Rule 1-3.7 - REINSTATEMENT TO MEMBERSHIP(a) Eligibility for Reinstatement. Members who have retired or been delinquent for less than 5 years are eligible for reinstatement under this rule. Time will be calculated from the date of the retirement or delinquency. Inactive members may also seek reinstatement under this rule.
(b) Petitions Required. A member seeking reinstatement must file a petition with the executive director setting forth the reason for inactive status, retirement, or delinquency and showing good cause why the petition for reinstatement should be granted. The petitioner must include all required information on a form approved by the board of governors. The petition must be accompanied by a nonrefundable reinstatement fee of $150 and payment of all arrearages unless adjusted by the executive director with concurrence of the executive committee for good cause shown. Inactive members are not required to pay the reinstatement fee. No member will be reinstated if, from the petition or from investigation conducted, the petitioner is not of good moral character and morally fit to practice law or if the member is delinquent with the continuing legal education or basic skills course requirements, except that the executive director has discretion to waive or extend the time period to complete continuing legal education or basic skills course requirements on a showing of undue hardship. If the executive director is in doubt as to approval of a petition, the executive director may refer the petition to the board of governors for its action. Action of the executive director or board of governors denying a petition for reinstatement may be reviewed on petition to the Supreme Court of Florida.
(c) Members Who Have Retired or Been Delinquent for Less Than 5 Years, But More Than 3 Years. Members who have retired or been delinquent for less than 5 years, but more than 3 years, must complete 10 hours of continuing legal education courses for each year or portion of a year that the member had retired or was deemed delinquent.(d) Members Who Have Retired or Been Delinquent for 5 Years or More. Members who have retired or have been deemed delinquent for 5 years or more will not be reinstated under this rule and must be readmitted upon application to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and approval by the Supreme Court of Florida.(e) Members Who Have Permanently Retired. Members who have permanently retired will not be reinstated under this rule.(f) Members Delinquent 60 Days or Less. Any member reinstated from delinquency for payment of membership fees, trust account compliance certification, or completion of continuing legal education or basic skills course requirements approved within 60 days from the date of delinquency is not considered in violation of these rules and is not subject to disciplinary sanction for practicing law in Florida during that time.(g) Inactive Members. Inactive members may be reinstated to active membership in good standing and become eligible to practice law in Florida by petition filed with the executive director, in the form and as provided in (b) subject to the following conditions:(1) If the member has been inactive for more than 5 years, has been authorized to practice law in another jurisdiction, and either actively practiced law in that jurisdiction or held a position that requires a license as a lawyer for the entire period of time, the member will be required to complete the Florida Law Update continuing legal education course as part of continuing legal education requirements.(2) If the member has been inactive for more than 5 years and does not meet the requirements of subdivision (1), the member will be required to complete the basic skills course requirement and the 30-hour continuing legal education requirement.(3) An inactive member is not eligible for reinstatement until all applicable continuing legal education requirements have been completed and the remaining portion of membership fees for members in good standing for the current fiscal year have been paid.Amended March 30, 1989, effective 3/31/1989 (541 So.2d 110); 10/10/1991, effective 1/1/1992 (587 So.2d 1121); 11/14/1991, effective 1/1/1992 (593 So.2d 1035); 7/23/1992, effective 1/1/1993 (605 So.2d 252); 9/24/1998, effective 10/1/1998 (718 So.2d 1179); 2/8/2001 (795 So.2d 1); 11/19/2009, effective 2/1/2010 (24 So.3d 63); 4/12/2012, effective 7/1/2012 (101 So.3d 80); 5/29/2014, effective 6/1/2014 (140 So.3d 541); 6/11/2015, effective 10/1/2015 (167 So.3d 412),11/9/2017, effective 2/1/2018 (234 So.3d 632); 1/4/2019, effective 3/5/2019 (267 So.3d 891); amended March 16, 2023, effective5/15/2023 (SC22-1292); amended February 29, 2024, effective 1/8/2024 (SC23-1412); amended May 9, 2024, effective 7/8/2024 (SC2024-0030).