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Voluntary Bar Center
April//May 2008 Issue 39
WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE BARS...
Law Week 2008 - THE RULE OF LAW: FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITIES OF OPPORTUNITY AND EQUITY is the theme for this year's Law Day. It's not too late to send the name of your Law Week chair(s) and a summary of planned activities to Maria S. Johnson, mjohnson@flabar.org. Law Week chairs will be listed in the statewide news release on May 1 announcing Law Day.
Domestic Violence Awareness - The Miami-Dade FAWL and the Haitian Lawyers Association are joining forces to spread awareness about Domestic Violence in the Haitian Community and Workplace. Speakers will be Yolly Roberson, Esq., of the Florida Legislature; Sabrina Saloman, Esq., of the Florida Immigration Advocacy Center (FIAC) and Lissette Labrousse, Esq., of the Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. The event will take place on Thursday, May 8 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the BNY MELLON, 1111 Brickell Ave., 30th Floor. Contact Stacey Koch, Miami-Dade FAWL president and event chair at skoch@shb.com.
Lawyers' Commons Honors Ervin - On April 10, the Tallahassee Bar Association and the Legal Aid Foundation dedicated the new Lawyers' Commons at the Leon County Courthouse. The facility is named in honor of Robert M. Ervin, Tallahassee's oldest practicing attorney. At 91, Ervin is also the oldest living past president of The Florida Bar and the Tallahassee Bar Association. Ervin worked to secure space for the Legal Aid Foundation in the courthouse so that individuals could have access to the courts. The new office space houses the staff of the Tallahassee Bar Association and the Legal Aid Foundation, a conference room, a volunteer attorney/client meeting room and the Robert M. Ervin Lawyers' Commons.
Young Lawyer Boot Camp - The Wilkie D. Ferguson Bar Association will hold a half-day retreat to advance the skills of South Florida's young lawyers who are in their first few years of practice. The retreat will take place on May 3 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Carlton Fields in Miami. Contact Jennifer Ellis at jellis@hunton.com or at (305) 536-2732 for more information.
GSCBWLA Continues Career Development Series - As part of a five-part Career Development Series, the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association will be hosting Part IV of the series titled, "General Business: Marketing, Networking & Out-of-the-Box Thinking." The seminar will take place on May 8. For more information, e-mail aaad@gscbwla.org.
PBCBA to Offer Free Legal Advice During Law Week - The Palm Beach County Bar Association will begin Law Week on April 28, featuring programs that offer free legal advice. Dial-A-Lawyer returns, as well as small claims, condominium and homeowner associations and estate law programs. This year, the bar association is hosting an Internet safety seminar at several of the county's schools. For more information about Law Week, call (561) 687-2800 or visit the Palm Beach County Bar Web site at www.palmbeachbar.org.
And the Survey Says. . . - The Cuban American Bar Association has released a new survey that shows attorneys at larger firms are more satisfied with the treatment of lawyers from diverse backgrounds than lawyers at smaller firms. The survey asked attorneys about compensation, promotion, the complexity and importance of work assignments and client contact opportunities based on diversity. The goal of the survey was to identify which firms have greater success in making diversity a priority. For more information on the survey, contact Nelson Bellido, chair of CABA's Diversity Committee, at (305) 444-6669 or nbellido@cfclaw.com.
Las Vegas Nights by the PCPBA - The Paul C. Perkins Bar Association will host Las Vegas Nights on May 17 from 8 - 11 p.m. at Disney's Beach Club Resort. The event is an annual scholarship fundraiser, to support the law students at the Barry University School of Law and Florida A & M University Law School. For more information, contact Donell Hicks at (407) 481-5575 or at DHicks@Conroy.Simberg.com.
Freeman Receives Achievement Award - The Honorable Gill Freeman was chosen by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers to receive the 2008 Rosemary Barkett Outstanding Achievement Award. The award presentation will take place at noon on Friday, June 20 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club during The Florida Bar Annual Convention. For more information, contact Stacey Koch, Miami-Dade FAWL president and event chair at skoch@shb.com.
DCBA to Host Annual Recognition Luncheon - On May 7 the Dade County Bar Association will have its annual recognition luncheon at the Hyatt Regency to honor those who have contributed to the community with their legal services in doing pro bono as well as serving as chairs of various committees within the Dade County Bar Association. Additionally, new Life Members will be recognized for their continuous support to the Dade County Bar Association and the profession. For more information, go to www.dadecountybar.org.
Seminar for Trial and Appellate Lawyers - The Sarasota County Bar Association and its Appellate Practice Section will present a CLE seminar for trial and appellate lawyers titled, "Inside the Second District: A Presentation for Trial and Appellate Lawyers." The seminar will be held on Friday, May 16 from noon to 4:25 p.m. at the University of South Florida, Selby Room. For more information, visit www.sarasotabar.com.
THE FLORIDA BAR
Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference - The 2008 Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference will be held at the Saddlebrook Resort & Spa, July 18-19. Registration begins in early May. Visit the Voluntary Bar Center for updates.
2008 Annual Florida Bar Convention - Register now for the Annual Convention that will be held at the Boca Raton Resort & Club June 18-21. To get the Bar rate, make hotel reservations by May 21 or until the Bar's room block is sold out. The speaker for the Judicial Luncheon on June 19 is Harold Hongju Koh, dean of Yale Law School. The Friday Night Dinner and Show will feature political satire of The Capitol Steps and music of the Soul Survivors. Visit www.floridabar.org for Annual Convention information and updates.
2008 Annual Diversity Symposium -- This year's Annual Diversity Symposium titled, "Diversity: Creating the Winning Edge" will be held in conjunction with The Florida Bar's Annual Convention in Boca Raton on Friday, June 20, from 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Register now through Annual Convention registration, under Special Events. For more information, contact Maria S. Johnson at mjohnson@flabar.org or Karen Kirksey at kkirksey@flabar.org.
Free Consumer Pamphlets -- The Florida Bar 's Public Information and Bar Services Department (PIBS) has done an inventory of its Consumer Pamphlet series and has a surplus of the Legal Guide for New Adults, copies are being offered free of charge to voluntary bar associations while supplies last. Order sizes are limited to orders of 100 units. Pamphlets can be requested by e-mailing Mirieth Valenciano-Marin at mvalenciano-marin@flabar.org.
Bar Web Site Is A Resource To Consumers On Legal Topics -- The Florida Bar publishes a variety of consumer pamphlets and tips to help educate the public about legal issues. Available in both English and Spanish at www.floridabar.org, the series has practical information and answers frequently asked questions about adoption, real estate transactions, bankruptcy, probate, wills and trusts, divorce, and landlord-tenant law, among other topics.
THE ABA
ABA 2008 Annual Meeting -- The ABA invites you to attend the 2008 Annual Meeting, Aug. 7-12, in New York City. The ABA is developing more than 200 CLE programs that will help you improve your professional skills and expertise. There will be abundant opportunities to network with members of the legal profession from around the world. The meeting will also feature the world's largest legal EXPO, providing an array of goods and services pertaining to the practice of law. Your participation in the 2008 Annual Meeting is important to the development of our profession and the growth of our association. For more up-to-date information about the meeting, visit www.abanet.org/annual/2008.
Online Directory of Women's Bar Groups - The ABA's Commission on Women in the Profession has created a directory of Web sites for women's bar groups.
Legal Service Through Technology - The ABA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services is seeking bar associations input at a series of hearings on the use of technology to provide personal, civil legal services over the Internet and the policies that govern that use. The hearings will be held on May 9, in conjunction with the Equal Justice Conference, Aug. 8, in conjunction with the ABA Annual Meeting and a virtual hearing, TBD. For more information, contact Janice Jones at (312) 988-5787.
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[Updated:
07-01-2005
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