Seventeenth Judicial Circuit · S.D. Fla., Fort Lauderdale Division
Local counsel in Broward County.
The second-most populous county in the state, and twenty minutes from my office. Whether your matter is in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit or in federal court, the admission mechanics differ — and in state court both of them need a Florida lawyer to press “file.”
Do I need local counsel in Broward County?
Yes for state court. A case in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit or the Broward County Court is a Florida state case, so Rule 2.510(a) applies in full: a verified motion, a Florida Bar member associated as attorney of record, $250 to The Florida Bar and $100 to the clerk. For federal purposes Broward County sits in the Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division — which independently requires co-counsel admitted in that District under Special Rule 4(b).
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit — state
Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division — federal
What I cover in Broward County
Admission
I sign and file the verified motion in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, and the Special Rule 4(b) motion with the consent and CM/ECF designation on the federal side.
Hearings
Motion calendar, special-set hearings, case management and status conferences in Fort Lauderdale — without a flight from your city.
Filings
Portal formatting, service under Rule 2.516, deadline computation under Rule 2.514, and division-specific practices.
Broward County questions
Do I need local counsel in Broward County?
Yes for state court. A case in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit or the Broward County Court is a Florida state case, so Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.510(a) applies in full: a verified motion, a Florida Bar member associated as attorney of record, $250 to The Florida Bar and $100 to the clerk.
For federal cases, Broward County sits in the Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division. That district requires local counsel under Special Rule 4(b), and a pro hac vice attorney may not register for CM/ECF there.
Which judicial circuit is Broward County in?
Broward County is in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit — a single-county circuit. Broward also runs a Complex Litigation Unit for commercial cases, with its own case-management expectations.
Who files the pro hac vice motion in Broward County?
Local counsel does, in state court. Until The Florida Bar issues your pro hac vice number, every document — including the motion that would admit you — must be e-filed through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal by the Florida attorney designated in the motion.
Can you cover a hearing in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes — motion calendar, special-set hearings, case management and status conferences, depositions, and second chair at trial, quoted per appearance. Travel outside Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade is identified separately in the quote rather than buried in the rate.
A Broward County matter?
Send the case number and the next hearing date. Conflicts run first, a quote in writing, an answer within one business day.
Retain local counsel in Broward County
Case number, parties, and the next hearing date.