§ Rule 6-21.3 Minimum Standards

Codes > Florida Statutes > Rules Regulating > Chapter 6 : 6-21 Standards > Rule 6-21.3

Rule 6-21.3. Minimum Standards

    (a) Minimum Period of Practice.The applicant shall have been engaged in the practice of law, either in the United States or abroad, and shall have been a member in good standing of the bar of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, for a period of not less than 5 years as of the date of application. The years of law practice need not be consecutive. Receipt of an LL.M. degree in international law, as defined in rule 6-21.2(a), or in such other field as may be approved by the international law certification committee, shall be deemed to constitute 1 year of the practice of law requirement, but not the 5-year bar membership requirement, specified in this subdivision.

    (b) Substantial Involvement.The applicant shall demonstrate substantial involvement in the practice of international law during each of the 3 years immediately preceding the date of application. Except for the 2 years immediately preceding application, receipt of an LL.M. degree, as defined in rule 6-21.2(a), may substitute for 1 year of substantial involvement. Substantial involvement shall mean that the applicant has devoted 50 percent or more of the applicant's practice to matters in which issues of international law played a significant role and in which the applicant had substantial and direct participation. For purposes of this subdivision, time devoted to lecturing on or writing about international law may be included. Although demonstration of compliance with this requirement shall be made initially through a form approved by the international law certification committee, the international law certification committee may at its option require written or oral supplementation.

    (c) Education.The applicant shall demonstrate that during the 3-year period immediately preceding the date of application, the applicant has completed at least 60 hours of continuing legal education in the field of international law. This requirement can be met through: attendance at continuing legal education seminars on international law; satisfactory completion of graduate level law school courses while enrolled in an LL.M. program in international law or comparative law; satisfactory completion of graduate level law school courses involving international law aspects while enrolled in a graduate law program; lecturing at continuing legal education seminars on international law; authoring articles or books on international law; or teaching courses on international law at an accredited law school. The international law certification committee shall promulgate uniform regulations for the operation of the subdivision.

    (d) Peer Review.The applicant shall submit the names and addresses of 5 other attorneys or judges who are familiar with the applicant's practice, excluding individuals who currently are employed by the same employer as the applicant, and who can attest to the applicant's special competence and substantial involvement in international law, as well as the applicant's character, ethics, and reputation for professionalism. The international law certification committee may at its option send reference forms to other attorneys and judges.

    (e) Examination.The applicant shall take and pass an examination designed to demonstrate sufficient knowledge, skills, and proficiency in international law to justify the representation of special competence to the legal profession and the public.