Letter to Governor Rick Scott

by Ruth Tick
(Venice)

Dear Governor Scott,

I am a Florida legal document preparer; co-founder and co-director of a trade association called, The Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers, LLC - www.faldp.org . As nonlawyers, legal document preparers, our members are subjected to ongoing and constant harassment by the Florida Bar. We are investigated and accused of the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) on a regular basis. The UPL investigations are most often initiated by the Florida Bar, and rarely by consumers. Attorneys also sometimes initiate complaints. The Florida Bar's tactics are heavy handed and intimidating.

We are niche businesses assisting pro se litigants in completing their forms/ documents to file in court.We do not hold ourselves out to be attorneys, and do not offer legal advice. Typically, the fees that we charge for document preparation services is around 10% of what attorneys fees might be. Our customers know that we are not attorneys, know that we may not give them legal advice, and know that they must represent themselves in court.

We make every effort to follow the Florida Bar rules. UPL in Florida is a third degree felony. Our members, as small business people, and self-employed individuals do not have the funds to defend themselves from the Florida Bar.

Can you please look into this, or ask one of your aides to help us? We believe that the Florida Bar is trying to protect their turf, under the guise of protecting consumers. They are the fox guarding the hen house.

We just want to do business in peace without interference from the Florida Bar. Many of us provide jobs by employing others as assistants.

Best Regards,
Ruth Tick, 941-497-0951