OUTSOURCING a/k/a Do you really know who is representing you?

A relatively new and growing trend in providing legal services is "outsourcing." This is apparently when the lawyer or law firm you hire delegates some of its legal work to someone else generally somewhere else. I do not do this. Of course, I am well aware of this cost-cutting strategy with some businesses, like your telephone company, but I personally do not think it is a good choice for legal work.

As a sole practitioner I develop very close relationships with my clients. I chalk that up to the fact that I am the one and only lawyer you will have representing you if you hire me. Your case will not get bumped down the line to a newer associate or to another colleague. I handle all my cases personally. I also know that the particular area of law I practice makes this personal relationship even more important to most of my clients. They have to share very intimate facts about their lives and families.

The Florida Bar Board of Governors is now considering modifying a prior opinion they gave approving the outsourcing of legal services. It seems like common sense to me that this trend is fraught with potential problems that will ultimately erode public confidence in the legal system. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Florida Prepaid College Funds

Recent changes to Florida Prepaid College Plan rules may now make them harder to cancel and thus more likely to be there when a child actually needs it. Florida Bar, Family Law Section supporter, Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, sought the rule change after the matter was brought to his attention by one of his constituents whose ex-husband cashed out their son's plan over her protests because it was only in his name. Now, prepaid plans bought after Feb. 1 will require both the purchaser and any listed survivor to agree before a plan can be cashed out if done so before the child goes to college.For those who bought a prepaid plan before Feb. 1, a survivor can be added and request made to give that person a right of refusal for any plan cancellations or changes. But, anyone who wants sole control of the plan can still choose not to list a survivor.

For details see Fla Admin Rule for Prepaid Plans 19B-5.004.