by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Attorney Mike Freed has co-chaired the Jacksonville Bar Association’s Annual Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Seminar since its inception in 2002. This year, he is running the day-long event set for June 15 at the Wyndham that features several area attorneys and judges as guest speakers.
“I am chairing it this year after being co-chair the past five years,” said Freed, who is a member of the JBA’s board of governors.
Five years ago, attorneys Scott Makar and Bob Spohrer chaired the first Ehrlich seminar. According to Freed, the inaugural seminar was a success and attendance has steadily increased since.
“This has become the marquee trial advocacy seminar in North Florida if not the state,” said Freed.
In addition to a variety of topics, the seminar will also address the professionalism of being an attorney. Locally, professionalism is as high as anywhere in the state. When The Florida Bar releases its monthly discipline report, the list is routinely littered with attorneys from South Florida and typically void of any from the Jacksonville area. Freed said the seminar will also reinforce the necessity to keep North Florida’s discipline record as clean as possible.
“The seminar will perpetuate the professionalism that Northeast Florida is known for,” said Freed. “I have practiced in Washington, D.C. I know how good we have it here.”
Freed said as Jacksonville and its legal community grow over the years, maintaining that level of professionalism is important, but it will be challenging.
This year’s seminar will also feature a lunchtime reception honoring the late Gary Pajcic, generally regarded as one of the area’s top lawyers and most ethical attorneys.
“Raymond Ehrlich and Gary Pajcic are examples of what we all aspire to be,” said Freed.
While all attorneys, regardless of experience, will benefit from the seminar, young attorneys may find the experience the most worthwhile. Freed said the seminar is a “walk through the life of a lawsuit, from the filing to the appeal.”
This year, one of the focus points will be on collecting.
“A lot of attorneys, including me, are not experts in collections and we have to engage another counsel or refer it to another attorney,” said Freed, who is expecting around 100 to attend.
Several area judges will also speak, bringing an element and expertise that Freed says is invaluable.
“I think we all benefit. The judges will talk about what is good lawyering and what is bad lawyering,” he said. “We get to learn from the most important audience of them all — the people we argue cases before.”
JBA’s 6th Annual Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Seminar
Schedule
8:15-8:45 — Registration
8:45-9:30 — “Strategic Use of the Rules of Civil Procedure,” Speaker: Henry P. Trawick Jr. (author: “Florida Practice and Procedure”)
9:30-10:15 — “How to Not Screw Up the Record For Appeal.” Speaker: Bryan Gowdy (Former U. S. District & Circuit Court Clerk) Mills & Creed, P. A.
10:15-11:15 — “The New Wave of Electronic Discovery: Tsunami or Calm Seas.” Speaker: William F. Hamilton, Holland & Knight, Tampa
11:15 - noon — “How to Recover on Your Judgment.” Speaker: Brett P. Abner, Esq.
Noon - 1 p.m. — Lunch Reception. “Being a True Professional: Reflections on Ray Ehrlich and Gary Pajcic.” Speaker: Stephen J. Pajcic III. Sponsored by Holland & Knight, Jacksonville
1-1:50 — “Parlor Trick for the Courtroom.” Roger J. Dodd, internationally-known trial attorney, author, lecturer and consultant; Spohrer Wilner, P. A.
1:50-2:40 — “Advances in Investigative Technology.” Speaker: Sean Mullholland, Mullholland Investigation and Security Consultants
2:40-3:10 — “What You Should Know About Sovereign Immunity.” Speaker: Virginia B. Norton, City of Jacksonville Office of General Counsel
3:10-3:45 — “Handling Juries.” Speaker: Eric S. Block
3:45-5 — “Compelling Motion Practice.” Michael R. Freed — moderating a panel of state and federal judges, including The Honorable Timothy J. Corrigan and The Honorable Virginia M. Covington, United States District Judges, The Honorable Karen K. Cole, The Honorable Charles O. Mitchell, 4th Judicial Circuit Judges and The Honorable Michael Traynor, 7th Judicial Circuit Judge.
(10 Hours CLE including 2 Ethics Hours applied for attending)