Case Title: In Re: Amendments to Rules Regulating The Florida Bar 4-1.1 and 6-10.3

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC16-574

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2016-09-29T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC16-574 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO RULES REGULATING THE FLORIDA BAR 
4-1.1 AND 6-10.3. 
 
[September 29, 2016] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
This matter is before the Court on the petition of The Florida Bar (Bar) 
proposing amendments to the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar (Bar Rules).  See 
R. Regulating Fla. Bar 1-12.1.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 15, Fla. Const.   
 
The Bar’s petition in this case proposes amendments to two Bar Rules: 4-1.1 
(Competence) and 6-10.3 (Minimum Continuing Legal Education Standards).  The 
proposals were approved by the Board of Governors, and formal notice of the 
proposed amendments was published in The Florida Bar News.  The notice 
directed interested persons to file their comments directly with the Court.  The 
Court did not receive any comments. 
After considering the Bar’s petition, we adopt these straightforward 
amendments as proposed.  The comment to rule 4-1.1 (Competence) is amended to 
 
 
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add language providing that competent representation may involve a lawyer’s 
association with, or retention of, a non-lawyer advisor with established 
technological competence in the relevant field.  Competent representation may also 
entail safeguarding confidential information related to the representation, including 
electronic transmissions and communications.  Additionally, we add language to 
the comment providing that, in order to maintain the requisite knowledge and skill, 
a lawyer should engage in continuing study and education, including an 
understanding of the risks and benefits associated with the use of technology. 
In rule 6-10.3 (Minimum Continuing Legal Education Standards), 
subdivision (a) (Applicability) is amended to clarify when Bar members must 
apply and receive approval for an exemption from the continuing legal education 
requirements (pursuant to subdivision (c) (Exemptions)), and when the exemption 
is automatic.  We amend subdivision (b) (Minimum Hourly Continuing Legal 
Education Requirements) to change the required number of continuing legal 
education credit hours over a three-year period from 30 to 33, with three hours in 
an approved technology program.  We also amend subdivision (b) to delete 
language requiring that courses offering credit in professionalism be approved by 
the Center for Professionalism.  The Bar’s petition indicates these courses will now 
be approved by the Department of Legal Specialization and Education.  
Subdivision (g) (Skills Training Preadmission) is amended to change the 
 
 
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requirement for completing an approved basic skills or entry level training program 
presented by a governmental entity from within eight months prior to Bar 
admission, to twelve months.  Finally, we have made a number of non-substantive 
or grammatical amendments throughout rule 6-10.3 to clarify the wording. 
Accordingly, the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar are amended as set forth 
in the appendix to this opinion.  New language is indicated by underscoring; 
deletions are indicated by struck-through type.  The comments are offered for 
explanation only and are not adopted as an official part of the rules.  The 
amendments shall become effective on January 1, 2017, at 12:01 a.m. 
It is so ordered. 
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, POLSTON, 
and PERRY, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
Original Proceeding – Rules Regulating the Florida Bar 
 
John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director, William J. Schifino, Jr., President, 
Ramón A. Abadin, Past-President, Michael Jerome Higer, President-elect 
Designate, John Mitchell Stewart, Chair, Vision 2016 Technology Subcommittee, 
Lori S. Holcomb, Director, Division of Ethics and Consumer Protection, and 
Elizabeth Clark Tarbert, Ethics Counsel, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner
 
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APPENDIX 
 
RULE 4-1.1 
 
COMPETENCE 
 
A lawyer shallmust provide competent representation to a client.  Competent 
representation requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation 
reasonably necessary for the representation. 
 
COMMENT 
Legal knowledge and skill 
 
In determining whether a lawyer employs the requisite knowledge and skill 
in a particular matter, relevant factors include the relative complexity and 
specialized nature of the matter, the lawyer’s general experience, the lawyer’s 
training and experience in the field in question, the preparation and study the 
lawyer is able to give the matter, and whether it is feasible to refer the matter to, or 
associate or consult with, a lawyer of established competence in the field in 
question.  In many instances the required proficiency is that of a general 
practitioner.  Expertise in a particular field of law may be required in some 
circumstances. 
 
A lawyer need not necessarily have special training or prior experience to 
handle legal problems of a type with which the lawyer is unfamiliar.  A newly 
admitted lawyer can be as competent as a practitioner with long experience.  Some 
important legal skills, such as the analysis of precedent, the evaluation of evidence 
and legal drafting, are required in all legal problems.  Perhaps the most 
fundamental legal skill consists of determining what kind of legal problems a 
situation may involve, a skill that necessarily transcends any particular specialized 
knowledge.  A lawyer can provide adequate representation in a wholly novel field 
through necessary study.  Competent representation can also be provided through 
the association of a lawyer of established competence in the field in question. 
 
Competent representation may also involve the association or retention of a 
non-lawyer advisor of established technological competence in the field in 
question.  Competent representation also involves safeguarding confidential 
information relating to the representation, including, but not limited to, electronic 
transmissions and communications. 
 
In an emergency a lawyer may give advice or assistance in a matter in which 
the lawyer does not have the skill ordinarily required where referral to or 
 
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consultation or association with another lawyer would be impractical.  Even in an 
emergency, however, assistance should be limited to that reasonably necessary in 
the circumstances, for ill-considered action under emergency conditions can 
jeopardize the client’s interest. 
 
A lawyer may accept representation where the requisite level of competence 
can be achieved by reasonable preparation.  This applies as well to a lawyer who is 
appointed as counsel for an unrepresented person.  See also rule 4-6.2. 
 
Thoroughness and preparation 
 
Competent handling of a particular matter includes inquiry into and analysis 
of the factual and legal elements of the problem, and use of methods and 
procedures meeting the standards of competent practitioners.  It also includes 
adequate preparation.  The required attention and preparation are determined in 
part by what is at stake; major litigation and complex transactions ordinarily 
require more extensive treatment than matters of lesser complexity and 
consequence.  The lawyer should consult with the client about the degree of 
thoroughness and the level of preparation required as well as the estimated costs 
involved under the circumstances. 
 
Maintaining competence 
 
To maintain the requisite knowledge and skill, a lawyer should keep abreast 
of changes in the law and its practice, engage in continuing study and education, 
including an understanding of the benefits and risks associated with the use of 
technology, and comply with all continuing legal education requirements to which 
the lawyer is subject. 
 
 
RULE 6-10.3  
MINIMUM CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION 
STANDARDS 
 
(a) Applicability.  Every member except those exempt under rule 6-
10.3(c)(4) and (5) shallsubdivision (c) of this rule must comply and report 
compliance with the continuing legal education requirement.  Members must apply 
for and receive approval by the bar of an exemption from compliance and reporting 
of continuing legal education under subdivisions (c)(1) through (c)(3) of this rule.  
Members described in subdivisions (c)(4) through (c)(6) of this rule are 
 
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automatically exempt from compliance and reporting of continuing legal 
education. 
 
(b) Minimum Hourly Continuing Legal Education Requirements.  
Each member shallmust complete a minimum of 3033 credit hours of approved 
continuing legal education activity every 3 years.  Five of the 3033 credit hours 
must be in approved legal ethics, professionalism, bias elimination, substance 
abuse, or mental illness awareness programs and 3 of the 33 credit hours must be 
in approved technology programs.  Courses offering credit in professionalism must 
be approved by the center for professionalism.  These 5 hours, which are to be 
included in, and not in addition to, the regular 30-hour33 credit hour requirement.  
If a member completes more than 3033 credit hours during any reporting cycle, the 
excess credits cannot be carried over to the next reporting cycle. 
 
(c) Exemptions.  Eligibility for an exemption, in accordance with policies 
adopted under this rule, is available for;: 
 
(1) – (4) 
[No Change] 
 
(5) 
justices of the Supreme Court of Florida and judges of the 
district courts of appeal, circuit courts, and county courts, and such other judicial 
officers and employees as may be designated by the Supreme Court of Florida; 
and, 
 
(6) 
[No Change]. 
 
(d) Course Approval.  Course approval shall beis set forth in policies 
adopted pursuant to this rule.  Special policies shallwill be adopted for courses 
sponsored by governmental agencies for employee attorneys that shall exempt 
suchthese courses from any course approval fee and may exempt suchthese courses 
from other requirements as determined by the board of legal specialization and 
education. 
 
(e) Accreditation of Hours.  Accreditation standards shall beare set forth 
in the policies adopted under this rule.  If aAny course is presented, or sponsored 
by or has received credit approval fromapproved for credit by an organized 
integrated or voluntary state bar (whether integrated or voluntary), such course 
shall beis deemed an approved course for purposes of this rule if the course meets 
the criteria for accreditation established by policies adopted under this rule. 
 
 
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(f) 
Full-time Government Employees.  Credit hours shallwill be given 
full-time government employees for courses presented by governmental agencies.  
Application for credit approval may be submitted by the full-time government 
attorney before or after attendance, without charge. 
 
(g) Skills Training Preadmission.  The board of legal specialization and 
education may approve for CLER credit a basic skills or entry level training 
program developed and presented by a governmental entity.  If approved, 
creditCredit earned through attendance at suchan approved course developed and 
presented by a governmental entity is applicable under subdivision (b) of this rule, 
if taken within 812 months prior to admission to The Florida Bar, shall be 
applicable under rule 6-10.3(b).