Tag Archive for: moral character when applying to Florida bar

Investigative Hearing Character and Fitness Considerations

 
If you must attend an investigative hearing before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, the Board will consider your present character and fitness. This is codified in Florida Board of Bar Examiner Rule 3-12.
 
3-12 Determination of Present Character.
 
The board must determine whether the applicant or registrant has provided satisfactory evidence of good moral character. The following factors, among others, will be considered in assigning weight and significance to prior conduct:
(a) age at the time of the conduct;
(b) recency of the conduct;
(c) reliability of the information concerning the conduct;
(d) seriousness of the conduct;
(e) factors underlying the conduct;
(f) cumulative effect of the conduct or information;
(g) evidence of rehabilitation;
(h) positive social contributions since the conduct;
(i) candor in the admissions process; and,
(j) materiality of any omissions or misrepresentations.
Florida Bar Defense Lawyer, Lars Soreide, is available to represent you at an investigative or formal character and fitness hearing before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Call 888-760-6552 for a free consultation or visit our website at: https://www.floridabarhearing.com.

The Importance of Character and Fitness When Applying to the Florida Bar

The following information was obtained from the Florida Board of Bar Examiners website. 

Proof of Character and Fitness.  When applying to the Florida Bar, all applicants shall produce satisfactory evidence of good moral character, an adequate knowledge of the standards and ideals of the profession, and proof that the applicant is otherwise fit to take the oath and perform the obligations and responsibilities of an attorney. The background investigation cannot be initiated without the completed Bar Application, Authorization and Release Form and appropriate fee. Persons beginning law school are encouraged to apply by the deadlines set forth in rule 2-23.1. Third-year law students including those who previously registered and those who did not file an early registration, are encouraged to file the applicable Bar Application forms at the beginning of their senior year. The following eligibility requirements apply:

  1. Persons must be 18 years of age or older to be admitted.
  2. Persons who have been disbarred from the practice of law or who have resigned pending disciplinary proceedings shall not be eligible to apply for a period of 5 years from the date of disbarment or 3 years from the date of resignation or such longer period as is set for readmission by the jurisdictional authority.
  3. Persons who have been suspended for disciplinary reasons from the practice of law in a foreign jurisdiction shall not be eligible to apply until expiration of the period of suspension.
  4. Persons who have been convicted of a felony shall not be eligible to apply until the person’s civil rights have been restored.
  5. Persons who are serving a sentence of felony probation regardless of adjudication of guilt shall not be eligible to apply until termination of the period of probation.
  6. Applicants who have been refused a favorable recommendation through the filing of Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law that have not been reversed by the Supreme Court of Florida shall not be eligible to seek admission to The Florida Bar until 2 years after the date the board delivered its adverse findings or such longer period as set by the findings.

For further information relating to admission requirements refer to the Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to The Bar (Rules).

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.