From left, members of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers Michelle Coughlin, Susan Warner, Jennifer Shoaf Richardson, Lara Bach and Kyleen Hinkle.
Richardson, an attorney in the Jacksonville office of Jackson Lewis and immediate past president of FAWL, accompanied by her colleagues presented oral argument to the state Supreme Court on Aug. 27.
The association is in favor of a proposal for Rule 2.570 of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.
If adopted, it would allow for mandatory continuances in civil trial proceedings, with client consent, for parental leave requests from lead counsel.
“The advancement of women as professionals is directly implicated by this rule,” Richardson said in her argument.
The Florida Bar Board of Governors also is in unanimous support of the proposal.