Florida Bar Defense Lawyer’s “Tip of the Month” for January 2014

If you have a substantial amount of unpaid debt and you have an investigative hearing before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, you should attempt to resolve as many of those debts as possible before your investigative hearing. Create a file for each debt you maintain so you can show a record of communication with your creditors. Phone calls should always be followed up with a letter.
The Florida Bar is not a debt collection agency and their interest isn’t in seeing you pay all your bills, but they want to see you not turn your back on your creditors, and be financially responsible.
In my experiences defending applicants in investigative and formal hearings, I have found that creditors are willing to sometimes settle for as little as 5 to 10 cents on the dollar. Even if you can’t pay it off and reduce the principal amount, at least put in place a written payment plan so the debt is not current while you are before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. You don’t want to have a current problem when you sit before them at the investigative hearing. You want only a past problem that you have professionally and responsibly resolved.
For more valuable tips and information, visit FloridaBarHearing.com or call and speak with Lars Soreide at (888) 760-6552.
Soreide Law Group, representing Florida Bar Applicants throughout the State of Florida.