This year, I have the honor to serve as the inaugural chair of The Jacksonville Bar Association Practicing with Professionalism Section with Vice Chair Stacy Watson May.
This newly created section comprises several diverse committees that offer services to The JBA members, including the Bench & Bar Professionalism Committee, the Client Dispute Resolution Committee, the Diversity Committee, the Judicial Relations Committee and the Mentoring Committee.
Following is an overview of each committee of the section. The respective committees have been diligently working on the following projects or programs for this year:
1. Bench & Bar Professionalism Committee.
This committee is chaired by longtime committee member Karen Millard.
This year, the Bench & Bar Professionalism committee is focused on planning The JBA Professionalism Symposium that will be in August. It also will work with the Mentoring Committee to create new programs for mentors and mentees and implement a professionalism guidance program in conjunction with the 4th Circuit judiciary.
2. Client Dispute Resolution Committee.
Tim Boyd and Scott Fortune are again co-chairing the Client Dispute Resolution committee this year, following several years of distinguished service as committee members.
This committee was created years ago to assist The JBA members in resolving informal complaints clients may have. When a client contacts The JBA to complain about one of its members, the client is referred to a committee member who works with the client and lawyer to resolve the complaint. The committee's primary priority is educating The JBA members about the resolution services offered by the committee and strategies for avoiding common complaints clients make against their lawyers.
The Client Dispute Resolution committee will provide informative presentations about the committee's work and expertise at the Raymond Ehrlich seminar and the professionalism symposium next year.
3. Diversity Committee.
Latasha Garrison-Fullwood is the chair of the Diversity Committee this year.
The committee is busy planning the forthcoming "Diverse Approaches to Legal Business Development" symposium, which will take place from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Hyatt Downtown following The JBA monthly luncheon.
The diversity symposium will feature several outstanding presentations, including:
• A panel discussion regarding the business, community and systemic benefits of diversifying workforces, headlined by luncheon speaker Karol Corbin Walker, president of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, and moderated by past The JBA President Mike Freed.
• Marketing to diverse audiences by Ken Matejka, a California attorney and president of an online marketing company for lawyers.
• The "Rooney Rule" by Sashi Brown, general counsel for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• A workshop on cultural competency facilitated by Cal Jackson.
• Diversity in the workplace by Juan Diaz.
In addition to planning the symposium, the committee is developing new diversity programs for The JBA members.
4. Judicial Relations Committee.
Gil Feltel, a longtime committee member, is chairing the Judicial Relations Committee.
The committee is sponsoring the traditional Sidebar Luncheons with local judges that began in 2007. The luncheons provide great value to The JBA members by enriching the relationships between judges and attorneys.
The goals of the luncheons are to provide attorneys a chance to meet in an informal setting to engage in a direct conversation with judges, and to improve communication and professionalism. The luncheons always involve discussion of important practice and procedure topics.
Topics have included the legal authority needed at hearings, communications needed among opposing counsel, filing procedures in civil cases, how paperless files affect courtroom procedure, the use of email communication with the judges and their assistants and keeping the court informed of important developments in cases such as settlement.
In addition to the luncheons, the Judicial Relations Committee will coordinate a panel program for the upcoming professionalism symposium.
5. Mentoring Committee.
This committee is chaired by former Young Lawyers Section President and Florida Bar YLS representative Kevin Cook. The Mentoring Committee is creating mentor/mentee pairings for interested The JBA members.
In addition to its traditional function of creating mentor pairings, the committee this year is examining ways to expand and enhance the The JBA Mentoring program.
In addition to the programs and projects discussed above, the various committees of the Practicing with Professionalism section are collaborating to develop new programs and networking opportunities for The JBA members.
If you are interested in serving on any of these committees or volunteering for these projects, please contact me at [email protected].