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(i) has an office in the State of Florida for the provision of services as foreign legal counsel; and A person licensed to practice in the United States, is admitted to practice law in a foreign jurisdiction, has practised equivalent legal counsel as an attorney in that foreign jurisdiction for a period of at least 3 of the last 5 years immediately prior to the application for certification, and who otherwise meets the requirements of Article 16.-1 of the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct, can become a foreign legal advisor. While there are some restrictions on the services a foreign legal advisor can provide, a foreign legal counsel can advise individuals on foreign law in the same way that a U.S. attorney might advise on U.S. law. The Florida Bar Foreign Legal Advice Rule allows a foreign attorney to be certified in Florida as a recognized foreign legal advisor to advise clients on the laws of the bar association under which the attorney is admitted. Florida Bar Regulatory Rules: Chapter 16 explains qualifications for certification. Under Florida law, a foreign legal advisor is a person who is licensed as an attorney, legal adviser or equivalent in a foreign jurisdiction and is qualified to provide legal advice on the laws of the foreign jurisdiction(s) in which he or she is admitted. They can provide services on a for-profit or pro bono basis. As of November 2018, there were only 117 foreign legal advisors in the state of Florida.

This means that there is a good chance that a particular person who becomes a foreign legal advisor will be one of the few foreign legal advisors in a given country. (F) provide legal services without the use of a prior written agreement stating in bold that foreign legal counsel in the State of Florida is not authorized to practice law or is not authorized to advise on the laws of the United States or any other state, Commonwealth, territory or District of Columbia, unless: It is a license and the foreign legal counsel`s practice is limited to the laws of the foreign country in which that person is admitted as a lawyer, legal adviser or equivalent. (3) a letter of recommendation from at least 2 lawyers, legal advisers or equivalent parents admitted and practising in such a foreign country, indicating how long it takes, when and under what circumstances they knew the applicant and how they assess the applicant`s character; To obtain certification as a foreign legal advisor in Florida, refer to the following requests: (a) Commencement of Permission to Provide Services. The authorization granted to a foreign legal counsel to provide legal services under this Chapter takes effect upon the submission of an application and certification of the requirements of rules 16-1.2(a) to (j) and 16-1.3(a) and (b) in respect of an applicant. In addition to any other evidence that the Florida Bar Association may require in its sole discretion, the application must include the filing and approval of: (B) the applicant`s admission to practice in that foreign country and the date thereof; (a) Disciplinary action taken by Florida courts. Any person admitted as foreign counsel under this Chapter shall be expressly subject to the Code of Professional Conduct and the continuous review of such attorney`s qualifications in order to retain any license granted hereunder and shall be subject to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Florida and other courts of that State. (7) a duly recognized document stating the address of the plaintiff in the State of Florida and designating the Secretary of State as agent of that person, on whom the proceedings may be served under the laws in force in Florida with equivalent effect as if they had been served on the plaintiff in person, in any subsequent action or proceeding against the plaintiff; arising out of or on the basis of legal services provided or offered by such applicant, within or to residents of the State of Florida, if, after due diligence has been performed, due diligence cannot be performed for such applicant at such address. The application for employment as a foreign legal advisor requires detailed documentation of the applicant`s background and the collection of documents from the organization that regulates legal practice in the applicant`s country of registration. An attorney can help determine whether documents provided by foreign companies meet the requirements of Florida`s rules of professional conduct set out for foreign legal counsel.

In addition, applying for a foreign attorney involves filing a character and suitability petition with the National Conference of Bar Examiners and applying to the Florida Bar for certification. The process is like the one conducted by a Florida licensed attorney. Therefore, a Florida licensed attorney would be well positioned to guide a plaintiff through the steps. (1) a duly authenticated attestation issued by the institution exercising abroad the law into which the applicant is admitted, accompanied, where applicable, by the official seal of that institution and attesting (a) is admitted abroad as an advocate or adviser, or the equivalent for a period of at least 5 of the 7 years immediately preceding the application for accreditation under this chapter; In addition, many people admitted abroad as lawyers, legal advisers or equivalents often work as paralegals or paralegals in the United States. Becoming a foreign legal advisor allows this person to significantly increase their individual value by acquiring the ability to advise on foreign laws, in addition to the legal use of the title “foreign legal consultant” or “FLC”. (1) be limited to the law of the foreign country in which the person is admitted as an advocate, legal adviser or equivalent; (B) prepare a deed, mortgage, assignment, debt relief, lease, contract of sale or other instrument relating to the ownership of real property in the United States or personal property situated in the United States, unless the instrument relating to the ownership of such property is governed by the law of a jurisdiction in which the foreign counsel is admitted to the bar; legal or equivalent counsel; (c) failure by the foreign board to comply with the applicable provisions of this Chapter. (a) Legal Advice. A person accredited as a foreign legal advisor under this Chapter may provide legal services in the State of Florida; provided, however, that the purpose of such services is to enable a person admitted to a foreign country as a lawyer, legal adviser or equivalent legal adviser to act as a foreign legal adviser in the State of Florida. This chapter allows a lawyer licensed in 1 or more other countries to be certified by the Florida Supreme Court without examination to provide services in that state as legal counsel with respect to the laws of the country in which the attorney is licensed to practice. (B) Submit to the jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court for disciplinary purposes as defined in Chapter 3 of this Policy and Rule 16-1.6. The applicant`s statement must also authorize notification to the law practice body in the foreign country in which the applicant is authorized to exercise any disciplinary action against the applicant in Florida; and In accordance with U.S.

immigration law, the Florida Bar Certification Committee has determined that a B-2 nonimmigrant (Visitor for Pleasure) visa is prima facie insufficient for certification. Similarly, in most cases, a B-1 (Visitor for Business) visa is not sufficient to serve as foreign legal counsel. Applicants with additional questions should seek appropriate professional advice on U.S. immigration law. (E) provide professional legal advice on the laws of the State of Florida, the United States or any other state, subdivision, Commonwealth or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia (whether in connection with the preparation of a legal instrument or otherwise); or (c) notify other jurisdictions. The Florida Bar Association has the authority to notify any entity regulating the practice of law in the foreign country in which the foreign legal counsel is authorized to practice law of all disciplinary measures taken against the foreign legal counsel.