Finishing touches have been put on the application for Florida paralegals to become Florida registered paralegals under a new program proposed by the Florida Bar and approved by the Florida Supreme Court last year.
The Bar’s Florida Registered Paralegal Program Committee met last month at the Midyear Meeting to work out the last details of the new operation, which begins March 1. That included agreeing on an application form, which the committee approved at the conclusion of its meeting.
Bar UPL Counsel Lori Holcomb said the form will be on the Bar’s Web site, www.floridabar.org, on March 1, and applicants will have to download the form, fill it out by hand or typewriter and then mail the form to the Bar.
Although the form won’t be available until March 1, Holcomb said the Bar is accepting requests now. Those who want to have a form sent via regular mail or e-mail can contact the Bar at [email protected]. Holcomb said dozens of requests have been received.
Committee members asked about refunding the $150 application fee payment if the applicant for some reason is rejected. Holcomb said the $150 could be refunded to those who are rejected due to an incomplete application. However, those who were rejected for not meeting all the requirements or because of a background problem will not receive a refund.
Holcomb said those who are designated Florida registered paralegals will be listed in a special section on the Bar’s Web site. It will be accessed, she said, through “Find-a-Lawyer” on the site, which will have a separate section for registered paralegals.
The registered paralegals will be listed with each having a separate page. There will also be a disclaimer, she said, noting that while they are Florida registered paralegals they are not licensed to practice law in Florida.
Carin Gordin, a paralegal member of the committee, asked if the registered paralegals would be able to participate in special benefits available to Bar members. She specifically mentioned access to Fastcase, the free legal research service offered to Bar members though the Bar Web site, as well as discounts for goods and services available through the Bar’s member benefits program.
Holcomb said she would check on that question and get back with the committee.
Committee Chair Scott Rubin, who is also chair-elect of the Family Law Section, said the section will be offering affiliate memberships to Florida registered paralegals and is also looking at offering special CLE programs. He and Holcomb will be visiting an upcoming meeting of the Council of Sections to urge other sections to offer affiliate memberships.
—Courtesy of the Florida Bar News