Florida Bar re Amendments to Rules Regulating the Florida Bar
Florida Bar re Amendments to Rules Regulating the Florida Bar
Opinion of the Court
The Florida Bar (Bar) petitions this Court to amend the Florida Designation Plan (sub-chapter 6-2) of the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar.
The Board of Governors of the Florida Bar, in April of 1993, accepted the recommendation of the board’s Program Evaluation Committee to institute a three-year phaseout of all sixteen subject areas of legal practice detailed in the Florida Designation Plan (Plan).
The Plan, instituted in 1974 at the National Conference of Bar Presidents, was initiated to “permit a restrained and dignified announcement of specialization,” thus quickening the day when “a system for certification of legal specialists can be fully operative to assist potential clients in intelligently selecting an appropriate lawyer.” The Bar informs the Court that however well intended, the Plan is “confusing to the public and lacks qualitative attorney data; exhibits declining enrollment and support from within the membership of The Florida Bar; and reflects diminished utility while operating in conjunction with the Florida Certification Plan.”
Given the state of the Plan, a three-year phaseout and eventual termination was recommended to and accepted by the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar. During the three-year phaseout period the Bar recommends designation be granted to eligible applicants, with all rights and privileges, but only until the Court-established termination date.
To facilitate the change needed to phase out the plan, the Bar has proposed the following amendment to subchapter 6-2 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar:
RULE 6-2.11 SUNSET PROVISION
Subchapter 6-2 shall expire and all rights granted hereunder shall likewise expire on June SO, 1996.
It is so ordered.
. The Bar filed a motion to consolidate the instant petition with the pending case No. 81,301- — • Proposed Amendments to the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. This motion was denied.
. Under the Plan an attorney is permitted to publicly designate up to three areas of legal practice.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THE FLORIDA BAR RE AMENDMENTS TO RULES REGULATING THE FLORIDA BAR
- Status
- Published