You probably won’t find a more active group of attorneys than members of The Jacksonville Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section.
Comprising lawyers either 35 years old or younger, or those who have been in practice for fewer than five years, YLS has a full calendar of events each year including philanthropic projects, educational opportunities, networking and socializing.
“We have a lot of young energy and every year we add more events,” said Alexandria Hill, 2017-18 president and general counsel for Maple Street Biscuit Co.
The most recent project was the annual “Afternoon at the Courthouse,” which gives new attorneys the opportunity to meet judges and judicial assistants and get a behind-the-scenes look at the Duval County Courthouse — along with some CLE credit.
One of the panel discussions involved three judges who explained mistakes new attorneys sometimes make in terms of courtroom procedure.
“As a new attorney, it’s daunting stepping out. To hear judges explain the do’s and don’ts, I can hopefully avoid some of the pitfalls,” said Courtney Connor, who was sworn in to The Florida Bar in September.
“It’s good to know there is help at the courthouse and they know what we are going through,” she added.
Courtney Gaver, an associate in the Rogers Towers litigation department and chair of the event committee, said during the tour she saw areas of the courthouse that she doesn’t often visit.
“You don’t realize how big the courthouse is and how many services are available for attorneys and for the public. I don’t practice criminal law, so I hadn’t been to those courtrooms,” she said.
Hill said the next YLS project is the annual “Holidays in January,” when children who are placed in foster care between Thanksgiving and Christmas are entertained for a day at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
They go home with gifts donated by law firms that are delivered by Santa Claus.
It’s a partnership with Family Support Services of North Florida and the Northeast Florida Paralegal Association.
The annual charity cook-off at Riverside Arts Market will be scheduled in February when law firms will compete for several best chili awards, based the decision of a panel of judges.
This year, a donation will be made to the nonprofit Rethreaded.
In April, YLS will host its annual celebrity poker tournament, also to benefit a local nonprofit.
The group also sponsors an annual golf tournament, sports leagues for basketball, kickball and softball and a mentoring program for future lawyers at Raines High School.
Hill said her final year with YLS will continue to be busy.
“I’ll be sad to age out,” she said.
The Morgan & Morgan law firm is expanding its presence in Jacksonville by building-out office space on the 10th floor at SunTrust Tower Downtown.
The firm currently has offices on the 11th floor of the building at 76 Laura St. near the Jacksonville Landing.
Dav-Lin Interior Contractors Inc. is nearing completion of the $641,552 project, as well as improvements to the common area on the floor.
Morgan & Morgan did not return calls for comment.
There are two lawyer vacancies for each of the 26 Judicial Nominating Commissions. The Florida Bar has the opportunity to nominate six lawyers for each commission to Gov. Rick Scott for his appointment.
Each appointee will serve a four-year term, commencing July 1. Applicants must be members of The Florida Bar engaged in the practice of law and a resident of the territorial jurisdiction served by the commission to which the member is applying. For the 4th Judicial Circuit, that’s Clay, Duval and Nassau counties.
Commissioners are not eligible for state judicial office for vacancies filled by the JNC on which they sit for two years following completion of their term.
Applications must be submitted no later than 5:30 p.m., Jan. 3 in the executive director’s office of The Florida Bar. Screening committees of the board of governors will review all JNC applications.
Attorneys interested in applying for vacancies may download the application form from the Bar’s website, floridabar.org, or may call Bar headquarters at (850) 561-5757 to obtain the application.