Center for Professionalism outlines available resources for law students and professors
Rebecca Bandy
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 center thinks these materials will be beneficial to both students and their professors and the Center for Professionalism is always available to partner with Florida’s law schools on professionalism initiatives,” Bandy said. “Assistant Director Katie Young and I love to speak to students in person or online about The Florida Bar, general professionalism, how to avoid Bar discipline, and our resources. We are also thrilled to teach workshops on soft skills such as effective communication strategies, emotional intelligence, stress awareness, implicit bias, and how to build and maximize mentoring relationships.”
The resources include:
- The “So, You Want to Become a Lawyer” Series: The “So, You Want to Become a Lawyer” handbook is designed to give guidance to future legal professionals. A set of five videos intended for classroom use offers advice on topics including common pitfalls law students may encounter when submitting their character and fitness applications; the importance of wellness and self-care; choosing a practice area; the path to the bench; and client-centered practice.
- Acceptance of Nominations for Professionalism Awards:
- The Law School Faculty/Administrator Award: The Center and SCOP bestow several professionalism awards annually, including a faculty/administrator award. Nominations for this award are accepted on the Center for Professionalism’s website. The deadline for receipt of all nominations and supporting materials is February 10, 2023.
- The Group Professionalism Award: In addition, the Center awards a Group Professionalism Award to one deserving professionalism-related project sponsored by bar associations, judicial organizations, Inns of Court, or law school organizations aimed at enhancing professionalism among lawyers and law students. Nominations for this award are also accepted on the Center for Professionalism’s website. The deadline for receipt of all nominations and supporting materials is February 10, 2023.
- 2022-2024 Professionalism Handbook: The handbook includes a collection of professionalism resources to help attorneys and Florida law school students 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.
- The Professional Blog: The Professional is published by the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism to promote and encourage professionalism in Florida. The Center gladly accepts article submissions for publication at [email protected]
- #ProTipTuesday Social Media Campaign: These short videos feature Florida legal professionals sharing real-life, real-practice advice. Each is inspirational and a great practical reminder for everyday practice. You can easily access the #ProTipTuesday videos on the Center’s website and social media, and we welcome you and your organization to use them to educate others. The videos are a great classroom resource, especially for professional responsibility courses.
- Never Contemplated Podcast: The podcast was initially created to focus on gender bias in the judiciary and has evolved to explore professionalism, leadership skills, and balanced living through the eyes of female judges, attorneys, and legal scholars. Each podcast is worth free CLE credit and can be accessed on any platform, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
- Mentoring Initiatives: The Center’s website has abundant resources on mentoring, including several seminars that focus on mentoring, mentoring conversation starters, and the #IUsedToBeYou campaign that shares personal mentoring success stories from Florida legal professionals.
- DISC Personality Training: The Center’s Assistant Director Katie Young is a DISC personality assessment trainer. This tool is invaluable for career planning and team building.
