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The firm regularly associates with non-resident attorneys in litigation matters pending in Florida courts as either “local counsel” or co-counsel. As a service to non-resident attorneys and visitors to the firm’s website, the firm has provided "Helpful Links" to commonly searched sites. These links are provided solely as a convenience, and the firm neither endorses nor makes any claims regarding the accuracy of any information contained on those sites. In addition, the firm has provided the following information, which generally describes the admission process for non-resident attorneys wishing to be admitted pro hac vice in Florida courts.
FLORIDA STATE COURT
Pro hac vice admission permits a lawyer from another state to practice before Florida courts in a specific matter. In Florida state court, the pro hac vice admission process is governed by Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.510 entitled “Foreign Attorneys” and its analogue in the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Rule 1-310, titled “Appearance By Non-Florida Lawyer in a Florida Court.”
Attorneys seeking admission to appear pro hac vice must submit a verified motion that includes the following information:
- a statement identifying all jurisdictions in which the attorney is an active member in good standing and currently eligible to practice law;
- a statement identifying by date, case name, and case number all other matters in Florida state courts in which pro hac vice admission has been sought in the preceding 5 years, and whether such admission was granted or denied;
- a statement identifying all jurisdictions in which the attorney has been disciplined in any manner in the preceding 5 years and the sanction imposed, or in which the attorney has pending any disciplinary proceeding, including the date of the disciplinary action and the nature of the violation;
- a statement identifying the date on which the legal representation at issue commenced, and the party or parties represented;
- a statement that all applicable provisions of these rules and the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar have been read and that the verified motion complies with those rules;
- the name, record bar address, and membership status of the Florida Bar member or members associated for purposes of the representation;
- a certificate indicating service of the verified motion upon all counsel of record in the matter in which leave to appear pro hac vice is sought and upon The Florida Bar at its Tallahassee office accompanied by a nonrefundable $250.00 filing fee made payable to The Florida Bar or notice of the waiver of the fee; and
- a verification by the attorney seeking to appear pursuant to this rule and the signature of the Florida Bar member or members associated for purposes of the representation.
A form verified motion is incorporated in Rule 2.510 and must be utilized when moving for admission under that rule.
U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
The admission of non-resident attorneys in the Middle District of Florida is governed by Rule 2.02 of the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Pursuant to Rule 2.02(a), within 10 days of filing a paper or pleading in any case pending in the district, a non-resident attorney must file a written designation and consent-to-act on the part of a resident lawyer admitted in the district “upon whom all notices and papers may be served and who will be responsible for the progress of the case, including the trial in default of the non-resident attorney.”
In addition to filing the written designation, a non-resident attorney is required to: i) comply with the fee and e-mail registration requirements of Local Rule 2.01(d); ii) complete a Special Admission Attorney Certification form; and iii) pay the Clerk of Court a fee of $10.00 per case in which special admission is sought. The Special Admission Attorney Certification form is currently available on the district’s website under a link titled “Attorney Resources.” Non-resident attorneys are currently able to register their e-mail addresses by logging on to CM/ECF (“Case Management - Electronic Case Filing”) on the district’s website. Once registered, attorneys can electronically file documents with the court and retrieve electronic court dockets and documents for any case.
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