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Florida Bar Character and Fitness Information Resources

Employment History

Question 11a

Prior Employers, Question 11(a)

There are a number of ways to find information about your previous employers if you do not know it.

Keep in mind employment is defined very broadly, and includes self-employment and just about any time you expended for the benefit of any other person or organization type whether you were paid or not.

Look for prior "employer" information using:

Tax Records

You can use your tax records to see where you worked and to get the name and address of companies. Check first with the person who prepared your taxes. If you used tax preparation software such as Turbo Tax, you can sign in and retrieve your older tax returns.

There is a fee if you need to request a copy of a yearly return from the IRS, see Tax Returns tab. Keep in mind the Bar application asks that you provide the address of where you worked. That address could be different from the address on the W-2 form. If it is, call the company listed on the W-2 and ask them for the address of where you worked.

Ex Co-workers

Do you keep in contact with any of your former co-workers? Contact them and see if they have any of the information you need.

Prior Work Places

You can contact a prior workplace you do know, and request a copy of your entire file or employment application. You listed prior employers there you may not remember.

Business Directories

You can find a business headquarters address by looking up the name through the department of business regulation for the state in which you worked. In Florida, the Department of State, Division of Corporations (a/k/a Sunbiz) registers all companies doing business in the state of Florida.  Start with heading Corporations, Trademarks, Limited Partnerships, & Limited Liability Companies on the Department's homepage.

Social Security Records

You can request an employment history from the Social Security Office. Unfortunately, they can take up to four months to get you the results and there is a $92 fee (more if you want a certified copy) for the service.

Employment Discipline or Denial

Questions 12a, 12c, and 12d

Discharge, Suspension, Disciplinary Relief from Duty/ Administrative Leave, Question 12(a)

If you had a suspension, discharge or were disciplined by an employer, ask for the Human Resources department at your former employer and they may be able to give you information on any disciplinary actions taken against you. If you applied for unemployment benefits, the Unemployment Office in the state where you worked likely contacted your employer to find out why you were discharged. Contact the Unemployment Office and ask for those records.

Contacting the H.R. department shows a good faith effort on your part in obtaining these records.

 

Denial of Employment, Question 12(c)

The Human Resources department at your former employer may be able to give you information on a denial of employment decision. Contacting the H.R. department shows a good faith effort on your part in obtaining these records.

 

Disciplinary Charges or Complaints, Question 12(d)

Again, the Human Resources department at your former employer may be willing to give you information on charges or complaints. If the in-house charges arose from a criminal incident you should obtain your criminal history report. See the Criminal Records page of this Research Guide.