The Jacksonville Bar Association President-elect Michael Freed
As I embark on leading The Jacksonville Bar Association for the next 12 months, my enthusiasm is tempered to some extent by my trepidation over the volume of extreme criticisms, even attacks, that I must anticipate over each change, tweak and new initiative that we implement during my year at the helm.
You might be thinking, “surely Freed is being paranoid — our members would not level extreme criticism or attacks on the all-volunteer JBA board of governors and its president!” As any of the JBA past presidents will assure you, however, my anticipation is not unfounded.
Do you know how many member resignation threats and ultimatums that we receive each year? Me neither, at least not with precision, but there are quite a few. During the Dan Bean year, for example, I personally received several after each monthly luncheon over DKB’s attempts at humor.
We get regular ultimatums over the food quality at meetings; threats calling for us to resign if we do and/or do not conduct a judicial survey; complaints when we take a position on an issue and complaints when we don’t; attacks when we include benedictions at meetings and attacks when benedictions are “too watered down”; complaints when we invite guest speakers who are controversial and complaints when we do not.
Suffice to say, I am prepared to be on the receiving end for the next 12 months. (I have been thickening my skin by training with my five children and by managing a firm of lawyers, to name just two of my complaint-laden hobbies.)
I am not suggesting for a minute that members do not have the right to complain — after all, it is your association, not the president’s or the board of governors’.
Indeed, many of the improvements that The JBA has implemented over the years have emanated from member complaints. What I humbly ask, though, is that you let me know now — while I can do something about it — what concerns you have, and, if possible, offer a solution.
To assist you, let me lay out a few of the changes, tweaks and initiatives that are at least being considered for the year (in addition to the many traditional events, benefits and activities that I hope simply to not screw up).
1. Mentorship. We need it now more than ever. The number of lawyers in Northeast Florida is growing rapidly while there is a sharp decline in that number joining firms at which they can be mentored to achieve the high level of professionalism and competence expected of Jacksonville lawyers. Regrettably, there is no reason to expect this trend to change. We can continue to maintain our well-earned reputation as one of the most professional legal communities in the nation only through a deliberate plan of mentorship.
If feasible, I would like to see every lawyer with four years or less of experience practicing in our community to be paired with a lawyer, outside of their own firm, with 10 or more years of experience. Our judges regularly report concerns about the decline in professionalism, particularly of many younger sole practitioners appearing before them. Litigating against such lawyers is unnecessarily unpleasant and expensive. We can and should turn this around through mentorship. I welcome your support, suggestions, and participation on this initiative that, I believe, is one of the most important we can pursue to perpetuate the high level of professionalism and collegiality that we have been blessed to achieve in our community.
2. Pro Bono Service. We have a great tradition of providing free legal service to those in need. We need to build on that during this time of unprecedented need. Several initiatives that we will be pursuing on this front are (i) tapping the often-neglected transactional attorneys to represent clients on meaningful pro bono matters; (ii) unveiling a state court program (like the thriving federal court program) to appoint attorneys to represent pro bono litigants on certain select cases where the interests of justice and efficiency would best be served by such an appointment; (iii) utilizing pro bono opportunities as platforms for mentorship; and (iv) otherwise increasing pro bono participation of attorneys who historically have been uninvolved. If any of these initiatives or others in this area pique your interest, please let me hear from you.
3. Diversity. It is time to celebrate the multitude of cultures, traditions and experiences of the members of our association that mirrors the diversity of our community. While credentials, familiarity, relationships and pedigree remain important, we no longer are simply a “good ole boys” network. We cannot afford to be.
The needs and demands of our professional and our community call for creative, practical and sensitive problem-solving. These can result only through the active participation and input from all stakeholders and those who have been exposed to experiences and challenges beyond those of any particular demographic. This is not about political correctness; it is about valuing, including and attracting the best and the brightest from all walks of life. How do we do this? Well, I am not certain. Perhaps we feature our diversity in the Bar Bulletin; or we have a “Bollywood” or other themed social event instead or in addition to our more traditional black-tie socials; maybe we invite guest speakers who come not to preach to the converted but to expose us to ideas or views that are contrary to our established ideas or views. Will this ruffle some feathers (and generate some complaints)? Sure, but I genuinely believe that the results will be well worth it.
4. Meetings. What do you think about moving one or more of our meetings out of Downtown — to Southpoint or the Beaches or one of the other parts of Jacksonville more accessible to the many lawyers who do not practice Downtown? I already can hear the collective grumbling of my fellow Downtown lawyers, and I understand that grumbling. But the reality is, if we do not continue to reach out to lawyers outside of Downtown, we will risk losing them.
5. Mental Health. After the medical community itself, mental health issues impact the legal system more than any other part of society. Some people come into the legal system because of mental health issues and many experience mental health issues because of their interaction with the legal system, particularly in the areas of criminal and family law.
Lawyers need to be more knowledgeable about, and sensitive to, the variety and impact of mental diseases and conditions, and available resources so that we can better serve our clients and the justice system itself. Does this sound like a worthwhile initiative to you? Do you have contacts in the medical community that we should tap into to explore how best to implement this initiative? I welcome your input.
6. Bar Sections. How about reinvigorating certain sections that have not, of late, produced the levels of networking, collegiality, programs and outreach that our thriving sections have? Do you have ideas for jump-starting or improving a section of which you are a part or have thought about joining? Now is the time!
7. Transactional Attorneys. Our association, like most Bars, is litigator-focused. We need to increase our relevancy to transactional attorneys. One clear way to do this is to host a top quality seminar for transactional attorneys comparable to the Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Seminar, which has become one of the hallmarks of our association. What else can we do to better serve transactional attorneys? I am privileged to have Ray Driver, one of the finest transactional attorneys in town, as my president-elect. With his support and yours, I know we can improve in this area.
The bottom line is this: I genuinely welcome your input, insights, ideas, solutions and even complaints. Let me have it, preferably sooner rather than later. I look forward to working with and serving each of you over the next 12 months.
My contact information is: [email protected], Brennan Manna & Diamond at Signet Center, 800 W. Monroe St., Jacksonville FL 32202, (904) 366-1504.