by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
There are plenty of jokes that poke fun at the way lawyers do business. But to Jake Schickel and Grier Wells, their job is no laughing matter — it’s an honor.
Both attorneys were elected to The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors by their peers in the Fourth Circuit that includes Duval, Nassau and Clay counties.
“It’s a great honor, but also a great responsibility,” said Wells, who is with Gray Robinson. “One thing I try to keep in my focus during my tenure is to be aware of, and concerned about, issues that directly affect the practicing lawyers as a member of the Florida Bar. It’s been perceived that we are a sort of elitist group and that we’re out advancing elitist causes. But that’s not the case at all.”
Schickel, partner at Coker Schickel Sorenson & Daniel, admits his beloved profession has “taken some hits” in the past. But he admires the role the Board of Governors has to improve the image of lawyers — “to prove the profession is great,” he said. Schickel also sees serving on the Board as a way to give back to the community.
The 52-member Board of Governors has exclusive authority to formulate and adopt matters of policy concerning the activities of the Bar, subject to limitations imposed by the rules regulating The Florida Bar.
The Board meets bimonthly at different locations around the state — occasionally out of state — to consider the needs and interests of the membership, including developing programs to help with lawyer image, responsibilities and benefits.
The incoming president decides the locations of Board meetings.
The Board has several sections and committees that review issues of the legal community, including disciplinary reviews.
“In any given meeting there are 5-15 disciplinary matters. We make recommendations to the full Board of Governors. If we are going to undertake a program, we debate it using research compiled by Bar staff,” said Wells, who is the co-chair of the Disciplinary Review Committee.
“There’s a lot done for lawyers and a lot done to lawyers. A few bad ones are an embarrassment to all,” said Schickel, adding that he was initially surprised by how much time was spent on disciplines.
The two lawyers balance their time between other committees, also. Wells said Board members or their firm pay all expenses.
“The Bar doesn’t pay for it,” he said.
Wells is a member of the Program Evaluation Committee and was elected by other Board of Governors to sit on the Executive Committee for the past year — his term ends this month.
The Executive Committee is made up of four committee chairpersons, two appointments by the incoming president, three elected members of the Board of Governors, the president and the president-elect.
“I was elected by attorneys in the Fourth Circuit to be a representative, but I see that I am a representative not only to lawyers in the Circuit, but also to lawyers in the state. And in certain respects we represent the general public,” said Wells. “I enjoy it even though it does take my time. It has been an enriching and rewarding experience.”
Wells is also the section board liaison to the Labor and Employment Law section. He also sits on the Client’s Security Fund Committee as well as the newly formed Animal Law section.
Wells’ term ends next year and he’s debating whether to run again. He has been approached by several Board members to run for president of The Florida Bar, but he says it’s still too far down the road.
“Being a member of the Board of Governors is a great honor,” said Schickel. “The lawyers of the Fourth Circuit elected me to be their representative. The only greater honor is to be president of The Florida Bar.”
Schickel was elected to the Bar’s Board of Governors last March and said he’ll stay on for another term, then relinquish the position.
He sits on the Admiralty and Maritime Law Certification Committee as well as the Admiralty Law Committee.
“The benefits of being on the Board of Governors are to try and help the lawyers of our Circuit,” said Schickel. “We also are able to interact with some great attorneys throughout the state of Florida.”