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The Florida Bar
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Voluntary Bar Center

This electronic digest of voluntary bar news is dedicated to the interaction of local, special interest and substantive bar associations. It will serve as a forum to share information and highlight the many activities of the voluntary bar associations of The Florida Bar and will be published at least once a month or as needed. You can view past and current issues by going to the bar's website, www.FLABAR.org. Submit articles, pictures or general comments to Maria Simmons Johnson, the Bar-to-Bar E-news editor and your voluntary bar liaison, mjohnson@flabar.org or 651 E. Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300. Photos sent by e-mail should come in jpg and gif format.

October/November 2008, Issue 42
WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE BARS...

Fifth Annual Minority Mentoring Picnic -- The Fifth Annual Minority Mentoring Picnic will be held on Nov. 1 in the corporate pavilion area of Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah. The annual picnic attracts more than 1,500 lawyers, judges, minority law school students, family members and guests. Join other voluntary bar associations and numerous local law firms and businesses as they support and sponsor the picnic. For more information and to RSVP, go to www.kttlaw.com/mmp. If you have specific questions, e-mail John Kozyak at jk@kttlaw.com or at (305) 377-0654.

VCBA offers free CLE seminar on foreclosure -- The Volusia County Bar Association will offer a free three hour CLE seminar titled, "In the Trenches: Fighting the Foreclosure War in Florida." The seminar will be held on Nov. 14 at 9 a.m., following an 8 a.m. buffet breakfast. For more information, contact the Volusia County Bar Association at (386) 253-9471 or via e-mail at volusiabar@bellsouth.net.

Save the Law Library, Keep the Doors Open -- The Miami-Dade County Law Library is in danger of closing its doors due to budget cuts. The Board of Trustees at the Miami-Dade County Law Library and the Dade County Bar Association invite you to attend the Second Annual Law Library Fundraiser on Oct. 30 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Law Library. For more information, Friends of the Law Library, c/o Lyle E. Shapiro at (305) 373-4030.

PBCBA Bench Bar conference to be held on Nov. 7 -- The Palm Beach County Bar Association will host its Annual Bench Bar Conference on Nov. 7 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The Bench Bar Conference is an opportunity for attorneys and judges to meet informally in a roundtable atmosphere to discuss issues of concern to both the bench and bar. For more information, contact the bar association at (561) 687-2800 or visit www.palmbeachbar.org.

TWL gives tribute to those in judicial circles -- More than 300 gathered in Florida's historic Capitol on Oct. 22 for the Tallahassee Women Lawyers 26th Annual Judicial Reception. "For more than a quarter of a century, our organization has hosted this event to publicly thank our judiciary for their dedication and professionalism to the citizens of Florida," said Kim Driggers, president of the Tallahassee Women Lawyers and an attorney at Brooks, LeBoeuf, Bennett, Foster & Gwartney. Speakers were Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, Solicitor General Scott Makar and Deputy Attorney General Bob Hannah; members of the judiciary representing the Florida Supreme Court, U.S. District Court, First District Court of Appeal, Leon County Circuit and County Courts and the Division of Administrative Hearings; and Administrative Courts.

Brevard Bar to celebrate first Halloween costume bash -- On Oct. 30 the Brevard County Bar Association will host its first Halloween costume bash and YLD happy hour at Club 401 in Cocoa Village. There will be food and witches brew. Costumes are not required for guests. For more information, contact the Brevard County Bar Association at (321) 254-8801.

BCLA to celebrate grand opening of new building -- After being in existence for more than 35 years, Brevard County Legal Aid (BCLA) has purchased its own digs. The new 2500-square-foot office condo is located in Rockledge at Arbor Place on Harvin Way. In 2006, the Florida Bar Foundation recommended that BCLA seek a new office location in order to meet future expansion. The grand opening celebration will be held Nov. 6 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, contact the BCLA at (321) 631-2500 or via e-mail at brevardlegalaid@yahoo.com.

Florida Justice Association Mock Trial competition -- The Florida Justice Association is hosting its annual Mock Trial Competition in Palm Beach County on Nov. 15 and 16. The event will be held at the main courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach. Attorneys who would like more information on sponsorship opportunities or volunteering to act as a judge should contact Joe Statile at (850) 224-9403 or jstatile@floridajustice association.org.

Legal Education Series brought to you by the HCBA -- The Hillsborough County Bar Association is providing a legal education series to the public with the People's Law School. The People's Law School offers free legal education for the public at the lay person level. There is no cost to attend, nor a pre-registration. The series will continue on the following dates: Nov. 6 and 20 and Dec. 4 and 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Chester H. Ferguson Law Center. For more information, contact Lisa Tifft, public relations coordinator, at (813) 221-7779.

C'mon down to the St. Pete and CBAs Wild, Wild West Bench & Bar-B-Que -- The St. Petersburg and Clearwater Bar Associations will present their 2008 Bench and Bar Conference on Nov. 7 from high noon to 6:30 p.m. at Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg. For more information, contact the Clearwater Bar Association at (727) 461-4869 or www.clearwaterbar.org.

M-D FAWL presents 'She's Her Own Boss' -- The Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers will present a CLE seminar titled, "She's Her Own Boss: The Nuts and Bolts of Opening Your Own Law Firm." The seminar will feature an impressive panel of women who opened their own law firms and advice on what is financially needed to open your own law firm. The seminar will be held at 12 p.m on Nov. 13 at the Bankers Club of Miami. For more information, contact Katherine Ezell at (305) 358-2800 or via e-mail at kezell@podhurst.com.

12th JC Bench Bar Conference: Justice Quince to speak -- The Twelfth Judicial Circuit Bench Bar Conference will be held on Nov. 14 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the Manatee County Judicial Center. The keynote speaker will be Chief Justice Peggy Quince of the Florida Supreme Court. Because the conference will be held at the new courthouse, there will be an opportunity to receive the latest information on courthouse procedures and technology in the circuit. For more information, contact Martin Garcia at (941) 366-8888 or mgarcia@matthewseastmoore.com.

Introducing. . . State Attorney R.J. Larizza -- The Volusia County Bar Association, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Volusia County Civil Trial Lawyers Association will host a social event on Nov. 18 to introduce State Attorney R.J. Larizza. The event will be held from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Arena Sports Bar in Daytona. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Volusia County Bar Association at (386) 253-9471.

Pro Bono legal clinic goes to Immokalee -- The Collier County Bar Association, in conjunction with Legal Aid Services of Collier County, will conduct a Pro Bono Legal Clinic on Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Immokalee campus of Hodge University. This is a groundbreaking event and will be the first time that such a pro bono legal clinic has been offered in Immokalee. For more information, contact Lisa Mead at (239) 252-8711 or ccba@earthlink.net.

Central Florida to host Diversity Picnic -- The Central Florida Diversity Picnic will be held on Feb. 28, 2009, at Stetson University College of Law, Tampa Law Center. All minority law school students from all Florida law schools are invited to attend. The event will allow law students from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to meet and begin to establish mentoring relationships with attorneys and members of the judiciary from Central Florida. For more information, contact Tony Cabassa at lcabassa@tsg-law.com.

Law Day 2009 -- Law Day is May 1, 2009. Visit www.lawday.org to download the 2009 brochure, and visit often over the next few months for updates and additional resources to assist you in your Law Day 2009 planning.

FACDL-Miami Chapter continues to bring monthly judicial luncheon series -- The Miami Chapter of the Florida Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers continues to bring its monthly Judicial Luncheon Series. The dates for the remaining Luncheon Series will be Nov. 13, Dec. 18, Jan. 15, Feb. 19, March 19 and April 16, 2009 at the Biscayne Bay Marriott from Noon to 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact Rick Freedman at (305) 375-9510 or rfreedman@aol.com.

Keep us in the KNOW: Send us your news -- Does you bar association have a newsletter, e-bulletin or announcements? If so, please don't forget to send us your publication by updating your mailing list to include Voluntary Bar Liaison Maria Johnson at (850) 561-5648 or mjohnson@flabar.org.

THE FLORIDA BAR

Plan to attend the 2009 Midyear Meeting -- Make plans to attend the 2009 Florida Bar Midyear Meeting Jan. 14-17, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Miami. Lock in the low group rate now! The hotel reservation cutoff date is Dec. 23 or until sold out. Visit www.floridabar.org for more information.

Hurry! Pro Bono Service Award nominations due by Nov. 7 -- The Florida Supreme Court and The Florida Bar give special recognition to lawyers, groups and a member of the judiciary who have freely given their time and expertise in making legal services available to the poor. See the news release for forms and instructions. Nominations must be received by Nov. 7. For more information, contact Dorohn Frazier at (850) 561-5764 or dfrazier@flabar.org.

Grievance mediation and fee arbitration program -- The Florida Bar's Grievance Mediation and Fee Arbitration program is seeking volunteer arbitrators and mediators. The program attempts to resolve disputes between attorneys and clients or between attorneys. Arbitrations and mediations are conducted throughout Florida and are held in the geographic location of the parties. This program is offered by The Florida Bar as a public service to the members, clients and court system. Florida Bar members who participate as volunteer arbitrators and/or mediators are eligible for CLE credit for an hour-for-hour basis, with a maximum of five credit hours in the area of ethics for the three-year reporting period. For more information, contact Susan Austin at (850) 561-5719.

More Than 200 Lawyers Earn Florida Bar Board Certification. The Board of Legal Specialization & Education announced that 207 lawyers in 22 specialty areas of legal practice recently earned Florida Bar board certification. An impressive 22 percent of the newly certified lawyers are Young Lawyers Division members.

Court system cutbacks: The Florida Bar wants to hear from you -- The Florida Bar is gathering information from its members about the effects of budget cuts to Florida's court system over the past two years. From delays in hearings and trials to other obstacles you encounter, tell the Bar how the cutbacks are affecting your practice and clients. To participate, attorneys will need to log in. Comments will be accepted through Dec. 20.

Oct. 31 is deadline to apply for 12 legal board 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, and are due Oct. 31 for the following specialties: Antitrust & Trade Regulation Law; Business Litigation; City, County & Local Government Law; Construction Law; Criminal Appellate; Criminal Trial; Health Law; Intellectual Property Law; 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.

Nominations open for board certification awards -- The BLSE is accepting nominations for its annual awards to recognize lawyers or firms that demonstrate the certification program's professionalism and excellence principles. The Justice Harry Lee Anstead Award for Florida Bar Board Certified Lawyer of the Year honors a Florida Bar board certified lawyer or judge for exemplary professionalism, excellence, character and commitment to The Florida Bar's certification program and to the practice of law. The Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Board Certification recognizes excellence and creativity by a Florida Bar board certified lawyer or firm in advancing the public's knowledge of and appreciation for legal board certification. Nomination forms are due by 5 p.m. on May 8, 2009, and awards are presented in June at the 2009 Annual Florida Bar Convention.

Nominations sought for Hoeveler Award -- The Florida Bar's Standing Committee on Professionalism is now accepting nominations for its William M. Hoeveler Judicial Award. The Hoeveler Award is for "a judge who best exemplifies strength of character, service and competence as a jurist, lawyer and public servant. Nominations for the Hoeveler Award must be submitted by Dec. 1. Winners will receive their awards at the Bar's Annual Convention next June. For more information, contact Becky Blackburn at the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism at (850) 561-5743 or rblackbu@flabar.org.

Florida JQC Vacancy -- Persons interested in applying for a Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission vacancy may download the "Special Appointment" application from The Florida Bar's Web site at www.floridabar.org or call Bar headquarters at (850) 561-5757, to obtain an application form. Completed applications must be submitted to the Executive Director, The Florida Bar, 651 E. Jefferson St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300, no later than close of business, Friday, Oct. 31. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of applications. For more information, contact Kristen Wilson, The Florida Bar at (850) 561-5757 or kwilson@flabar.org.

Polish Your Practice CLE seminar now available to local bars -- Polish Your Practice: Integrating Technology, Quality of Life, Professionalism and Board Certification,” is available for presentation by certified lawyers at voluntary bar association meetings. The seminar explores quality of life principles that can enhance your life, legal career and professionalism; reviews Florida professionalism codes and creeds, and addresses potential professionalism conflicts raised by new trends in legal practice such as Internet practices and blogs. Presenters also discuss the merits of and professionalism aspects of board certification. The seminar originally was presented at the 2006 annual convention as a joint project of the BLSE and the 10th Circuit Judges Professionalism Committee. For more information, please contact Lisa Garcia at (850) 561-5769 or lgarcia@flabar.org.

THE ABA

ABA Midyear Meeting -- The ABA Midyear Meeting will be held in Boston, Mass., Feb.11-17, 2009. There is no registration fee for the Midyear Meeting. Attendees can register for the Midyear Meeting several ways: on-line, by fax, by mail or on-site at the Sheraton. The deadline for advance registration is Jan. 9, 2009. For more information, contact the ABA Meetings Department at (312) 988-5870 or abameetings@staff.abanet.org.

Mark your calendar for the ABA BLI -- The 2009 Bar Leaders Institute, sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services and the Division for Bar Services, will be held March 12-14 in Chicago. BLI registration forms, a detailed agenda, and hotel reservation forms will be available in October. A limited number of scholarships are available. If you would like further information about BLI registration or scholarships, please contact Karyn Linn at (312) 988-5350 or linnk@staff.abanet.org. Also, be sure to check the BLI Web site for updates at www.abanet.org/barserv/bli.html.

NABE Government Relations Section Workshop -- The National Association of Bar Executives will be holding their Government Relations Section Workshop in Washington, D.C. For more information, contact Craig Johnson at (312) 988-6008 or johnsonc@staff.abanet.org.

Maria Simmons Johnson
Voluntary Bar Liaison
The Florida Bar
850/561-5648
850/561-5733(fax)

[Revised: 10-20-2009 ]

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