The Ft. Lauderdale chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) will present a two-hour interactive, in-person discussion focused on civility and professionalism in the courtroom — especially tailored for newer practitioners seeking valuable courtroom experience. The free event, titled “FROM THE START: Practicing Civility and Professionalism in the Courtroom,” will take place on…

For lawyers caught in the high-pressure cycle of long hours, constant deadlines, and emotional fatigue, a new CLE video training offers a simple message — sustainable legal careers start with healthy relationships, not just with clients and colleagues, but with yourself. That’s the main takeaway from “Work-Life Balance for Attorneys,” a free CLE presentation offered…

“I’m not here to do what I want,” says Third DCA Judge Thomas Logue, saying a judge must be careful of bias, conscious and unconscious, in applying the law. “And I think a really good judge is constantly making decisions they don’t like.” Logue shares his experiences and thoughts about what makes a good judge,…

The Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and the Standing Committee on Professionalism named Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and Judge Miguel de la O of the 11th Judicial Circuit as co-winners of the 2025 William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award. The awards were presented…

After joining The Florida Bar’s Counsel to Counsel Mentoring Program last August, Vanessa Sloat-Rogers and Adena Hatcher were paired in October 2024. In just a few months, they’ve formed a genuine, supportive friendship. “It was like, ‘where have you been all my life?’” said mentee Hatcher. “I have been waiting for you!” responded mentor Sloat-Rogers,…

I drive a Lincoln and have a Bar card, so naturally, I enjoyed watching Matthew McConaughey in the movie The Lincoln Lawyer, based on Michael Connelly’s book. It goes without saying that a Bar card in your Lincoln’s glove box does not make you a Lincoln lawyer. The real Lincoln lawyer, Abraham Lincoln, was built…

Florida Association for Women Lawyers President Jessica Thomas stresses authenticity in the latest Standing Committee on Professionalism podcast “On Civility.” Available for free, the podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Professionalism CLE credit. Course # 8962. In the…

How do we maintain and amplify civility so that the respect and integrity of the justice system is preserved? Such is the question explored in the Bar’s webinar, “Perspectives on Professionalism from Your Office to Tallahassee.” Florida Supreme Court Justice Meredith Sasso opens the panel discussion by commenting on recent, unsuccessful efforts to remove two words…

First District Court of Appeal Judge Ross Bilbrey has some advice for lawyers who test the limits of zealous advocacy — “Don’t fight the extraneous stuff,” and remember the “Cowboy Code.” In the latest edition of the Center for Professionalism’s “On Civility” podcast, Bilbrey advises that zealous advocacy on behalf of a client is fine…

Florida Supreme Court Justice Meredith Sasso and former Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Bell will headline a free CLE later this week, “Perspectives on Professionalism — From Your Office to Tallahassee.” Streaming live via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. on December 5, the seminar is sponsored by the Standing Committee on Professionalism and the Henry…

The webinar “Attempted Intelligence: Ethical Considerations Surrounding the Use of AI” kicked off with an overview of artificial intelligence, comparing generative AI-produced work to an undercooked frozen dinner that “looks good on the outside” but is often cold when you take “a few bites,” according to Jonathan Grabb, The Florida Bar’s ethics counsel. “[AI programs]…

Should a judge participate in a local professionalism panel’s informal, “peer-to-peer mentoring?” Should LPPs accept referrals from federal courts? How should they maintain records of a confidential process? Those are just some questions that the chairs of Florida’s 20 local professionalism panels, or their designees, discussed Monday in a first statewide mandatory meeting. “Right now,…

Florida Bar ethics counsel Jonathan Grabb, YLD President-elect Arti Hirani, and others will present a November 7 free CLE “Attempted Intelligence: Ethical Considerations Surrounding the Use of AI.” Sponsored by the Student Education and Admission to the Bar Committee (SEABEC), the one-hour Zoom webinar will begin at noon and feature a three-member panel moderated by…

A new podcast dedicated to promoting civility and professionalism in the legal field, produced by The Florida Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism, has launched. Hosted by attorney Magie Ozarowski of Ausley McMullen in Tallahassee, “On Civility” features engaging conversations with prominent judges, lawyers, and legal professionals. The inaugural episode, released on October 16, features…

The Board of Governors could be asked as soon as soon as December to weigh recommendations for improving the way Florida’s 20 local professionalism panels informally resolve complaints. West Palm Beach lawyer Kara Link told the Standing Committee on Professionalism on Thursday that plans are complete for a November 18 “Statewide LPP Required Meeting.” “We’re…

Why am I on the floor? It felt like I had been struck by lightning. I could see the judge, assistant state attorney, and bailiff all looking down at me in horror. I knew I was supposed to be in trial, but how long ago was that? And again, why was I on the floor?…

The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism will host the first required meeting for all 20 of Florida’s circuit courts’ Local Professionalism Panel “LPP” chairs on November 18. The mandatory meeting is being held pursuant to the Florida Supreme Court’s 2023 opinion, In Re: Code for Resolving Professionalism Referrals, 367 So.3d 1184 (Fla. 2023). In…

In the latest episode of the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism podcast “Never Contemplated — The Practice of Law May Be Different Than You Imagined,” Judge Hetal Desai engages in a compelling conversation with Magie Ozarowski on topics of professionalism, civility, and leadership. Magie Ozarowski, of counsel at Ausley McMullen in Tallahassee, shares her experiences…

Thirteenth Circuit Judge Nicholas Nazaretian recently spoke to the new Cooley Law School students about integrity, professionalism, and ethics during its Tampa Bay campus orientation and Professionalism in Acton Program. “As you navigate through your law school career, you will notice going through a transition to becoming lawyer,” said Judge Nazaretian, a Cooley graduate. “Part…

Florida’s Local Professionalism Panels have filed their first full cycle of mandatory, semi-annual reports since the Supreme Court issued In Re: Code for Resolving Professionalism Referrals last summer. Without naming respondents, the December 2023-June 2024 reports cite behavior that ranged from being rude to a judicial assistant and soliciting clients at a local jail, to…

Ashley Sybesma and Jason Berger have a gift for beginning lawyers that could offer an edge over competitors, a faster track to success, and a more satisfying career. To claim it, say the chair and vice chair of the Mentoring New Lawyers Committee, recipients need only meet an October 4 deadline to register for “Counsel…

The ABA Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility on August 23 released Opinion 513, which offers detailed guidelines for detecting and avoiding involvement in a client’s criminal activity. Opinion 513 Formal Opinion 513 (americanbar.org) addresses the latest revisions to Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.16, which were approved in August 2023. The revisions arose from concerns…

Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Jack Tuter, Administrative Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips, Circuit Judge Michael Robinson, and some prominent South Florida trial lawyers will present “Professionalism Tools from the Florida Supreme Court, LPPs & Artificial Intelligence,” at the Broward County Courthouse on September 11. Sponsored by ABOTA Fort Lauderdale, the seminar begins at noon and is…

Florida’s Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee issued an opinion clarifying the conditions under which judges may testify in court. Acting July 23 in Opinion Number 2024-09, the advisory panel addressed two issues involving judges and their participation in court proceedings outside of their judicial duties, holding: A judge may testify if duly served with a subpoena…

Florida lawyers are commonly approached by out-of-state lawyers looking to establish a presence in the Florida market. While interstate law firms may provide a multitude of career opportunities for Florida attorneys, creating such a firm involves more than simply opening offices in multiple states. Florida Bar members are governed by rules designed to ensure ethical…

Generative AI is saving lawyers time and money, but if used improperly, it could cost them their livelihoods, warn two of Florida’s leading ethics experts. Belmont University College of Law Professor Tim Chinaris notes that a recent Florida Bar survey showed 80% of lawyers haven’t used AI, and 80% believe it should be regulated. “What…

Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz will attend the first “Counsel to Counsel” graduation reception, a sign of the new Florida Bar mentoring program’s unique promise, and the Supreme Court’s determination to promote professionalism. Muñiz will join 84 mentors and mentees, the first class to complete the nine-month program, at a June 20 reception, 5:30 p.m. to…

The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion that provides guidance for when a lawyer can seek advice on a listserv, noting that model rules in most cases forbid posting questions or comments relating to a representation — even in hypothetical or abstract form. Formal Opinion 511 cites Rule 1.6…

Chief U.S. District Judge Tim Corrigan was in his Florida room in 2013 when an assassin’s bullet splintered a window and lodged in a wall 1.6 inches above his head. A disgruntled former criminal defendant, armed with a .30-06, was later apprehended, and ultimately sentenced to 343 years. “Some might think this harrowing experience would…

Following in Florida’s footsteps, the New York State Bar Association has adopted guidelines for the ethical use of artificial intelligence. The New York State Bar Association’s governing board approved a taskforce’s recommendations, including that New York lawyers notify clients if they use AI to prepare their case. The report notes that California lawyers received the…

The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism will present its Group Professionalism Award to the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers Leadership Academy at the Annual Florida Bar Convention in June. This award honors one program instituted and coordinated by a bar association, judicial organization, Inn of Court, or law school organization aimed at enhancing professionalism…

FSU College of Law Professor Emeritus Charles “Chuck” Ehrhardt, heralded as a legend by colleagues and former students, is the recipient of the 2024 Law Faculty/Administrator Professionalism Award. Sponsored by the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism, the award recognizes a faculty member or administrator of a Florida law school who best exemplifies the mission of…

St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law held its annual Donor Scholarship & Law Day Luncheon April 2. The event recognized scholarship donors and their student recipients, as well as celebrated students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement. David A. Armstrong, president of St. Thomas University, welcomed guests to the occasion and extended…

The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion recently that provides guidance on when a lawyer’s conflict is imputed to all others in the lawyer’s firm ─ specifically when a lawyer discusses a legal matter with a prospective client and the client does not retain the lawyer or…

Retired Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson, Florida Bar President Scott Westheimer, and judges from across the state will headline the 2024 Professionalism Conference on April 5. The 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. program at the Circle Square Cultural Center in Ocala will focus on “First Principles of Professionalism.” Sponsored by the Professionalism Committee of the…

The Young Lawyers Division recently highlighted 36 members under the age of 36 who were recognized for their professionalism. Aligned with the YLD’s theme of “Professionalism in Practice,” President Anisha Patel of Tampa said the division created a series of programing and initiatives to ensure young lawyers are equipped with the necessary tools, education, and…

The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion February 28 that provides guidance on how disqualification rules apply to both current and former government lawyers under the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Formal Opinion 509 interprets Model Rule 1.11, which relates to the conflict-of-interest provisions applicable to…

The latest edition of the “Never Contemplated” podcast features Bar Center for Professionalism Director Rebecca Bandy, a deeply committed and energetic lawyer who developed a thirst for justice while teaching in a rural Georgia high school. Asked to define professionalism, Bandy quotes a short-hand version she learned while serving on an ABA committee. “It’s what…

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…

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 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…

As a young girl, Supreme Court Justice Meredith Sasso would spend afternoons in the Florida Capitol, writing pretend bills to present to her father, a legislative analyst. “So, I very much grew up ingrained in government,” Sasso recalls. The Tallahassee native discusses an otherwise typical childhood, extraordinary career, and deep commitment public service in the…

The Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism is working to create a new two-hour continuing legal education course as part of a July Florida Supreme Court order. The center will tentatively begin filming the course in December, and the goal is to complete it by the end of the year, said center Director Rebecca Bandy. “Once…

A judge may serve as an unpaid member of the board of directors of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, according to the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee. Acting August 24 in Opinion Number: 2023-07, the advisory panel was responding to an inquiry asking if a judge may serve as an unpaid member of the…

A judge may speak to an association of state prosecutors regarding how to address issues that arise when dealing with a specific type of litigant, according to the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee. Opinion number 2023-06 stems from an inquiry made by a judge whose been invited to speak to an out-of-jurisdiction association of state prosecutors…

The Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism is releasing a new program exploring the work of women judges in one of the country’s largest circuits. Titled, Professionalism and Gender Empowerment, this new CLE course focuses on seven women judges in the 11th Circuit. Located in Miami-Dade County, the circuit is the largest in the state and…

An effort to scrub so-called “Z” words – “zeal,” “zealous,” and “zealously,” – from the Bar rule book has cleared another hurdle. At a July 27 meeting in Sarasota, the Rules Committee voted unanimously to approve a Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section proposal to amend Chapter 4 Rules of Professional Conduct. The Board…

The ABA’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion July 12 that provides guidance on how attorneys can share offices and staff resources with an unaffiliated attorney. In Formal Opinion 507, the ABA opined that office sharing is permissible under the ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct so long as attorneys…

For years, The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division and the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism have been committed to promoting professional and ethical values to legal practitioners in Florida. The result of that partnership has now debuted as Decorum.Law — a library of accessible and cost-free resources to maintain the highest ideals of professional legal…

The Supreme Court has agreed to adopt most of the recommendations of a Florida Bar special professionalism committee, but with some modifications. “The Court is grateful for the Special Committee’s hard work and its thorough and thoughtful report and recommendations,” the justices wrote. Rather than grant the special committee’s request to slightly increase the number…

Theresa Radwan, interim dean at Stetson University College of Law, won The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism’s Law Faculty/Administrator Award. The award, presented at the Bar Annual Convention in Boca Raton, recognizes a faculty member or administrator of one of Florida’s accredited law schools who, through teaching, scholarship, and service to the profession, best…

The Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association and the Florida Hispanic Bar Association received the Group Professionalism Award for their Civil Litigation Boot Camp. The award, presented by the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and the Standing Committee on Professionalism, honors one program instituted and coordinated by a bar association, judicial organization, Inn of…

Miami-Dade County Court Judge Gordon C. Murray received the William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award. Given annually by the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and the Standing Committee on Professionalism, the award recognizes an active judge who best exemplifies “strength of character, service, and competence as a jurist, lawyer, and public servant.” “Judge Murray demonstrates…

From newly admitted members of The Florida Bar to those ready for retirement after countless years of dedication to the legal profession, many lawyers have committed the faux crime of using “privileged” and “confidential” interchangeably when justifying why they cannot disclose certain information relating to a client’s representation. Why is this? Perhaps the simplest answer…

The opposing counsel didn’t give Tallahassee attorney Edwin Bayó’s client, a veterinarian, much of a choice. Accept their terms regarding a civil matter or face negative online reviews and a Board of Veterinary Medicine complaint. To Bayo, it had the whiff of extortion. “It really left a bad taste in my mouth,” he said. A…

When GPT-4 – the latest version of OpenAI’s language model systems – was released in mid-March, several aspiring lawyers and law professors used it to take the bar exam. The Large Language Model chatbot passed every subject and performed better than 90% of human test takers.   This news was a bit shocking, undoubtedly, and raised numerous questions. Preparing for the bar exam, for most unassisted…

Rule 4-4.2, Rules of Professional Conduct, provides that, in representing a client, a lawyer cannot communicate with a person the lawyer knows to be represented by another lawyer in the matter unless the other lawyer gives consent. On the Ethics Hotline, we get questions from lawyers asking if they can “reply all” when opposing counsel…

The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism presented its Group Professionalism Award to the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association & the Florida Hispanic Bar Association for their Civil Litigation Boot Camp. This award honors one program instituted and coordinated by a bar association, judicial organization, Inn of Court, or law school organization aimed…

The Standing Committee on Professionalism named Theresa Radwan recipient of the Law Faculty/Administrator Award. Radwan is the interim dean at Stetson University College of Law. The purpose of the award is to recognize a faculty member or administrator of one of Florida’s accredited law schools who, through teaching, scholarship, and service to the profession, best…

The Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and the Standing Committee on Professionalism named Miami-Dade County Judge Gordon C. Murray the 2023 William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award winner. The award recognize an active judge who best exemplifies strength of character, service, and competence as a jurist, lawyer, and public servant. “Judge Murray demonstrates the ideals…

(Editor’s Note: Due to the recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, the Bar’s Ethics Hotline has been fielding questions from attorneys regarding bank failures and trust accounts. To provide some guidance, we are republishing this 2008 column written by former Bar’s Ethics Counsel Ruth Smith.) Recent bank failures are causing lawyers to…

From chatbots to image generators, news outlets have been inundated with stories discussing the implications of artificial intelligence or “AI” programs. Though the results appear mixed, ChatGPT, a free AI chatbot, has already managed to pass law school exams[1] while Midjourney, an AI image generator, won first prize in the Colorado State Fair’s digital art…

The Florida Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism has put together a list of professionalism programs and resources targeted toward law students and law professors. The resources are made available by the center, the Standing Committee on Professionalism, and the Student Education and Admission to the Bar Committee, said Rebecca Bandy, the center’s director. “The…

The Florida Bar is on track to launch a mentoring program with personalized matching technology for beginning lawyers by this summer, the co-chairs of a special committee told the Board of Governors at a December 2 meeting on Amelia Island. In other business, the board approved a series of rule amendments, including one that would…

The “Never Contemplated” podcast recently put the wrap on its second season with an important message for Florida’s legal community regarding mental health and wellness. The podcast, which is put together by The Florida Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism, provides a candid discussion with women judges from across the state featuring a wide variety…

Civility is a core component of attorney professionalism.[i] An attorney has the obligation to be civil and courteous in all situations to ensure that the rule of law is upheld. Yet, there has been a drastic increase in incivility in the legal profession. Over 93% of Americans identify incivility as a problem.[ii] What is causing…

After a three-year hiatus, The Florida Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism has released its 2022-24 Professionalism Handbook. The document outlines the center’s role in promoting professionalism and civility and combines everything Florida’s legal community needs to know on the subject into one handbook. “We typically update it [the handbook] every two years, however, the…

Veteran Ft. Lauderdale attorney Suzanne Driscoll remembers the last routine court proceeding she attended before the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a motion calendar, and Driscoll was in the courtroom, waiting for her name to be called. “These two lawyers were interrupting each other, they were very combative,” she said. “The judge literally stood up, walked…

The Bar’s Professional Ethics Committee is considering if it is permissible for a Florida lawyer to be a passive investor in an alternative business structure (ABS) in another state that allows nonlawyer ownership of law firms. After spirited debate during the Fall Meeting, the committee voted 26-9 in favor of having staff draft an opinion…

Convening virtually after Hurricane Ian postponed a September meeting, the Board of Governors received an update on a mentoring program for beginning lawyers and approved a handful of proposed rule amendments. President Gary Lesser began the October 24 meeting expressing sorrow for storm victims and praising the many Bar members who rushed to their aid….

The Standing Committee on Professionalism is launching a host of new projects, from gender bias and mental health to mentoring, as it continues its mission to assist the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism implement its programs. “I know we’re going to move the needle, and I know we’re going to make a difference,” said Chair…

“Never Contemplated,” the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism podcast, has turned a spotlight on the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings and its unsung heroes, administrative law judges. (Certified for CLE, the episodes are free and available here.) Administrative Law Judge Hetal Desai, the series host, calls two of five colleagues featured in the two-part episode,…

(Editor’s Note: Allaa Tayeb, a 2022 graduate of Florida State University College of Law, was the winner of this year’s FSU Law Writing Competition, sponsored by the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism. Tayeb’s essay, “Integrating Professionalism and Social Media in the Age of Lawyers that Grew Up With It,” was originally published in The Professional,…

When you reach 50 years as a Bar member, The Florida Bar gives you a free lunch at the Annual Convention. I was at this year’s annual convention, wanted to get some lunch, and wandered into the event honoring the 300 recent 50-year members of the Bar. They in good nature outed me as not…

First District Court of Appeal Judge Stephanie Williams Ray offers a brief, from a 2006 appeal, as a textbook example of how a lawyer should not behave. Without a factual basis, the attorney accused opposing counsel of fabricating evidence, called a trial court’s findings “baloney,” and sprinkled in references to “judicial murder,” “Twilight Zone doctors,”…

The latest statistics suggest that most Florida lawyers are unfamiliar with the grievance process. And that’s a good thing, says Florida Bar Staff Counsel Patricia Ann Toro Savitz. She notes that there are 113,000 Bar members, and the Supreme Court in 2021 took some 350 public disciplinary actions. “That is a very, very, very small…

The Standing Committee on Professionalism is expected to play a key role in implementing a special committee’s comprehensive proposal for enhancing professionalism. A day before his term expired, President Mike Tanner told the committee at a June 23 meeting in Orlando that the Bar recently forwarded the proposal to the Supreme Court. “I’m hopeful that…

Newly sworn President-elect Scott Westheimer is a devoted father, loyal friend, and committed professional with a heart for service, said longtime friend and fellow Sarasota lawyer E. “Keith” DuBose. The Eastmoore Crauwels & DuBose partner – known as “Uncle Keith” to Westheimer’s two young children, Ayla and Arie – delivered a heartwarming tribute to his…

Building the best mentorship program in the country, expanding access to justice, and working to ensure an independent court system and vibrant legal profession are the goals of newly sworn President Gary Lesser. Addressing the Annual Convention in Orlando, Lesser, the 74th president of The Florida Bar, said another priority will be a public education…

Professionalism, like beauty and truth, is easier to recognize than it is to define. Florida lawyers will have a rare opportunity to explore the meaning of professionalism, and how it interacts with the Rules of Professional Conduct, at the 2022 Masters Seminar on Ethics. (Course No. 5698 is authorized for 4.0 hours of General CLE;…

The mere fact that a judge refers a lawyer to a local professionalism panel doesn’t automatically disqualify the trial court judge from presiding over the case in question, according to the Second District Court of Appeal. The three-judge panel acted May 27 in Case No. 2D21-3577. In short, a litigant asserted that he would not…

In a move that signals a new Bar priority for the coming year, the Board of Governors has agreed to create a “Special Committee on Mentoring New Lawyers.” The board voted unanimously to form the special committee at a May 20 meeting in Tampa, a day after the Program Evaluation Committee endorsed the proposal. “It’s…

The Board of Governors granted preliminary approval of a sweeping plan to improve professionalism, endorsed a statewide, automated platform for resolving civil disputes, and greenlighted a series of proposed rule amendments. Meeting May 20 in Tampa, the board also approved a request by President-elect Gary Lesser to form a “Special Committee on Mentoring New Lawyers.”…

The Standing Committee on Professionalism named Florida International University College of Law’s Rosario Lozada as its Law Faculty/Administrator Award winner. Lozada is the professor of legal skills and values and director of Well-Being in Law at FIU Law. The award recognizes a faculty member or administrator of one of Florida’s accredited law schools who, through…

The Florida Bar’s Solo and Small Firm Section has won the Standing Committee on Professionalism’s Group Professionalism Award. This award honors one program instituted and coordinated by a bar association, judicial organization, Inn of Court, or law school organization aimed at enhancing professionalism among lawyers and law students and that can be implemented by other…

The Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and the Standing Committee on Professionalism named 20th Circuit Judge Lauren L. Brodie the 2022 William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award winner. The award recognizes an active judge who best exemplifies strength of character, service, and competence as a jurist, lawyer, and public servant. “Judge Brodie demonstrates the ideals…

The Special Committee for the Review of Professionalism in Florida has almost completed its work, with the goal of improving and prioritizing professionalism for Florida lawyers. Some primary “deliverables” of the special committee include increased professionalism CLEs for experienced lawyers, more realistic professionalism training for would-be lawyers, and more uniform use of “local professionalism panels”…

“If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem,” retired First Circuit Judge Ross Goodman said when asked if judges have a responsibility to confront unprofessional and uncivil behavior in their courtrooms. The answer came as part of a new free and on-demand video CLE series produced by The Florida…

All candidates seeking election as judges or standing for merit retention in 2022 will soon be able to participate in judicial campaign conduct forums offering training in the rules governing election to judicial office. Sponsored by the Supreme Court of Florida and The Florida Bar Board of Governors, the forums are held every election year…

The Student Education and Admission to the Bar Committee recently presented an interactive workshop on the attorney-client relationship. The workshop begins with a brief panel discussion on the attorney-client relationship in general and focuses on how to find clients, sign clients, and maintain happy paying clients. The workshop is available for viewing on demand from…

Most Florida Bar members uphold the high ethical standards the profession demands. But for the small fraction who risk discipline through unprofessional conduct, “The First Amendment is a poor defense.” So warns Tampa attorney Scott Tozian, a former prosecutor and former Florida Bar staff counsel who primarily defends lawyers in grievance cases. The Supreme Court…

Senior U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz can add yet another distinction to an already long and distinguished resume — top-rated legal podcaster. “Congratulations to Judge Patricia Seitz on having the most popular ‘Never Contemplated’ episode in 2021,” said Rebecca Bandy, Director of the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism, the series creator. Judge Seitz’s Season 1,…

The Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism is now accepting nominations for its annual William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism, Law Faculty/Administrator, and Group Professionalism awards. Nominations are due by February 11 and nominations can be made or nominating forms downloaded by going to www.floridabar.org/prof/pawards/. The Hoeveler Award, named after the late distinguished U.S. Southern District of…

The Special Committee for the Review of Professionalism in Florida expects to deliver its final recommendations in March, President-elect Gary Lesser told the Board of Governors. Lesser, who serves as co-chair, told the board at a December 3 meeting that the committee has decided on a final game plan for implementing one of President Michael…

While both lawyers and clients frequently offer gifts with the best of intentions, the ethical implications are not always so clear. To help, here are some common scenarios involving gifts and what to watch for in Florida’s Rules of Professional Conduct. Scenario #1: A prospective client comes to you for a family law matter. You…

A special committee of Bar leaders is big step closer to completing a comprehensive review of professionalism in the practice of law, and how to strengthen it, said President-elect Gary Lesser. “We’re going to be presenting a status report of where we’re at,” Lesser said. “It won’t be like previous reports, it will be a…

The nose is the key for Coral Gables attorney Haley Moss. Moss, who is an ex officio member of the Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors, also is autistic. One part of that is when she talks with people, she finds it difficult to make eye contact because instead of listening to what the person…

In honor of #LegalProfessionalismMonth in Florida, Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady and Florida Bar President Mike Tanner sat down one-to-one and talked about the state of professionalism, while also giving advice to young and seasoned lawyers alike. The Florida Supreme Court is partnering with The Florida Bar to declare November “Legal Professionalism Month” and…

When it convenes December 3 on Amelia Island, the Board of Governors is expected to weigh a host of issues, from a special committee’s highly anticipated recommendations for improving professionalism, to a proposed rule change that would require Bar members to indicate their retired status. In June, President Michael Tanner formed the Special Committee for…

The Florida Supreme Court is partnering with The Florida Bar to declare November “Legal Professionalism Month” and asking members to rededicate themselves to the highest ideals of professionalism and highlight the importance of civility in all they do. Bar President Michael Tanner said it’s the responsibility of Bar leadership to promote and fortify the need…

A CLE on mentoring diverse lawyers — including those with neurological differences — as well as a toolkit to promote mentoring, examining how to better incorporate diversity and inclusion into the center’s work, and looking at gender bias through the lens of professionalism are among the upcoming projects of the Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism….

The Florida Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism’s podcast “Never Contemplated” is back for a second season. In the kickoff episode, Ambassadors for Civility, host Judge Hetal Desai explores the careers of U.S. Southern District Judges Beth Bloom and Robin Rosenberg, who share their paths to the bench which led to their collaboration and development…

Should Florida lawyers face more rigorous professionalism CLE requirements, and local professionalism panels, bolstered by more uniform standards, be more active statewide? Those are just some of the recommendations discussed by the Special Committee for the Review of Professionalism in Florida, at a September 20 meeting. President-elect Gary Lesser, the committee’s co-chair, said the panel…

A poster child for unprofessionalism, the attorney yelled at judges and verbally abused his opposing counsel, an ailing, 71-year-old Korean War combat veteran. The 2013 disciplinary case resulted in a two-year suspension and public reprimand — and helped spur what the Supreme Court has labeled the modern “professionalism movement.” Now, the “Special Committee for the…

“Learn, learn, and then learn some more.” This was the advice imparted to us by Judge Beth Bloom on the first day of our internship. After navigating the first year of law school online during a worldwide pandemic, we were eager to begin what would be, for many of us, our initial experience in the…

Just as the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing millions of Americans to ponder their career choices, the Student Education and Admission to the Bar Committee is offering a valuable resource. The committee just released, “So, You Want to Become a Lawyer: Law School Handbook 2021-2022.” It’s available free at the Center for Professionalism website. “The committee…

A June 29 CLE focusing on professionalism in death penalty cases has personal roots for Ita Neymotin, the criminal conflict and civil regional counsel for the Second District Court of Appeal jurisdiction. Neymotin was born in Kazakhstan, a former republic of the Soviet Union, and emigrated with her family at a young age to the…

Eager to move beyond the pandemic and pledging to reexamine and strengthen core values, newly sworn Florida Bar President Michael G. Tanner announced that he intends to pursue professionalism, access-to-justice, and career opportunity related initiatives. “This is the time when our society has been under stress, when we need a truly robust third branch of…

The Florida Bar receives about 8,500 complaints against lawyers every year, with some 350 of those leading to some form of disciplinary action. The good news is that the figures confirm that most lawyers uphold the high standards the profession demands, says Patricia Ann Toro Savitz, staff counsel to The Florida Bar’s Division of Lawyer…

Building on a record of strong CLEs, a new podcast, and other activities, the Standing Committee on Professionalism will be aiming at helping lawyers cope with a new legal landscape in the post COVID-19 pandemic world. “We have a lot of new ways of doing business and practicing law,” said incoming Chair Elizabeth Hunter at…

“The official professionalism motto is: Serenity now. If it’s not the official motto, it should be.” Second Circuit Chief Judge Jonathan Sjostrom jokingly offered that suggestion as he accepted the William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award — one of the Bar’s three annual professionalism awards — at an online ceremony June 7 as the Bar’s…

Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association’s Annual Professionalism Seminar won The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism’s 2021 Group Professionalism Award. This award honors one program instituted and coordinated by a bar association, judicial organization, inn of court, or law school organization aimed at enhancing professionalism among lawyers and law students and that can be implemented by other…

The Standing Committee on Professionalism named the University of Florida’s Rachel Inman as its Law Faculty/Administrator Award winner Inman, is the associate dean for Student Affairs at the UF Frederic G. Levin College of Law. The award recognizes a faculty member or administrator of one of Florida’s accredited law schools who, through teaching, scholarship, and service to…

The Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and the Standing Committee on Professionalism named Second Circuit Chief Judge Jonathan Sjostrom the 2021 William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award winner. The award recognizes an active judge who best exemplifies strength of character, service, and competence as a jurist, lawyer, and public servant. Since 2002, Chief Judge Sjostrom has…

Mentoring can be a formal or informal process, last a brief time for a specific issue or be a lifetime relationship, lawyers may well be both a mentor and mentee at the same time, and it’s fine, perhaps even preferable, to have several mentors. It may be one of the most important roles for lawyers,…

Recently, an attorney friend of Magie Ozarowski’s was leaving government service and taking a job, for the first time, in private practice. “She had an offer, but she didn’t know how to go about figuring out what is normal pay for her level in a big firm in Florida,” recounted Ozarowski, deputy general counsel for…

The latest professionalism newsletter, some fresh Pro Tips professionalism videos, and the latest edition of the Never Contemplated podcast are among the recent offerings from the Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism. The center, working with the Standing Committee on Professionalism and the Student Education and Admission to the Bar Committee, offers a variety of…

So, check this out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checker_shadow_illusion. Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson used this shadowed checkerboard illustration, created by MIT Professor of Vision Science Edward H. Adelson in 1995, during his February 25 CLE seminar on the well-being of lawyers. The seminar was the first of three on lawyer health and wellness sponsored by the Standing Committee…

The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism and the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism are launching a three-part series of online CLE programs on “The Well-Balanced Lawyer.” The “lunch-and-learn” Zoom sessions begin February 25 at noon with a presentation by Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson, moderated by administrative law Judge Suzanne Van Wyk. Lawson has…

In the spring of 2020, I juggled to keep my civil defense practice moving, keep my clients happy, continue evaluation of claims, and continue discovery on a variety of issues. I also juggled educating my precocious second grader, getting my imaginative 5-year-old reading, and making sure my baby (seven months to 10 months old during…

With the anxiety and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially important for current and future Bar members to know what mental health and wellness resources are available. Florida Bar President Dori Foster-Morales spoke virtually to over 40 attorneys and law students February 1 and shared Florida Bar initiatives aimed at assisting current…

The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism is now accepting nominations for its William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award, Group Professionalism Award, and Law Faculty/Administrator Professionalism Award. The Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award recognizes a state or federal judge “who best exemplifies strength of character, service, and competence as a jurist, lawyer, and public servant.” Nominees…

The Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, in conjunction with The Florida Bar, is donating $100,000 to an endowment that supports professionalism in the legal profession. “The fund will support the delivery of programs to promote professionalism, civility, ethical conduct, and legal practice competency among our members,” former Bar President Gregory Coleman said in a FLMIC…

Orlando attorney Larry Smith is concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic is undermining professionalism, diversity, and inclusion efforts that he said are keys to helping the legal profession cope with the crisis. Smith is wrapping up more than 20 years’ combined service on the Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism (SCOP) and the former Supreme Court Commission…

The Board Technology Committee has decided to seek input from Bar sections and others before releasing a set of recommended best practices for remote legal proceedings. At a December 3 meeting, Chair Jay Kim argued for posting the best practices as soon as possible to help Bar members who have been struggling to adapt to…

The latest professionalism newsletter, some fresh Pro Tips professionalism videos, and the latest edition of the Never Contemplated blog are among the recent offerings from the Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism. The center, working with the Standing Committee on Professionalism, offers a variety of resources to help Bar members enhance and sustain their professional…

The Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism is reaching out to Florida law students. Center Director Rebecca Bandy has sent an email to law students listing the resources available through the center and its website. Those resources include: The Professionalism Handbook: This handbook includes a collection of professionalism resources designed to help attorneys and students…

With the pandemic’s greater emphasis on electronic communications and perhaps more pressure to keep all such communications professional, the Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism and its Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism are reminding lawyers of the Bar’s updated Best Practices for Professional Electronic Communication. The committee and center staff discussed the guide, its recent updates,…

“When we make phone calls, just make the call. Don’t have your secretary call the other person and then put them on hold so you can grace them with your telephonic presence. It’s not a power move, it’s obnoxious and we can do better.” That snippet of advice came from Alexis Lambert, deputy general counsel…

A new podcast focusing on journeys of women lawyers in becoming judges is being offered by The Florida Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism. The first issue of “Never Contemplated” went online on September 16 and featured host Administrative Law Judge Hetal Desai interviewing First District Court of Appeal Judge Rachel Nordby about her experiences…

Virtual technology is revolutionizing the administration of justice, but the digital age is also exacting a toll on the legal profession, warns Caroline Johnson, a former member of the Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism. “With the increase in the use of social media, there has also been, unfortunately, a coarsening of society,” Johnson said. “Folks…

“Death is a trigger.” A death in the family often leads to behavior problems that land lawyers before local professionalism panels. The observation came from West Palm Beach attorney Kara Rockenback Link, a member of the 15th Circuit professionalism panel, as she discussed that group’s successful approach to dealing with and solving problems for local…

The Florida Bar has again updated its “Best Practices for Professional Electronic Communication” handbook to include a section on video conferencing. The handbook, originally released in 2015, provides best practices for the most popularly used forms of electronic communication. It examines the ethical, legal, and professional issues that lawyers can encounter when using modern communications,…

Florida International University College of Law Professor Phyllis Kotey and the Nova Southeastern University College of Law’s Legal Research & Writing Student Outreach Program have been honored by the Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism. Kotey has received the committee’s annual Law Faculty/Administrator Award while the research and writing program received the committee’ Group Professionalism Award….

The Young Lawyers Division, always a champion of using technology to enhance the practice of law, is revamping its digital “Practicing With Professionalism” series. YLD President Santo DiGangi was quick to credit YLD members Lara Bach and Ashlea Edwards for overseeing the redesign, which is expected to launch before the end of the Bar year…

There have been marked changes in how society functions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its “social distancing” practices. Out of necessity, we have adapted our behaviors both personally and professionally. Within the practice of law, as in many professions, we have flocked to using video conferencing technology to keep business moving. It…

You cannot turn on a TV today without hearing about the importance of “social distancing” and “self-isolating.” COVID-19 has quickly infiltrated our society and is seemingly isolating every single person in America. While social distancing is important and a practice that everyone should most certainly put in place, it has made our everyday lives feel…

U.S. Middle District Judge Marcia Morales Howard of Jacksonville received the William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award, given annually by the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and the Standing Committee on Professionalism. The award recognizes an active judge who best exemplifies strength of character, service, and competence as a jurist, lawyer, and public servant. “Judge…

The Florida Bar has released an updated online handbook, “Best Practices for Professional Electronic Communication, ” which offers guidance to all Florida lawyers on communicating in the digital age. The handbook, originally released in 2015, provides best practices for the most popularly used forms of electronic communication. It examines the ethical, legal, and professional issues…

Stetson University College of Law’s “Professional Development Conference: Campus to Career” has won the 2019 ABA’s E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award. “We are honored to be recognized by the American Bar Association and presented with the E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award,” said Joann Grages Burnett, Campus to Career co-chair and associate director of career and…

ZACK ZUROWESTE is the recipient of the Solo & Small Firm Section’s 2019 Walter S. Crumbley Award, given each year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to practice management in Florida. Section Secretary Jacina Haston, former director of The Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism at The Florida Bar, presented the award during…

“Professionalism is the pursuit and practice of the highest ideals and tenets of the legal profession. It embraces far more than simply complying with the minimal standards of professional conduct. The essential ingredients of professionalism are character, competence, civility, and commitment,” according to The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism. Toward that end, the Bar’s…

Being a professional means more than thorough preparation and knowledge of the law, a Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism panel of experts told a group of Jacksonville law students at a recent luncheon forum. Appearing July 23 at the Florida Coastal School of Law, the panel included a U.S. district judge; a county judge; an…

Bar leaders say they’re confident the recent disbanding of the Florida Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and Civility won’t slow a decades-long movement to promote the highest standards in the profession. At a meeting of the Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism during the Bar’s Annual Convention in Boca Raton, outgoing Chair Starling Newcomb told committee…

THE FIFTH CIRCUIT’S “Eliminating Bias in the Courts” is the winner of this year’s Group Professionalism Award from The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism. The award honors one program instituted and coordinated by a bar association, judicial organization, inn of court, or law school organization aimed at enhancing professionalism among lawyers and law students…

Eleventh Circuit Judge Andrea R. Wolfson was named the recipient of the William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award, given annually by The Florida Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and the Standing Committee on Professionalism. The purpose of the award is to recognize an active judge who best exemplifies strength of character, service, and competence…

KARA BERARD ROCKENBACH, center, received the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s Sidney Stubbs Professionalism Award at the PBCBA’s Annual Bench Bar Conference. The award recognizes an attorney that has demonstrated or promoted outstanding professionalism in Palm Beach County, as defined by exemplary ethical conduct, character and integrity, respect for the legal system and all of…

The Florida Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and The Florida Bar Foundation will benefit from funds received from a four-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the result of a case in which sanctions against two law firms were levied. The Center for Professionalism, in conjunction with…

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STUDENT Education & Admissions to the Bar Committee and the Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism recently met with law students at the University of Florida to talk about the Bar’s efforts to promote health and wellness and lift the persistent cloud that clings to mental illness and listen to student’s concerns. From…

FOUNDING MEMBER and first president of the Judge William Wieland Inn of Court of Orlando Judge Neal Pitts was awarded the Workers’ Compensation Section’s Frierson-Colling Professionalism Award. He is the first judge of compensation claims to be honored with the award. Pictured are Judge Pitts, holding the award, several judges of compensation claims, Chief Judge…

Professionalism trending ‘in the right direction’ Senior Editor As he prepares for mandatory retirement at the end of the year, Florida Supreme Court Justice Fred Lewis says he is encouraged by the progress of a statewide effort to raise the level of professionalism in Florida’s legal community. “I think it’s going in the right direction,”…

Judge Paul Huck wins Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award Judge Paul C. Huck of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, has been named the winner of the William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award, given by The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism. The award recognizes an active judge who best exemplifies strength of character,…

Family Law Section publishes new ‘Bounds of Advocacy’ practice guidelines If you practice family law or handle any family law issues, the Family Law Section’s newly revised and released “Bounds of Advocacy” goals for family lawyers in Florida will be available on the section’s website by May 10. The guide leads Florida lawyers through the…

Board proposes a change to professionalism CLE credit The Florida Bar Board of Governors has signed off on a proposed rule change that would eventually require every lawyer in Florida to earn a continuing legal education credit for “professionalism.” The board voted unanimously at its recent meeting in Tallahassee to forward the proposal to the…

Professionalism panel seeks CLE credits for mentoring Participants in a mentoring program, both those giving and receiving advice, should be eligible for CLE credits, according to the Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism. The committee made that recommendation at its recent meeting where it also adopted a motto to support its mission statement and worked on…

Rebecca Bandy, the new director of The Florida Bar Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism, is focused on getting the word out about its services to members. “I think we are a hidden gem in the Bar,” said Bandy, who joined the center as assistant director in March 2017 and was recently promoted. The center is…

THE TALLAHASSEE BAR ASSOCIATION recently presented its annual Lifetime Professionalism Award to Nancy Daniels, center, who served for 26 years as the public defender for Leon and five surrounding counties before her retirement in 2016. Daniels was instrumental in the development of the Second Circuit’s drug courts, mental health treatment initiatives, juvenile diversion, and civil…

JUDGE ROBERT PAUL LEBLANC of the Ninth Circuit received the William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award during the Judicial Luncheon at this year’s Bar convention. Outgoing Bar President Bill Schifino said: “Judge LeBlanc is known to have an ‘open door policy’ with attorneys who appear before him. He regularly mentors law students, serves as a…

Stetson wins professionalism YouTube contest Stetson University College of Law won The Florida Bar Law Student Professionalism YouTube contest for the third year in a row. The contest is designed to promote professionalism among law students. Student Shaheen Nouri wrote and acted in this year’s video, “Law & Order: Ethical Victims Unit,” along with students…

Panel discussions and talks on professionalism and management skills and an assessment of “why you think and act the way that you do” will be part of the first “Putting the ‘Pro’ in Professionalism” seminar, sponsored by The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee in Professionalism and the Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism. The seminar is…

Many people think of the Wm. Reece Smith, Jr., Leadership Academy, as a group of vibrant, talented lawyers participating in a program designed to enhance their leadership skills. The Bar’s Leadership Academy is certainly that, but also much more. Most attorneys do not realize that the Leadership Academy provides tangible benefits that Bar members can…

A unique professionalism seminar in April and a fall conclave of legal educators, bar admissions officials, law clinic instructors, and others to focus on reaching law students with professionalism ideals are on the agenda of the Bar’s Professionalism Committee. The seminar, set for April 21 at the West Palm Beach Hilton, is titled “Putting the…

Confidentiality for circuit professionalism panels discussed Senior Editor Confidentiality, performance, and publicity about local lawyer professionalism panels were the focus of the Supreme Court’s Professionalism Commission, when it met June 25 at the Bar’s Annual Convention. The commission, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Fred Lewis, voted to create three subcommittees to look at confidentiality of…

Program instills ‘The Winning Edge’ in law students Associate Editor Most lawyers remember a time when they went to their classes in jeans and t-shirts carrying backpacks — more likely thinking about what’s on their exams than what’s ahead in their futures as lawyers, particularly when it comes to considering “The Winning Edge,” or, rather,…