In re Amendments to the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar—Florida Registered Paralegal Program

This matter is before the Court on the petition of The Florida Bar proposing that the Court amend the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar by adopting chapter 20, the Florida Registered Paralegal Program. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 15, Fla. Const. We adopt the proposed rules with only minor stylistic changes.

BACKGROUND

The Bar undertook its study of the issue of paralegal certification or registration in 2005 when legislation to institute a regulatory scheme for paralegals was introduced before the Florida Legislature. The Bar opposed the proposed legislation, in part because it believed…