IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA

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1 The Florida Board of Bar Examiners has filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court proposing amendments to the Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to The Florida Bar. According to the petition, the proposed amendments are offered to standardize and clarify the current rules and to make the bar admission process more efficient for the board and bar applicants. The Court invites all interested persons to comment on the proposed amendments, which are summarized by the board below and reproduced in full online at An original and nine paper copies of all comments must be filed with the Court on or before September 15, 2006, with a certificate of service verifying that a copy has been served on Eleanor Mitchell Hunter, Executive Director, Florida Board of Bar Examiners, 1891 Eider Court, Tallahassee, Florida , as well as a separate request for oral argument if the person filing the comment wishes to participate in oral argument, which may be scheduled in this case. The board has until October 13, 2006, to file a response to any comments filed with the Court. Electronic copies of all comments also must be filed in accordance with the Court's administrative order In re Mandatory Submission of Electronic Copies of Documents, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC04-84 (Sept. 13, 2004). IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA RELATING TO ADMISSIONS TO THE FLORIDA BAR, CASE NO. SC Summary of Proposed Amendments:

2 1, 1-10, 1-12, 1-13, 1-14, , 1-15, 1-16, 1-20, 1-22, , 1-23, , , , 1-24, , , 1-25, , 1-26, , , , 1-27, 1-30, 1-31, 1-32, 1-33, 1-35, 1-40, 1-41, 1-42, 1-43, 1-50, 1-51, , , 1-52, 1-53, 1-60, 1-61, 1-62, 1-63, , , , , , , , , , 1-64, 1-65, 1-70, 1-71, 1-72, 2, 2-10, 2-12, 2-13, , , , 2-14, 2-20, 2-30, , 3, 3-10, , 3-11, 3-12, 3-13, 3-14, , , 3-15, 3-16, 3-17, , , 3-20, 3-21, , 3-22, , , , 3-23, , , , , , , , 3-30, 3-40, 4, 4-10, 4-11, 4-12, 4-13, , , 4-14, 4-15, , 4-17, 4-18, , , 4-20, 4-21, 4-22, 4-23, , 4-24, , , 4-26, 4-30, 4-32, 4-33, , 4-40, 4-42, , , , 4-43, 4-44, 4-47, 4-50, 4-51, , , 4-52, 4-60, 4-61, 4-62, , , , 4-63, 4-64, 4-65, 5, 5-10, 5-11, 5-12, 5-13, , , 5-14, , , 1-21, , , , 1-34, , , , , , , 4-41, , , , , , , , , , , 2-25, 2-26, , , , , , 2-27, 4-25, , Amended for housekeeping purposes only to conform the rules to the style guide for Amended for housekeeping purposes only to simplify and clarify the rules and to conform the rules to the style guide for Amended for housekeeping purposes only to relocate and update language and to conform the rules to the style guide for Amended for housekeeping purposes only to renumber rule and to conform - 2 -

3 Amended to clarify that based on a decision of the Florida Supreme Court, applicants who were previously denied on character and fitness grounds are eligible to take the bar examination during their disqualification period. Also amended to conform the rule to the style guide for 2-21, Amended to consolidate the separate bar and examination applications into a single application. Also amended to require the use of the board s online applications , Amended to relocate and update the language from rule to rule pertaining to the registration process for law students. Also amended to conform 2-22 Amended to implement change to a single application. Also amended to add language as to the commencement of the board s character and fitness investigation Amended to delete unnecessary language due to change requiring the use of the board s online application. Also amended to relocate and update pertinent language from rules 2-25 and Amended to relocate the fee structure for student registration from rule Also amended to establish fixed dates for filing deadlines Deleted as unnecessary due to change requiring the use of the board s online application

4 2-28 Amended to clarify that this rule provision is applicable also to a Consent Judgment authorized by rule Also amended to conform the rule to the style guide for 2-29 Amended to clarify that this rule provision applies to disbarred attorneys under rule Also amended to Amended to clarify the pleadings that are to be filed with the court and served by the parties when an applicant seeks review of an administrative decision of the board. Also amended to establish consistent deadlines for serving the different pleadings. Also amended to , Amended to delete the requirement that an applicant provide transcripts from all post-secondary institutions ever attended. Also amended to implement a change as to the availability of application-related forms that are readily available on the board's website. Also guide for Amended to implement a change as to the availability of application-related forms that are readily available on the board's website Amended to conform to the board's practice that an investigative hearing may be unnecessary for the Board's determination that conditional admission should be offered to an applicant. Also amended to conform the rule to the style guide for rules of - 4 -

5 Amended to conform to the board's practice establishing a 20-day deadline for the filing of an answer to Specifications. Also amended to Amended to clarify the pleadings that are to be filed with the court and served by the parties when an applicant seeks review of a character and fitness decision of the board. Also amended to establish consistent deadlines for serving the different pleadings. Also guide for Amended to clarify the pleadings that are to be filed with the court and served by the parties when an applicant seeks review of the length of the board s investigation. Also amended to establish consistent deadlines for serving the different pleadings. Also guide for Amended to clarify that based on a decision of the Florida Supreme Court, law students may take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) prior to graduation subject to the requirements of rule Amended to implement a change as to the availability of information related to the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) from the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Also amended to conform - 5 -

6 Amended to delete the provision pertaining to the purchase of a bar examination study guide. The study guide is now available free on the board's website. Also amended to Amended to inform applicants that the board provides test accommodations at no additional cost to applicants consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Also amended to Amended to inform applicants that forms pertaining to requests for test accommodations are now available on the board's website. The amendment also references rules and for information as to deadlines and late filing fees for requesting test accommodations. Also amended to Amended to delete obsolete language pertaining to the prior pass/fail line for the General Bar Examination. Also guide for Amended to delete obsolete language pertaining to the prior pass/fail line for the MPRE. Also amended to conform Amended to set new earlier deadlines for requesting test accommodations for the bar examination. Also amended to - 6 -

7 4-43.1, , , Amended to simplify the deadlines and late fees for applications for admission to a particular administration of the bar examination by reducing the deadlines from 4 to 2 and by eliminating the late filing fees of $100 and $1,000. The proposed amendment would establish fixed final deadlines of January 15 for the February examination and June 15 for the July examination. Rules and are to be deleted in that they are no longer needed due to the elimination of 2 of the 4 deadlines. Also amended to conform the rule to the style guide for 4-45 Amended to delete outdated language pertaining to the past practice of allowing the use of typewriters during the bar examination and replace it with language pertaining to the current practice of allowing the use of laptop computers. Also amended to conform 4-46 Amended to require applicants who untimely request postponement of taking the bar examination or who fail to appear for the bar examination to be treated the same as applicants seeking to retake the bar examination including the payment of the examination reapplication fee of $375. Also guide for 4-48 Amended to add additional classes of applicants consistent with the amendment to rule Also amended to - 7 -

8 Amended to specify the items that are barred in the examination room without prior written approval. Also amended to - 8 -