The investigative hearing is a critical stage of the Florida Bar admission and application process. This “informal” hearing can make or break a Bar application. If you’ve received a Notice to Appear for Investigative Hearing, you should seriously consider hiring an experienced character and fitness attorney to help you with the informal hearing.
Success at an investigative hearing requires thorough and thoughtful preparation and a complete awareness of the bar admission process. At this stage of the process before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, three outcomes are possible.
1) Clearance for Florida Bar admission;
2) Conditional deferment; or
3) Denial of bar admission with referral to a formal hearing.
The Florida Board of Bar Examiners holds investigative hearings several times a year at locations around Florida. Although it may be called an informal hearing, you are put under oath and a court reporter is present. The strategy in each Florida Bar admission case is highly specific, according to evidence and the facts in the applicant’s background.
An experienced character and fitness attorney will be able to help you identify how best to present your position, and how best to deal with the particular issues that concern the Board of Bar Examiners. This may include presenting character references, witnesses and exhibits showing present good character.
Contact us today for a consultation.