The Florida Bar

Florida Bar News

Free Benchmarks seminar set for Winter Meeting

Regular News

Free Benchmarks seminar set for Winter Meeting

A seminar to coach attorneys on how to make presentations about civics topics, such as the rule of law, the election of judges, and judicial review will be held at The Florida Bar Winter Meeting January 24, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Benchmarks Registration is free and the session is approved for two hours of general CLE credit. The Winter Meeting is being held at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista.

Why Benchmarks? Surveys have shown many adults lack basic knowledge about their government and the courts. Yet those who learn about the courts and their role in government tend to support them and the work they do.

The Florida Bar’s “Benchmarks: Raising the Bar on Civics Education” program has presentations that attorneys can use when they speak to adult civic and community groups. Materials are nonpartisan and can be downloaded from The Florida Bar website at www.floridabar.org/Benchmarks. Attorneys who make Benchmarks presentations can receive one hour of ethics credit for up to three hours in a three-year reporting cycle.

Florida Bar President Eugene Pettis is asking voluntary bar associations to incorporate a Benchmarks initiative into their agendas. Each presentation has an overview and supporting materials developed by Annette Pitts, executive director of The Florida Law Related Education Association, working with the Bar’s Constitutional Judiciary Committee. Pitts will lead the Orlando seminar.

Register for the Benchmarks seminar by emailing or calling Susannah Lyle at [email protected] or 850-561-5669.

Attorneys can sign up to give presentations through The Florida Bar Speakers Bureau, and civic and community groups can request speakers through the same online resource.

News in Photos