CBA presents People's Law School -- The Clearwater Bar Association presents People's Law School weekly on Thursdays from 7 - 9 p.m., at the St. Petersburg College through April. Each week a different topic is covered by volunteer judges and attorneys. The program is designed to increase knowledge of legal concepts that may affect our everyday lives. Participants may attend as few or as many sessions as they wish free of charge and no registration is required. For more information, visit www.clearwaterbar.org.
St. Pete welcomes new executive director -- D. Craig "Chip" Collins is the new executive director of the St. Petersburg Bar Association and the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation. Chip has more than 10 years experience in association management. He spent 14 years as the executive director of The Florida Council of 100, a Florida business leadership organization. Chip brings an enthusiasm for the job that will benefit the St. Pete Bar and the St. Pete Bar Foundation Welcome, aboard Chip!
DCBA/YLS High School Mock Trial Competition 2009 -- The Dade County Bar Association/Young Lawyers Section will host its Annual Mock Trial Competition on Feb. 25-26 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel (James L. Knight Center) in Downtown Miami. The program is available to all high school students in Miami-Dade County. For more information, contact DCBA's director of Young Lawyers Sections and chair of Schools Committee, Candice C. Pinares-Baez at (305) 371-0001 or cpinares@stackfernandez.com.
| Mark your calendars for Florida's First Black Lawyers unveiling -- The Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association is researching and writing the history of the first black lawyers admitted to practice in Florida. The work is being published in a book that will be unveiled at a Legacy Gala on June 27 in Orlando at the World Center Marriott. For more information about the Florida's First project, go to www.vhfcnba.org. |
Teuber to lead Cape Coral Bar -- Steven K. Teuber has become president of the Cape Coral Bar Association. Teuber said this year's focus will be to increase civic awareness of the role of the judicial system to our society. The association is working to provide attorneys to each Cape Coral high school to serve as mentors during the moot court competitions, as well as to provide seminars and classes to the community regarding the judicial process.
BCBA to host Sidebar Luncheon -- The Brevard County Bar Association will be hosting a Sidebar Luncheon with its members and judges at the Moore Justice Center on Feb. 26. The judges and attorneys will have opening topics. Space is limited, so you must RSVP. For more information, e-mail bcba@brevardbar.org.
HBACF elects Duque president -- The Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida recently installed Cindy Duque as its new president. Other newly elected officers include Felix T. Aguilu, president-elect; JoAnn Guerrero, secretary; Karla Valladares, treasurer; and Andrea Caro, immediate past president.
| DON'T MISS THE CENTRAL FLORIDA DIVERSITY PICNIC -- The Second Annual Central Florida Diversity Picnic is set for Saturday, Feb. 28, from 1-4 p.m. at the Stetson University College of Law, Tampa Law Center. Students from all Florida law schools are invited to attend the event, which gives law students from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to meet and establish mentoring relationships with attorneys and members of the judiciary from Central Florida. The picnic is sponsored by the Tampa Bay Hispanic Bar Association, the George Edgecomb Bar Association, the Sarasota County Bar Diversity Committee and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. For more information, contact Tony Cabassa, chair, at lcabassa@wenzelfenton.com. |
M-D FAWL celebrates Women's History Month -- The Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers will be honoring the 2009 "Women Making History-" Hilarie Bass, Esq. and Ruth Shack. The reception will take place at Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust in Coral Gables on Wednesday, March 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, contact Stacey Koch at skoch@shb.com.
Jacksonville YLS recognized at state conference -- The Young Lawyers Section of the Jacksonville Bar Association recently received the Affiliate of the Year and Outstanding Member Service Project of the Year awards at The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division's Annual Affiliate Outreach Conference. The Outstanding Member Service Project of the Year was given in recognition of the organization's "Noon in June" project last year. This program was designed to introduce law students clerking or interning in Jacksonville for the summer to the local legal community. JBA/YLS was also awarded a Membership Service Grant for "Noon in June." The Affiliate Outreach Conference is attended by all Young Lawyers Sections throughout Florida, as well as representatives from the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and law schools.
FAWL makes a call -- The Florida Association for Women Lawyers is now seeking individuals interested in serving as an officer or on a statewide committee during the 2009-10 term. Please follow the link to access the 2009 Officer Nomination Form and Committee Preference Form.
| Keep us in the KNOW: Send us your news -- Does your 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, 651 E. Jefferson St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300 or send your news of interest to mjohnson@flabar.org. |
VCBA honors Elliott -- Phillip H. Elliott, Jr., a 50-year member of The Florida Bar, was recognized for his half-century of service to the Volusia County legal community at the Volusia County Bar Association's annual Traditions Night. Todd Richardson, chair of the Traditions Dinner, presented Mr. Elliott with a plaque at the event. Serving as a judge with the Volusia County Small Claims Court from 1964 to 1973, Mr. Elliott regularly mediated disputes before setting them for trial. Active in ADR since 1989, he became a Supreme Court Certified mediator in 1991 and since joining Upchurch Watson White & Max in 1998, has concentrated his entire practice on mediation and arbitration.
PBCBA's Lawyers for Literacy -- The Palm Beach County Bar Association's Lawyers for Literacy committee recently donated hundreds of new books to the Wood Memorial Holiday Book Drive to be distributed to children through a partnership with the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition. The Lawyers for Literacy Committee participates in literacy programs throughout the year, including the Great Grown Up Spelling Bee, Read Across Palm Beach County and Adult Literacy Day.
DCBA to offer apology for segregated history --To honor Black History Month, Timothy M. Ravich, president of Dade County Bar Association (the DCBA), Florida's largest voluntary bar association, will unveil a commemorative plaque over a drinking fountain in the Miami-Dade County Courthouse that was once segregated along racial lines. The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 5 p.m. at the Dade County Courthouse located at 73 W. Flagler St., 6th floor lobby in downtown Miami. This program, which is undertaken in conjunction with the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association, the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association and the Haitian Lawyers Association, is the third phase of the historical preservation of the Dade County Courthouse.
Law Day 2009 -- A Legacy of Liberty - Celebrating Lincoln's Bicentennial is the theme for this year's Law Day. Please send the name of your Law Day chair(s) and a summary of planned activities to Maria Johnson, mjohnson@flabar.org. Law Day chairs are listed in the statewide news release announcing Law Day. Visit www.lawday.org for resources, lesson plans and program materials.
| 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. |
People
Attorney Robert Appleget Jr. dies -- Robert Lee Appleget Jr., a long-time family law practitioner known for dedication to his work and exceptional generosity with clients and others in need, died Sunday Feb. 1. A two-time recipient of The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award, once in 1988 and again in 1999, Appleget served as president, treasurer and secretary of the Marion County Bar Association and held chairmanships in organizations such as the Marion District Boy Scouts of America and the North Central Florida March of Dimes.
Martin sworn in as Collier County judge -- Former defense attorney and prosecutor Janeice Martin was recently sworn in as a Collier County judge. It's the first time a judge has served simultaneously as president of the Collier County Bar Association, something judicial canons encourage. Martin, 37, had been a criminal defense attorney with Berry, Day, McFee & Martin since 1998, and was made partner in June 2003. She was named 2007 Woman Lawyer of the Year by the Collier County Women's Bar and won the 2006 Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award for the 20th Judicial Circuit. Martin graduated at the top of her class from St. Ann's School and St. John Neumann High School in Naples, and went on to study Religion and Women's Studies at Duke University in Durham, N.C., where she graduated with honors. She received her law degree with honors from the University of Florida, College of Law.
Attorney Cheryl Smith-Khan dies -- Cheryl Smith-Khan of Palm Harbor passed away on Feb. 2. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduated from Rollins College and obtained her Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. She worked in several attorney positions within the Sixth Judicial Circuit and also in private practice, specializing in family and adoption law. Cheryl was a spiritual leader and an active member of Cypress Meadow Community Church. She held leadership positions in the Clearwater Bar Association, Fred G. Minnis Bar Association, community service organizations and community sports programs.
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