by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
The Judicial Assistants Association of Florida will meet in Ocala Jan. 22 to discuss the universal issues currently surrounding their profession. A major point of contention, said JAA president Beverly Hamilton, is controversy surrounding just how much money they make.
“Recently, the office of court administration conducted a salary survey for judicial assistants,” said Hamilton. “They concluded that our salaries are not competitive with that of the private sector. Basically, we’re very underpaid and any judge will verify that.” Judicial assistants are paid by the Florida State Court System.
Hamilton, who has worked in the legal field for over 30 years, noted that, on average in Florida, JAs earn approximately nine percent less than the legal assistants who are employed by private practices.
“It’s very discouraging,” she said. “I make less now as a judicial assistant than I did when I was working privately over seven years ago for the same man.”
Hamilton followed Circuit Court Judge Peter Fryefield into the courts after he left his practice and has been with him for 15 years.
“We got a two percent raise last year,” she added.
The JAA, which has functioned as an information resource rather than a union for 12 years, meets twice annually for its educational conferences hosted by rotating circuits. When a conference has concluded, a lobbyist paid for by the JAA will go to Tallahassee in an attempt to get results. This time, they are seeking the implementation of a cost adjustment.
“When you take this job,” said Hamilton, “no one gives you a handbook telling you what your duties and responsibilities will be. You learn from other JAs and at our conferences. It’s great getting together with other assistants.”
Hamilton asserted that if not for loyalty and a love for the career among her colleagues, many more would take jobs in the private sector to increase their income. She also speculated that more men do not pursue careers as JAs for the same reason. There are only two employed in the entire state.
“I truly enjoy what I do,” said Hamilton. “I’ve made a lot of great friends and it’s a very interesting field. But we need to try to keep up with the private sector or we’re going to lose our judicial assistants. Two have left in the past year for that very reason. Jacksonville is very fortunate to have the caliber of judicial assistants that it does.”