Symposium
Recent activities by the Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and the Center have focused upon legal education and the type of skills that should be acquired at law school. What are those skills and how can legal education, the practicing bar, and governmental entities coordinate their efforts to improve the training of young lawyers? A Symposium was held during the Annual Convention to discuss what knowledge, skills and values new lawyers should have. In addition to what law firms should look for in new associates, it was also discussed how law schools should train them. We had representatives from the judiciary, law firms, government, legal education, law students and young lawyers on our panel. We received great feed back from participants and attendees. Find more detailed information in the most recent issue of The Bar News.
Spring Retreat 2009
The Spring Retreat of the Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism moderated by Ms Ruth Barnes Kinsolving was titled: "Professionalism and how it can become an integral part of the law school experience" and was held at Barry University School of Law in Orlando. The speakers included Dean Rodney Smolla of Washington and Lee School of Law, and Deans Robert Jerry from the University of Florida, Alfredo Garcia from St Thomas University School of Law and Peter Goplerud from Florida Coastal School of Law. Each spoke about innovations in curriculum and how the changes involved new approaches to professionalism as part of the law school curriculum. Dean Smolla described the process of making the third year curriculum at Washington and Lee entirely experiential in nature. Mr. E. Christopher Johnson Jr. discussed the work of the ABA accreditation committee process and a potential shift to an emphasis upon "outcome measures" and how that shift might assist in invigorating a professionalism focus in legal education. A panel of Commission members and others invited to participate discussed the presentations and their import to professionalism in the profession. Chief Justice Quince concluded the retreat with remarks about her belief in the importance of professionalism and thanked all the participants for their contribution.
Florida Guidelines of Practice For Lawyers Who Represent Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases
On January 18, 2006, The Florida Bar's Standing Committee on the Legal Needs of Children adopted a set of voluntary guidelines for attorneys representing children in abuse and neglect cases in Florida. These guidelines have not been approved by the Florida Bar Board of Governors and are non-binding. These guidelines seek to inform practitioners of the special situations one might encounter in representing children in abuse and neglect cases. Access the Florida Dependency Attorney Guidelines. |