For the Smart Money Cookie

The Florida Registered Paralegal program takes effect, starting immediately. Currently, over three hundred people have received their application, and many more are predicted to download their copies today, from the Florida Bar’s website.

There is a $150 fee that must be paid when submitting the application. Within two weeks, accepted applicants will receive their welcome information in the mail. There are two tiers in the paralegal program, which also has a disciplinary system and a Code of Ethics and Responsibility

The first tier includes those paralegals who have prior education, training, or work experience and who, under the supervision of lawyers, have performed delegated, substantive work, for which the lawyers are held accountable.

It is essential for the tier two paralegals to meet education and work experience requirements, or become certified by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).

The good news for some is that for the first three years of the program, you may be able to achieve Registered Paralegal Status in the state of Florida, simply by utilizing the godfather provision. This is for those individuals who have substantial experience in the field, but they do not have the formal education or certification requirements to back it up.

The Florida Bar Web site lists all of those that meet that designation.

To maintain your qualification to work as a Florida Registered Paralegal, you will have to undergo 30 hours of courses every tree years, five hours of which will be dedicated to professionalism or ethics courses.
As with most other states, Florida Registered Paralegals are directly monitored by the attorneys who hire and supervise their activities, as these attorneys are held accountable for their paralegals job performance.