Rule 713 - Applications for Licensing of Foreign Legal Consultants(a) Referral to Committee on Character and Fitness.(1) The Committee on Character and Fitness of the judicial district in which any applicant for a license (pursuant to Rule 712 ) to practice as a foreign legal consultant resides shall pass upon his or her good moral character and general fitness to practice as a foreign legal consultant. The applicant shall furnish the committee with copies of the affidavits referred to in paragraphs (b)(3), (b)(4) and (b)(5) hereof. Each applicant for a license to practice as a foreign legal consultant shall appear before the committee of his district or some member thereof and shall furnish the committee such evidence of his or her good moral character and general fitness to practice as a foreign legal consultant as in the opinion of the committee would justify his or her being licensed as a foreign legal consultant.(2) Unless otherwise ordered by the supreme court, no license to practice as a foreign legal consultant shall be granted without a certificate, from the Committee on Character and Fitness for the judicial district in which the applicant resides, certifying that the committee has found that the applicant is of good moral character and general fitness to practice as a foreign legal consultant.(b) DocumentsAffidavits and Other Proof Required. Every applicant for a license to practice as a foreign legal consultant shall file the following additional documents with his or her application: (1) a certificate from the authority having final jurisdiction over professional discipline in the foreign country in which the applicant was admitted to practice, which shall be signed by a responsible official or one of the members of the executive body of such authority and shall be attested under the hand and seal, if any, of the clerk of such authority, and which shall certify: (i) as to the authoritys jurisdiction in such matters;(ii) as to the applicants admission to practice in such foreign country and the date thereof and as to his or her good standing as an attorney or counselor at law or the equivalent therein; and(iii) as to whether any charge or complaint has ever been filed against the applicant with such authority, and, if so, the substance of each such charge or complaint and the disposition thereof;(2) a letter of recommendation from one of the members of the executive body of such authority or from one of the judges of the highest law court or court of general original jurisdiction of such foreign country, certifying to the applicants professional qualifications, together with a certificate under the hand and seal, if any, of the clerk of such authority or of such court, as the case may be, attesting to the office held by the person signing the letter and the genuineness of his signature;(3) affidavits as to the applicants good moral character and general fitness to practice as a foreign legal consultant from three reputable persons residing in this state and not related to the applicant, two or whom shall be practicing Illinois attorneys;(4) affidavits from two attorneys or counselors at law or the equivalent admitted in and practicing in such foreign country, stating the nature and extent of their acquaintance with the applicant and their personal knowledge as to the nature, character and extent of the applicants practice, and as to the applicants good standing as an attorney or counselor at law or the equivalent in such foreign country, and the duration and continuity of such practice;(5) the National Conference of Bar Examiners questionnaire and affidavit;(6) documentation in duly authenticated form evidencing that the applicant is lawfully entitled to reside and be employed in the United States of America pursuant to the immigration laws thereof;(7) such additional evidence as the applicant may see fit to submit with respect to his or her educational and professional qualifications and his or her good moral character and general fitness to practice as a foreign legal consultant;(8) a duly authenticated English translation of every document submitted by the applicant which is not in English; and(9) a duly acknowledged instrument designating the clerk of the supreme court the applicants agent for service of process as provided in Rule 712(f)(2).(c) University and Law School Certificates. A certificate shall be submitted from each university and law school attended by the applicant, setting forth the information required by forms which shall be provided to the applicant for that purpose.(d) Exceptional Situations. In the event that the applicant is unable to comply strictly with any of the foregoing requirements, the applicant shall set forth the reasons for such inability in an affidavit, together with a statement showing in detail the efforts made to fulfill such requirements.(e) Authority of Committee on Character and Fitness to Require Additional Proof. The Committee on Character and Fitness may in any case require the applicant to submit such additional proof or information as it may deem appropriate .(f) Filing. Every application for a license as a foreign legal consultant, together with all the documents submitted thereon, shall upon its final disposition be filed in the office of the clerk of the supreme court.(g) Fees of Applicants. Each applicant for a license to practice as a foreign legal consultant on foreign or international law shall pay in advance a fee of $800. All fees shall be paid to the treasurer of the Board of Admissions to the Bar to be held by the treasurer subject to the order of the court.(h) Undertaking. Prior to taking custody of any money, securities (other than unindorsed securities in registered form), negotiable instruments, bullion, precious stones or other valuables, in the course of his or her practice as a foreign legal consultant, for or on behalf of any client domiciled or residing in the United States, every person licensed to practice as a foreign legal consultant shall obtain, and shall maintain in effect for the duration of such custody, an undertaking issued by a duly authorized surety company, and approved by a justice of the supreme court, to assure the faithful and fair discharge of his or her duties and obligations arising from such custody. The undertaking shall be in an amount not less than the amount of any such money, or the fair market value of any such property other than money, of which the foreign legal consultant shall have custody, except that the supreme court may in any case in its discretion for good cause direct that such undertaking shall be in a greater or lesser amount. The undertaking or a duplicate original thereof shall be promptly filed by the foreign legal consultant with the clerk of the supreme court.Adopted 12/7/1990, effective immediately; amended June 12, 1992, effective 7/1/1992; amended 12/6/2001, effective immediately; amended June 22, 2017, eff. 7/1/2017.