BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA BAR

Myself, and the other 130,000 lawyers in Florida, are members of the Florida Bar. What is the Florida Bar? NO, not the kind of ‘bar’ you go see a sports game or share a bottle of wine at!

The Florida Bar is the integrated bar association for our state of Florida. It is the THIRD largest bar in the United States!

In 1889 the first, small, voluntary group of lawyers formed in Florida. This developed into the Florida State Bar Association by 1907. This early group remained as a voluntary organization; their activities included publishing a legal journal, drafting court procedures, and presenting educational courses for lawyers. Its membership remained small and never exceeded a few thousand.

With a substantial increase in the number of lawyers after World War I, interest in requiring lawyers to join the Florida State Bar Association, grew. The reasoning was that it was both as a means of improving communication within the profession and of disciplining unethical lawyers. Despite growing momentum, the Florida Supreme Court declined to order this until 1949.

Shortly thereafter, in April 1950, the Florida State Bar Association held it’s final meeting. The name was truncated to "The Florida Bar" and all of the state's 3,758 lawyers automatically became members!

Do not navigate the complexities of your legal situation alone. The “Legal Eagles Team” is here. We are ready to provide you with expert guidance and support every step of the way. As one of the Members of the Florida Bar for over 33 years, I am just a phone call away at 863-294-1114. Take control of your situation and ensure your family is protected by reaching out to us today. Your peace of mind is our priority, and we are committed to helping you achieve the best possible outcome via Rignanese & Associates, PLLC.