Zoom Character Hearings before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners

Soreide Law Group has conducted an estimated twenty investigative live Zoom hearings and one formal hearing by Zoom since the pandemic began. So many applicants are asking if they should wait to do it live and in-person now that we are nearing the end of the pandemic. As a practitioner that has participated in hundreds of live in-person hearings and a handful of Zoom hearings, I can honestly say that there is absolutely no difference between a Zoom or in-person hearing. In fact, I think the results have actually been better by Zoom than in-person from my own anecdotal experiences. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners, and maybe the whole world right now, may be a little more on the sympathetic and understanding side of things then they were in February of 2019. Let’s hope this pandemic has taught all of us that sometimes if you have the ability to help someone out, then maybe you should.
One big upshot that most aren’t considering by doing these hearings by Zoom, is the saved travel expense. Soreide Law Group travels to all 6/7 hearing locations of the Board of Bar Examiners and applicants sometimes have to pay for airfare and hotel expense, not just for their attorney but for themselves. My hope is that character and fitness hearings conducted by the Florida Bar continue to at least offer the option of zoom on an ongoing basis.
If you have a formal or investigative hearing before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners call Florida Bar Defense Lawyer, Lars Soreide, Esq., at 954-760-6552.