Tag Archive for: Florida License Lawyer

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2024 Dates for Florida Bar Hearings

Soreide Law Group has represented hundreds of applicants for both investigative and formal hearings before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. If a bar applicant is contacted by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners requesting an investigative or formal bar hearing, the applicant must be prepared for their hearing.

The following dates were recently released by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners for their upcoming bar hearing meeting dates in 2024. Please note that some of the dates will be held via Zoom and others will be held in person.

JANUARY 25-26, 2024                                  VIA ZOOM

MARCH 22, 2024                                           TALLAHASSEE

APRIL 18-19, 2024                                         VIA ZOOM

MAY 17-18, 2024                                            HOLLYWOOD

JUNE 27-28, 2024                                          VIA ZOOM

AUGUST 24-25, 2024                                    TAMPA

SEPTMEBER 19-20, 2024                            VIA ZOOM

OCTOBER 18-19, 2024                                  CORAL GABLES

NOVEMBER 15-16, 2024                              ORLANDO

Each bar hearing requires evidence and testimony which is tailored to your specific fact set. Many of these items can be obtained quickly however, it will vary case by case. The Board will waive the 15 day rule for submitting your evidence in advance if you are within the 15 day window. In this case, you would be able to bring your exhibits with you to the hearing itself. You must bring 5 copies of whatever needs to be submitted, which includes, one copy for each of the Board members, one for the record, and one for you.

If you feel you may not be ready for your Florida Board of Bar Examiners bar hearing or if you feel it is short notice, then we would recommend you wait until you are fully prepared and have done all of the work in advance.  You should not rush into an earlier hearing if you are not ready. If you are not sure, we recommend you contact an attorney for a consultation.

Soreide Law Group is conveniently based in Pompano Beach, Florida. We travel to every bar hearing location in Florida representing applicants in both investigative and formal hearings before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. If you have an upcoming investigative hearing or a formal hearing please call Soreide Law Group and speak to an experienced license defense attorney at no cost to you at: 888-760-6552.

 

Sarasota Man Went from Multi-Felon to Attorney Thanks to Youth Court

It’s been eleven years since Stefan Campagna was charged with his 27th felony in Sarasota, writes Jessie Van Berkel in a recent article for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

The 27-year-old said he will not disassociate himself from his past — from the 16-year-old who busted into cars with a group of friends and had an “I dunno” mentality when he was asked why he did it. His past will help him connect with people in his future.

“People listen more to someone they can relate to,” Campagna said at a Sarasota County’s youth court celebration.

Campagna, a Sarasota native graduated in May from Hofstra University College of Law in New York and was honored as a member of the Florida Bar earlier this month. He is coordinator for the National Association of Youth Courts.

“He’s gotten every award we’ve given out,” said Katie Self, who has coordinated the teen court since six months after it was created in 1988. The teen court was the first court of its kind in Florida. It places youths who plead guilty to an offense in a unique setting, where people their age act as the bailiff, defense, prosecution and jury. Volunteers from local high schools determine the punishment for their peers. If the defendant completes their requirements, the charges are dismissed.

Stefan Campagna, was given 18 rounds of jury duty at the teen court and 150 hours of community service.

“Initially I wasn’t very receptive to much of anything,” he said. Campagna told himself he would likely end up in court again, and he had better be on the right side of the bench. So he went on to study law.

Since Sarasota created its teen court in 1988, 53 Florida counties have followed suit, according to the Florida Association of Teen Courts. And the number of courts nationwide has grown over the past few decades. Campagna even helped create a youth court in Nassau County, New York, where he went to law school.

The studies done on the courts’ effectiveness in reducing repeat offenders, generally found recidivism was less frequent for people who went through teen court.

Attorney Lars K. 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 (888) 760-6552

Can I Still Get Admitted to the Florida Bar if I Have Had Past Drug, Alcohol, or Psychological Problems?

As a attorney who frequently represents applicants before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners in investigative and formal hearings, I see this issue a lot. I tell my clients that they can be admitted, in most instances conditionally, depending on all the surrounding circumstances. I point them first to rule 3-22.5(b) which relates to conditional admissions.
Under rule 3-22.5(b), Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to The Bar, the board will make the determination that a Consent Agreement be entered into with an applicant in lieu of the filing of Specifications pertaining to drug, alcohol, or psychological problems. Admission to The Florida Bar under the terms of a conditional admission is confidential and under rule 5-15, limited to persons who will live in Florida, who will be engaged in the practice of law primarily in Florida, and who will be monitored in Florida during the entire period of conditional admission.
The following comes directly off the Board of Bar Examiners website relating to conditional admissions.
Substance Issues
 
In a Consent Agreement, the board is authorized to recommend to the Court the admission of the applicant who has agreed to abide by specified terms and conditions on admission to The Florida Bar. The conditions will include:
  • prohibiting use of alcohol and controlled substances;
  • requiring participation in Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. (FLA); and,
  • random screenings for alcohol and controlled substances.
Board’s Guidelines on Documented Sobriety
 
Applicants who may be candidates for conditional admission must provide documentation of at least 6 months of sobriety before being considered for conditional admission. It is preferred that documentation of sobriety be completed by entering into a monitoring program that requires daily log-ins to determine if testing is required that day, attend attorney support meetings, attend AA/NA (if dependent), and undergo random alcohol/drug screenings. If an applicant resides within Florida, the preferred program is Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc. (FLA). Any applicant attempting to provide documentation of sobriety through FLA or similar program must fully comply with the program contract, including strict adherence to the random drug test procedure, no missed daily log-ins, no missed or positive tests, and compliance with the meeting and monitoring requirements as outlined in the contract. In all unexcused cases where log-ins are missed, whether a test was required that day or not, the applicant must immediately make arrangements to be tested no later than the following day. Any missed test or failure to test after a missed log-in will be viewed by the board as a positive test. Documentation of the period of sobriety starts upon execution of a FLA or similar contract or the last date of noncompliance with the contract; whichever is most recent.
Acceptable Documentation of Sobriety
 
The board requires applicants to demonstrate a reasonable period of sobriety (abstinence) prior to conditional admission. Six months is presumed to be reasonable. Documentation of sobriety is made through verification of completion of a treatment program that includes random testing through records documenting compliance with a FLA contract.
To document a period of sobriety prior to admission:
  1. Contact FLA for assistance.
  2. Enter into a contract with FLA.
  3. Forward a copy of the FLA contract to the board.
  4. Arrange for FLA to provide monthly documentation to the board beginning immediately and continuing until all portions of the Florida Bar Examination are successfully completed.
  5. Full compliance with the FLA contract including strict adherence to the FLA random drug test procedure, no missed daily log-ins, no missed, or positive tests, and compliance with the meeting and monitoring requirements as outlined in the FLA contract. In all unexcused cases where log-ins are missed, whether a test was required that day or not, the applicant must immediately make arrangements to be tested no later than the following day. Any missed test or failure to test after a missed log-in will be viewed by the board as a positive test.
Missed Log-ins
 
The board, while working with FLA, established the following policy regarding excused log-ins. The only missed log-ins that will be excused are documented instances of the following:
  • Death in the family;
  • Admission of the participant, family member or significant other to the hospital or emergency room;
  • Victim of a natural disaster;
  • Arrested and in jail.
In all unexcused cases where log-ins are missed, whether a test was required that day or not, the applicant must immediately make arrangements to be tested no later than the following day. Any missed test or failure to test after a missed log-in will be viewed by the board as a positive test.
Length of Conditional Admission
 
The board’s policy on the length of conditional admission in substance abuse/dependence cases is a 1-5 year period, depending on individual circumstances.
Mental Health
 
The Florida Board of Bar Examiners must assess effectively the mental health of each applicant. A lawyer’s untreated or uncontrolled mental disorder, if severe, could result in injury to the public. The board assures each applicant that the Supreme Court, on the board’s recommendation, regularly admits applicants with a history of both mental ill-health and treatment by mental health professionals. The board considers satisfactory mental health to include: (1) the current absence of an untreated, uncontrolled mental illness that impairs or limits an applicant’s ability to practice law in a competent and professional manner; and (2) the unlikelihood of a relapse of such a prior mental illness. With respect to either, evidence of treatment by a mental health professional is useful. The board encourages applicants to seek the assistance of mental health professionals, if needed.
Consent Agreement
 
In a Consent Agreement, the board is authorized to recommend to the Supreme Court of Florida the admission of the applicant who has agreed to abide by specified terms and conditions on admission to The Florida Bar. The conditions will include:
  • consult with a licensed mental health provider at least quarterly, or more frequently as such mental health provider deems necessary;
  • follow all instructions by the mental health provider;
  • have the mental health provider submit quarterly reports to The Florida Bar during the entire probationary period;
  • have the mental health provider immediately notify The Florida Bar if the applicant misses a scheduled appointment without prior rescheduling; and,
  • have the mental health provider submit quarterly sworn statements to The Florida Bar during the entire probationary period attesting to the applicant’s compliance with the conditions.
Length of Conditional Admission
 
The board’s policy on the length of conditional admission in mental health cases is from 1 year to an indefinite period, depending on individual circumstances.
For more information contact License Defense Attorney, Lars Soreide, of Soreide Law Group, PLLC, to discuss what options are available to you if you are applying to the Florida Bar or have an investigative or formal hearing. Call 954-760-6552 or visit https://www.floridabarhearing.com.

Florida Paralegals ask to be Bar Licensed and Regulated

Gary Blankenship wrote in his article for The Florida Bar’s, The Florida Bar News, that as part of the required three-year review of the Bar’s voluntary Florida Registered Paralegal program, the Bar is looking into the request by some paralegals that they be licensed and regulated by the Bar or the Supreme Court.

It was announced that The Bar Board of Governors, at its July 23 meeting, approved a recommendation from the Program Evaluation Committee to set up a nine-member committee to examine regulating paralegals.

“That program [FRP] is up for review right now. But the registered paralegals have requested that we look into requiring that they be regulated in some form or fashion, and their request specifically is that they be regulated by The Florida Bar or the Florida Supreme Court,” said board member Greg Coleman, chair of the Program Evaluation Committee, which will review the registered paralegal program.

Coleman noted that several years ago, paralegals went to the Legislature to request mandatory regulation. That measure died when the Bar agreed to study the issue, which led to the registered paralegal program.

“This time they came to us first. We had quite a long discussion,” Coleman said. “We think it is worthwhile exploring and think it’s something that should be discussed and vetted.”

It was announced that the new committee will include three members from the PEC subcommittee, three paralegals, and three others chosen by Bar President Mayanne Downs.

“The [PEC] motion was to have this committee appointed to explore this issue of paralegal regulation and anything else the president wants to throw into the mix,” Coleman said. “There’s a real threshold question on whether the Supreme Court can regulate paralegals, and that will be looked at.”

Notably, the board approved the recommendation by a voice vote.

Mark Workman, president of the Florida Alliance of Paralegal Associations, said regulation would protect the public by helping to crack down on unsupervised paralegals who do unauthorized legal work and also help in “setting educational standards, ethical guidelines and to enhance the public’s perception of who we are and what we can and cannot do.”

Workman also said, “We want to have a valid say in our direction . . . in the direction the paralegal profession goes.”

Workman added that his organization performed a survey of paralegals and the preliminary results showed 95 percent felt the $150, which is paid annually to the Bar by those participating in the Florida Registered Paralegal program, should be spent exclusively on matters to help and advance paralegals.

Ninety percent said paralegal representatives on the Bar’s FRP Committee should be elected by paralegals rather than appointed by the Bar; 87 percent said paralegals should have a voice in their profession, he said. Another 79 percent favor mandatory regulation of paralegals, but only 50 percent thought the Bar’s existing FRP program should be mandatory.

“We do want more control over our profession,” Workman said. “We believe that it is through the Supreme Court that we should be regulated; it needs to stem from the Supreme Court and not directly from The Florida Bar.”

Johnna Phillips, a former president of the Paralegal Association of Florida and a member of the Bar committee that came up with the current FRP program, said mandatory regulation is a logical step and not necessarily a major change from the current program.

It could be as simple as requiring that anyone using or given the title paralegal meet the education and testing requirements of the FRP program. That includes passing one of two nationally recognized paralegal certification exams.

It would also abolish the current grandfather clause, due to expire in another year, of the FRP program, she said.

“We would want something that is very similar to the provisions of the FRP program without the grandfathering,” Phillips said. “Candidates would have to meet the credentials of the FRP program at the time the sunset goes away. There would be a mandatory education requirement for those who call themselves paralegals.”

Paralegals wanted a mandatory scheme when the FRP program was set up, and accepted that as a first step, she said.

“I think mandatory would be the next reasonable step in the process,” Phillips said. “There are a whole host of other categories inside the legal team; legal secretaries and legal assistants are certainly part of the legal team. Our time is being billed out and clients should have some sense of assurance when they’re seeing time billed for a paralegal; it is truly someone who is a paralegal.”

This article appeared on The Florida Bar’s website.

The 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 visit: www.floridabarhearing.com or call (888) 760-6552.