by YLS Board of Governors member Lindsay Tygart-Havice
What a fantastic time of year it is! Fall is here, football season is well under way, and the Young Lawyers Section of The Jacksonville Bar Association is hosting its annual Afternoon at the Courthouse seminar from 1-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 23, in Courtroom A of the Duval County Courthouse.
This award-winning seminar is open to all attorneys and law students in Jacksonville. It is designed to introduce Jacksonville’s new lawyers and reacquaint seasoned practitioners with the Duval County Courthouse, the local judiciary and courtroom personnel, as well as provide instruction on professionalism and proper courtroom etiquette.
Whether you are looking to file a lawsuit, review a court file, attend ex parte or do research in the law library, this seminar will help you learn where to go to do all of these things. And the most important thing about this seminar is that it is free to all participants!
In the past several years, The Jacksonville Bar Association has put a large emphasis on teaching Jacksonville lawyers the rules of professionalism and how to implement those rules into their practice.
These vital lessons will also be presented in this seminar through a presentation on professionalism by my favorite judge on the bench, the Honorable Frederick B. Tygart.
There will also be a mock hearing where several members of the local judiciary will perform a skit of what not to do in the courtroom. Not only is this skit helpful and informative, but it is guaranteed to provide a few laughs.
Last year, we were fortunate to have the Honorable Charles W. Arnold, the Honorable Hugh A. Carithers and the Honorable Angela M. Cox participate in our mock hearing and each of their performances showed true comedic genius. These gracious judges also fielded questions from our participants and provided tips on courtroom protocol and etiquette.
After the mock hearing, there will be a presentation by three judicial assistants on local courtroom practices. These helpful hints offered by our judicial assistants will not only decrease the level of stress in your life, but will also increase its longevity.
The seminar will also include a unique presentation on the history of the Duval County Courthouse, complete with a guided tour. The tour will show participants how to navigate their way around the courthouse; from the clerk’s office to the judges’ chambers to the most popular spot in the courthouse, the mezzanine floor.
Each participant will be provided with a variety of materials, including copies of local administrative orders, contact information for judges, judicial assistants and courthouse personnel, an updated certified mediator list, and an array of additional documents relating to foreclosures and discovery practice in Florida. This year, as in years past, the YLS has applied for CLE credit for attending this seminar.
Immediately following the seminar, a reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. All Afternoon at the Courthouse participants, the local judiciary and members of the YLS are invited to attend the reception.
The Afternoon at the Courthouse committee, consisting of Tricia Rado, David Milton, Esther Erkan, Eileen LaCavita, and Renee Maxey, along with my co-chair for the event, Christian George, have been working tirelessly to make this a memorable event for all participants.
To attend the seminar, please RSVP no later than Nov. 16. To RSVP or for sponsorship information, please contact me at (904) 598-9282 or e-mail [email protected].
On behalf of the YLS, we look forward to seeing you on Nov. 23!