Bradley A. Blair - Afternoon at the Courthouse
Back by popular demand, the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) of the Jacksonville Bar Association will be hosting its annual “Afternoon at the Courthouse” seminar Thursday, Oct. 8 from 1-5 p.m. in Courtroom A of the Duval County Courthouse.
This award-winning, but most importantly free, seminar is open to all attorneys and law students in Jacksonville. It is specifically geared toward new attorneys who are looking for an introduction to the Duval County Courthouse, the local judiciary and courtroom personnel, as well as proper courtroom professionalism and etiquette. Whether you are looking for guidance on how and where to file a complaint (not drafting one) or record a final judgment, learning your way around the courthouse, or perhaps searching for an inexpensive venue to tie the knot with that special person, this seminar is designed to better prepare you for practicing law in Jacksonville.
For the first time ever, this year’s seminar will include an in-depth presentation by the Honorable Lance M. Day regarding the new features and technology that we can expect to see in the future Duval County Courthouse. Also, because practicing with professionalism and integrity is vital to the practice of law, one of the highlights of the seminar will be a professionalism presentation by the Honorable Frederick B. Tygart. To top it off, a mock hearing will be performed by three local judges, with a question and answer session to follow. As in years past, the mock hearing will not only be informative, but will undoubtedly produce a few laughs. After the mock hearing, there will be a presentation by three judicial assistants on local courtroom practice and protocol. The helpful hints offered by our judicial assistants will not only decrease the level of stress in your lives and legal practices, but will also increase its longevity.
The seminar will conclude with a unique presentation on the history of the Duval County Courthouse complete with a guided tour of the courthouse. The tour will show attendees how to navigate their way around the courthouse: from the courtrooms to the judges’ chambers and to the civil and county filing rooms. There can be no worse feeling than not knowing where to go the day of your first hearing, except being ill prepared for that hearing.
All attendees will be provided with a variety of materials covering local administrative orders, discovery practice in Florida State Courts and additional helpful practice materials. As in years past, the YLS has applied for CLE credit for the seminar.
Following the seminar, a reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. All Afternoon at the Courthouse attendees, the local judiciary and members of the YLS are invited to attend the reception. Please take advantage of this great opportunity to meet and mingle with your local judiciary and colleagues. Before you know it, you will be practicing before and with them.
The Afternoon at the Courthouse committee, of Patrick Kilbane, Eileen LaCivita, Esther Erkan, Jessica Fagen and Lindsay Tygart-Havice, has been working tirelessly to make this a memorable event for all attendees. The YLS would also like to extend its gratitude to Florida Coastal School of Law and Riley Reporting & Associates, Inc. for their support, which allows the YLS to offer the seminar at no cost to attendees. To attend the seminar, please RSVP no later than Oct. 2. To RSVP or for additional information, please contact me at (904) 598-9282 or [email protected]. On behalf of the Young Lawyers Section of the Jacksonville Bar Association, we look forward to seeing you on Thursday, Oct. 8!