by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The leadership of the 1,000-member strong Young Lawyers Section of the Jacksonville Bar Association changed hands Thursday when Geddes Anderson Jr. took over for Troy Smith. In theory, the job is the second-most important volunteer Bar job in town, right behind being president of the Jacksonville Bar.
Anderson is a litigation attorney and a partner in the law firm of Murphy & Anderson. The Greenwood, S.C. native plans to continue what those before him have done — help promote the profession and instill the community obligation aspect of being a lawyer in the younger generation of attorneys.
“My main goal is to promote the good works of lawyers in the community,” said Geddes, who went to the University of Florida for both his undergraduate degree as well as his law degree. “That community service is through the project we do. The biggest, money-wise, is our annual golf tournament that benefits certain charities. Each year, we have raised over $20,000.”
Proceeds from the first tournament went to daniel while this year’s event raised $23,000 for the I.M. Sulzbacher Center.
Geddes, like others before him, got involved in the officer level of YLS because he enjoys the leadership facet.
“It’s a good way to give back to the profession,” said Geddes, who ended up in Jacksonville after clerking for the Bedell firm one summer. “It’s not a paid position.”
History shows that not all YLS presidents go on to become officers or the president of the JBA, but some have. Alan Pickert, immediate-past president of the JBA, said being president of YLS was beneficial as leader of the JBA.
“I know YLS introduced me to the concept of, as a young lawyer, that you should volunteer your time,” said Pickert of the Terrell Hogan law firm. He said working with the local Special Olympics, the Holiday in January project and the legal intake program at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid opened his eyes. “Those were three concepts totally foreign to me until after I was in YLS. It indoctrinated me as to what to do as a lawyer in general. I think it’s a very worthwhile organization and I got a lot out of it.”
Smith said he enjoyed his year as YLS president and, despite it being a lot of work, advised Anderson to do the same.
“I’d tell him to just enjoy his year as president because it goes by quickly,” said Smith, who is with Rogers Towers.