Foreign Legal Consultants (Rule 11)
Under Rule 11 of the Rules for Admission to the Bar, a person who has been admitted to practice in a foreign country as a lawyer or counselor at law may apply for a license as a foreign legal consultant in the State of Minnesota.
Requirements
You must meet the following minimum requirements to apply under Rule 11:
- Have been admitted to practice in a foreign country as a lawyer or counselor at law
- Have been engaged in the practice of law of that country as your principal occupation for at least five of the seven years immediately preceding the application
- Be able to provide documentation that you are in good standing as a lawyer or counselor at law or the equivalent in that country, and that you have remained in good standing throughout the period of your practice
- Receive a good character and fitness recommendation from the Minnesota Board of Law Examiners
- Have a post-secondary degree in law
- Intend to practice as a foreign legal consultant in this state
- Maintain an office in this state for the purpose of practicing as a foreign legal consultant
- Provide evidence that you have professional liability insurance in an amount deemed sufficient by Director
See Rule 11 for additional guidance.
Limitations
- You must maintain an office in this state for the purpose of practicing as a foreign legal consultant
- You may not practice U.S. law
- You may only render services in this state respecting the laws of the country in which you are licensed to practice law
- You must re-certify every three years with the Board of Law Examiners
- You must pay an annual registration fee to the Minnesota Supreme Court Lawyer Registration Office
See Rule 11 for additional guidance.
Apply
To apply you must:
1. Register using the online Minnesota Bar Application Registration form
2. Complete and send in a signed Minnesota Bar Application along with the proper fee and any supplemental information required by the application
3. Submit foreign language documents (documents in a language other than English) in the original language and accompanied by a certified English translation of the document
Click here to begin the application process.
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