S.D. Fla. · Pro hac vice · Updated August 2026

Local counsel is required in the Southern District of Florida.

Special Rule 4(b) does two things at once: it requires co-counsel admitted in the District to file and serve your pro hac vice motion, and it keeps you off CM/ECF for the life of the case.

Do I need local counsel in the Southern District of Florida?

Yes. Under Special Rule 4(b)(1), an attorney not admitted in the Southern District of Florida may appear in a particular case only “upon submission of a pro hac vice motion filed and served by co-counsel admitted to practice in this District.” Rule 4(b)(3) separately requires the motion to designate a member of that court’s bar who is authorized to e-file, on whom filings are served, and who must electronically file and serve all documents. The fee is $250 per attorney, per case.

“An attorney who is a member in good standing of the bar of any United States Court or of the highest Court of any State … but is not admitted to practice in the Southern District of Florida may, upon submission of a pro hac vice motion filed and served by co-counsel admitted to practice in this District, be permitted to appear and participate in a particular case.”S.D. Fla. Special Rule 4(b)(1)

The details

Local counselRequired — Special Rule 4(b)(1) and (3)

Fee$250 per attorney, per case

E-filingLocal counsel only. An attorney admitted pro hac vice “will not be permitted to register as a User in this District.”

CertificationThe motion must certify that the applicant has studied the Local Rules, is in good standing, and has not filed more than three pro hac vice motions in different cases in the District in the last 365 days.

ConsentA written consent from the designated District-bar member, with address and telephone, must accompany the motion.

Additional partiesRule 4(b)(4): appear for more parties in the same case by notice, no additional fee, if the sponsoring co-counsel information is current.

Divisions

Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Pierce and Key West. Which division a case sits in drives where hearings are held and how far a covering lawyer has to travel.

Counties

Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee, Highlands and Monroe.

Questions specific to this district

Can I e-file my own documents in S.D. Fla. after I am admitted pro hac vice?

No. The court states that an attorney permitted to appear pro hac vice will not be permitted to register as a CM/ECF user in the District, and that all documents — including the motion to appear pro hac vice — must be filed electronically through local counsel.

Does the $250 Florida Bar fee apply here?

No. Rule 2.510 and Rule Regulating The Florida Bar 1-3.10 apply only to state-court appearances. The Southern District charges its own $250 pro hac vice fee, payable to the clerk.

What if I need to appear for another party in the same case?

Special Rule 4(b)(4) allows an attorney already admitted pro hac vice to appear for additional parties in the same case by Notice of Appearance Pro Hac Vice, with no additional fee, provided all prior information — including the sponsoring co-counsel — remains current.

Florida state court is different — local counsel is mandatory

If this matter has a companion state action, or it was removed and could be remanded, Rule 2.510 applies there in full: a Florida Bar member must be associated as attorney of record, the $250 Bar fee and $100 clerk fee apply, and you cannot e-file your own admission motion. Read the pro hac vice guide.

Counties in this district: Miami-Dade County · Broward County · Palm Beach County · all counties

A S.D. Fla. matter?

Send the case number and the next deadline. Conflicts run first, and if the answer is that you do not need local counsel here, that is the answer you get.

(561) 308-9119 zachary@astudentslawyer.com

Retain local counsel — S.D. Fla.

Case number, parties, and the deadline driving it.