Do I need a lawyer licensed in my state?
Short answer: For most business contracts, no — what matters is the law that governs the contract, not where you live. For litigation, regulatory matters, real estate, and certain licensing work, you do need in-state counsel or a locally admitted co-counsel.
Contract work is largely federal in character or governed by the law the contract picks. A New York-licensed attorney can review a SaaS MSA governed by Delaware law for a client based in Texas — that is core transactional practice and is permitted in every state.
Where state licensure matters: appearing in court, advising on state-specific regulatory regimes (gaming licenses, liquor licenses, state tax, state employment law), real estate closings, and probate. Jacobs Counsel is admitted in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio, and works with locally admitted co-counsel when a matter requires admission elsewhere.
Updated May 26, 2026. General information only — not legal advice for your specific situation. For advice on your facts, book an intro call.