by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The next group of leaders was selected for the Jacksonville Bar Association (JBA) Young Lawyers Section (YLS) by its membership Thursday night at the Haskell Building.
Four seats were up for election as some members moved on to higher leadership roles. Immediate past President Katie Dearing of Liles Gavin was recently sworn in as a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association’s Board of Governors. Kirby Oberdorfer of Florida Coastal School of Law was sworn in as the new YLS president.
“Katie Dearing has been a great leader for the Young Lawyers section,” said Oberdorfer. “I just hope I can live up to the example she set.”
Lee Wedekind of Smith Hulsey is president-elect, Elizabeth Howard of Rogers Towers is secretary and Michael Orr of the Law Offices of Michael Fox Orr is treasurer. Incumbents Michelle Bedoya Barnett of Holland & Knight and Christian George of Liles Gavin were reelected and two attorneys from Murphy & Anderson, Brad Blair and Lindsay Tygart-Havice, are the newest members elected to the board.
County Court Judge Dawn Hudson performed the swearing in ceremony.
Board members weren’t the only winners Thursday night. Second year law student at Florida State University Patrick Bennett was awarded the James F. Bailey Jr. Scholarship, which provided him with $1,500 to use for his education.
The Young Lawyers Section is comprised of area young lawyers who are 35 years old or younger or who have been practicing less than five years. JBA/YLS is dedicated to providing a diverse array of programs and projects designed to benefit young lawyers, all members of the bar, and our community. It has created programs to benefit the community, such as the Christmas in January Project to benefit children in Foster Care, and the legal profession, “Noon in June” provides summer law interns and associates with the opportunity to learn about Jacksonville’s legal community with the assistance of YLS members who lead them on a tour of the many legal entities that are located Downtown including the Federal and Duval County Courthouses and City Hall.
For more information on the YLS go to their Web page on Facebook.
356-2466