JBA Bench and Bar Professionalism Committee Chair Mark Bajalia
Last year, with the support of The JBA Board of Governors, the Bench and Bar Professionalism Committee established The JBA Professionalism Award.
The award is given annually at The JBA’s year-end luncheon. Jake Schickel received the award in 2010.
Nominations for the award are now open and there is a link to the nomination form at The JBA website.
The Bench and Bar Professionalism Committee will be accepting nominations through April 30 and the recipient of the award will be announced at the June luncheon, during which the new officers will be sworn in as well.
The purpose, eligibility and criteria for the award are outlined here.
Purpose:
• To reinforce and communicate the ideals of lawyer professionalism among our members through an annual professionalism award that recognizes attorneys for their professionalism and dedication in practicing law with integrity, honor and civility and to increase membership and participation in the Professionalism Committee.
Eligibility:
• Member of The Jacksonville Bar Association.
• Actively engaged in the practice of law.
• Not currently seeking elective office.
• Not a previous recipient of The Jacksonville Bar Association Professionalism Award.
Criteria:
The recipient of the award should:
• Maintain a high level of professional demeanor.
• Possess integrity, honesty and civility.
• Show consideration and cooperation.
• Exhibit fairness.
In addition, the following criteria should be considered in selecting the recipient:
• A commitment to serve others.
• Being dedicated to the proper use of one’s knowledge to promote a fair and just result.
• Endeavoring always to en-hance one’s knowledge and skills.
• Ensuring that concern for the desired result does not subvert fairness, honesty, respect and courtesy for others with whom one comes into contact, be they fellow professionals, clients, opponents, public officials, including members of the judiciary or the public.
• Contributing one’s skill, knowledge and influence as a lawyer to further the profession’s commitment to serving others and to promoting the public good, including efforts to provide all persons, regardless of their means or popularity of their causes, with access to the law and the judicial system.
• Educating the public about the capabilities and limits of the profession, specifically what it can achieve and the appropriate methods of obtaining those results
• Accepting responsibility for one’s own professional conduct as well as others in the profession, including inculcating a desire to uphold professional standards and fostering peer regulation to ensure each member is competent and public-spirited.
If you would like to submit a nomination, you can send it to [email protected]. There are many outstanding lawyers in our community, and this award is a great way to recognize those members of The JBA who embody and embrace the ideals of professionalism and who practice law with integrity, honor and civility.