July has come to a close and with that I am finishing my first month as president of the Jacksonville Bar Association.
Along with that milestone comes the honor of writing my second article for the Bar Bulletin. But this month is not about what I have to say; it is about what you, our members, have to say.
By the nature of our profession, lawyers have insight and experience to offer to important conversations happening in our communities.
Lawyers are subject matter experts on a long list of civics related topics: Local and state governments, the importance of an impartial judiciary, the branches of government and so many other areas.
We also have a great deal of knowledge that stems from our own practices – family law, eminent domain, landlord/tenant, debt collection, workers compensation and heck, even construction law.
The Bar Bulletin offers news and updates about the legal community, but it also serves an even greater purpose. It provides all our members, old and young alike, the opportunity to submit and publish articles on these topics and many more.
Submitting an article could not be more simple, just e-mail it to our Bar Bulletin Editor-in-Chief, Kelly Karstaedt, at [email protected].
We would love to hear about your practice area, a recent case law update, your thoughts on social media, mental health and wellness tips or where you went on your summer vacation.
In an effort to build on the opportunities presented by the Bar Bulletin, the JBA is undertaking a new endeavor: the creation of a speakers bureau.
The goal is to harness the breadth of experience and ability our members have to offer the community. The bureau will serve as a matchmaker of sorts, connecting our members with those throughout the local and state communities who are on the hunt for speakers.
We hope the bureau will benefit our members, offering them increased visibility, and benefit the community by offering a one-stop shop for speakers on a variety of topics.
We are in the planning stages and have a lot of work to do. If you are interested in participating as a speaker or know an organization that is looking for a speaker, contact Asghar Syed ([email protected]) or Craig Shoup ([email protected]).
Do you have something to say? We want to hear it.
Elizabeth Ferguson is a shareholder with Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, focusing on construction litigation.