What does the term "pro hac vice" mean?

The term "pro hac vice" is a Latin phrase that translates to "for this occasion" or "for this event." In the context of law, it refers to a situation where a lawyer who is not licensed to practice in a particular jurisdiction is granted permission to participate in a specific case within that jurisdiction. This temporary permission is granted for that particular occasion (or case) only and does not grant the attorney general rights to practice in that jurisdiction beyond this specific instance. This allows clients to benefit from legal representation by attorneys with specialized knowledge or skills, even if they are not licensed to practice in that state.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the meaning of "pro hac vice." The term is not related to pending investigations, the legality of one's status in a general sense, or the duration of trial proceedings; it is specifically tied to the allowance for an out-of-state lawyer to represent a client in a specific case.