It is a true privilege to serve as president of the Jacksonville Bar Association. I am honored to have the opportunity to help lead an organization that has long provided a space for growth, collaboration and support within the legal community.
I intend to work this year to ensure our voluntary Bar association, the best in the state, matters to as many people as possible.
While maintaining the central aspects of our organization will continue to be a priority, a new focus this year will be to facilitate and promote work that will elevate our profession in the eyes of the broader community.
My priority this year is to lead through action, by supporting initiatives that strengthen our profession, serve our community and make the JBA a place where every member feels valued and engaged.
The work I am referring to includes efforts to advance and improve the practice of law, but also that which will lift our fellow citizens through acts of service.
During my father, Tom Coughlin’s, NFL head coaching days, he always had a sign in the team weight room with a simple phrase: “Deeds, Not Words.” As lawyers, words are our tools of the trade. We use them to advocate, persuade and uphold the rule of law.
I believe the true measure of leadership is found not in speeches or statements, but in meaningful acts of service.
This year, the JBA board of governors will take the lead in creating opportunities to act in the service of others.
Voluntary Bar associations should be committed to having a direct impact on the community, particularly on those who are less fortunate than we are.
For the JBA, that commitment will extend beyond the courthouse to ensure that the legal profession is deeply connected to the community we serve. I have asked each JBA board member to, by themselves or with one other JBA member, create and lead a service project.
I envision partnering with local nonprofit organizations, working with them to identify ways our membership can fill a need, and assembling a group of lawyers and judges to provide assistance.
Opportunities to serve will be well-publicized on the JBA website, in our informative weekly emails and during our member luncheons. Stay tuned and please join us in these efforts.
Pro bono work is a clear expression of our profession’s commitment to justice and service.
When we volunteer our time and expertise to help those who cannot afford to pay to have a lawyer, we uphold the principle that access to justice should not depend on a person’s financial ability to be professionally represented.
A strong pro bono culture not only demonstrates the compassion and professionalism of our members, it also builds public trust in the legal system.
By organizing and supporting pro bono initiatives, Bar associations like the JBA demonstrate that lawyers are not only advocates in the courtroom but also active partners in addressing the community’s needs.
This work strengthens the association’s reputation and reinforces the notion that the legal profession is a force for good.
Another way to elevate our profession is to insist, from ourselves and our colleagues, that the practice of law is done ethically and well. Voluntary Bar associations like the JBA should foster a culture of ethical practice by offering forums for discussion on professional standards, challenges and best practices.
While mandatory Bar associations, including The Florida Bar, handle licensing and disciplinary action, voluntary associations work proactively to ensure that legal professionals maintain high standards of conduct.
I encourage you to stay informed about ethical issues, share knowledge and learn from each other’s experiences – hopefully, none of which involve being listed in the Disciplinary Actions section of The Florida Bar News.
I thank my predecessor, Christian George, for his friendship and leadership last year.
Christian should be proud of the way he led the JBA and maintained its high standards.
Brian Coughlin is a director at Bedell, Dittmar, Devault, Pillans & Coxe, where his practice focuses on criminal justice matters.