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Law licenses in the United States are regulated at the state level. An attorney licensed in Florida can’t automatically practice in California or New York. However, many lawyers are interested in building a multi-state legal practice, whether for personal, professional, or financial reasons.
Can you practice law in multiple states? Yes, but there are some caveats to this answer. Fortunately, with the right information and the latest technology, you can grow your practice beyond your state’s borders.
Can You Practice Law in Multiple States?
Whether your reasons are personal or professional, you might be looking beyond your current state to grow your practice. Can you practice law in multiple states?
Yes. However, you must first obtain a law license in each state where you intend to practice. In this context, practicing law includes activities like advertising legal services, offering legal advice, preparing legal documents, representing clients in court, and negotiating settlements.
The state-based licensing system is governed by individual bar associations, but the American Bar Association (ABA) sets out model rules that many states follow. The ABA provides detailed recommendations for granting temporary or long-term licensing in other jurisdictions.
With the rise of remote work, many attorneys wonder whether they can live in one state and work with clients in another. While lawyers may work remotely from a different state from their clients, they cannot provide legal services in a jurisdiction where they are not admitted. This is a gray area that you should approach with caution.
Why Become a Multi-State Lawyer?
Now you know the answer to the question, “Can you practice law in multiple states?” Let’s get into why you may want to expand beyond your home state. Here’s how expanding your practice beyond your home state will allow you to grow as a legal professional.
Expand Your Client Base
Branching out into adjacent states gives you access to a wider potential client base, where you can serve broader demographics and new industries.
Even if you focus on the same practice areas, expanding your reach to new states can support your long-term growth. It can also allow you to retain loyal clients who move to other states.
Grow Your Legal Network
Practicing in multiple states enables you to build relationships with legal professionals and referral partners across wider regions. Joining bar associations in other states fosters collaboration and visibility.
Rocket Matter supports your growth by partnering with bar associations nationwide, providing tools and resources to expand your reach.
Streamline Cash Flows and Get Paid Faster with Rocket Matter Pay
Law firms have plenty of good reasons to offer online credit card processing:
- Faster, more reliable payments
- Less administrative time spent processing checks and reconciling books
- Offering clients the payment options they actually prefer
- But why have so many firms chosen not to take advantage of all the benefits of credit card processing?
Boost Your Revenue
Geographic limitations can cap your income, especially if you are in a very competitive market. Multi-state licensing can break down those boundaries so that you can earn more. For instance, you could explore opportunities in a less saturated market and diversify your client base.
Before branching out, research your target regions to identify which will provide the strongest ROI. You should also consider factors like start-up costs, operational expenses, and average attorneys’ fees in each jurisdiction.
Serve Clients Who Need a Multi-State Law Firm
Corporate clients and growing businesses may need legal representation in more than one jurisdiction. Being a multi-state attorney gives you an edge and allows you to become a go-to advisor for complex, multijurisdictional matters. Use this advantage to attract and retain large corporate clients.
How to Become a Multi-State Lawyer
Can you practice law in multiple states? Yes, and there’s more than one way to go about it. Here are some options to consider:
Determine if the State Offers Bar Reciprocity
States with bar exam reciprocity allow attorneys licensed in certain states to be admitted to the state bar without taking another exam. Can you practice law in multiple states if the states have bar exam reciprocity?
Yes, but admission to the bar is not automatic. Your eligibility might depend on how long you have been practicing and whether you’ve completed certain Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements. Most importantly, you must go through a formal application process and receive approval before you start practicing.
Take the Uniform Bar Examination
Most states have adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). This standardized exam allows lawyers to transfer their score from one UBE state to another, which streamlines the licensing process.
These are the 11 non-Uniform Bar Exam states:
- Hawaii
- California
- Nevada
- Louisiana
- Wisconsin
- South Dakota
- Florida
- Georgia
- Virginia
- Delaware
- Mississippi
If you’ve already passed the UBE, you won’t have to take another examination to transfer your law license to a UBE state. Instead, you can simply submit your application and wait for approval.
Take the State-Specific Bar Exam
Some states, like California and Florida, do not use the UBE. To practice in these states, you must pass the traditional state-specific bar exam. While this may be more time-consuming, many lawyers find that it’s worth the effort.
Key Considerations for Multi-State Legal Practice
Expanding your practice into multiple states isn’t without its challenges. You must be mindful of the following:
- State-specific laws and procedural rules
- Compliance with ethics regulations
- Trust accounting and financial rules unique to each state
- Deadlines, filing formats, and court processes
That’s where Rocket Matter comes in. Our cloud-based legal practice management platform was designed with flexibility in mind. Collaboration tools keep your team connected, while workflow automation features make it easy to simplify your processes. Rocket Matter also includes trust account management to promote compliance and transparency.
Streamline Cash Flows and Get Paid Faster with Rocket Matter Pay
Law firms have plenty of good reasons to offer online credit card processing:
- Faster, more reliable payments
- Less administrative time spent processing checks and reconciling books
- Offering clients the payment options they actually prefer
- But why have so many firms chosen not to take advantage of all the benefits of credit card processing?
Let Rocket Matter Support Your Multi-State Practice
Can you practice law in multiple states? Yes. The question is, do you have the right tools to support your growth? Rocket Matter is here to help you build a smarter, more efficient practice across jurisdictions. You’ll have access to:
- Cloud-based tools that you can use from any device or location
- Customizable templates
- Built-in time tracking and invoicing
- Secure client communication portal
If you’ve got your sights set on building a multi-state practice, Rocket Matter can bring your vision to life!
Streamline Cash Flows and Get Paid Faster with Rocket Matter Pay
Law firms have plenty of good reasons to offer online credit card processing:
- Faster, more reliable payments
- Less administrative time spent processing checks and reconciling books
- Offering clients the payment options they actually prefer
- But why have so many firms chosen not to take advantage of all the benefits of credit card processing?
The post Can You Practice Law in Multiple States? What Lawyers Should Know appeared first on Rocket Matter.