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§ Rule 10-9.1 Procedures for Issuance of Advisory Opinions on the Unlicensed Practice of Law

Codes > Florida Statutes > Rules Regulating > Chapter 10 : 10-9 Advisory > Rule 10-9.1

Rule 10-9.1. Procedures for Issuance of Advisory Opinions on the Unlicensed Practice of Law

    (a) Definitions.

        (1) Committee. The standing committee as constituted according to the directives contained in these rules.

        (2) Petitioner. An individual or organization seeking guidance as to the applicability, in a hypothetical situation, of the state's prohibitions against the unlicensed practice of law.

        (3) Public Notice. Publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the hearing will be held and in The Florida Bar News.

        (4) Court. The Supreme Court of Florida (or such other court in the state of Florida as the supreme court may designate).

    (b) Requests for Advisory Opinions. A petitioner requesting a formal advisory opinion concerning activities that may constitute the unlicensed practice of law shall do so by sending the request in writing addressed to The UPL Department, The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300. The request for an advisory opinion shall state in detail to the extent practicable the operative facts upon which the request for opinion is based and contain the name and address of the petitioner. The request shall be reviewed by UPL staff counsel. If the request complies with the requirements of the rule as stated herein, the request will be placed on the agenda for the next scheduled meeting of the committee. At that meeting, the committee will determine whether to accept the request, such determination being within the discretion of the committee. Should the committee accept the request, a public hearing as provided in rule 10-9.1(f) shall be scheduled.

    (c) Limitations on Opinions. No opinion shall be rendered with respect to any case or controversy pending in any court or tribunal in this jurisdiction and no informal opinion shall be issued except as provided in rule 10-9.1(g)(1).

    (d) Services of Voluntary Counsel. The committee shall be empowered to request and accept the voluntary services of a person licensed to practice in this state when the committee deems it advisable to receive written or oral advice regarding the question presented by the petitioner.

    (e) Conflict of Interest. Committee members shall not participate in any matter in which they have either a material pecuniary interest that would be affected by a proposed advisory opinion or committee recommendation or any other conflict of interest that should prevent them from participating. However, no action of the committee will be invalid where full disclosure has been made and the committee has not decided that the member's participation was improper.

    (f) Notice, Appearance, and Service.

        (1) At least 30 days in advance of the committee meeting at which a hearing is to be held with respect to a potential advisory opinion, the committee shall give public notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing, state the question presented, and invite written comments on the question. On the announced date the committee shall hold a public hearing at which any person affected shall be entitled to present oral testimony and be represented by counsel. Oral testimony by other persons may be allowed by the committee at its discretion. At the time of or prior to the hearing any other person shall be entitled to file written testimony on the issue before the committee. Additional procedures not inconsistent with this rule may be adopted by the committee.

        (2) The committee shall issue either a written proposed advisory opinion, a letter that declines to issue an opinion, or an informal opinion as provided in rule 10-9.1(g)(1). No other form of communication shall be deemed to be an advisory opinion.

        (3) A proposed advisory opinion shall be in writing and shall bear a date of issuance. The proposed opinion shall prominently bear a title indicating that it is a proposed advisory opinion and a disclaimer stating that it is only an interpretation of the law and does not constitute final court action. The committee shall arrange for the publication of notice of filing the proposed advisory opinion and a summary thereof in The Florida Bar News within a reasonable time. Interested parties shall be furnished a copy of the full opinion upon request.

    (g) Service and Judicial Review of Proposed Advisory Opinions.

        (1) In the case of any proposed advisory opinion in which the standing committee concludes that the conduct in question is not the unlicensed practice of law, it shall decide, by a vote of a majority of the committee members present, either to publish the advisory opinion as provided in rule 10-9.1(f)(3) as an informal advisory opinion, or to file a copy of the opinion with the court as provided in rule 10-9.1(g)(2).

        (2) In the case of any proposed advisory opinion in which the standing committee concludes that the conduct in question constitutes or would constitute the unlicensed practice of law, the committee shall file a copy of the opinion and all materials considered by the committee in adopting the opinion with the clerk of the court. The proposed advisory opinion, together with notice of the filing thereof, shall be furnished by certified mail to the petitioner.

        (3) Within 30 days of the filing of the opinion, the petitioner may file objections and a brief or memorandum in support thereof, copies of which shall be served on the committee. Any other interested person may, within 30 days of the filing of the opinion, seek leave of the court to file and serve a brief, whether in support of or in opposition to the opinion, in accordance with this same procedure. The committee may file a responsive brief within 20 days of service of the initial brief. The petitioner, as well as other interested persons having leave of court, may file a reply brief within 10 days of service of the responsive brief. At its discretion, the court shall permit reasonable extension of these time periods. Oral argument will be allowed at the court's discretion. The Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure shall otherwise govern the above methods of filing, service, and argument.

        (4) Upon the expiration of the time to file objections, briefs, and replies thereto, the court shall review the advisory opinion, regardless of whether any such objections are in fact made, together with any briefs or objections filed in support of or in opposition to such opinion. Upon review, it shall approve, modify, or disapprove the advisory opinion, and the ensuing opinion shall have the force and effect of an order of the court and be published accordingly. There shall be no further review of the opinion except as granted by the court in its discretion, upon petition to the court.