Professional License Defense in Tampa

Do Not Let One Mistake Ruin Your Career

Florida laws require professionals to report prosecution and litigation to the state licensing board or agency. Your years of hard work and sacrifice can be lost in an instant, if you do not have a criminal defense attorney.

But there is hope.

At The Frey Law Firm, LLC, in Tampa, Florida, Attorney Ron Frey knows how to protect your right to practice your profession. From assisting individuals in gaining professional licensure, to discipline and readmission hearings, he will help you protect your license and livelihood.

We Can Help You, Too

Some of the professionals we represent include:

• Accountants
• Architects
• Attorneys
• Chiropractors
• Contractors
• Corrections officers
• Dentists and doctors
• Financial planners
• Nurses
• Paramedics and EMTs
• Pharmacists
• Police
• Psychiatrists and psychologists
• Teachers
• Veterinarians

Earning a professional license is the culmination of years of effort. Do not let a criminal conviction destroy everything you have worked to attain.

The Experience You Need When so Much Is at Stake

At The Frey Law Firm, LLC, Attorney Ron Frey understands the issues people face when their professional licenses are on the line. He knows how valuable licensure is, and he works to protect it.

Attorney Ron Frey has over two decades of criminal defense experience that has taken him around the country. His efforts for his clients have helped him earn a 10.0 Avvo rating and recognition as a Super Lawyer. Attorney Ron Frey is also a conference speaker and published author in criminal law and defense.

Why an Arrest Matters for Licensed Professionals

For a nurse, doctor, pharmacist, teacher, real estate agent, contractor, CPA, or pilot, a criminal charge can threaten more than a fine or a sentence. It can also put a license and a career at risk. Licensing boards and agencies may look at an arrest, a plea, or a conviction when deciding whether a person can keep practicing, renew a license, or get licensed in the first place. Attorney Ron Frey has represented numerous nurses, teachers, doctors, lawyers, pharmacists, real estate agents, and people holding financial licenses, such as FINRA-registered Series 7 representatives, along with other licensed professionals who are subject to board review or who have ethical, fiduciary, and licensing obligations. That is why he defends the criminal case with the licensing consequences in mind from the very first conversation. For health care professionals, our post on prescription fraud allegations against pharmacists and prescribers walks through how these cases are generally handled.

Contractors can face criminal charges as well. Our post on a Hillsborough sting targeting unlicensed contracting gives one example. An arrest on a work trip can raise the same license concerns. If it happened during a convention or business trip to Tampa, see our page for people arrested at the Tampa Convention Center.

Reporting Duties for Florida Health Care Licensees

Florida Statute section 456.072, titled “Grounds for discipline; penalties; enforcement,” applies to health care professionals licensed through the Florida Department of Health. Under this section, a board may discipline a licensee for being convicted or found guilty of, or pleading guilty or no contest to, a crime that relates to the practice of the profession, regardless of adjudication. The same section also makes it grounds for discipline to fail to report in writing within 30 days after being convicted or found guilty of, or pleading no contest to, a crime in any jurisdiction, again regardless of adjudication. Other professions have their own rules and reporting requirements. The details are different in every case. If you hold a professional license of any kind and are facing a criminal investigation or criminal charges, it is important to consult an attorney. Deadlines, requirements, obligations, and strategies are unique to each case, and information on a website can’t simply be applied to your circumstances. Contact Attorney Ron Frey to discuss yours.

How Diversion, Withhold of Adjudication, and Sealing Can Matter

How a case ends can make a real difference to a licensing board. Pretrial diversion may allow a charge to be dismissed. A withhold of adjudication means the court does not formally find the person guilty, although some reporting rules, including the one above, still apply “regardless of adjudication.” Sealing or expunging a record can limit public access to it, but some licensing agencies may still be able to see sealed records. Each option has its own eligibility rules. Learn more on our First-Time Offenders page, and contact Attorney Ron Frey to talk about which options may fit your situation.

Act Early, Confidentially, and Have Every Step Reviewed

Getting a lawyer involved early can open options that may close later. A case can begin in many ways: a stop, a search, a seizure, questions from an investigator, a law enforcement investigation, an arrest, or a target letter. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, so how law enforcement gathered its evidence is a key issue in every case. Attorney Ron Frey reviews all of it: how the contact began, whether there was a lawful basis for each step, how any search or seizure was carried out, what was said, and how any arrest was made. If you or a friend or family member is a licensed professional who has been contacted by law enforcement, is under investigation, or has been arrested, contact a lawyer before deciding what to do next, including before talking with an employer or a licensing board.

Talk With Attorney Ron Frey

Consultations with Attorney Ron Frey are free and confidential, and they can be held by phone, by video, or in person. When the situation calls for it, Attorney Ron Frey can come to you. Whether you are facing drug charges or another criminal charge, call or text (813) 775-2276 to talk about your case or the case of a friend or family member. You can also contact us online or learn more about Attorney Ron Frey.