Florida Legal Recruiters

The Legal Industry in Florida 

The fourth largest legal market in the United States by headcount, Florida has over 77,000 active lawyers according to the American Bar Association, outstripped only by New York (187,000), California (170,000) and Texas (95,000). Miami, Tampa, and Tallahassee all serve as the state’s major legal hubs, and typical specializations include wills, trusts, and estates; immigration and naturalization; admiralty and maritime law; and state and federal governmental practice. 

Miami is the largest city in the Sunshine State with a population of 5.5 million, followed by the Tampa–St. Petersburg area (2.4 million) and Orlando (1.5 million). Other noteworthy cities include Tallahassee (240,000), Gainesville (185,000), and Palm Beach (8,000). In recent years, Florida’s economy has boomed with a five-year GPD gain of 14.91 percent for a total GDP of $1,226 billion. 

In addition to the specializations mentioned above, major areas of legal practice in Florida include real estate law, tax law, and corporate law. 

Is It Difficult to Practice Law in Florida? 

The state of Florida has several rules for persons seeking to practice law in the state. According to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, these include: 

• Being enrolled in or having been enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school  
• Having received a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) degree 
• Having demonstrated technical competence by passing the General Bar Examination; the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE); and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) 

Additionally, applicants must also meet the following standards. They must: 

• Be at least 18 years old 
• Not have been disbarred in the United States or in a foreign jurisdiction 
• Not be currently suspended from practicing law 
• Never have been convicted of a felony 
• Provide evidence of good moral character 

Individuals who have been disbarred are not eligible to apply for a period of five years if disbarred or three years if resigned. There is no residence requirement for applicants. For more information, please visit the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. 

Once admitted to the Florida Bar, lawyers can take advantage of the variety of statewide professional organizations and employment opportunities. Our large network of legal recruiting firms throughout the state is ready to perform all the groundwork for communications and research to put you in contact with the right legal employment leads. Contact the Legal Recruiter Directory today to learn more.