Board of Governors Meeting Preview - January 2025

The following items are up for action or discussion at the January 17, 2025, meeting of the Board of Governors as of today; changes may occur before the meeting. Please contact your Board representative(s) if you have any input or questions.

At the Tallahassee meeting, the Board will host members of the Florida Supreme Court and receive remarks from Chief Justice Muñiz.

The Board will be asked to accept the latest Florida Bar audited financial statement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. As part of the report, the auditors issued a clean opinion. Highlights include:

• The Florida Bar’s total net position increased approximately $6.7 million (or 9%) in FY24 as compared to FY23. The increase was largely caused by strong investment performance resulting in positive returns on The Florida Bar’s investments. The market value adjustment on investments noted an approximate increase of $3.9 million and The Florida Bar generated realized investment income of nearly $2.5 million.
• Total operating revenues for FY24 increased by approximately $500,000 (or 1%) as compared to FY23. The increase in FY24 was primarily due to increased membership. Total operating expenses increased by approximately $3.3 million (or 7%) in FY24 as compared to FY23. A 5% raise to eligible employees, effective September 2023, along with the addition of two division directors and the filling of several vacant positions, and additional client security fund claims largely contributed to the noted increase.

The Board will also consider several proposed rule, bylaw, and standing board policy amendments including proposed amendments to Bylaw 2-3.11 (Electronic Meetings). The revisions would add language that, among other things, makes the bylaw more consistent with Robert’s Rules of Order and set forth parameters for committee votes by email.

The Board will also consider a Disciplinary Procedure Committee proposal to revise Rule 3-7.4 (Grievance Committee Procedures) that would make it clear that a majority vote of a grievance committee is required for all decisions, not just those related to a probable cause finding.

Also on the Board’s agenda is a series of proposed revisions to the internal operating procedures, or “IOPs,” of the Civil Procedure Rules Committee designed to make the rule-development process more uniform and efficient. The proposal arose from the recommendations of a 2022 Florida Bar-commissioned study by outside consultant Lisa Kiel, a former State Courts Administrator: “Evaluation of Development and Review of Court Rules Proposals by The Florida Bar Rules Committees.”

The Board is scheduled to receive an update from the Board Technology Committee. It is working with the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence, Tools and Resources, the Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Committee, and other tech-related panels to develop CLE and other free, practical resources for Florida Bar members. A subcommittee recently developed the “Florida Bar Guide to Getting Started with AI,” offering tips for incorporating generative AI in a legal practice, while being mindful of the ethical implications. Read more in the Bar News.

In other business, the board expects to learn more about a newly formed Florida Bar Standing Committee for Corporate Counsel. The committee’s mission will include promoting professionalism among corporate counsel lawyers, providing tailored and practical legal education, serving as a platform for networking and sharing best practices, and addressing “the unique challenges and opportunities” faced by in-house legal counsel.