Tag Archive for: Florida Investigative hearing lawyer

Character and Fitness are Significant When Applying to The Florida Bar

Honesty is always the best policy when applying to the Bar.  Character and fitness play a significant roll in being admitted to the Florida Bar.

In order to become a fully licensed member of Florida’s Bar, law school graduates must have a clear character and fitness inquiry.  This step is often underestimated, but can make all the difference in whether or not a graduate will be admitted.  Bar applicants must possess good character and show clear and convincing evidence that they possess the requisite degree of good character to sit for the bar exam and be admitted to the Florida Bar.

During the process of admittance, applicants fill out a lengthy questionnaire with personal information about their past such as job losses, arrests, academic misconduct, traffic tickets, bankruptcies, and in some cases mental health history, to name a few.  Even if the applicant might consider something “minor,” it could become a major issue in the admission process.  It is most important to disclose all information asked, and honestly.

In some jurisdictions, applicants with a criminal history, academic misconduct or financial issues, may not be allowed to take the bar exam.  In other cases, they may be able to sit for the bar but then must attend a hearing concerning their fitness.

If you’ve been called before the Florida Bar for an Investigative or Formal Hearing, Soreide Law Group will represent you at the hearing and help you navigate through the process.  It can be very daunting and your future is on the line.

Soreide Law Group represents those individuals seeking admittance to the Florida Bar, and existing lawyers, for both Investigative Hearings and Formal Hearings in front of the Florida Bar.

Call for a no-cost consultation with an experienced Florida Bar Defense Attorney if you have an upcoming Investigative or Formal Hearing with the Florida Bar. We travel to all locations throughout Florida to appear before the Board of Bar Examiners. Call Soreide Law Group at:  888-760-6552.

Social media Florida Board of Bar Examiners

The Florida Board of Bar Examiners Checks Social Media

I’ve known for the last seven years that the Florida Board of Bar Examiners has been checking up on my client’s social media profiles but I never actually had proof. UNTIL NOW! The Florida Board of Bar Examiners Checks Social Media.

While preparing a client for the upcoming Tampa hearings she sent me and email from her linked in account that “Bar Counsel for the Florida Bar” had visited and navigated her linkedin page. Not everyone pays Linkedin for a premium profile where you can see who visited your page but luckily my client does. The Board has never hid the fact that they check social media and I think they are wise to check it but for the most part I always felt as if most of my clients didn’t believe me when I explained just how far they would go to “catch you”. Linkedin is essentially an online resume so if it is inconsistent with the resume or job opportunities you represented to the law school and to the Florida Bar it could create a serious candor issue for the applicant.

It is perfectly acceptable to have a few crazy fun pictures posted but be mindful of what the Board is looking at your profile for. For instance if you have had multiple DUI’s in the past and now you are claiming to be sober and to abstain from alcohol don’t be photographed with a drink in your hand (any drink) it is just common sense. As far as I know they can’t circumnavigate the privacy settings on facebook. They could technically subpoena the information so the best policy is don’t post anything on the internet anywhere that you don’t want the Florida Board of Bar Examiners to see.

The Florida Board of Bar Examiners Checks Social Media

For more information on how to better be prepared for your upcoming hearing before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners call attorney Lars Soreide at (954) 760-6552.