Voting officially begins Monday, June 10, at The Jacksonville Bar Association Office at 841 Prudential Drive, Suite 1320.
It will close at 4 p.m., Thursday, June 13, at The JBA office and re-open at 5 p.m. at the Annual Meeting at MOCA and conclude there at 6:30 p.m. The election results will be announced that evening.
• Eligible voters must be members of The JBA and the YLS. The YLS is limited to members who are 36 years old or younger or who have been practicing law for fewer than five years.
• Voters can choose one candidate for each of the three seats.
Seat 1: Kyle A. Bedran
The Jacksonville Bar Association activities (both current and past):
I have been a member of the Jacksonville Bar since I was a student at Florida Coastal in 2009. Last year I participated as one of the Bachelors to be auctioned off and had the pleasure of promoting such with attorney Phil Vogelsang on Ch. 4.
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities:
I stayed active with The Florida Bar as a student, most specifically with the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section. I represented Florida as a part of the 5th Circuit ABA Law School Division while I served as the Executive Lieutenant Governor.
Civic activities:
As an assistant public defender, I also currently serve as the chairman of Vision For Excellence, a nonprofit boys summer camp started by Public Defender Matt Shirk.
Goals for The Jacksonville Bar Association:
I would love to push the YLS to build a strong presence in our Downtown community while strengthening our own connections amongst each other. Downtown Jacksonville needs Young Professionals to revitalize what once was the heart of Jacksonville. I think the energetic members of the YLS are exactly what Downtown needs and in return I believe the community will strengthen the YLS.
Seat 1: Jeremy M. Paul
The Jacksonville Bar Association activities (both current and past):
I joined the JBA/YLS in 2012 and currently serve as co-commissioner of the JBA/YLS sports program. I also participated in the JBA/YLS chili cook off and attended the JBA/YLS Noon in June event as a law student.
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities:
American Bar Association, Litigation Section
The Florida Bar, Business Law Section
Civic activities:
Volunteer Tutor of Adult Students at Learn to Read – 2009-2013
"Celebrity Server" at Clara White Mission annual "Miracle on Ashley St." – 2013
Lawyers on the Links member - http://lawyersonthelinks.org – 2012-2013
Goals for The Jacksonville Bar Association:
Through a position on the YLS board, I hope to make The JBA more accessible to first year attorneys. It is no secret that many first year attorneys face multiple new expenses after leaving law school, not the least of which include bar association dues. To ease the financial burden and attract new members, many bar associations throughout the state and country offer reduced rates for first year attorneys or free first year membership. Waiving or reducing first year dues would allow new attorneys to get an important introduction into Jacksonville's legal community and expose them to everything the JBA has to offer, ultimately increasing membership and bridging the gap between new attorneys and their established colleagues in Jacksonville's legal community.
Seat 1: Christine Jalovec Bell
The Jacksonville Bar Association activities (both current and past):
The Jacksonville Bar member, 2005 to present
The JBA Intellectual Property Section member, 2009-present
The JBA Corporate and Business Law Section member, 2011-present, and chair, 2011-2012
The JBA Transactional Section vice chair, 2012-2013
The JBA Young Lawyer Section member, 2005-present
The JBA YLS Board of Governors member, 2012-2013
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities:
Florida Bar Member, 2005 to present
American Bar Association Member, 2005 to present
Intellectual Property Section Member of the ABA, 2012 to present
Civic activities:
Rotaract Club of Florida's First Coast member, 2005-2007
Rotaract Club of Florida's First Coast, International Service Chair, 2007-2008
Deermeadows Baptist Church member, 2005 to present
Jacksonville Women Lawyer's Association member, 2006-2008
Goals for The Jacksonville Bar Association:
My goal for The Jacksonville Bar Association is to make it more relevant to transactional attorneys. In 2013, I co-developed a three-part CLE lunch series for young lawyers that focused on transactional law issues. I look forward to creating more learning opportunities for young lawyers related to transactional law.
Next year, I look forward to serving as the chair for the Transactional Law Section of the JBA. My goal is to continue working with the great committee members to provide quality CLEs, networking events and socials for The JBA members. The main CLE that will be provided is the Marshall M. Criser, Jr. Transactional Law CLE.
Seat 1: Cynthia Trimmer
The Jacksonville Bar Association Activities (both current and past):
The Jacksonville Bar Association member
Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association member
Jacksonville Bankruptcy Bar member
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities:
The Florida Bar member
RPPTL Condominium and Planned Development Committee member
Condominium and Planned Development Committee, Research for RPPTL April 2013 CLE
Construction Law Institute, peer review editor for 6th Annual Construction Law Institute
Construction Law Institute, co-author article for 5th Annual Construction Law Institute
Civic activities:
JALA pro bono attorney
Advance Directives for Seniors 2012-present
Citizenship Day 2012
Goals for The Jacksonville Bar Association:
Promote opportunities for young lawyers to get involved in the YLS and The Jacksonville Bar Association in a meaningful way. Increase access to mentorship activities. Explore cooperative projects with other young professional organizations to expand community involvement and visibility.
Seat 1: Shawn A. DeVries
The Jacksonville Bar Association activities (both current and past):
Solo and Small Firms Section member
The JBA Website Committee member
Holiday Senior Project participant
JBA Kickball League participant
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities:
The Florida Bar YLD member
Civic activities:
Pro Bono Attorney with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
Assisted with Citizenship Day with Florida Coastal School of Law and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
The Rotary Club of East Arlington member
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce member
The Jacksonville Jaycees member
Goals for The Jacksonville Bar Association:
As a member of the Young Lawyers Section, The Jacksonville Bar Association has welcomed me with open arms and I have been very lucky to find some great mentors who have been more than willing to share their knowledge with me. If elected to the YLS board, I would promote, build, and foster relationships with both experienced attorneys and other YLS members. I would grow and improve our already successful JBA Mentor Program, and would act as a resource to other young attorneys that need assistance. Additionally, I would seek to implement a New Lawyer Training Program to introduce new attorneys to our legal community. Our bar has a long history of collegiality and professionalism and I want to ensure the young lawyers carry that tradition into the future.
Seat 3: Beau Baker (incumbent), Unopposed
The Jacksonville Bar Association Activities (both current and past):
Law Day Committee member and co-chair of Rendezvous on the River fundraiser
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities:
Co-hosting/Teaching Continuing Legal Education Seminar entitled "Business Contracts A to Z" on July 23, 2012 in Jacksonville
Civic activities:
Gator Bowl Committee board member
The Propeller Club, Port of Jacksonville, board member
Co-hosted Mardi Gras event for Community Connections Jacksonville (2008, 2009 & 2010)
Volunteered for multiple events to support Community Connections Jacksonville and Dreams Come True Jacksonville (2006-2012)
ImpactJAX
Northeast Florida Marlin Association member
Jacksonville Offshore Fishing Club member
Selva Marina Country Club member
Guys With Ties of Jacksonville Philanthropy board member
University of Florida Alumni Association member
Goals for The Jacksonville Bar Association:
I would like to see an initiative launched to get more and more non-lawyers involved in YLS and JBA activities. I feel like the majority of the lay person community is bewildered by what we do and how we do it (as lawyers). I would also like to help volunteer my time and further promote the events and programs that the YLS supports.
Seat 5: Eric Roberson (incumbent), Unopposed
The Jacksonville Bar Association activities:
Young Lawyers Section Board of Governors, 2010 - present
Charity Chili Cook-Off organizer, 2010 - present
Afternoon at the Courthouse co-chair, 2012
Holidays in January Santa, 2013.
Fourth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, 2011 - present
Fourth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Committee, 2011 - present
The Florida Bar Activities/ other Bar association activities:
Fourth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, 2013 - present
Chester Bedell Inn of Court, associate 2009, Barrister 2012 - present
The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service Committee, 2011.
Civic activities:
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 2013 - present
JALA Ask-A-Lawyer, 2010 - present
UNF Pre-Law Board of Advisors, 2005 - present
Goals for The Jacksonville Bar Association:
When I was originally elected to the YLS Board of Governors, my goal was to implement online voting. I am pleased to see that goal come to fruition. Moving forward, I would like to find ways to involve the young lawyers that do not work downtown and in the immediate surrounding areas. This may include holding activities at the Town Center, beaches or other locations that make it more convenient for those attorneys to connect with their peers.