Rule 6-18.3 - MINIMUM STANDARDS(a) Minimum Period of Practice. The applicant must have been engaged in the practice of law in the United States or engaged in the practice of United States law while in a foreign country and 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 5 years as of the date of filing an application. The years of law practice need not be consecutive. Receipt of an LL.M. degree in urban affairs or other related fields approved by the board of legal specialization and education and the city, county and local government certification committee from an approved law school may substitute for 1 year of the practice of law for purpose of the 5-year practice requirement, but not the 5-year bar membership requirement under this subdivision. However, the applicant may not receive credit for more than 1 year of practice for any 12-month period under this subsection; for example, an applicant who receives credit for being engaged in the practice of law will not receive additional credit for an LL.M. degree earned in the same time period by attending night classes.
(b) Substantial Involvement. The applicant must demonstrate substantial involvement in the practice of Florida city, county, and local government law during each of the 3 years immediately preceding the application date. The board of legal specialization and education may waive the requirement that each of the 3 years immediately precede the application for good cause shown on an applicant's request and the recommendation of the city, county, and local government certification committee. Substantial involvement means the applicant has devoted 40 percent or more of the applicant's practice to matters in which issues of Florida city, county and local government law are significant factors and in which the applicant had substantial and direct participation in those issues. An applicant must furnish information concerning the frequency of the applicant's work and the nature of the issues involved. Time devoted to lecturing or authoring books or articles on city, county, and local government law substitutes for the practice of law if the applicant was otherwise engaged in the practice of law during that time period. Demonstration of compliance with this requirement shall be made initially through a form of questionnaire approved by the city, county and local government certification committee but written or oral supplementation may be required. (c) Peer Review. The applicant must submit the names and addresses of 5 lawyers who are familiar with the applicant's practice to complete peer review forms. These lawyers themselves must be substantially involved in Florida city, county, and local government law. These lawyers may not be the applicant's relatives, currently employed by the same governmental entity or educational institution as the applicant, or currently practice in the applicant's law firm. The board of legal specialization and education and the city, county, and local government certification committee may authorize references from nonlawyers.(d) Education. The applicant must complete 60 credit hours of approved continuing legal education in city, county, and local government law during the 3-year period immediately preceding the application date.(e) Examination. The applicant must pass a written examination, applied uniformly to all applicants, designed to demonstrate sufficient knowledge, skills, and proficiency in the field of Florida city, county, and local government law to justify the representation of special competence to the legal profession and the public.Added July 20, 1995 (658 So.2d 930). Amended Dec. 11, 1998, by the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar; amended and effective 12/4/2020 by The Florida Bar Board of Governors. Amended and effective 12/2/2022 by The Florida Bar Board of Governors.