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Re: RE: DC Bar and Novus
Posted by Mediator-Tax Man on 1/13/08

    Lisa,
    I don't practice in either area, but I want to practice in
    both areas, tax law and mediation. In both areas non-attorneys
    can practice. The best thing about mediation and tax law is it
    is relatively cheap to get into those practice areas and the
    professional certifications are not limited to licensed
    attorneys.

    Personally, I don't want to take a "state" bar exam or be a
    licensed attorney. But I would take a "specialized" exam that
    concentrates on one area of law, like taxes. I also plan on
    taking the Mediation training program and getting certified. I
    will then "specialize" only in these two areas. I already work
    as a paralegal, but I want to branch out on my own.

    Hey Lisa, take a look at the Small Claims Court rules in
    Florida and see who can practice there?

    As far as DL law school, I would look at the calbar.org
    site for CA registered law schools, you can tell a lot about the
    schools just from their websites. I dont know if CA still has
    non-bar JD programs. If you enrolled in a CA DL bar JD program
    you must pass the baby bar, because they will not award you a JD
    degree unless you pass the BB and complete the bar JD program.

    Do a google search for other online law schools, like Univ of
    Londons LLB law degree and Breyer States Univ-AL non-bar JD or
    Novus Univ, there are a host of other schools available. Several
    regionally accreditted schools offer online LLM or MSL degrees
    once you have a BA or JD. All with different bells and whistles.
    Bottom line its up to you and what you want to get out of the
    school.

    Take care.
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    On 1/13/08, Lisa wrote:
    >
    >
    > Mediator - Tax Man thank you for the reinforcement.
    > I was very pleased to see an affirmative response to my
    > conclusions regarding the research that I conducted. For the
    > last month or so I have been seriously contemplating getting
    my
    > JD from an "approved" California distance school. I weighed my
    > options and I think that specializing in mediation or tax law
    > is the way to go for a Florida resident.
    > Do you happen to be practicing in either of these areas? I
    > would be also be interested in your experience with distance
    > law school, if applicable.
    > Thank you for your kind response.
    > Lisa
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > On 1/13/08, Mediator - Tax Man wrote:
    >> Lisa you have some good ideas,
    >>
    >> If you don't want to technically practice law. The areas you
    >> mentioned will provide plenty of work and in reality they
    >> are areas that lawyers are "practicing" in.
    >>
    >> Yes Florida did eliminated the bar requirement for being
    >> a "Circuit" mediator in 2007, in Florida you can also be
    >> a "Family Law" and "County" mediator as well. All these
    >> areas are "Certified" by the Florida Supreme Court. Actually
    >> bar members have to go through the same certification
    >> process as everyone else. Lawyers do get extra points for
    >> having a "graduate" degree and professional licensing.
    >>
    >> Being a Mediator is serious business and a law degree would
    >> be very useful in helping to "mediate/facilitate/negociate"
    >> legal and non-legal issues. Mediators I think have one of
    >> the toughest jobs, getting people to agree can be very
    >> difficult.
    >>
    >> As for the Tax Court, that is another great "practice" area,
    >> even for an "Enrolled Agent" authorized to practice be
    >> before the IRS and the Tax court, but once again it requires
    >> a significant amount of preparation. Plus you really have to
    >> like Tax law. A lot of lawyers and people in general don't
    >> like tax law. Tax law practice really is a "nitch" and if it
    >> works for you, you won't have tons of competition. So start
    >> taking the tax law classes, there are plenty of courses
    >> around everything from the local state University to the
    >> nice people ate H&R Block tax school can provide training.
    >>
    >> Good luck in your pursuits.
    >>
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
    >>
    >>
    >> On 1/12/08, Lisa wrote:
    >>> Hello.
    >>> I will be attending Novus for my BSL. After reading all
    >> of
    >>> this, I am glad that I did not get into the JD program. I
    >>> believe I will go to West Coast when I complete the Novus
    >>> BSL.
    >>> I have done research on taking the extra 26 credits for
    >> the
    >>> DC bar and I have to agree that you must have an
    >> accredited
    >>> degree to transfer or even to gain admission. I may be
    >>> wrong. I also live in Florida and they require a non aba
    >>> jd to be a practicing attorney for 10 years in another
    >>> jurisdiction before they can sit for the bar. So much for
    >>> that. At this point in my life, I just do not forsee a
    >>> move to California as all of my family is in Florida.
    >>> One thing about going to West Coast is a least you can sit
    >>> for the baby bar just in case you decide to pick up and
    >>> move out west.
    >>> There are also other careers such as alternative dispute
    >>> resolution and such but I can do that with a BSL and a 40
    >>> hour training course here in Florida and become a Florida
    >>> Supreme Court Certified Mediator. In August of 2007 they
    >>> removed the Florida bar membership requirement. That is
    >> an
    >>> option that I am seriously contemplating.
    >>> Additionally, one could take the non-attorney exam to
    >>> practice in front of the US Tax Court. The test is only
    >>> given every two years. The next one is given in 2010.
    >>> Once you pass the exam you are on equal footing as a
    >> lawyer
    >>> and a solid legal education, beyond the BSL and into the
    >> JD
    >>> program at Novus or wherever, with some courses in tax
    >> law,
    >>> accounting and so on would greatly improve your chances of
    >>> passing the exam.
    >>> Just some thoughts from someone who is new to all of this
    >>> and has done a copious amount of research.
    >>> Good luck all of you and I look forward to our future
    >>> correspondence.
    >>> Lisa

     
     

 
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