(a) Marital and Family Law. "Marital and family law" is the practice of law dealing with legal problems arising from the family relationship between spouses and between parent and child including civil controversies arising from those relationships. In addition to actual pretrial and trial process, "marital and family law" includes evaluating, handling, and resolving these controversies prior to and during the institution of suit and post judgment proceedings. The practice of marital and family law in the state of Florida is unique in that decisional, statutory, and procedural laws are specific to this state.(b) Judicial Officers. "Judicial officers" includes judges, general magistrates, special magistrates, child support hearing officers, and private triers of fact appointed by court order.(c) Trial. A "trial" is a matter submitted to and decided by the trier of fact for ultimate resolution by the court's rendition of a judgment or order on at least 1 issue aside from the dissolution of the parties' marriage where the applicant presided over the trial as a judicial officer or conducted as an advocate at least 1 direct and 1 cross-examination of at least 2 different witnesses, introduced at least 1 exhibit into evidence, and was responsible for at least a majority of the presentation of evidence or representation of the client.(d) Substantial Involvement. "Substantial involvement" is active participation in client interviewing, counseling, and investigating; preparation of pleadings; participation in discovery beyond mandatory disclosure; taking of testimony; presentation of evidence; attendance at hearings; negotiations of settlement; attendance at mediation; drafting and preparation of marital settlement agreements; and argument and trial of marital and family law cases. Substantial involvement also includes active participation in the appeal of marital and family law cases.Amended Sept. 21, 1989, effective 10/1/1989 (548 So.2d 1120); 7/23/1992, effective 1/1/1993 (605 So.2d 252); 2/11/1999; 12/12/2008 by the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar; amended and effective 12/4/2020 by The Florida Bar Board of Governors.