Thread: LA consul will use expert lawyers to help illegals.

I also found it interesting that some of the states with highest numbers of illegals....CA, Illinois, NY......are mulling over allowing lawyers from foreign countries to practice law in those states on a "temporary basis"

In California, such persons are called Foreign Legal Consultants. In order to become a FLC, you must be a lawyer in good standing from your country of orgin for the past 6 years. Here is some more info:

What am I not permitted to do as a Foreign Legal Consultant?
Answer: You can not:



Appear for a person other than yourself as attorney in any court, or before any magistrate or other judicial officer, in this state or prepare pleadings or any other papers or issue subpoenas in any action or proceeding brought in any court or before any judicial officer;

Prepare any deed, mortgage, assignment, discharge, lease, or any other instrument affecting title to real estate located in the United States;

Prepare any will or trust instrument affecting the disposition on death of any property located in the United States and owned by a resident or any instrument relating to the administration of a decedent’s estate in the United States;

Prepare any instrument in the respect of the marital relations, rights or duties of an resident of the United States, or the custody or care of the children of a resident; or

Otherwise render professional legal advice on the law of the State of California, any other state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the United States, or any country other than the country in which the Foreign Legal Consultant is admitted to practice law, whether rendered incident to preparation of legal instruments or otherwise.

13. How do I find out more information about FLC?
Answer:

Visit the Foreign Legal Consultant page on the State Bar's Web site.
Read the Foreign Legal Consultant Program brochure.
Write to The State Bar of California, Office of Special Admissions and Specialization, 180 Howard Street, San Francisco, California, 94105;
e-mail flc@calbar.ca.gov;
Contact our office at 415-538-2132.

NoBueno wrote:

Appear for a person other than yourself as attorney in any court, or before any magistrate or other judicial officer, in this state or prepare pleadings or any other papers or issue subpoenas in any action or proceeding brought in any court or before any judicial officer;

Prepare any deed, mortgage, assignment, discharge, lease, or any other instrument affecting title to real estate located in the United States;

Prepare any will or trust instrument affecting the disposition on death of any property located in the United States and owned by a resident or any instrument relating to the administration of a decedent’s estate in the United States;

Prepare any instrument in the respect of the marital relations, rights or duties of an resident of the United States, or the custody or care of the children of a resident; or

Otherwise render professional legal advice on the law of the State of California, any other state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the United States, or any country other than the country in which the Foreign Legal Consultant is admitted to practice law, whether rendered incident to preparation of legal instruments or otherwise.

Thanks NoBueno...good information to have. Interesting how resident is used instead of citizen.

In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Essentially, a FLC CANNOT represent clients in a court of law. They CANNOT give legal advice regarding California law or law in any other state.

They CAN give legal advice regarding the law from that country in which they are licensed to pratice in.

According to Cal State Bar Requirements and Regulations, it does not appear as if they have much legal authority here in the State of California. However, we all know how this may be subject to modification, especially when Mexico gets involved.