TALLAHASSEE — Jensen Beach attorney Jean Laws-Scott faces voluntarily disbarment following a pending disciplinary matter involving her trust account.
On Aug. 23 the Florida Supreme Court issued its two-page order of disciplinary revocation, tantamount to disbarment, with leave to seek readmission after five years. Laws-Scott asked the court to revoke her state bar membership without leave to seek readmission.
"A disciplinary matter pending against Laws-Scott involved failure to maintain her trust account in substantial minimum compliance with bar rules, resulting in trust account shortages," the Florida Bar said in its announcement of the order.
Laws-Scott's disbarment will be effective 30 days from the date of the court's order to allow her time to close out her practice and protect existing clients' interests, according to the high court's order.
Laws-Scott also was ordered to pay $1,250 in costs.
Florida court orders are not final until time to file a rehearing motion expires. Filing such a motion does not alter the effective date of Laws-Scott's disbarment.
Attorneys disbarred in the state generally may not re-apply for admission for five years. After that time, they must pass through an extensive process, including a rigorous background check and re-taking the bar exam.
Laws-Scott was admitted to the bar in Florida on April 21, 1994, according to her profile at the state bar website. No prior discipline before the state bar is listed.
Laws-Scott's uncontested petition for disciplinary revocation was filed ahead of pending disciplinary charges against her alleged trust account issues. In her petition, Laws-Scott agreed to reimburse the state bar's client security fund.
Laws-Scott also agreed to a complete audit of her accounts and will submit a sworn financial affidavit to the state bar attesting to her current personal and professional financial circumstances.