Members of the Third Judicial Circuit Court administration, the Suwannee County Clerk of Courts office and judicial assistants recently received training on the unlicensed practice of law from Monica Rainge of the Florida Bar. The training provided guidelines for facilitating customer service and procedural assistance without giving legal advice.
Court staff, including clerks of court, family law case managers and judicial assistants, are prohibited from giving legal advice because most are non-lawyers and the court system must remain neutral and impartial. Court personnel are not allowed to advise a litigant to pursue a specific legal remedy or to follow a specific course of action.
However, court employees can provide litigants with requested pro se family law forms, explain a routine procedure and engage in limited oral communication regarding specific cases. As long as the information provided is general in nature and does not require a personal judgment it does not constitute the unlicensed practice of law and is permitted.
The Third Judicial Circuit is made up of Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor counties.
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Court staff receives training in unlicensed practice of law
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Great Suwannee River Race
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Happening today! May Day Fun Day
Come out Saturday to join in celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation
What: May Day Fun Day.
Why: To celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation.
Who: Local vendors, car show, activities for the kids.
Where: Douglass Center, 617 Ontario Ave. SW.
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Rant & Rave - May 17, 2013
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On tap this weekend
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Great Suwannee River Race is tomorrow
The Great Suwannee River gets underway this Saturday at Little River Spring with rafts, canoes and kayaks racing to Ivey Park in Branford. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Live Oak and the Rotary Club of Live Oak, the race is in its fourth year. Racing starts at 10 a.m. and awards will be given out at 1 p.m. Come join this group of fun seekers as they make their way anyway they can to the finish line.
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Democrat Morning Update for Friday, May 17, 2013
Good morning. Here are your updates for today.
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