Jacksonville Bar activities
• Treasurer, 2015-present; secretary, 2014-15
• Board of Governors, 2008-present
• Special Needs of Children Committee chair, 2007-08
• Judicial Candidates forum organizer, 2008
• Northeast Florida Legal Community Diversity Week committee, 2012
• Mental Health Symposium organizer, 2012
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities
• Administrative Law Certification committee, 2014-present
• Labor and Employment Certification committee, 2006-12; chair, 2010-11
• Florida Bar Grievance Committee 4(D), 2007-10; chair, 2009-10
• Florida Bar Fee Arbitration Committee, 1997-2000
• Labor and Employment Executive Committee, 2009-15
Civic activities
• Jericho School for Children with Autism board of directors, 1997-2010; chair 2007-10
• Speech & Hearing Center of Northeast Florida board of directors, 1999-2000
• Grove House board of directors, 2007-10
• Delta Upsilon Fraternity, Florida Chapter, alumni board, 1997-2008
• Rotary Club of San Marco charter member, 2008- present
• University of Florida Political Science Department advisory board, 2007-14
• University of Florida Foundation Regional Advisory Council, 2007-08
• All Saints Episcopal Church, vestry member, 2008-12; chancellor, 2008-12; and senior warden, 2011-12
• City of Jacksonville Public Safety Reform Task Force, 2014
Goals for the JBA
We need to focus on making the Jacksonville Bar relevant to our members.
Our profession is changing and the Bar needs to identify how technology and the legal market are affecting practitioners.
We have had some excellent leadership in past years and those leaders have provided us with some very effective programming.
We need to continue that tradition, but also need to examine how well we are serving members who are struggling with new forms of competition, much of which comes from outside the profession and is technology-based.
We need to also determine how we can better serve the solo and small-firm practitioners, who comprise a growing portion of the Bar.
Jacksonville Bar activities
• Board of Governors, 2012-present
• Young Lawyers Section Board of Governors, 2008-12
• JBA Law Day Committee, 2008-present; chair, 2010 and 2012
• Law Day High School Mock Trial Competition chair, 2008-10
• YLS Afternoon at the Courthouse Seminar, chair and co-chair 2008-09
• Law Day Naturalization Ceremony speaker, 2009
• YLS Noon in June chair, 2012
• YLS Sports League chair, 2011
• YLS Holiday in January Project to benefit foster children chair and co-chair, 2009-11
• YLS Run for Cover 5K
• YLS annual golf tournament
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities
• Chester Bedell Inn of Court associate, 2009 and barrister, 2012-15
Civic activities
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid volunteer, 2008-present
• Dreams Come True Horizon board member, 2009-15
• Florida Coastal School of Law mock trial team coach, 2006-12
Goals for the JBA
I would like to continue to see a steady growth in the JBA membership and encourage greater involvement.
Becoming involved with the JBA has been one of the most rewarding experiences.
To encourage greater involvement, I would like to exceed the goals our membership sets for us, including developing ways to better serve our membership, continuing to promote the highest degree of professionalism and fostering a stronger bond between the JBA and our community to promote public perception of the legal community.
***
Michelle Bedoya Barnett
Jacksonville Bar activities
• Board member, 2013-present
• Investment Committee
• Young Lawyers section, 2006-14; board member, 2006-10; treasurer, 2010-11; secretary, 2011-12; vice president, 2012-13; and president, 2013-14
• Founder of Noon in June, an award-winning program that introduces law students to the JBA and the Jacksonville civic community.
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities
• Chester Bedell Inn of Court barrister
• 4th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee
• 4th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
Civic activities
• Rotary Club of Jacksonville
• The Performer’s Academy board member
• San Jose Catholic Church member
• Vanderbilt Alumni Association member
• Girl Scouts Gateway Council, former board ember
• Jacksonville Housing Authority, former board member
• Berkman Plaza, former board member
Goals for the JBA
To continue to work to make the Jacksonville Bar relevant to every lawyer in our community by providing resources, support and networking opportunities.
***
Elizabeth B. Ferguson
Jacksonville Bar activities
• Board of Governors, 2012-present
• Young Lawyers Section president, 2011-12; vice president, 2010-11; secretary, 2009-10; treasurer, 2008-09
• Law Week Committee, 2007
• Holiday Project chair, 2006
• Guardian Ad Litem Permanency Project, 2005
• Construction Law Section, 2011-present
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities
• American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry, 2009-present; Forum on the Construction Industry, Women and Minority Fellowship, 2009-12; Forum on the Construction Industry, Division 7, Annual Concepts & Ideas Book Working Group Chair, 2010-11; Forum on the Construction Industry, Social Media/Technology Working Group, 2010-11; Forum on the Construction Industry, Young Lawyer Committee, Division 7 Liaison, 2010-14
• The Florida Bar Construction Law Committee, 2005-present; Jury Instructions Subcommittee, 2012-13; Construction Law Certification Review Course Steering Committee, 2015-present; Construction Law Certification Review Course speaker, 2015-present
• The Florida Bar, RPPTL Section, 2005-present; Property & Liability Insurance/Suretyship Committee, 2012-13
Civic activities
Ms. Ferguson is active in the Associated Builders and Contractors of Northeast Florida and has volunteered for the ACE Mentor Program of Northeast Florida. She has served as an adjunct professor at Florida Coastal School of Law, teaching construction law, and was on the ASFP Florida First Coast, Community Walk Committee in 2014.
Goals for the JBA
The role of The Jacksonville Bar Association in the legal community continues to evolve, as does the practice of law.
With that in mind, it is my goal that the JBA continues its push to be an asset and partner to each of its members. This requires the JBA to be more adaptable to its members’ needs and work to provide valuable member benefits.
In order to meet these goals, the JBA must actively work to identify the needs of its membership and strive to provide those in the form of relevant and informative CLEs, networking events and community involvement opportunities.
***
Jacksonville Bar activities
• Member
• Attend monthly luncheons
• Attended annual Ray Ehrlich Trial Advocacy CLE in 2012
• Attend Jax Bar Social/Networking events
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities
• Florida Bar member
• Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association past member
• American Bar Association past member
Civic activities
The focus of my non-working time and efforts are on my family. I am also very involved with my church.
Goals for the JBA
The greatest opportunity for the Jacksonville Bar to serve the legal community and the people of Jacksonville as a whole is to continue to encourage and foster two critical relationships.
First, we need to strengthen the relationship between new lawyers and established lawyers. New lawyers bring energy and a fresh perspective, while established lawyers bring experience and proven results to the ever-changing challenges that face the practice of law.
Second, we need to bring together practicing attorneys and the community.
Providing our community with access to affordable legal representation continues to be a major challenge.
Ultimately, my goal for the Jacksonville Bar is to assist in the building of relationships where established lawyers can mentor new lawyers, where new lawyers can in turn invigorate established lawyers and where all lawyers can serve the community.
***
Jacksonville Bar activities
• Board of Governors, current
• Jacksonville Bar Technology Conference chair, current
• Young Lawyers Section president, vice president, secretary and treasurer
• YLS Special Olympics
Committee chair; After
Noon at the Courthouse
chair; Noon in June chair; annual meeting vice chair , Run for Cover vice chair; Tee it Up Charity Golf Tournament vice chair
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities
• The Florida Bar Board of Governors governor; Executive Committee member; Disciplinary Review Committee member
• Florida Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism
• Florida Bar Civil Rules of Procedure Committee
• Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division president and president-elect; 4th Judicial Circuit representative, eight years; Executive Committee member; Technology Committee chair; Moot Court Competition Committee chair; Law Schools Committee chair; Sponsorship Committee chair; Bylaws Committee vice chair; Budget Committee vice chair; Communications Committee vice chair; Long Range Planning Committee member; Basic Appellate Practice CLE moderator; Practicing With Professionalism moderator and panelist
• Raising the Bar, Florida’s Legal Community Service Day
• Ethics & Professionalism in Law Office Management CLE speaker
• Business Contracts A–Z CLE speaker
Civic activities
• Clara White Mission board of directors
• Special Olympics of Duval County volunteer
• Family Nurturing Center of Florida Inc. board of directors president
• Cummer Museum Up & Cummers of Jacksonville board of directors
• Blueprint for Leadership, HandsOn Jacksonville
Goals for the JBA
For the past 10 years, I have been heavily involved in the local and statewide Bar associations because I care about our profession.
Recently, I have been planning The Jacksonville Bar Association’s Technology Conference and plan to further develop the JBA’s use of technology.
I hope to continue bringing my experience and perspective to the JBA, with an eye toward increasing outreach through social media.
I also hope to work with the local judiciary and Bar members to improve logistics and expand our members’ awareness of available resources and technology with the various courthouses in North Florida.
We are very lucky to have a strong, collegial and dedicated Bar association. If re-elected, I will continue that tradition and work with board members and Bar staff to take advantage of ever-developing opportunities within the profession.
***
Jacksonville Bar activities
• Young Lawyers Section president, 2015-16; officer, 2012-15; board member, 2009-12
• JBA board member, 2015-16; recipient of Most Outstanding member, 2008-09
• Professionalism Committee co-chair, 2014-15
• Social Committee chair, 2012-14
• Law Week Committee chair, 2010-11; co-chair, 2009-10
• JBA Chairperson of the Year, 2011
• JBA member, 2006-present
The Florida Bar/other Bar association activities
• Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division board member, 2013-present
• Florida Bar Civil Procedure Rules Committee, 2014-15
• Florida Bar member, 2006-present
• Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association president, 2010-11; officer, 2006-11; member, 2006-present
Civic activities
• Dreams Come True
• Community Connections
• Family Support Services
• JT Townsend Foundation
• K9s for Warriors
• Attorney ad Litem
Goals for the JBA
If elected to The Jacksonville Bar Association’s Board of Governors, I want to continue to advance the initiative which was started by the Young Lawyers Section.
I want to get The Jacksonville Bar Association and its members out into the Jacksonville community, working together to make a difference for its citizens.
One of the most rewarding and gratifying experiences I have had as a lawyer is getting the opportunity to volunteer with some amazing local charities.
Through that, I have realized that we have so many members of The Jacksonville Bar Association who truly have servants’ hearts. They just need an opportunity to show it. I want to make sure they get that opportunity.