A peek into Florida's ancient cleric style organization to discipline lawyers.

The article is a paid subscription column. It's a good read for anyone who wants a description of Florida's Bar(ily) Association. Here are my two cents: 52 members and only two are laymen. Not even regular laymen since the one currently leaving is a legislature. Never a good idea to put lawyers and politicians on a board that is meant to police professionals who give advice and cover to politicians.

And, I suggest you man those phones at the Florida Bar Association with paralegals who have a grudge against lawyers, because a lawyer who is trying to protect his kind will inflict comments that will try to dissuade you. I know from experience.

Edited to add: And add whistle blower protection. Nothing is more daunting than to read on their website that you can still face a private lawsuit. If you're trying to turn in lawyers who have gamed the system locally, the last thing you want to do is test the state system.

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Florida Bar seeks nonlawyer to fill opening on governing boardFlorida Bar seeks nonlawyer to fill opening on governing board

The Florida Bar is searching for a new member of its Board of Governors, hoping to fill one of two spots reserved for nonlawyer members of the public on the agency's governing body..

The opening comes as Orlando's Winston "Bud" Gardner, a former state legislator, finishes his second two-year term.

Florida's is one of only 13 state bars to include members of the public on its governing board, a practice the Bar's President Greg Coleman says helps the organization "stay dialed in to... what is going on with our citizens in our state."

snip

Public members have been a part of the Bar's board since 1987. They take up two seats on the 52-member board and serve two-year terms. They cannot serve more than two consecutive terms, which is why Gardner is exiting.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-florida-bar-seeks-new-board-member-20150104-story.html