Title: In Re: Amendments to the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar - Chapter 21 Military Spouse Authorization to Engage in the Practice of Law in Florida In Re: Amendments to the Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to the Bar

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2017 
 
CASE NOS.: SC17-156 & SC17-230 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Florida Bar has filed a petition to amend the Rules Regulating the 
Florida Bar to include new rules that establish a process by which the spouse of a 
member of the United States Armed Forces stationed in Florida may obtain 
authorization to practice law in Florida without taking the Florida Bar Exam.  In a 
companion petition, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners proposes amending the 
Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to the Bar to include a new 
rule that sets out the application fee a person seeking authorization under the Bar’s 
proposal must pay. 
 
The Court having considered the proposed amendments, and the comment 
filed, both petitions are hereby dismissed.  The Bar and the Board are directed to 
file a joint petition within ninety days of the date of this order that imposes 
IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES REGULATING THE FLORIDA BAR – 
CHAPTER 21 MILITARY SPOUSE AUTHORIZATION TO ENGAGE IN THE 
PRACTICE OF LAW IN FLORIDA 
 
IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF THE SUPREME COURT 
RELATING TO ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR 
 
CASE NOS.: SC17-156 & SC17-230 
Page Two 
 
 
 
additional restrictions on those requesting authorization to practice law in Florida 
as the spouse of a member of the United States Armed Forces.  Such restrictions 
must include a time limit on the duration of the authorization and must require that 
all persons who receive authorization associate, either through participation in a 
law firm or through mentorship, with a member of the Bar who is eligible to 
practice law in Florida for the duration of the authorization. 
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, and POLSTON, JJ., 
concur. 
LAWSON, J., dissents with an opinion, in which CANADY, J., concurs. 
 
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, 
IF FILED, DETERMINED. 
 
LAWSON, J., dissenting. 
 
As proposed, these rules would allow the spouse of a member of our United 
States Armed Forces to practice law in Florida only while his or her spouse is on 
active duty and stationed in Florida or on an unaccompanied or remote assignment 
with no dependents authorized after being transferred from Florida; only while the 
spouse is living with his or her spouse in Florida (with the unaccompanied or 
CASE NOS.: SC17-156 & SC17-230 
Page Three 
 
 
 
remote assignment exception);1 and only if the spouse first establishes his or her 
character and fitness to the satisfaction of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners 
(and, by extension, this Court).  In addition, the spouse must have graduated from a 
law school accredited by the American Bar Association; have successfully passed 
another state’s written bar examination; and have been successfully admitted to 
practice in another U.S. jurisdiction.  Significantly, the spouse is not eligible for 
special admission under the proposed rules if he or she is not a member of the bar 
in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the spouse has practiced law 
previously, is subject to lawyer discipline in any other jurisdiction, or is even the 
subject of a pending disciplinary matter in any other jurisdiction.  If admitted, the 
spouse is required to be affiliated with and mentored by a member of The Florida 
Bar, unless he or she has successfully completed three or more years of active 
practice in another U.S. jurisdiction.  Finally, the spouse will be subject to the 
disciplinary jurisdiction of The Florida Bar and this Court.  These requirements, 
and others, suitably protect the public.  Accordingly, I would adopt the rules, as 
                                                          
 
1.  The proposed rule would allow the spouse to obtain admission prior to 
moving to Florida, but only if he or she provides evidence of intent to reside in 
Florida with his or her spouse within six months. 
CASE NOS.: SC17-156 & SC17-230 
Page Four 
 
 
 
proposed, for the good and sufficient reason that they appropriately give form to 
the gratitude that we should all share for the sacrifices made each day by those 
serving in our Armed Forces, and by their families. 
CANADY, J., concurs. 
A True Copy 
Test: 
 
 
 
 
so 
Served: 
 
ELIZABETH J. WALTERS 
MICHELE A. GAVAGNI 
JOHN F. HARKNESS JR. 
ELIZABETH CLARK TARBERT 
TINA MARIE FISCHER 
LORI S. HOLCOMB 
WILLIAM CHARLES HENRY 
WILLIAM J. SCHIFINO JR. 
JAMES T. ALMON 
MICHAEL J. HIGER 
KARLYN HYLTON BOLER