Third Annual Empowered Advocacy Symposium Returns to Miami
A two-day 'powerhouse of skills, strategy, and leadership for Florida lawyers'
Panelists Florida Supreme Court Justice Renatha Francis, from the left, Judge Tanya Brinkley, Judge Rodney Smith, and Judge Fabienne Fahnestock at the 2025 Empowered Advocacy Symposium. This year's event is co-hosted by the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association, Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr., Bar Association, T.J. Reddick Bar Association, Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr., Bar Association, Sheree Davis Cunningham Black Women Lawyers Association, Haitian Lawyers Association, Caribbean Bar Association, and Bernice Gaines Dorn Black Women Lawyers Association.
On February 20-21, a two-day legal education event returns to St. Thomas University College of Law in Miami Gardens. The Third Annual Empowered Advocacy Symposium is co-hosted by the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association, Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr., Bar Association, T.J. Reddick Bar Association, Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr., Bar Association, Sheree Davis Cunningham Black Women Lawyers Association, Haitian Lawyers Association, Caribbean Bar Association, and Bernice Gaines Dorn Black Women Lawyers Association.
The Empowered Advocacy Symposium is a forum for attorneys seeking practical skills, strategic insight, and leadership development. The 2026 program features a lineup of judges, nationally recognized trial lawyers, and legal thought leaders from across the state.
This year’s Symposium offers more than 10.5 hours of General CLE credits, as well as 1 credit each for Professionalism, Ethics, and Technology. Attendees may also earn credits for Civil Trial and Criminal Trial certification credits. The program continues to intentionally highlight the value of specialization by featuring several faculty members who are Florida Bar Board Certified in Civil Trial Law, Criminal Trial Law, and City, County, and Local Government Law.
Designed for lawyers in and out of the courtroom, attendees can expect hands-on skills training, interactive mock demonstrations, and thought leadership sessions that address both the craft and business of modern advocacy. Highlights include sessions on jury selection strategy, opening statements that command attention, and mastering digital, scientific & AI-generated proof, as well as panels on leadership, credibility, career mobility, and financial strategy for thriving legal careers.
The symposium culminates with a featured plenary on The Future of Advocacy led by nationally recognized trial attorney, Tricia “C.K.” Hoffler, and a closing session focused on visibility, reputation, and influence in the modern era, featuring journalist Katie Phang and Florida Bar President Sia Baker-Barnes.
A signature feature of the program’s trial training sessions is the “Advocacy in Theory/Advocacy in Action” format, where faculty pair instruction with live demonstrations, giving attendees the opportunity to see real courtroom skills in motion. Together, the two days provide an opportunity to sharpen trial skills, while engaging in thoughtful discussion about the broader role of lawyers as leaders, specialists, and stewards of the profession.
“We created the Symposium not only to advance litigation excellence, but to elevate the advocate as a whole — in practice, strategy, leadership, and public influence,” said planning committee co-chair Orlando Sheppard. “This year’s program reflects the evolving role of lawyers in a complex legal environment and offers practical, immediately applicable insights for attorneys at every level.”
Registration is now open, and law students, bar members, and other professionals are encouraged to secure their spots early.
Event Details
- Day 1: February 20, CLE sessions from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by a networking reception at 5:30 p.m.
- Day 2: February 21, CLE sessions from 9:10 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.
- Where: St. Thomas University College of Law, Miami Gardens
- Learn More / Register: https://virgilhawkinsnba.com/event/empoweredadvocacy/
For sponsorship information, contact Brendalyn Edwards at [email protected].
