The Rules of Professional Conduct recognize the common occurrence of a lawyer accepting a representation in a jurisdiction in which they are not admitted, so long as they benefit from the advice and guidance of local counsel admitted in that jurisdiction and working alongside them. Picking the right local counsel can provide a tactical advantage for the non-admitted lawyer. For the local counsel, taking on this role can be a great way to grow their practice and expand their network of contacts.

In a typical working relationship, the out-of-state attorney might rely on the local counsel for procedural guidance, handling filings and similar tasks, while the out-of-state attorney retains authority over key strategic decisions. But local counsel still owes ethical duties to the client, even though their role is limited, which can create risk for the local counsel of a bar grievance or malpractice complaint if those duties are not met.