T.J. Reddick Bar Association, Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, and the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the NBA lauded for promoting board certification
Shatoria Means, CLE chair for the T.J. Reddick Bar Association; Sherea Randle, president of the T.J. Reddick Bar Association; Lotoya Brown, president of the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association; outgoing BLSE Chair David Willis; and Roger Johnson, president of the National Bar Association at the Annual Florida Bar Convention.
The Florida Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization & Education recognized T.J. Reddick Bar Association; Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association; and Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association at the Annual Florida Bar Convention in Orlando for promoting board certification.
The award recognizes excellence and creativity in advancing the public’s knowledge of, and reputation for, legal board certification.
“The collaborative effort between the T.J. Reddick Bar Association, Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, and the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association has significantly advanced the public’s knowledge of and appreciation for legal board certification through their joint initiative,” outgoing BLSE Chair David Willis said. “Together, these organizations organized a two-day advanced litigation symposium titled ‘Empowered Advocacy: Advancing Litigation Excellence,’ held at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Board College of Law on March 1 and 2 earlier this year.”
Florida Bar President-elect Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes also congratulated the winners, noting she attended the “phenomenal” symposium and called the program a great way to expose “lawyers to board certification that may not have been exposed to the benefits” of board certification.
Willis said the symposium served as a platform for legal professionals, particularly minority attorneys, to gain insight into the importance and benefits of board certification.
“Expert speakers, engaging panel discussions, and interactive workshops were tailored to address the unique challenges faced by minority lawyers and underscored the significance of board certification in setting them apart from their fellow lawyers,” Willis said.
The collaboration between the voluntary bars not only amplified the reach of the symposium, but also underscored the collective commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the legal profession, he said.
“By emphasizing the role of certification in advancing careers and addressing contemporary challenges, the collaborative effort of these organizations effectively promoted awareness of and appreciation for board certification among legal professionals and the broader public,” Willis said.
Board certified in civil trial law herself, Baker-Barnes also congratulated the newly board-certified lawyers who received their board certification pins at the awards reception.
“It is an incredible honor to be board certified and it’s an incredible achievement, so I know there are many in this room that recently became board certified . . . so congratulations to you. It takes a lot of hard work, effort, energy, dedication, and commitment and I’m incredibly proud of all of you and you should be proud of yourselves.”
