What is the Oath of Admission?

The Florida Court System is a constitutional branch of the Florida government, separate from the Executive Branch and the Legislature. The Court System is regulated by the Florida Supreme Court. One important difference between attorneys and other professionals is the Oath that every attorney is required to swear to, as a prerequisite to being allowed to practice law in Florida. Once admitted, attorneys are governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct, which are enforced by The Florida Bar under the supervision of the Florida Supreme Court. Attorneys are held to the highest ethical standards. An attorney is always required to put a client's interests ahead of even his own. The relationship between a client and his lawyer is expected to be one of complete trust. In fact, communications between a client and his lawyer are as sacrosanct as communications between a husband and wife or a priest and his parishioner. I am proud to be a member of this profession. Since most people are not familiar with the stringent standards that govern lawyers in Florida, I have printed the entire Oath of Admission to the Florida Bar and the Rules of Professional Conduct in their entirety.

Oath of Admission to the Florida Bar

The general principles which should ever control the lawyer in the practice of the legal profession are clearly set forth in the following oath of admission to the Bar, which the lawyer is sworn on admission to obey and for the willful violation to which disbarment may be had.

"I do solemnly swear:

"I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida;

"I will maintain the respect due to courts of justice and judicial officers;

"I will not counsel or maintain any suit or proceedings which shall appear to me to be unjust, nor any defense except such as I believe to be honestly debatable under the law of the land;

"I will employ for the purpose of maintaining the causes confided to me such means only as are consistent with truth and honor, and will never seek to mislead the judge or jury by any artifice or false statement of fact or law;

"I will maintain the confidence and preserve inviolate the secrets of my clients, and will accept no compensation in connection with their business except from them or with their knowledge and approval;

"I will abstain from all offensive personality and advance no fact prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a party or witness, unless required by the justice of the cause with which I am charged;

"I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed, or delay anyone's cause for lucre or malice. So help me God."