What you need to know about Bar's new email rule.

The Supreme Court has amended Rule 1-3.3(a), Official Bar Name and Address, to require each member of The Florida Bar provide the Bar with a business email address, if the member has one, as part of his or her offical Bar record.

Below is information about why the rule was needed and how it affects Florida lawyers.

Q. What is the purpose of this rule change?

A. The e-filing and e-service being developed for implementation within the Florida state courts system takes advantage of the efficiency of Bar members filing court documents via email. To prepare for e-filing, the Florida Supreme Court opted to require that all members provide the Bar with a business-use email address, if the member has one, as part of his or her official Bar record.

Q. Is an email address now required as part of my official Bar record?

A. The rule change only requires designation of a business email address, if members have one. However, the e-filing system being implemented throughout the state courts is designed for Bar members to use email to file briefs, petitions, and other legal documents.

Q. How do I submit my business email address to be in compliance with the new rule?

A. Member profile and contact information can be updated by accessing the Member Services page on the Bar's website, or by contacting the Membership Records department, (850) 561-5832.

Q. Does the Bar sell my email address or my other member information?

A. No. As further explained below, basic Bar membership information, including any email address, is considered public record except for those lawyers who claim a recognized legal exemption. That data--and other optional member-posted information--appear on the Bar's website and is accessible to anyone consistent with applicable law, but cannot be simply downloaded in bulk. The Bar must otherwise allow for bulk requests of its member data from anyone in response to a valid public records request. Then, the Bar may only assess a minimal service fee for copies of its records, or for requests that involve particularly unique aggregations of this data or that seek compilations outside of Excel formats--otherwise, the Bar must essentially distribute its member information free of charge.

Q. What happens if I don't have an email address?

A. There are providers that offer free email accounts, such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc. Bar members should research options and determine the best email provider for their law...