Rule 1-3.2 - MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS(a) Members in Good Standing.(1) Members of The Florida Bar in good standing means only those persons licensed to practice law in Florida who have paid annual membership fees for the current year and who are not retired, resigned, revoked, disbarred, delinquent, on the inactive list for incapacity, or suspended.(2) Members of The Florida Bar who have elected inactive status, who have paid annual membership fees for the current year, and who are not retired, resigned, revoked, disbarred, delinquent, suspended, or on the inactive list for incapacity, are considered to be in good standing only for purposes of obtaining a certificate of good standing and for no other purpose. A certificate of good standing issued to an inactive member will reflect the member's inactive status.(b) Inactive Members. Inactive members of The Florida Bar means only those members who have properly elected to be classified as inactive in the manner elsewhere provided. A member may elect inactive status only if the member is currently in good standing. Inactive members will:
(1) pay annual membership fees as set forth in rule 1-7.3;(2) be exempt from continuing legal education requirements;(3) affirmatively represent their membership status as inactive members of The Florida Bar when any statement of Florida Bar membership is made;(4) not hold themselves out as being able to practice law in Florida or render advice on matters of Florida law unless certified as an emeritus lawyer under chapter 12 of these rules;(5) not hold any position that requires the person to be a licensed Florida lawyer;(6) not be eligible for certification under the Florida certification plan;(7) not vote in Florida Bar elections or be counted for purposes of apportionment of the board of governors;(8) certify on election of inactive status that they will comply with all applicable restrictions and limitations imposed on inactive members of The Florida Bar, unless certified as an emeritus lawyer under chapter 12 of these rules. Failure of an inactive member to comply with all these requirements is cause for disciplinary action.
An inactive member may, at any time, apply for reinstatement to active membership in good standing to become eligible to practice law in Florida in the manner provided in rule 1-3.7.
Amended Dec. 4, 1986 (498 So.2d 914); March 30, 1989, effective 3/31/1989 (541 So.2d 110);11/29/1990, effective 1/1/1991 (570 So.2d 940);7/23/1992, effective 1/1/1993 (605 So.2d 252);7/17/1997 (697 So.2d 115);9/24/1998, effective 10/1/1998 (718 So.2d 1179);2/8/2001 (795 So.2d 1);4/25/2002 (820 So.2d 210), amended November 9, 2017, effective 2/1/2018 (234 So. 3d 577); amended September 3, 2020 (301 So.3d 857); amended March 3, 2022, effective 5/2/2022 (SC20-1467); amended May 9, 2024, effective 7/8/2024 (SC2024-0030).