from staff
At a recent meeting of The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors, there were many things on the agenda. The future of the Bar was one of those items.
Ensuring that the judicial system is independent and adequately funded, improving the public perception of the legal system, ensuring access to the courts and legal services, and bettering services to members will be the top priorities of The Florida Bar in the coming years.
The Board of Governors recently ratified the recommendations of its Strategic Planning Committee to guide Bar operations for 2007-10. The committee met in a retreat last November to review the Bar’s strategic plan, current issues and operations, trends, and expected challenges.
The Strategic Planning Committee is made up of the Bar’s Executive Committee plus the vice chairs of the Legislation, Budget, and Communications committees (the chairs of those panels are automatic Executive Committee members) and the chair and vice chair of the Program Evaluation Committee. The planning panel is chaired by the Bar’s president-elect, Frank Angones, who will be sworn in as Bar president in June.
“The Bar has come to realize that most projects take longer than one year to accomplish; therefore, it takes several presidents and several boards of governors to address them,” Angones said. “The strategic plan helps us identify issues, get ready for them, and address them over time.”
Here’s a look at the four main recommendations from the Strategic Planning Committee, along with the reasons for adopting the goal and what the committee hopes to accomplish with that recommendation:
• Ensure the judicial system is independent and adequately funded. Committee members noted the judicial branch is vulnerable; attacks on it are likely to continue; and the third branch will depend on the Bar to protect its interests. Ways to accomplish that goal will include responding to unjust criticism of judges; supporting the new Justice Teaching initiative; using “fair and impartial” when referring to the judiciary instead of “judicial independence,” which can be misunderstood by the public; creating an oversight system for judicial elections; and keeping open lines of communication with the governor and legislature.
• Promote the legal profession and improve the public perception of lawyers. Although it can be difficult to measure, committee members felt that Bar members expect the Bar to make this a priority. Education is a major way to improve public knowledge about and appreciation of the legal system, and the Bar can work with local bars to place stories showing the good works of lawyers and the judicial system.
• Ensure access to the courts and the availability of legal services. The committee found that the rising cost of legal services means more citizens are doing without and looking for alternatives, including pro se representation. Solutions include seeking more funding for legal aid and the state Civil Legal Assistance Act, looking at the feasibility of a statewide mid-cost legal services panel system, and encouraging lawyers to provide pro bono services as well as affordable services for moderate income clients.
• Strengthen The Florida Bar’s position with its members. Committee members felt since the Bar is a complex organization and its members are diverse and typically pressed for time, there is a lack of understanding of what the Bar does and can do for its members. Actions include continuing to promote diversity in the Bar, following recommendations of the Special Commission on Lawyer Regulation to improve the discipline system, and improving the Bar’s Web site as a communication and service delivery tool for members. The committee found the Bar has an opportunity to offer improved services in legal research, marketing, and solutions related to problems in specific practice areas.
Related to that fourth goal, the committee said the Bar should work to implement the recommendations of the Special Commission on Lawyer Regulation and find ways to help attorneys improve their practices, prepare them for changes in the legal system, and enhance their enjoyment with practicing law.