The Florida Bar
  1. Home
  2. Professionalism
  3. Professionalism Resources

Professionalism Resources

Center for Professionalism logoWhether it’s best practices guides (and there are many, from electronic communication to professional conduct), quick tips or codes of trial conduct, you’ll find it here.

#ProTips

Quick snippets of professionalism advice.


Sarah Morris: When do you have a duty to correct?


Joseph Bovino: Practice cultural competence


Kalinthia Dillard on managing client expectations


Steve Lesser: Maintain confidential communication with your client


Ita Neymotin on the importance of mentoring


Dora Kaufman: Do unto others...

Watch previous Pro Tips

2023 Professionalism Case Law Summary (shared with permission of Tim Chinaris)

So, You Want to Become a Lawyer?

This Law School Handbook is intended to help high school and undergraduate students who are interested in going to law school or are considering law as a career. It covers what to expect on your educational path in pursuit of a law degree, as well as the career opportunities that may be open to you once you obtain your law degree.

So You Want to Become a Lawyer? Law School Handbook
Download PDF

Professionalism Handbook

This handbook includes a collection of professionalism resources designed to help attorneys and students at Florida law schools learn the importance of civility and professionalism in the legal profession. This guide embodies and reflects the substance of the professional identity, personality, character, and fitness to practice law that each member of the Bar should exemplify.

Also see, Resources For Young Lawyers

Best Practices for Remote Proceedings

This guide was produced by the Florida Bar Board Technology Committee.

Other Remote Proceedings Best Practices

The Supreme Court Workgroup on Continuity of Court Operations and Proceedings During and After COVID-19 Best Practices developed best practices on the following topics:

  • Facilitating Pro Se Litigants with Remote Appearance Technology
  • Representing Yourself and Using Remote Appearance Technology with the Courts
  • Management of Evidence in Remote Hearings in Civil and Family Cases
  • Out-of-County Inmates
Best Practices for Remote Court Proceedings

Best Practices for Professional Electronic Communication

Lawyers use multiple forms of communication on a daily basis to diligently advocate and are in a constant state of communication with clients, opposing counsel, the court and colleagues. This guide provides best practices for the most popularly used forms of electronic communication.

Best Practices for Professional Electronic Communication PDF cover
Download PDF

Legal Professionalism in the Electronic Age

With the shift to video conferencing, it is crucial to uphold the expectation of professionalism and civility within the legal profession. This guide provides some best practices and recommendations for practicing with professionalism virtually.

Legal Professionalism in the Electronic Age guide
Download PDF

Bounds of Advocacy: Goals for Family Lawyers in Florida

Developed by The Family Law SectionBounds of Advocacy is a tool to guide Florida family lawyers through the quagmire of professional and ethical dilemmas that are unique to the practice of family law. The intent is to suggest a higher level of practice than the minimum baseline of conduct required by the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, and the goal is to elevate professionalism in the practice of family law.

Bounds of Advocacy Goals for Family Lawyers guide
Download PDF

TRIAL LAWYERS SECTION GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Guidelines for Professional Conduct by the Trial Lawyers Section of The Florida Bar were developed as part of a continuous effort increase the level of professionalism in trial practice in Florida.

WELL-BEING TOOLKIT FOR LAWYERS AND LEGAL EMPLOYERS

This Well-Being Toolkit, created by Anne M. Brafford for use by the American Bar Association, offers reasons for prioritizing lawyer well-being as well as information, strategies, and resources for implementing a plan for positive change.

See Resources for Students for more videos.

CIVILITY INITIATIVE

The American College of Trial Lawyers Civility Initiative Project (February 2020) featuring Eugene K. Pettis, past president of The Florida Bar.

Pandemic-related Professionalism

American College of Trial Lawyers Videos

Code of Trial Conduct

Annotated Code of Trial Conduct: A Manual for Trial Practitioners and for Use as a Teaching Aid, published by the American College of Trial Lawyers, 2005.

Code of Pretrial and Trial Conduct, published by the American College of Trial Lawyers, June 2009.

We're Not Gonna Take It flyer

Free vexatious litigation webinar set for December 1

Attorneys are invited to attend a webinar on vexatious litigation on Friday, December 1, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The webinar – Florida’s Playbook on Vexatious Litigation: We’re Not Gonna Take It – offered by the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism, will provide attorneys with essential…

Supreme Court

Local Professionalism Panel reports due soon

Local Professionalism Panels are facing a December 15 deadline to begin filing biannual reports that are available online. LPPs are made up of volunteer attorneys who are appointed in each circuit to review complaints about the perceived unprofessional behavior of fellow lawyers. Typical complaints include such things as a lawyer who fails to return an…

Tom

How should you respond to a dishonest client who writes a scathing Yelp review? Find out at Decorum.Law

Tom Scarritt, a board-certified civil trial attorney from Tampa, appears in an ethics video demonstrating “How to respond ethically to a dishonest client who writes a scathing Yelp review.” Scarritt joined area lawyers in presenting responses ranging from very inappropriate to appropriate, according to the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct. The video was produced as…

The Professional, once a triannual publication, is now a blog!

See what’s new and browse the archive.

Lady justice and The Professional branding