Florida attorneys worried about more competition can breathe easier. The governing board of the Florida Bar voted unanimously against so-called reciprocity.
Reciprocity goes like this: Let attorneys from other states practice in Florida without additional bar testing and other states will do the same for Florida. More opportunity for all, right?
Not according to the Florida Bar’s governing board, which voted 46-0 against the idea. Critics say there’s enough competition in Florida. Board member Jay Cohen says more attorneys won’t help the thousands of Floridians who can’t afford legal help now.
“There’s other methods and manners that we’re going to have to look at hard, we’re going to have to investigate, we’re going to have to deal with in order to address the access issue.”
The reciprocity debate is over for now, but Cohen says it could come up in a year when a new bar president takes the reins.