Ten years in, The Florida Bar reflects, reorganizes, and looks ahead
'Under the guidance of our able assistant counsel in Miami, the Eleventh Circuit office is functioning efficiently, although many hours of voluntary overtime have been required. We believe the entire grievance program is moving without any unnecessary delay or expense.'
As The Florida Bar marks its 75th year in 2025-2026, we’re looking back at the milestones, personalities, and aspirations that shaped the modern unified Bar. This week, we revisit 1960, the year the organization celebrated its 10th anniversary and took stock of just how far it had come in its first decade.
The November 1960 Florida Bar Journal opened that anniversary issue with a short reflection on the Bar’s early progress and the expectations that accompanied its growing role in the profession and in public life. That same issue also featured a candid and forward-looking assessment from Executive Director Paul B. Comstock. Writing at a time when the unified Bar was still defining its identity, Comstock detailed the evolution of the headquarters office, the expanding responsibilities of Bar staff, and the ambitions that were already taking shape for education, governance, public service, and professional development.
As part of our anniversary series, we present Comstock’s column in full, offering a window into the priorities and challenges of the Bar at the close of its first decade — and a reminder of how many of the goals he outlined would grow into defining elements of the organization’s next 65 years.
Here is Comstock’s 1960 column as it originally appeared:
Executive Director's Report
The Challenge of the Future
by Paul B. Comstock
IN THIS, THE TENTH year of The Florida Bar, a report is in order both on the development of the headquarters office and the role that the executive director has come to play in your professional organization. The executive director is, of course, the professional administrator of the Bar, but he must be more than this. In fact, he can be no less than the right hand of the president and a constant counsellor for the Board of Governors. He serves ex officio as treasurer, editor, and public relations officer, but most of these functions must be committed to the hands of other staff members.
Paul B. Comstock
Some 14 men and women comprise the headquarters staff. All are dedicated to the service of the public through the programs of The Florida Bar. Make no mistake: they view their work as no mere job or means of gaining a livelihood. Among these dedicated personnel, our legal counsel is assisting the Grievance Committees, volunteer counsel and referees in administering the grievance and (ethics programs with fairness, vigor and exactitude. Under the guidance of our able assistant counsel in Miami, the Eleventh Circuit office is functioning efficiently, although many hours of voluntary overtime have been required. We believe the entire grievance program is moving without any unnecessary delay or expense.
Our editorial staff demonstrates skill and ability, producing a publication of national reputation with perhaps one-quarter the number of personnel required in the production of many similar professional magazines. In like manner, members of our staff have developed skills in the field of public information to the end that we can provide true professional counselling and service for our committees on public relations and American citizenship and for other projects of the Bar. The Florida Bar is making optimum use of television, radio, press and direct contact as media for our information programs. The assistance rendered to the Appellate Courts Committee in the campaign for Amendment No. 1 is an example of the imagination and skill required in guiding live and filmed TV programs as well as all other media of contact with the public. Staff service for our other programs is of equally high quality. For example, legal forms and worksheets now in preparation will increase the number in circulation by 100%. While they are entirely the product of a qualified committee, even these superb drafts are subjected to final editorial scrutiny in the office before publication.
Legal Education Administrator
Recently the Board of Governors made provision on our staff for a full-time administrator of continuing legal education, and the executive director has given high priority to establishment of this office. No effort has been spared in preparation for the program. The administrator and the committee he serves will have an adequate suite of offices, mechanical equipment, use of a film library, authority to travel to out-of-state educational centers, and the support of the entire Bar organization. Substantial progress has also been made in the assembly of draft course materials which are to be the basis of a new program of legal publications.
We believe the administration of your headquarters office is efficient but we strive for further improvement. Certainly no small office could be more highly mechanized. Every possible activity has been reduced to a machine operation, but in final analysis each record and publication is reviewed by responsible staff people. With reference to our fiscal administration, no funds are ever obligated unless first appropriated by the Board of Governors; no disbursement is made unless prior authorization exists in writing; a written record is kept of every disbursement; an annual audit is accomplished by an independent firm of certified public accountants.
Our office enjoys excellent relations with all judicial, legislative and executive officers of the state as well as with the press, other associations, and the public at large. These relationships are built upon politeness, fairness and absolute integrity.
Challenge of Greater Progress
During the course of my tenure we have tried to perfect our programs and regularize our procedures while, at the same time, avoiding the mortmain of bureaucracy. Under the leadership of able presidents we have not permitted The Florida Bar to make any foolish mistakes which might be forgiven a lesser or unofficial association. With all of our care and conservatism, we believe we have kept pace with our members in imagination and experiment. We have made no little plans. We have not yet failed to achieve a great one. The Florida Bar has just accomplished a wave of progress. In my opinion, we may expect greater progress in the future. The implementation of the Foundation, the attainment of professional status for the continuing legal education program, and the construction of a spacious headquarters building are clearly visible goals. The Florida Bar Foundation could well have as its goal the collection of several million dollars to be devoted to assistance for our law schools, scholarships for gifted law students, education of the younger lawyers, and research in the economic status of the profession in Florida.
I believe in the greatness of The Florida Bar. I believe we have a destiny far greater than our past. Our country leads the free world and our fellow citizens look to us as lawyers for evolution of just and democratic processes in this generation’s epic struggle against despotism. The Florida Bar holds a position of leadership in the legal profession of America. Ours, therefore, is a call to greatness which we dare not fail to heed.
(Editor’s Note: As The Florida Bar continues to celebrate its 75th year, we are reflecting on the milestones, people, and progress that have shaped the profession since the historic integration of the Bar in 1950. Throughout the celebration, The Florida Bar News is featuring stories that highlight key moments in our shared history — and we want to hear from you.
If you have memories, reflections, or personal stories about the practice of law in Florida, we invite you to share them. Selected submissions may be featured in upcoming editions of The Florida Bar News. Please email your recollections to [email protected].)
