Voluntary Bar News

Member Services

Voluntary Bar Center

October/November 2009, Issue 47
WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE BARS. . .

Minority Mentoring Picnic to be held Nov. 14 -- The 6th Annual Minority Mentoring Picnic will take place on Nov. 14 from 12 - 4 p.m. at the Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah. The picnic has attracted more than 1,500 lawyers, judges, minority law students, guests and family members. Join other voluntary bars from throughout Florida as they participate. For more information, to RSVP and to see photos from past picnics, go to www.kttlaw.com/picnic. If you have specific questions, e-mail John Kozyak at jk@kttlaw.com.

Now showing. . . PBCBA lawyers -- The Palm Beach County Bar Association will host its first Lawyer Variety Show featuring members singing, dancing and performing live on stage at the Eissey Campus Theatre in Palm Beach Gardens. The show takes place on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 beginning at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased on-line at www.palmbeachbar.org. Proceeds benefit the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County and the North County Section's Scholarship Fund at Palm Beach Community College.

Osman to lead Supreme Court Historical Society -- Edith Osman has been elected president of the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society. Osman, a former Florida Bar President from Miami, succeeds Alan Greer as president and will direct the organization's programs and activities designed to educate the public about the important role of the courts in government and to preserve the history of the Florida judiciary. The society has more than 700 members, mostly lawyers and judges.

If you are interested in knowing about upcoming events from Bar-to-Bar, check out the Voluntary Bar Events Calendar for an overview of meetings, CLE seminars, etc. To submit events, please send to Maria S. Johnson at mjohnson@flabar.org.

Dade bar among grant recipients -- The Dade County Bar Association Legal Aid Society is one eight pro bono groups to receive grants from the Florida Bar Foundation. Based on the recommendations provided in the Pro Bono Report, the Florida Bar Foundation has started the Pilot Pro Bono Grants Program for projects designed to improve/expand their pro bono departments. The pro bono projects funded also include local voluntary bar associations, The Florida Bar sections, and Young Lawyers' Division, along with other entities as participating and supportive partners in the project.

Barristers 'speed' mentor law students -- The Tallahassee Barristers recently mentored members of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) from Florida State University at a speed networking event, where more than 35 members of the BLSA were paired with Tallahassee lawyers and judges to meet and learn about the legal profession. Angelique Knox, president of the Tallahassee Barristers, noted that it is rare for any law student to meet with and learn about so many practice areas in the legal field in one setting. "Speed networking is one of our student mentoring programs initiated because of the Tallahassee Barristers' theme 'Raising the Bar: In the Community, with Mentorship and Professionalism,''' Knox said.

Foreclosure clinic held at CCBA -- Legal Aid Service of Collier County (LASCC) and the Collier County Bar Association (CCBA), through the efforts of the Foreclosure Task Force, conducted a pro bono foreclosure legal clinic on Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at the office of Legal Aid. Pro bono volunteers with expertise in real estate, foreclosure, civil litigation and bankruptcy law provided much needed legal advice and counsel to homeowners struggling with the prospect of foreclosure. The Foreclosure Task Force is planning a major outreach event to be conducted during the week of Nov. 9 (date, time and venue TBA). For more information, contact Lisa Mead, Executive Director of the CCBA at (239) 252-8711. To learn more about the Collier County Foreclosure Task Force, visit www.collierftf.com.

C'mon down to the Wild, Wild West Bench & Bar-B-Que -- The St. Petersburg and Clearwater Bar Associations present the 2009 Bench & Bar Conference on Oct. 30, from noon to 6:30 p.m. at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport. The Bench Bar Conference offers attendees the opportunity to interact with the judges & lawyers of the 6th Judicial Circuit.

Save the Date!! Save the Date!! The 2010 Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference will be held in Fort Lauderdale July 16-17, 2010. Visit the Voluntary Bar Center in the next few months for more details.

SCBA honors Scheb and Shults -- The Sarasota County Bar Association honored two of its own for the enduring service and commitment to the community and to the profession at its Annual Awards Ceremony. The C.L. McKaig Award was presented to Judge John M. Scheb for his years of service as military serviceman, city attorney, municipal judge, and appellate judge. Judge Scheb wrote several books on law and procedure and was a founder of the local American Inn of Courts, which was subsequently named in his honor. Thomas D. Shults received the Distinguished Community Service Award for his outstanding and dedicated service to the Mental Health Community Centers.

Dietz receives award from the OCBA Legal Aid -- Robert L. Dietz was awarded the 2009 Judge J.C. 'Jake' Stone Distinguished Service Award, the highest pro bono honor bestowed by the Legal Aid Society (LAS) of the Orange County Bar Association. It is given to one attorney each year who has demonstrated lifetime dedication to pro bono work. Since 1986, Dietz has represented more than 150 children in cases involving 1130 hours. Dietz was president of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association (FDLA) in 1998-99 and received the FDLA Pro Bono Service Award in 1996.

2009 Food Frenzy -- In conjunction with the United Way's Make a Difference Day (Oct. 24), the Volusia County Bar Association (VCBA) has agreed to assist Halifax Urban Ministries in collecting 350 tons of food for HUM's 2009 "Loving Your Neighbor" food drive. Food can be dropped off at the VCBA office, Cobb Cole or Landis Graham French by 5 p.m. Oct. 22. Food will be weighed by HUM on Oct. 23. The three teams with the greatest contributions per person (measured by weight) and the three teams with the most creative team names will receive prizes and be honored in an upcoming edition of the VCBA newsletter. For more information, please contact Kathy.Weston@cobbcole.com.

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION

National celebration of pro bono Oct. 25-31 -- For the first time ever, there will be a nationwide celebration aimed at spotlighting the need for pro bono legal assistance and the dedicated service of those who are already providing it. Currently, there are 14 state bars and 25 local bars (and growing) geared up for the National Celebration of Pro Bono, Oct. 25-31, sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. It's not too late to get involved! Bar associations wishing to get involved should go to http://www.probono.net/celebrateprobono/.

ABA/NABE/NCBP/NCBF Midyear Meeting -- The American Bar Association's Midyear Meeting will be held in Orlando, Feb. 3-9, 2010. For more information and to register, visit www.abanet.org/calendar/midyear.

ABA Bar Leadership Institute -- Follow your blueprint to success at the upcoming Bar Leadership Institute (BLI). The 2010 Bar Leadership Institute, sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services and the Division for Bar Services, will be held March 11-12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The BLI is a must for president-elect of bar associations and other presidential-track officers. To enhance the learning experience, many organizations also send their executive directors and other professional staff. BLI registration forms, a detailed agenda, and hotel reservation forms will be available in Nov. 2009. A limited number of scholarships are available. For further information about BLI registration or scholarships, contact Karyn Linn at (312) 988-5350 or linnk@staff.abanet.org. Also, be sure to check the BLI Web site for updates at http://www.abanet.org/barserv/bli.html.

Resources for Certified Lawyers -- The September 2009 issue of the ABA Law Practice Management Section's Law Practice Today is filled with ideas for how law firms can "go paperless." Among the articles are Going Paperless for the Law Office: A Practical Guide, "not just a guide, but also a thorough how-to for turning your practice paperless," and The Paperless Office as a Risk Management Enterprise, "… going paperless is good for the environment, but it also probably the only fool-proof disaster recovery plan. Also check out Some Thoughts on Becoming Paperless, "the road to a paperless office may contain challenges, so it's important to have a strategy in place before you begin your journey," and Less Paper Does Not Equal Less Training (at first!), "…make sure all employees are properly trained on any new technology so that your transition is a smooth one. Read more practice management tips and ABA News in this month's Law Practice Today.

Law Day 2010 -- The theme for 2010 Law Day is, "Law in the 21st Century: Emerging Challenges and Enduring Traditions." Be sure to visit www.lawday.org in the coming months for more details on the theme, as well as downloadable artwork, lesson plans, resources, the Dialogue, and more.

THE FLORIDA BAR

Pro Bono Service Awards nominations due by November 6 -- The Florida Supreme Court and The Florida Bar annually give special recognition to lawyers, groups and a member of the judiciary who have freely given their time and expertise to make legal services available to the poor. Nominations currently are being accepted for The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award, The Chief Justice's Law Firm Commendation, The Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award, The Florida Bar's Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Service Award and The Distinguished Judicial Service Award. Awards presentations take place at the Florida Supreme Court on Jan. 28, 2010. Read more about each award or contact Dorohn A. Frazier, coordinator, at dfrazier@flabar.org or (850) 561-5764.

2009 board certifications -- The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education in 2009 approved board certification for 157 lawyers in 18 specialty areas of legal practice. Certified attorneys are the only Florida lawyers allowed to identify and advertise themselves as specialists or experts. Board certification evaluates attorneys' special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. For more information, visit The Florida Bar Web site at Floridabar.org/certification or contact The Florida Bar's Legal Specialization and Education Department at (850) 561-5842.

Check out new Quick Links -- Quickly reach popular pages on The Florida Bar Web site with Quick Links, found under Member Tools in the top right corner of the page. Twenty-one popular features -- from advertising rules to CLE offerings -- can be easily reached through Quick Links, highlighted in a Florida Bar News article.

Speakers Bureau educates the public about foreclosure -- The Florida Bar Speakers Bureau is an assembly of more than 4,000 attorneys dedicated to educating the public about legal issues. At no cost, experienced attorneys can inform schools, libraries, businesses, community groups, and organizations across the state about housing and foreclosure. Other available topics include purchasing a home, real estate, home refinancing, and homeowner associations. If a group would like to have a speaker for an upcoming meeting or event, a request form can be found on The Florida Bar Web site, www.floridabar.org. For more information, call Mirieth Valenciano at (850) 561-5773 or email at mvalencianomarin@flabar.org.

BOG nominating petitions are due December 15 -- Nominating petitions for the 2010 election for the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar must be received in the headquarters office on or before 5 p.m., December 15. All of the Board positions are for two-year terms. Nominating petitions for the Board of Governors must be signed by no fewer than five members in good standing whose official bar address is in the same judicial circuit (or out-of-state, if applicable) as the nominee. Election ballots will be mailed on or before March 1, 2010, and voted ballots must be received prior to midnight EST, March 22, 2010. See the form.

October 31 is Application Deadline for 12 Certification Areas -- Florida Bar members interested in board certification must submit applications by Oct. 31 for 12 of Florida's 22 legal specialization areas. Applications are available at FloridaBar.org/certification for the following specialties: antitrust & trade regulation; business litigation; city, county & local government; construction law; criminal appellate; criminal trial; health law; intellectual property; real estate; state and federal government and administrative practice; wills, trusts & estates; and workers' compensation. For more information, please contact The Florida Bar's Legal Specialization & Education Department at (850) 561-5842.

# # #