Voluntary Bar News

The Florida Bar

www.floridabar.org

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.

May/June 2008, Issue 38
WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE BARS...

2008 Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference -- Register now for the 2008 Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference, themed, "Saddle Up & Move Em Out - Leadership for Local and Specialty Bars," that will be held at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, July 18-19. Book your hotel room NOW at the group rate of $105 by calling the Saddlebrook Resort at (813) 973-1111. Visit the Voluntary Bar Center for more detailed information or contact Maria S. Johnson at (850) 561-5648 or mjohnson@flabar.org.

OCBA presents Professionalism Awards -- The Orange County Bar Association recently awarded its Professionalism Awards, which were presented by Justice Harry Lee Anstead. The William Trickel, Jr., Professionalism Award was given to Council Wooten, Jr. Elizabeth F. McCausland received the Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr., Young Lawyers Professionalism Award. Judge Emerson R. Thompson, Jr., received the first Honorable James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award, which recognizes a state or federal judge serving in Orange County who supports the local legal community and is dedicated to professionalism both in and out of the courtroom.

DCBAs International Networking Reception -- The Dade County Bar Association will host an International Networking Reception on Thursday, May 22, from 6 - 9 p.m. at Novecento. To RSVP or for more information, contact José Talavera at jtalavera@hhlaw.com or (305) 459-6500.

WDFJBA to host panel on ". . . A Developing Practice" -- The Wilkie D. Ferguson Bar Association will host "Winning Strategies for a Developing Practice," on May 29, at noon at Squire Sanders & Dempsey, LLP. Topics will include Organizational Development and Financial Planning. The cost will be $15 for members and judges and $20 for nonmembers. For more information, contact Jennifer Ellis at (305) 536-2732 or JEllis@hunton.com.

CCBA honors Price as Legal Aid Attorney of the Month -- Kelley Geraghty Price, Esq., a partner with the Cohen & Grigsby law firm, has been named as Legal Aid Services of Collier County's (LASCC) 'Attorney of the Month' for May 2008. Kelley's contributions to LASCC are numerous, long-standing and invaluable. As president of the Collier County Bar Association in 2004, Price has made her highest priority increasing the scope and reach of the LASCC - to increase the delivery of legal services to the poorest and most vulnerable members of our community. Congratulations, Ms. Price!

F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. Bar to host panel discussion -- The F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. Bar Association and the Palm Beach County Alumni Chapter of the Shepard Broad Law Center Nova Southeastern University will host a reception and dinner featuring a panel discussion on "What Civil Lawyers Need to Know About Criminal Law" with attorneys Stephen J. Binhak, John Howe, Michael Salnik and Michelle Suskauer. The event will be held on May 29 from 5:30 - 8 p.m. at the Marriott of West Palm Beach. For more information, contact tmyles@legalaidpbc.org.

New Bar in Broward -- The South Broward Bar Association recently held its inaugural event. The South Broward Bar is a newly formed organization of attorneys practicing primarily in Southern Broward County. More than 60 attorneys and judges attended the luncheon where Chief Judge Victor Tobin spoke of the status of various issues within the 17th Judicial Circuit. Kenneth P. Hasset serves as president.

St. Petersburg Bar YLS to present "Meet the Judges Luncheon" -- The Young Lawyers Section of the St. Petersburg Bar Association will present a "Meet the Judges Luncheon" at noon on June 10 at the Criminal Justice Center. This program is intended for, but not limited to, judges, their judicial assistants, young lawyers who are: lawyers younger than age 36 years and new Florida Bar members during their first five years. For more information, contact the St. Petersburg Bar Association at (727) 823-7474 or stpetebar.com.

Coffee with the Court -- The Sarasota County Bar Association will host "Coffee with the Court" on June 11 from 8 - 8:45 a.m. in the Judge Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center, 9th Floor Atrium. The event provides an opportunity to meet judges, judicial assistants and court administration staff. For more information or to attend, contact the Sarasota County Bar Association Office at scba@acun.com.

12th Annual Liability Claims Conference Set -- The Florida Defense Lawyers Association in cooperation with the Florida Liability Claims Institute will host the 12th Annual Florida Liability Claims Conference 2008, June 4-7, at Disney's Contemporary Resort. For more information, go to the Florida Defense Lawyers Association's Web site, www.fdla.org.

BCBA welcomes New Executive Director -- The Brevard County Bar Association welcomes Angie M. Valdez as its new executive director. Angie comes from NASA, where she worked in the legal department. She also worked in the past with Gretchen Klayman as well as the Public Defender's office and County Attorney's office. Welcome, Angie!

JWLA to host Annual Judicial Reception -- The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association will host its Annual Judicial Reception, themed "Success Hasn't Spoiled Us Yet," on June 5 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. For more information or to RSVP, contact Mary Scott at mscott@josephandmarees.com.

CABA honors Bilzin Sumberg -- Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod received the Law Firm Diversity Award for large-size firms from the Cuban American Bar Association. The award was based on the results of a CABA survey, which asked attorneys to rate firms on compensation, quality of work assignments, possibility of promotion and client contacts.

THE FLORIDA BAR

Register for the 2008 Annual Florida Bar Convention -- The 2008 Annual Convention that will be held at the Boca Raton Resort & Club June 18-21. 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 for more 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. There is no cost to attend the Symposium, but you must 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.

Call for nominations for Courts/Legal Reporting Workshop -- The 19th Annual Florida Bar Reporters Workshop will be held Sept. 22-23 in Tallahassee. This intensive two-day event is designed for 24 print, TV and radio journalists new to the courts and legal beats, or new to Florida. The workshop is presented by The Florida Bar Media and Communications Law Committee. Nominations must be made by editors, publishers or news directors and include information on the journalist’s background, current assignments and contact information. For more information, contact Dorohn A. Frazier at The Florida Bar by e-mail: dfrazier@flabar.org.

FBBE vacancies, deadline extended -- Lawyer applicants are being sought to fill three vacancies on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. The Board of Governors will select nine nominees for three lawyer vacancies at its May 30 meeting. Persons interested in applying for these vacancies should contact The Florida Bar at (850) 561-5757 or download the Application for Special Appointment from the Bar's Web site, www.floridabar.org.

Update your Bar Association's profile - We maintain a record of voluntary bars in Florida, primarily for notification purposes and member requests. Please take a moment to visit the Voluntary Bar Center to review the officer information we have for your bar association or you can make your changes online - it's fast, easier and more convenient.

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.

Two new domestic violence resources for lawyers, judges -- The Commission on Domestic Violence has released two publications to help judges and lawyers handle domestic violence cases and clients: Domestic Violence Judicial Checklist,a list of items for judges to consider when handling such cases; and Comprehensive Issue Spotting, a questionnaire to give lawyers a complete picture of their clients' situation and legal needs. To download a free PDF of either publication, click here.

ABA seeks Bar "Protection" -- The ABA is asking for bar association support for a program to prevent voter disenfranchisement during the 2008 election. The program, Election Protection, monitors polling places and performs several other duties to make sure all votes are counted. The association wants bar help in working with local legal communities, staffing the program's national hotlines and preparing materials for voters. For more on the program, click here, or contact Rachel Patrick at (312) 988-5408.

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

[Revised: 08-28-2009]