On Aug. 23, The Jacksonville Bar Association and Florida Coastal School of Law will co-host the 2013 Professionalism Symposium. Be sure to mark your calendar to attend this event from 1-5 p.m. in the Jury Assembly Room at the Duval County Courthouse.
The symposium is scheduled every two years. The purpose of the event is to provide judges, attorneys, practitioners and law students a forum to discuss and learn about how members of the legal community can improve ethical and professional conduct.
The event will begin with the presentation of the 2013 The Jacksonville Bar Association Professionalism Award. Then, U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan will deliver remarks titled “DO Sweat the Small Stuff.”
Among other topics, his presentation will explain how sometimes even experienced lawyers forget that “the details matter” and why lawyers must pay attention to “the small stuff.”
The keynote speaker for this year’s symposium is Tom Spahn of McGuire Woods LLP. Using hypothetical scenarios, his presentation is anticipated to provide an intensive and interactive analysis of the ethics of email and social media.
Hundreds of millions of people connect with one another using social networking websites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube, just to name a few, and as a result, people are in contact with each other 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The increased use of social media and the connectivity has fundamentally changed how we all communicate in both our personal and professional worlds.
Given the constant advances in technology and the increased availability of information, the use of social media has become extremely important to the practice of law.
Lawyers are beginning to realize the potential of social media to market their services, to build relationships with other lawyers and potential clients and to share information about the law and practice.
Spahn will discuss some of the ethical considerations facing lawyers as they incorporate these new tools in their everyday practice.
Additionally, there will be four breakout sessions. Whether you practice in the area of civil, criminal, administration and/or family law, there will be a breakout session for you.
Each panel will include judges and lawyers. Panelists are expected to address current professionalism issues in their practice areas – for example, how technology is impacting the practice of law. A discussion regarding current ethical issues that arise both in and out of the courtroom and how to effectively respond to those issues also is planned.
Of course, no symposium on professionalism would be complete without a judicial panel. The panel will be moderated by 4th Judicial Circuit Judge Mallory D. Cooper. Judges will share with participants what they expect from lawyers who appear in their courtrooms – what to do and what not to do. This will be an opportunity for symposium participants to interact with members of the legal community while learning about current ethical issues facing lawyers in and out of the courtroom.
Registration forms are available by visiting jaxbar.org
2013 The JBA Professionalism Symposium
Aug. 23 - Duval County Courthouse
• 1-1:05 p.m. Introduction by W. Braxton Gillam IV, The Jacksonville Bar Association President
• 1:05-1:15 p.m. Presentation by County Court Judge Gary P. Flower of the 2013 The Jacksonville Bar Association Attorney Professionalism Award
• 1:15-1:35 p.m. "DO Sweat the Small Stuff" presentation by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan
• 1:35-2:35 p.m. "Ethics of Email & Social Media" keynote presentation by Tom Spahn, McGuire Woods LLP
• 2:35-2:50 p.m. Break (refreshments will be provided)
• 2:50-3:50 p.m. Breakout Sessions: Administrative Law Panel moderated by Eric Smith, Esq., Civil Law Panel moderated by Eric Roberson, Esq., Criminal Law Panel moderated by County Judge Gary P. Flower and Family Law Panel moderated by Homer Bliss, Esq.
• 4-5 p.m. Judicial Panel moderated by Circuit Judge Mallory D. Cooper
Note: CLE approval from the Florida Bar is pending.