§ RULE IV FORMATION OF THE PARTICIPANT-MEMBER PANEL
RULE IV. FORMATION OF THE PARTICIPANT-MEMBER PANEL
A. Any Florida Bar member in good standing with no pending findings of probable cause by a grievance committee, who maintains an office in a county not served by any referral service sponsored by or affiliated with any local bar association, may qualify as a panel member.
B. Application for membership will be grouped by county.
C. (1) In submitting an application for membership on the panel, the applicant may list those areas of law which he or she is competent to handle. In accepting the registration of any applicant, the Service may require such information and certification as it deems necessary to have the applicant show membership in good standing with the Bar, qualification to practice and adherence to recognized ethical standards of the profession. The committee may conduct further investigation and require further information bearing upon the responsibility, capability, character and integrity of any applicant or panel member. Any applicant will be denied membership if the applicant has a grievance matter with a finding of probable cause pending with The Florida Bar or the Supreme Court of Florida at the time of initial application. The committee may also require such information as it deems necessary in accepting or continuing the membership of any applicant or panel member on any panel or panels that may be established.
(2) Any applicant may be denied membership and any panel member may be withdrawn from the Service if the attorney has:
a. willfully failed to pay any fee, render any report, or otherwise abide by the rules of the Service;
b. signed any application or other certification or report to the Service which shall be found to be untrue in any material respect. Such action may be taken by the vote of a majority of all members of the committee, only after a hearing on reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard, and subject to the right of appeal to the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time, the committee receives notice or information giving it reasonable grounds to believe that a panel member does not meet the required standards of responsibility, capability, character, and integrity, it may suspend a panel member from participation on the Service for such reasonable time as may be necessary.
(3) Any panel member will be automatically suspended from any further referrals upon the finding of probable cause by The Florida Bar in a grievance matter. A suspended panel member may apply for readmission to the panel upon the conclusion of any grievance proceeding and be readmitted at the committee's discretion.
D. A panel member, in filing an application as provided, agrees to:
(1) grant an initial half-hour office consultation for a fee of no more than $25 to any referred client on the Regular Panel;
(2) charge for further services only as agreed upon with the client in keeping with the stated objectives of the Service and the client's ability to pay;
(3) carry, and continue to carry, professional liability insurance with limits not less than $100,000;
(4) permit any dispute concerning fees arising from a referral to be submitted to binding arbitration if the client so petitions;
(5) grant all clients referred by the Service an appointment as soon as practicable after request is made;
(6) abide by all of the rules of the Service and indemnify and hold harmless The Florida Bar and any of its officers, members or employees from any and all claims, demands, actions, liability or loss which may arise from, or be incurred as a result of the operation of the Service or referrals of clients through the Service, or by applicant's failure to comply with any provision of the rules of the Service, or use of information contained in the application;