- October 20, 2020
Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association past President Jennifer Shoaf Richardson, left, and President Sarah Mannion welcomed about 100 members and guests to The River Club on June 11.
Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association met at the The River Club on June 11, the first time the organization met since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown began.
Alessandro Apolito, Kelli Leuckert, State Attorney Melissa Nelson.
The Jacksonville Bar Association Young Lawyers Section convened its annual meeting June 11 on the internet instead of at a happy hour because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The evening wasn’t entirely nontraditional – there were snacks and champagne for a celebratory toast that members picked up before the virtual meeting from event partner Biscottis.
The results of the board of governors election were announced, with Tim Miller reelected for a second term and new members LaTesha Campbell and Kathryn Stanfill. They were sworn in by U.S. District Judge Brian Davis, along with the rest of the board, including 2020-21 YLS President Ashlea Edwards.
Campbell is an assistant state attorney in the 4th Judicial Circuit.
Stanfill is an associate with The Hinson Law Firm.
Edwards succeeds Alessandro Apolito as president of the organization of attorneys age 36 or younger, or who have been practicing for fewer than five years.
After a three-month postponement, the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association met June 11 for lunch at The River Club.
There were fewer tables, fewer seats at each table, face masks and plated service instead of a buffet.
The program, originally scheduled for the group’s meeting the week after the pandemic shutdown began, was “The Past, Present and Future of Parental Leave in the Legal Profession.”
The panel comprised attorneys who are parents: Alessandro Apolito, Kelli Leuckert, State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Jennifer Feld, an attorney in Tampa who participated via Zoom.
The discussion was moderated by JWLA past President Jennifer Shoaf Richardson.
The state Supreme Court recently expanded parental leave benefits related to trial schedules after hearing oral arguments from members of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, including Richardson, the group’s immediate past president.
JWLA’s 2020-21 board was introduced, including President Cyndy Trimmer, who succeeds Sarah Mannion; President-elect Kelli Leuckert; Secretary Kimberly Woods and Treasurer Kayla Haines.
Mannion announced that JWLA was recognized as the 2020 outstanding local chapter by the Florida association and three members, General Magistrate Jamie Ibrahim and attorneys Alice Morris and Kimberly Woods, were recognized as statewide Leaders in the Law.
Florida Legal Services Inc. is seeking applications for a lawyer to serve a three-year term on the 15-member board of directors beginning July 1.
The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. June 26.
Attorneys interested can download the Application for Special Appointment at floridabar.org or call Florida Bar headquarters at (850) 561-5757 for an application.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the required application. The board of governors will review all applications and may request telephone or personal interviews.
Florida Legal Services assists Floridians who cannot afford legal services. It supports attorneys working at local programs throughout the state as well as volunteer pro bono attorneys in providing civil legal assistance to indigent people who would not otherwise have the means to obtain a lawyer. The group also conducts outreach to the Legislature and administrative offices on policies affecting the legal rights of the poor.
Carly Simpson joined Kubicki Draper in Jacksonville.
A graduate of Florida State University College of Law, she was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2019.
