Bar sends military spouse rule back before the court.

A revised version of the proposed rule to allow lawyers married to military personnel stationed in Florida to practice in the state without passing the bar exam has been approved by the Board of Governors.

The Bar and the Florida Board of Bar Examiners had petitioned the Supreme Court to add Chapter 21 to the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar to set guidelines that would allow lawyers licensed in other jurisdictions to practice in Florida if they are married to military personnel stationed in state.

Restrictions included they can not have failed the bar exam or a FBBE character and fitness review within the past five years, are graduates from an ABA-accredited law school and are licensed in another jurisdiction, have a clear disciplinary record, are actually living in the state, undergo a FBBE character and fitness review, and pay Bar fees while in the state. They would also have to meet Bar CLE requirements.

The Supreme Court denied the request and ordered the Bar and FBBE to modify the proposal to limit the time such lawyers could practice and that they either have a Bar-member mentor or be associated with a Florida law firm.

"What the court was asking for was specific restrictions and guidelines in the rules. The order...