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Can I Hire A Texas Lawyer If I Live in Another State?

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Yes, it is.

Hiring a lawyer from Texas is possible, even if the client does not reside in Texas. More than the skills, expertise, and dedication, it is important that you also trust your lawyer.

License to practice in another state

Generally, a lawyer who is licensed to practice in Texas needs a license to practice in another state, vice versa.

Exceptions

There are, of course, a few exceptions to this general rule. The court may grant a limited law license to a lawyer from a different state as requested by the client. The second exception where a corporation hires an out-of-state lawyer to represent the corporation as an in-house lawyer.

Working with an in-state lawyer

In some other cases, the state will permit a lawyer from another state to represent a client for this one case only. It is known as “pro hac vice.”  The lawyer must file a petition before the court allowing him or her to represent the client. The lawyer must also have a valid license from another state. The granting or denying of this petition is up to the sound discretion of the court. Some courts grant may have some conditions imposed. An example of a condition is that an out-of-state lawyer must work with an in-state lawyer.

Reciprocity

Reciprocity may also be an option for the out-of-state lawyer in that he or she can obtain a license from the state where he or she wishes to represent the client without the need to take the state bar examinations provided that he or she has already practiced law in his or her home state for a certain number of years. 

In conclusion, a lawyer from a different state may not have an intensive knowledge with regard to the laws of another state than that of a local lawyer. The best move for the client is to ask their preferred lawyer if filing a petition before the court to permit the out-of-state lawyer to practice law in that court’s state is the best option for their case.

But yes, hiring an attorney requires trust, and it is possible to have an out-of-state lawyer you have absolute confidence in to represent you.

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Hutton Law

Mr. Hutton is a Divorce and Custody Lawyer based out of Round Rock, TX. His background is with child psychology at Arizona State University where he received a B.S. in 2006, and he continued this by working with the Children’s Right’s Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law where he received his J.D. in 2009. Throughout his practice, he has been a strong proponent of utilizing modern technology to improve his practice and the representation of his clients. He currently is the technology chair of CAFA of Travis County and is committed to improving and modernizing the practice of law in Texas. If you have any questions you can contact him at timothy.hutton@austintexaslegal.com

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