counsel; signNow is listed first in the vendor column order.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

FAQs and Troubleshooting

Answers to common questions about preparing, signing, and filing an Assignment of Counsel, including electronic signature considerations and signature authority.


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