5 U.S.C.
§ 500. Administrative practice; general provisions
- (a) For the purpose of this section -
- (1) 'agency' has the meaning given it by section 551
of this title; and
- (2) 'State' means a State, a territory or possession of the United States
including a Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
- (b) An individual who is a member in good standing of the bar of the
highest court of a State may represent a person before an agency on filing with
the agency a written declaration that he is currently qualified as provided by
this subsection and is authorized to represent the particular person in whose
behalf he acts.
- (c) An individual who is duly qualified to practice as a certified public
accountant in a State may represent a person before the Internal Revenue Service
of the Treasury Department on filing with that agency a written declaration that
he is currently qualified as provided by this subsection and is authorized to
represent the particular person in whose behalf he acts.
- (d) This section does not -
- (1) grant or deny to an individual who is not qualified as provided by
subsection (b) or (c) of this section the right to appear for or represent a
person before an agency or in an agency proceeding;
- (2) authorize or limit the discipline, including disbarment, of
individuals who appear in a representative capacity before an agency;
- (3) authorize an individual who is a former employee of an agency to
represent a person before an agency when the representation is prohibited by
statute or regulation; or
- (4) prevent an agency from requiring a power of attorney as a condition to
the settlement of a controversy involving the payment of money.
- (e) Subsections (b)-(d) of this section do not apply to practice before
the Patent Office with respect to patent matters that continue to be covered by
chapter 3 (sections 31-33) of title 35.
- (f) When a participant in a matter before an agency is represented by an
individual qualified under subsection (b) or (c) of this section, a notice or
other written communication required or permitted to be given the participant in
the matter shall be given to the representative in addition to any other service
specifically required by statute. When a participant is represented by more than
one such qualified representative, service on any one of the representatives is
sufficient.
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