Monday, October 27, 2008

Inside Florida Board Of Bar Examiners Investigative Hearings



Over the weekend I had the honor to represent two applicants to The Florida Bar at their Investigative Hearing before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.

These hearings are held throughout the year on Fridays and Saturdays and can last 10 minutes, or over a hour.

The reasons for the Board requesting an Investigative hearing vary, but range from prior criminal arrests, non-disclosure issues on both the Bar application and law school application, financial responsibility issues including taxes, child support and judgments, litigation issues, and any other "blip" on your application or as a result of your investigation that causes the Board to want to talk to you.

After handling enough of these hearings, in my opinion, there are 5 things to take into consideration when preparing:

[1] Don't be so quick to request the first hearing date available

You will have a choice of 3 hearing dates. Although your goal is to "get it over with," you need to make sure you are ready for the hearing. The goal is to have one hearing, and do it right. Any issues left unresolved at the Investigative Hearing, may result in "specifications" being filed, and a future Formal Hearing. You don't want a Formal Hearing.

Make sure you are prepared with the facts of your issue or issues, and have gone through a dry run or "mock" hearing to prepare for the tough questions, prepare your attitude and your presence.

[2] Read your Bar Application

Here's a bad part of your upcoming hearing: "That's not what you said in your Bar Application."

Enough said.

[3] You are asking to be admitted to the Bar, pretend like you're asking to be admitted by God to heaven

This hearing is not the time to re-litigate your past, blame others for your failings, or act like the questions you are being asked are not serious. You have no right to be a member of any Bar. Act like you're asking for something, not expecting it.

[4] If you are a lawyer in another state and have prior discipline, let the committee know you know the rules, and prepare for another important question

"Why do you want to be a lawyer in Florida?" We have no problem letting you practice here, just want to know your intentions. Hopefully they are not "I don't know, I like the weather."

On the prior discipline issue, know what you did, and how it violates Florida's rules. Bar rules come from the ABA Model Code, so your rule 2-7.2 is probably Florida's 3-7.2 or something like that. Let the committee know you have read and understand the rules, and what you did as a result of your prior discipline.

[5] Never, ever lie

The number one factor in determining your character and fitness to practice, is your candor. If the committee thinks you're not being truthful, you're done. Remember, many times they know the answer to the question, they just want to see if you'll be honest with them. In sum, if that marijuana arrest 3 years ago was not the last time you smoked pot, tell them.

Located in Miami, Florida, Brian Tannebaum practices Bar Admission and Discipline and Criminal Defense. Read his free ebook The Truth About Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer. Please visit www.tannebaumweiss.com

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Sunday, October 19, 2008

Does The Bar Pick On Solo Practitioners?


This question has been pending for years. It's also a discussion not limited to Florida.

My opinion, state Bar associations do discipline solo practitioners more than big firm lawyers, and for good reason.

About a year ago Mike McKee over at the Cal Law Blog addressed this issue.

He mentions several reasons, but two that I believe are at the cornerstone:

"Solos and small-firm attorneys make up 70 percent or more of all lawyers in America and, therefore, by sheer numbers alone rack up more discipline cases."

"They also tend to represent unsophisticated clients who don’t understand the legal system and file more complaints."

Here's the deal, big firm clients tend to be....big firms, corporations, highly sophisticated people who use lawyers as a matter of course and have no use for the Bar discipline process. They'll sue if the lawyer's mistake is significant, not look for a discipline case that will not bring with it a monetary judgment.

Solo practitioners mostly represent small business people or individuals who have mroe direct contact with a particular lawyer and are more sensitive about fees and communication. Big firm clients know their lawyer as the name of the firm, not the name of the lawyer.

Additionally, solo practitioners tend to be less organized and subject to missing filing deadlines and court appearances, and many times take on too much work to concentrate on the client's needs.

So for all the conspiracy theorists, the answer is yes, state Bar associations do discipline solo practitioners at a higher rate, just not for the reasons you may think.

Located in Miami, Florida, Brian Tannebaum practices Bar Admission and Discipline and Criminal Defense. Read his free ebook The Truth About Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer. Please visit www.tannebaumweiss.com

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Oh That Silly Civil Litigation

Here's a judge's response to a motion to strike Microsoft's Motion for Summary Judgment due to it being, ahem, 4 minutes and 27 seconds late.

Located in Miami, Florida, Brian Tannebaum practices Bar Admission and Discipline and Criminal Defense. Read his free ebook The Truth About Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer. Please visit www.tannebaumweiss.com

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Sunday, October 12, 2008

Lawyers: In This Economy - Be As Smart As You Think You Are

While nothing on this blog should be construed as legal advice, in this awful economy, there are some things that lawyers need to consider. I say what I am about to say from experience over the last few months.

[1] Please don't take on matters in which you have no working knowledge of the law.
Lines of credit are for paying rent in slow times, not taking cases in which you have no idea how to practice.

[2] That money in the trust account, is not yours.
There is no "borrowing" the money for a little while.

[3] That settlement you received, is not totally yours, no matter what you consider "costs."
This is not a time to get creative with documents you send to your clients.

[4] The flat-fee retainer agreement you signed, is a contract. Honor your contract.

You may not have as much money right now, but you do have your reputation. You'll have money again, but that won't buy your reputation back.

Just some thoughts from some conversations I've had recently.

Located in Miami, Florida, Brian Tannebaum practices Bar Admission and Discipline and Criminal Defense. Read his free ebook The Truth About Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer. Please visit www.tannebaumweiss.com

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Thursday, October 9, 2008

The Problem With Your Discipline History On The Web

I don't have a problem with the fact that the 10-year disciplinary history of a Florida lawyer is on the Florida Bar Website. I have a problem with the fact that it takes another click to see the details.

The word “none” appears if you have had no discipline during the last 10 years, and the word “yes” will appear if there is a 10-year history.

I'm thinking of the line from Jerry Maguire - "you had me at hello."

When someone moves their cursor to the line that says "yes," a message will appear advising that by clicking a displayed link, the member’s 10-year discipline history will be displayed. This includes admonishments, reprimands, suspensions, and disbarments.

How many people are going to see the word "yes, and care what comes next?

I think it should have some detail on the front page, whether that is "suspended for trust account violation," or "admonished for having one word wrong in an advertisement."

Located in Miami, Florida, Brian Tannebaum practices Bar Admission and Discipline and Criminal Defense. Read his free ebook The Truth About Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer. Please visit www.tannebaumweiss.com

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Tuesday, October 7, 2008

How Lawyers Can Be Desperate AND Stupid In This Economy

Former NACDL President Larry Pozner wrote in his farewell column that the worst decisions lawyers will make is when things are slow.

For many in our profession now, things are slow.

No reason to be stupid.

I'm hearing about lawyers connecting with "brokers" for lawyers who perform "loan modification services." The broker "sells" the client to the lawyer and then charges the client a fee for finding the lawyer.

Not a good idea, for so many reasons.

Be careful out there.

Located in Miami, Florida, Brian Tannebaum practices Bar Admission and Discipline and Criminal Defense. Read his free ebook The Truth About Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer. Please visit www.tannebaumweiss.com

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Sunday, October 5, 2008

The Expense Of Not Supervising Employees

Here's a story about a Richmond Virginia lawyer reprimanded for not supervising his now convicved felon former administrative assistant. He's also paying pack the $290,000 of client funds she stole.

Florida has a comparable rule - Rule 4-5.3 RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING NONLAWYER ASSISTANTS

In sum, there's two parts of this rule to remember when it comes to staff: "a lawyer having direct supervisory authority over the nonlawyer shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the person’s conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of the lawyer," and "although paralegals or legal assistants may perform the duties delegated to them by the lawyer without the presence or active involvement of the lawyer, the lawyer shall review and be responsible for the work product of the paralegals or legal assistants."

Located in Miami, Florida, Brian Tannebaum practices Bar Admission and Discipline and Criminal Defense. Read his free ebook The Truth About Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer. Please visit www.tannebaumweiss.com

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Saturday, October 4, 2008

Weekend Lawyer Entertainment



Located in Miami, Florida, Brian Tannebaum practices Bar Admission and Discipline and Criminal Defense. Read his free ebook The Truth About Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer. Please visit www.tannebaumweiss.com

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Thursday, October 2, 2008

Is It Unethical To.........?

Every day Florida lawyers are faced with ethical dilemmas. Often, a lawyer will consult a fellow associate, partner, The Bible (no kidding), or unfortunately, their own mind.

The Florida Bar website lists every single ethical opinion on file. It's the best place to go, first.

Here they are.

Located in Miami, Florida, Brian Tannebaum practices Bar Admission and Discipline and Criminal Defense. Read his free ebook The Truth About Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer. Please visit www.tannebaumweiss.com

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Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Tell Me Some-thin Good - (Just Make Sure I'm Not A Florida Lawyer)

Confirming an ethics opinion, The Florida Bar's Standing Committee on Advertising held recently that Florida Lawyers cannot ask clients or former clients to evaluate their services on the web site of a national lawyer rating service.

It's a violation of Bar Rule 4-7.2(c)(1)(J) prohibiting the use of testimonials in lawyer ads.

The full story is in the new issue of The Florida Bar News

So how am I doing? Nevermind, don't answer that, especially if you're a client.

Located in Miami, Florida, Brian Tannebaum practices Bar Admission and Discipline and Criminal Defense. Read his free ebook The Truth About Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer. Please visit www.tannebaumweiss.com

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