A proposal to cut Florida Bar annual membership fees and CLE costs for veteran lawyers is being worked on by the Senior Lawyers Committee.
Cutting annual membership fees to $100 (from $265) and CLE costs by 50 percent for “senior” Bar members — those 70 and older who have been members in good standing for 20 years — was proposed by a subcommittee and discussed by the full committee during the Bar’s fall meeting.
Committee members were generally supportive of the proposal but said more work on the details is needed before the idea is forwarded to the Bar Board of Governors.
Committee Chair Linda McCullough said about 5.1 percent of the Bar’s membership in good standing meets those conditions.
The impact on membership fees would be about $873,000 if all those took advantage of the discount.
Past membership in other state Bars would not count toward the 20 years good standing requirement.
Most other state Bars either have a section or special membership category for older lawyers, McCullough said.
Much of the discussion centered on whether the good standing qualification should also include being active in practice for that period.
Virginia Puder, who has practiced in Virginia and Florida, said she can meet the 20-year requirement, but although she kept up her Bar membership and met CLE requirements, she didn’t necessarily actively practice all those years.
Jean Niven questioned how “active” would be defined, adding she is also licensed in Texas and has some cases there. She also said the 20-year requirement should be higher.
Committee members also discussed how the 20-year standard would be determined.
Don Smith questioned whether a member who had been in good standing in total for more than 20 years, but had been inactive at some point in the past 20 years, would qualify for the new designation.
Committee members said the proposal would have the positive impacts of letting senior members know their service is valued and the Bar would be giving them something back in recognition of their contributions.
The designation also would encourage more senior lawyers to remain active, where they could mentor younger lawyers, do pro bono work or perhaps help other traditionally underserved clientele, the committee said.