Attorneys seek increased Florida Bar member fees

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Some 500 attorneys have asked the state Supreme Court to increase Florida Bar membership fees to pay for legal services for the poor.

Former Supreme Court Justice Raoul Cantero leads the group that filed a petition Monday that seeks to increase the fees from $265 annually to $365. The Florida Bar Foundation funds legal aid for those in need through its Interest on Trust Accounts revenue, which decreased by $38 million from 2007 to 2012. It had $44 million in 2007, down to $5.58 million in 2012, attorneys say.