BRINGING PROFESSIONALISM BACK TO THE PROFESSION

Is a lawyer you know acting unprofessionally and causing you concern because he or she: •     Seems disorganized? •     Is unprepared? •     Gives an appearance of impropriety? •     Demonstrates  badgering or bullying behavior? •     Acts rude? •     Seems abusive? •     Has an offensive personality? •     Belittles your concerns?

How The Local Professionalism Panel Works

 The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Local Professionalism Panel (LPP) is active and is here to help! This is a non-punitive, confidential program intended to mentor and advise attorneys who may need further direction on the professionalism and courtesy expected of an attorney in accordance with the Oath of Admission to The Florida Bar.

The LPP consists of judges and active practitioners who are appointed to serve three-year terms by the Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. The serving members cover a wide-range of practice areas and are lawyers with the necessary experience to address complaints.

Complaints about lawyer's conduct may be made by any member of the bar or public directly to the Co-Chairs of the LPP. Complaints may be made by telephone or e-mail. The current Co-Chairs' names and contact information can be found at the bottom of this page.

Upon receiving a complaint, the LPP Co-Chairs will review the conduct with an initial screening committee consisting of five judges. If the screening committee determines diversion is necessary, the complaint will be referred to a three-member panel from the LLP consisting of two private practitioners and one member of the judiciary. The assigned panel will determine through its investigation whether further action is necessary. Such action includes meeting with the responding attorney to address the conduct and, potentially, recommending training programs to assist the responding attorney in learning from the correcting the complained behavior.

It is important to remember that the LLP does not have the ability to investigate matters rising to the level of a Florida Bar Complaint or to take disciplinary action against the responding attorney. However, if the LLP determines the conduct rises to a level meriting review by the Florida Bar, the LLP can refer the matter directly to The Florida Bar's Attorney Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP).

If making a complaint, we recommend collecting the following information to provide the LPP Co-Chairs:

--The attorney's name who is the subject of the complaint as well as the attorney's law firm (if applicable);
--Your relationship to the attorney (i.e., you attorney, opposing counsel, etc.);
--A short summary of the conduct giving rise to the complaint:
--Names of any other attorneys or non-attorneys with information related to the conduct at issue in the complaint;
--If applicable, the case name and number at issue in the complaint:
--Any document that will support the complaint (i.e., documents filed in court, transcripts, emails, letters, etc.); and
--Any action taken to attempt to address the conduct prior to making the complaint to the LLP.

For information about the Local Professionalism Panel or making a complaint, contact either:

--Anthony T. Martino at 813.856.9323 or via email at anthonytmartino@msn.com; or
--Jason Whittemore at 813.225.4000 or via email at jason@wagnerlaw.com

For information about The Florida Bar’s Attorney Consumer Assistance Program, visit the ACAP website.

Read the HCBA Standards of Professionalism.

Read the Professionalism Guidelines for Business Lawyers.

Read Administrative Order S-2023-034, related to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Committee.

Learn about The Florida Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism.