Every attorney who wants to practice law in the state of Florida must be a member of The Florida Bar. The Florida Bar is an association of all lawyers who are licensed by the Supreme Court of Florida to practice law in this state. Before hiring an attorney, Floridians should first make sure that the attorney has legitimate and up-to-date credentials with The Florida Bar association. For example, you can be assured that each Tampa personal injury attorney at Clark and Martino, P.A., is a current member in good standing with The Florida Bar.

Today, The Florida Bar association has more than 81,000 members. According to Florida’s constitution, the Supreme Court of Florida has the ultimate authority to regulate and discipline people who are practicing law in Florida. As part of the Supreme Court of Florida, The Florida Bar prosecutes unethical lawyers, helps clients who may have been victimized by lawyer fraud in Florida, and provides several other services to the public. Many people are surprised to learn that The Florida Bar association and all of its functions are not supported by state tax dollars.

The history of the term “bar” is quite interesting. It began in England during the early 1300s when a system of courts was established to settle disagreements among the people. In these early days, court cases were held in open gathering places. Courts quickly grew in number, and people looked forward to court sessions as an opportunity for entertainment, socializing, and education. Soon, court had to be held in fields to accommodate the crowds.

In the midst of the ensuing chaos, courts put up boundaries to separate the public audience from the legal proceedings. Those boundaries were constructed out of logs, known as “bars.” Eventually, practicing law meant you were admitted “into the bar.” The term “bar” is now defined as a group of people practicing law in a certain location.

The Florida State Bar Association began as a voluntary association in 1907. During its 100 years in existence, the name was simplified to The Florida Bar and admission became mandatory for attorneys practicing law in Florida. Even though it’s illegal to practice law in Florida without being a member of The Florida Bar, it’s still wise for people to double-check that their attorney is, in fact, a current member of The Florida Bar. For more information on our Florida Bar status and to learn more about hiring a board-certified Tampa personal injury attorney, please call or e-mail Clark and Martino, P.A.