“FROM MY RING’S CORNER”

TRULY, ALTHOUGH BILLS AND RULES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN MANY STATES, AS OF TO DATE, NO STATE HAD ENACTED LEGISLATION REGULATING THE FOREIGN ATTORNEYS’ INDEPENDENT PARALEGAL PRACTICE NOR HAD ANY STATE MEASURED ITS BENEFITS TO THE POOR’S COMMUNITIES AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. HOWEVER, MANY STATES HAVE IN PLACE COMMISSION OR TASK FORCE SET UP BY THE STATE BARS ASSOCIATION OR THE STATE SUPREME COURT TO STUDY SUCH ISSUES AS PARALEGAL TRAINING AND CREDENTIALING, REGULATION AND LICENSING, DELIVERY OF LEGAL SERVICES BY NON-LAWYERS, ETC.

TODAY IN FLORIDA, THE FLORIDA BAR HAS LAUNCHED A HUNT AGAINST THE FOREIGN ATTORNEY’S PARALEGAL INDEPENDENT PRACTICE, THROUGH THEIR RECENTLY MODIFIED RULES 10-2.1(a)(2); 10-2.1(b), WHICH HAVE MONOPOLIZED THE USE OF THE NAME AND THE TITLE OF PARALEGAL AND WHO CAN HIRE THEM.

NONE OF THE PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS HAVE RAISED THEIR VOICE. NAFA HAS TAKE A STAND PREPARING ITS POSITION IN WRITING ON THIS ISSUE PRESENTING IT TO THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT, THE FLORIDA BAR COMMISSIONS, AND THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IN ADDITION, AN ISSUE OF UN-FOUNDED CHARGES AND UNNECESSARY INVESTIGATIONS OF UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW (UPL) BY THE FLORIDA BAR AGAINST THESE FOREIGN ATTORNEYS IS OF RISING CONCERN, AND DIRECTLY AFFECTS PARALEGAL’S RIGHT TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY FROM FLORIDA LAWYERS WORKING IN NONTRADITIONAL SETTINGS.

OUR MAIN ARGUMENT IS FOR REGULATIONS AND THAT CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO GUIDELINES. THE FLORIDA BAR SHALL HAVE A COMMITMENT TO STUDY THE ROLE OF PARALEGAL SERVICES FROM FOREIGN ATTORNEYS AS A WAY TO INCREASE THE ACCESS OF THE LOW-INCOME PEOPLE TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM, INSTEAD WHAT THE FLORIDA BAR HAS DONE IS REGULATE WHO USE THE NAME PARALEGAL MONOPOLIZING ITS ACTIVITIES EXCLUSIVELY UNDER THE FLORIDA LAWYERS’ SUPERVISION MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR, CONSEQUENTLY, FLORIDA LAWYERS ARE RECEIVING A WORSE REPUTATION, HOWEVER, THE UNMET LEGAL NEEDS ISSUE OF THE LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IS JUST NOT GOING AWAY WHICH IS THE CORE OF THE PARALEGAL’S EXISTENCE.

PLEASE GIVE US YOUR SUPPORT WRITING YOUR OPINION TO: HON. Jeb Bush, ; HON. Secretary State, ; and HON. Commissioner Education,

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