Are you a new lawyer or a lawyer new to Jacksonville? If so, don’t miss this year’s “Afternoon at the Courthouse” hosted by The Jacksonville Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section.
This seminar provides a unique opportunity for lawyers to hear from and meet with judges before whom they will or currently practice, and aims to alleviate the anxieties associated with those first few trips to the Courthouse. The seminar is scheduled for 1-5 p.m. Tuesday in Courtroom A of the Duval County Courthouse and thanks to the generous support of Florida Coastal School of Law and The Florida Bar, this event, as in years past, is completely free.
As if that isn’t enough to en-
tice you, The JBA has applied for CLE credit for those attending
this seminar.
This fantastic seminar is open to all attorneys and law students in and around the Jacksonville area. The seminar is designed to introduce new lawyers and reacquaint seasoned practitioners with the Duval County Courthouse, the local judiciary and courtroom personnel, as well as provide instruction and commentary on professionalism, proper courtroom etiquette and the general professional courtesies that local lawyers abide by, making Jacksonville such a wonderful place to practice.
Whether you are looking for information on how to file a lawsuit, review a court file, attend ex parte hours or conduct research in the courthouse law library, this seminar will help you learn where to go and how to accomplish all of those things.
As in past years, The JBA is committed to being a resource for Jacksonville lawyers, encouraging its attorneys to abide by the rules of professionalism and to strive to always incorporate those rules into their day-to-day practice.
Accordingly, the seminar will feature a presentation on practicing with integrity and professionalism by Circuit Judge Frederick Tygart. Thereafter, several members of the local judiciary will perform a mock hearing skit demonstrating “what not to do in the courtroom.” Not only is this skit helpful and informative, but it is guaranteed to provide a few laughs.
Best of all, these gracious judges have agreed to field a few questions from our participants and to provide their insight and tips on proper courtroom protocol and etiquette after the skit is over.
After the mock hearing, there will be a presentation by three judicial assistants on local courtroom practices. The helpful hints offered by our judicial assistants are invaluable and not only will decrease the level of stress in your life, but also will 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.
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 Young Lawyers Section are invited to attend the reception.
The Afternoon at the Courthouse committee, consisting of Tricia Rado, David Milton and Lindsay Tygart, along with my
co-chair for the event, Michael Orr, have been working tireless-
ly to make this a memorable
event for all participants. For more information please con-
tact me at 798-7374 or e-mail [email protected].
On behalf of The YLS, we look forward to seeing you on Nov. 22!