The Florida Bar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Florida Bar is the integrated bar for the state of Florida. It is the third largest such bar association in the United States.[1] Its duties include the regulation and discipline of attorneys.
Persons seeking admission to The Florida Bar must pass a character and fitness screening administered by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Admission to the bar includes passing a background investigation, the MPRE, and the bar exam, which tests both the common law through the Multistate Bar Exam and Florida law through written essays and multiple-choice questions.
The Florida Board of Bar examiners is notorious for having the most stringent character and fitness examination in the United States.[citation needed] Applicants who have checkered pasts, or outstanding debts, are strongly advised to clear up any issues prior to applying for admission to the Florida Bar. If there is any discrepancy found in an applicant's admission packet, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners will stop at no lengths to find reason to deny applicant admission to the Florida Bar. Tactics deployed by the Florida Bar to deny applicants begin with what is termed as an "informal hearing". The informal hearing is essentially a myopic "grill session", in which three members of the Florida Bar persistently question the Applicant about minuscule infractions, in an attempt to get the Applicant reveal all pertinent facts about the incident, and to get the Applicant to divulge information not subject to the inquiry.
If the Applicant is not recommended for admittance after the informal hearing, the Board then files "Specifications". Specifications are reasons that the Applicant should not be admitted to the practice of law in Florida. The Applicant is afforded the opportunity to answer these Specifications, and prove why he or she is fit to practice law in Florida. Usually, Applicants hire attorneys that are former Bar prosecutors. If the Bar's inquiry has gotten to this point, the Applicant has roughly a 10% or less chance of being admitted. Nevertheless, the Applicant can attend a formal hearing and answer the Specifications.
At the formal hearing, the Applicant is entitled to counsel. It is important to note, however, that the Rules of Evidence, do not apply in these hearings. Everything is fair game. The Board can ask you questions about the time you pulled little Sue's pig tails back in the 5th grade. All questions somehow become relevant in these proceedings. At the formal hearing, you are questioned by a panel of 6-9 members of the bar. Applicant's counsel can advise, but as stated earlier, the rules of evidence do not apply. So, Applicants who attend the formal hearing are basically sitting ducks begging for admittance. Applicant is no longer Applicant. Applicant becomes supplicant. After the questioning by the members of the Bar, the hearing is concluded. The Applicant usually must wait 6-9 weeks for a decision. Typically, the decision is a patent denial, with a 2 year bar to reapplication attached. + At the formal hearing, the Applicant is entitled to counsel. It is important to note, however, that the Rules of Evidence do not apply in these hearings. Everything is fair game. All questions somehow become relevant in these proceedings. At the formal hearing, Applicants are questioned by a panel of 6-9 members of the bar. Applicant's counsel can advise, but as stated earlier, the rules of evidence do not apply. So, Applicants who attend the formal hearing are basically sitting ducks begging for admittance. After the questioning by the members of the Bar, the hearing is concluded. The Applicant usually must wait 6–9 weeks for a decision. Typically, the decision is a patent denial, with a 2 year bar to reapplication attached.
- If denied, the Applicant has one more avenue to admittance. The Applicant may appeal to the Supreme Court of Florida, requesting admittance. This is a waste of time. If the Board recommends denial, The Court usually follows lockstep, and affirms the denial. In conclusion, if your application is targeted for further questioning, or an informal hearing, it is best to just withdraw the application altogether, to avoid having to report a denial on future bar application in other states. A denial essentially will end your career because a denial in one state, invariably will trigger an investigation in the state to which the Applicant is applying. + The Florida Bar's headquarters building and annex are located in Tallahassee three blocks from the Florida State Capitol.
- Make no mistake, the Florida Bar is a good old boy network. If youre an out of stater, with no ties to Florida, you're immediately hen pecked for further review by the Board. They don't like outsiders. After all they must protect the job opportunities for all of the in-staters graduating from the 10 law schools in the state. Equally notable is the fact that the Florida Bar will take next to no action against admitted attorneys who shirk their responsibilities to their clients, abuse drugs and alcohol, and disregard the legal system as a whole. Such infractions are often overlooked because these individuals are firmly rooted in the system. They pay their dues, and they have friends. The rules of legal professionalism often do not apply to members of the Bar, and members of the Board of Florida Bar Examiners hold Applicants to a much higher standard than they hold themselves. Again, they must limit competition in the state, to protect the business interests of members of the Florida Bar.
The Florida Bar's headquarters building and annex are located in Tallahassee three blocks from the Florida State Capitol.
