STATEMENT OF POLICY AND PURPOSES

Every citizen of the state should have access to the legal system. A person’s access to the legal system is enhanced by the assistance of a qualified lawyer. Citizens often encounter difficulty in identifying and locating lawyers who are willing and qualified to consult with them about their legal needs. Bona fide not-for-profit state and local bar associations are uniquely qualified to provide lawyer referral services under supervision by The Florida Bar for the benefit of the public. The Florida Bar’s policy is to support the establishment of local lawyer referral services and to encourage those services to: make legal services readily available to the general public through a referral method that considers the client’s financial circumstances, spoken language, geographical convenience, and the type and complexity of the client’s legal problem; provide information about lawyers and the availability of legal services that will aid in the selection of a lawyer; inform the public when and where to seek legal services and provide an initial determination of whether those services are necessary or advisable; and provide referral to consumer, government, and other agencies when the individual’s best interests so dictate.