Victims of Disorganized Thinking: When Law Students with Mental Health Issues Confront Florida’s Unconstitutional Inquisition

4 Mental Health & Pol'y J. 87 (2015 Forthcoming)

46 Pages Posted: 1 Apr 2015 Last revised: 10 Nov 2015

See all articles by Keith W. Rizzardi

Keith W. Rizzardi

St. Thomas University School of Law

Date Written: 2014

Abstract

The Florida Board of Bar Examiners’ approach to bar admissions and character and fitness investigations has troublesome effects on the mental health of modern law students. Serious questions exist as to the reasonableness of Florida’s process, particularly when compared with other states. The wisdom of the rules is suspect, because, in addition to demanding sweeping disclosure of mental health issues, the rules prevent lawyers who have been conditionally admitted to the Florida Bar from working or living outside the state, violating constitutional law by withholding benefits for people with mental health issues based solely on residency considerations. Further demonstrating a lack of compassion, the conditional admission process offered by the Board is an individually-costly alternative. In fact, informal survey data shows that spectre of mental health scrutiny leads students not to obtain treatment at all. Showing courage, rather than continuing to protect the status quo, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners should follow the path paved by other states, and reform its rules.

Suggested Citation

Rizzardi, Keith W., Victims of Disorganized Thinking: When Law Students with Mental Health Issues Confront Florida’s Unconstitutional Inquisition (2014). 4 Mental Health & Pol'y J. 87 (2015 Forthcoming), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2587198

Keith W. Rizzardi (Contact Author)

St. Thomas University School of Law ( email )

16401 N.W. 37th Ave.
Miami, FL 33054
United States
305.474.2422 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
118
Abstract Views
878
Rank
425,167
PlumX Metrics