For many Northeast Floridians, the arrival of summer means hot weather, children out of school, time at the beach, Suns games, picnics, and fireworks on July 4. In the Jacksonville legal community, summer also brings law students eager to gain practical legal experience as clerks and interns to area law firms and government or social service agencies. But these law students are not just here to research legal issues, learn how to draft pleadings and contracts, and decide which type of practice best suits them. They also want to learn about Jacksonville, especially our legal community and downtown legal district, and get to know the other summer clerks and interns who will soon be their fellow attorneys.
In 2008, the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) of the Jacksonville Bar Association (JBA) launched what it hoped would become an annual tradition: “Noon in June,” an event on the first Wednesday in June. Thanks to the leadership of YLS Board member Michelle Bedoya Barnett, the first Noon in June was a huge success. Dozens of law clerks and interns gathered together to meet their counterparts at other firms and agencies and discover both downtown and the legal community. It was a fantastic afternoon, and Michelle and “Noon in June” team members like Kim Law and Lanesha Sims deserve great credit for launching this event in the right direction. Their efforts were recognized by the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, which honored Noon in June as the Membership Service Project of the Year.
While it is always challenging to make the sequel to a summer blockbuster, “Noon in June” is back in 2009 to benefit a new class of summer clerks and interns. The second annual event will take place on Wednesday, June 3 starting at noon in Downtown Jacksonville. After a lunch where law students will get to know each other and learn more about the JBA, YLS, and Greater Jacksonville community, participants will tour the U.S. District Courthouse, visit City Hall to hear from local government leaders, and meet with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) to learn about the important services that legal aid attorneys and advocates provide to the community. The day will end with students gathering for a late afternoon social event at a downtown location and then, if they so choose, exploring the First Wednesday ArtWalk.
Last year, many of the student participants left “Noon in June” excited by the opportunity to practice law on the First Coast. They had a new set of friends and colleagues, a better understanding of our uniquely collegial legal community, and a deeper appreciation of Jacksonville, especially downtown, and all that it offers. Our goal for 2009 is to expand those positive experiences so that even more prospective attorneys receive a head start on joining the Northeast Florida community.
If your law firm or government or social services agency plans to have law students working as summer associates or interns, we urge you to give them an afternoon to participate in the 2009 “Noon in June” event. Please e-mail Program Chair Chris Hand at [email protected] or Program Co-Chair Pat Kilbane at [email protected] to reserve spots for your summer clerks and interns, and we’ll provide more details about participation. The registration deadline for this year’s event will be on Friday, May 22.
Enter it into Outlook or write it on your wall calendar, but please mark the date: the Second Annual “Noon in June” will be Wednesday, June 3 at noon. Please make plans to have your summer clerks or interns join us in Downtown Jacksonville for a sequel that should not be missed.