The JBA Young Lawyers Section President-elect Michael Orr
On Thursday, June 16, Downtown Jacksonville got a break from the wildfire smoke and provided a warm welcome to more than 50 law clerks arriving at The Carling just before lunchtime.
“Noon in June,” an annual event put on by The JBA Young Lawyers Section, kicked off with lunch from Burrito Gallery. This year, attendees included a mix of rising second- and third-year law students as well as young attorneys.
Local law schools such as Florida Coastal and the University of Florida were well represented, as were local Jacksonvillians studying out of the area that came back to their hometown to work for the summer.
Representatives from more than 15 private law firms and various government offices took part.
Outgoing JBA Young Lawyers Section President Lee Wedekind welcomed the attendees with words of encouragement, listing the many perks of YLS membership.
Wedekind explained that attorneys who are members of The JBA and are under 35 years of age or within their first five years of practice are automatically a part of the YLS.
One of the ways The JBA directly supports its Young Lawyers Section is by a mentorship that pairs lawyers in their 1st-4th year of practice with attorneys with at least 10 years of experience.
The JBA President Michael Freed praised the City of Jacksonville as a community with enthusiastic attorneys and nonattorneys who work together to benefit each other and the City.
Daily Record Publisher Jim Bailey, a great community leader who has worked closely with The JBA over the years, distributed a scholarship to a law student who exhibited great commitment to the Jacksonville legal community.
Next, local attorney Alexandria Hill led the scores of law clerks to the federal courthouse where U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas E. Morris showcased different aspects of the courthouse, ranging from the law library and the clerk’s office to the courtrooms’ technologically advanced capabilities and individual jail cells (which the attendees took turns exploring, vowing never to enter a courtroom through that door again).
By mid-afternoon, Hill was leading the group to Jacksonville City Hall for an hour with State Attorney Angela Corey, Public Defender Matt Shirk and Mayor-Elect Alvin Brown.
Corey and Shirk described their last trial together as a truly civil experience with each other due to their mutual respect and cooperation. Both also shared hiring advice, including cleaning up and making private one’s online social network sites.
Brown gave an inspirational story of his climb to his newly elected position and dedication to public service and left attendees with three words of advice — “Do your best.”
On its last stop on the tour, the group visited Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and heard from advocates in various areas who explained the trials and tribulations associated with different areas of need as well as some of the most fulfilling moments as an advocate helping those in need.
“Noon in June” ended with happy hour back at The Carling as The JBA YLS Annual Meeting began. At the YLS annual meeting, Christian George, Lindsay Tygart and Eric Roberson were re-elected to their positions on the YLS Board. Renee Maxey of Holland & Knight won the contested seat.
Lee Wedekind was thanked for his fantastic year of leadership and Elizabeth Howard was welcomed as the new YLS president.