The legal profession in Puerto Rico is practiced at both commonwealth and Federal levels. Thus, legal professionals in Puerto Rico must study both the
law of Puerto Rico
The legal system of Puerto Rico is a mix of the civil law and the common law systems.
Language
Puerto Rico is the only current U.S. jurisdiction whose legal system operates primarily in a language other than American English: namely, Spanish. Be ...
and the
law of the United States
The law of the United States comprises many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the nation's Constitution, which prescribes the foundation of the federal government of the United States, as well as v ...
.
There are presently three law schools in the commonwealth:
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University of Puerto Rico School of Law
The University of Puerto Rico School of Law is a law school in Puerto Rico. It is one of the professional graduate schools of University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus and the only law school in the University of Puerto Rico System. It ...
, established in 1913
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Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law
The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law is the law school of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, a Private university, private Catholic church, Roman Catholic university with its main campus in Ponce, Puer ...
, established in 1961
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Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law
The Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Faculty of Law ( es, links=no, Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico) is the school of law of the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, a private co-educational corpor ...
, established in 1961
Facultad de Derecho Eugenio Maria de Hostos was established in 1995, but closed in 2013.
After completing a Juris Doctor Degree lawyers have to pass the Puerto Rico General Bar Exam in order to practice law. Lawyers that graduated from ABA accredited schools may also practice in Puerto Rico, but they must also take the bar exam.
Until 2010 all lawyers had to be associated to the
Puerto Rico Bar Association
The Bar Association of Puerto Rico (BAPR) or ''Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico (CAPR)'' is the bar association of Puerto Rico. It is the oldest professional association in Puerto Rico, and among the oldest bar associations in the world.
The ...
in order to practice law.
See also
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Judiciary of Puerto Rico
The Judiciary of Puerto Rico is defined under the Constitution of Puerto Rico and consists of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, Court of Appeals, and the Court of First Instance consisting of the Superior Courts and the Municipal Courts.
Courts ...
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Internal Revenue Code (Puerto Rico)
The Internal Revenue Code of Puerto Rico (Spanish: ''Código de Rentas Internas de Puerto Rico'') is the main body of domestic statutory tax law of Puerto Rico organized topically, including laws covering income taxes, payroll taxes, gift taxes, ...
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Law of Puerto Rico
The legal system of Puerto Rico is a mix of the civil law and the common law systems.
Language
Puerto Rico is the only current U.S. jurisdiction whose legal system operates primarily in a language other than American English: namely, Spanish. Be ...
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Puerto Rico Tax and Customs Laws
Taxation in Puerto Rico consists of taxes paid to the United States federal government and taxes paid to the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Payment of taxes to the federal government, both personal and corporate, is done through ...
References
{{North America in topic, Legal profession in
Legal professions
Law of Puerto Rico