
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 38USC7263]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
              PART V--BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES
 
     CHAPTER 72--UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS
 
                        SUBCHAPTER II--PROCEDURE
 
Sec. 7263. Representation of parties; fee agreements

    (a) The Secretary shall be represented before the Court of Appeals 
for Veterans Claims by the General Counsel of the Department.
    (b) Representation of appellants shall be in accordance with the 
rules of practice prescribed by the Court under section 7264 of this 
title. In addition to members of the bar admitted to practice before the 
Court in accordance with such rules of practice, the Court may allow 
other persons to practice before the Court who meet standards of 
proficiency prescribed in such rules of practice.
    (c) A person who represents an appellant before the Court shall file 
a copy of any fee agreement between the appellant and that person with 
the Court at the time the appeal is filed. The Court, on its own motion 
or the motion of any party, may review such a fee agreement.
    (d) In reviewing a fee agreement under subsection (c) of this 
section or under section 5904(c)(2) of this title, the Court may affirm 
the finding or order of the Board and may order a reduction in the fee 
called for in the agreement if it finds that the fee is excessive or 
unreasonable. An order of the Court under this subsection is final and 
may not be reviewed in any other court.

(Added Pub. L. 100-687, div. A, title III, Sec. 301(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 
102 Stat. 4116, Sec. 4063; renumbered Sec. 7263 and amended Pub. L. 102-
40, title IV, Sec. 402(b)(1), (d)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238, 239; 
Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 
Stat. 404, 405; Pub. L. 105-368, title V, Sec. 512(a)(1), Nov. 11, 1998, 
112 Stat. 3341.)


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-368 substituted ``Court of Appeals 
for Veterans Claims'' for ``Court of Veterans Appeals''.
    1991--Pub. L. 102-40, Sec. 402(b)(1), renumbered section 4063 of 
this title as this section.
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted 
``Secretary'' for ``Administrator''.
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(3), (4), substituted ``Department'' for 
``Veterans' Administration''.
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102-40, Sec. 402(d)(1), substituted ``7264'' 
for ``4064''.
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102-40, Sec. 402(d)(1), substituted 
``5904(c)(2)'' for ``3404(c)(2)''.


                    Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 105-368 effective on first day of first month 
beginning more than 90 days after Nov. 11, 1998, see section 513 of Pub. 
L. 105-368, set out as a note under section 7251 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 5904 of this title.
