FLORIDA SUPREME COURT DISCIPLINES 16 ATTORNEYS

Summary of orders issued July 14 – Aug. 30, 2011 posted on The Florida Bar’s website

The Florida Bar, the state’s guardian for the integrity of the legal profession, announces that the Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined 16 attorneys, disbarring seven and suspending six. Some attorneys received more than one form of discipline. Two attorneys were placed on probation; two attorneys were publicly reprimanded. One attorney was ordered to pay restitution.

Court orders are not final until time expires to file a rehearing motion and, if filed, determined. The filing of such a motion does not alter the effective date of the discipline. Disbarred lawyers may not re-apply for admission for five years. They are required to go through an extensive process that rejects many who apply. It includes a rigorous background check and retaking the bar exam.

As an official arm of the Florida Supreme Court, The Florida Bar and its Department of Lawyer Regulation are charged with administering a statewide disciplinary system to enforce Supreme Court rules of professional conduct for the 90,000-plus lawyers admitted to practice law in Florida.

This information appeared on The Florida Bar’s website.

Attorney Lars Soreide, of Soreide Law Group, PLLC, represents those seeking admittance to the Florida Bar, and existing lawyers, for both Investigative Hearings and Formal Hearings in front of the Florida Bar. For more information about our services please call call (888) 760-6552 or visit: www.floridabarhearing.com.