The Solo & Small Firm Section’s Annual Awards
The Solo & Small Firm Section of The Florida Bar annually honors lawyers and a paralegal for exceptional achievements, professionalism, and contributions. Nominations typically open in March of the year in which they will be awarded. If you have questions, please contact Program Administrator Ricky Libbert at rlibbert@floridabar.org.
Mentor of the Year Award: This award recognizes an outstanding Florida-licensed attorney who has shown remarkable achievements in the area of mentorship to younger attorneys and/or law students in Florida. The award honors a lawyer who has demonstrated above-and-beyond efforts to achieve a high standard of professionalism in the delivery of mentorship.
Paralegal of the Year Award: This award is given to that singular paralegal who has contributed significantly to the community and/or (his) (her) law firm. The section’s purpose in providing this award is to recognize that very deserving individual for above-and-beyond efforts in achieving a high standard of professionalism in the delivery of paralegal services.
Tradition of Excellence Award: This prestigious award honors recipients whose efforts throughout that year have been beneficial to The Florida Bar and specifically to the general practitioner and is intended to encourage participation by all Bar members in activities that benefit the general practitioner and the community at large.
Walter S. Crumbley Award: This award is given each year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to practice management in the State of Florida. The award was originally created by the Practice Management and Development Section in honor of the long service by Judge Walter S. Crumbley on the Practice Management and Development Committee and on the Technology Law Committee. This tradition has been carried on by the Solo & Small Firm Section.
Section History
The Solo & Small Firm Section underwent several name changes before settling on its current name. The Section’s history can be traced back to 1971 when its ancestor was officially recognized by The Florida Bar.
In 1993, the Agricultural Law Committee was merged into the Section. Since that merger, the Section has continued to present seminars involving issues related to agricultural law.
In 2007, the Practice Management and Development Section was merged into the General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm Section. Since that merger, the Section has carried on PMDS’s focus on practice management issues.
The Section officially became known as the Solo & Small Firm Section of The Florida Bar in 2016.
As presently constituted, the Section’s mission is as follows:
- to assist the board of governors when called upon, in the implementation and promotion of the policies and objectives of The Florida Bar;
- to enhance the skill of the general practice, solo and small firm as well as the lawyer who has interests beyond the boundaries of a single professional specialty, by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information essential to improvement of the lawyer’s quality of legal service.
- to provide an organization within The Florida Bar open to members in good standing having an interest in the economics of law practice, and
- to provide a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas leading to the improvement and development of the fields of economics of law practice and delivery of legal services, and to serve the public generally and The Florida Bar in interpreting and carrying out the professional needs and objectives in these fields.
Each year, a member of the Executive Council serves as Chair of the Section. The following is a list of members who have served as Chair of the Solo & Small Firm Section throughout its existence:
- 2023-24 Cristina Alonso
- 2022-23 Christopher Johnson
- 2021-22 Jacina Parson
- 2020-21 Timothy S. Shaw
- 2019-20 Lee Edward “Pete” Muschott
- 2018-19 Jennifer K. Griffin
- 2017-18 Sean T. Desmond
- 2016-17 Jennifer A. Dietz
- 2015-16 Damon C. Glisson
- 2014-15 Teresa Byrd Morgan
- 2013-14 Kevin Johnson
- 2012-13 Linda S. Calvert-Hanson
- 2011-12 Frank E. Maloney, Jr.
- 2010-11 Kirk N. Kirkconnell
- 2009-10 Peggy Hoyt
- 2008-09 Ana M. Veliz
- 2007-08 Jack Merritt
- 2006-07 Michael T. Olexa
- 2005-06 Linzie Bogan
- 2004-05 Judge Marvin Gillman
- 2003-04 Linda Barnaby
- 2002-03 Jack Bettman
- 2001-02 Charles Kane
- 2000-01 Craig Ferrante
- 1999-2000 Neil Gregory
- 1998-99 Dykes C. Everett
- 1997-98 Michael Roffino
- 1996-97 Timothy S. Shaw
- 1995-96 Carla Suggs Matthews
- 1994-95 Gerald B. Curington
- 1993-94 Frank D. Hall
- 1992-93 Steven David Hutton
- 1991-92 Jesus Modesto Hevia
- 1990-91 Lewis Hamilton Hill, III
- 1989-90 David A. Donet
- 1988-89 Dean Clinton Kowalchyk
- 1987-88 Stephen Charles Page
- 1986-87 Jack Owen Hackett, II
- 1985-86 George O. Wilson
- 1984-85 Nancy Anne Young Smith
- 1983-84 Ladd Hiram Fassett
- 1982-83 Wynn Thomas
- 1981-82 William A. Jacob
Awards
The Section presents four major awards each year. A description of each is provided below, along with lists of past winners.
Mentor of the Year Award
The Solo & Small Firm Section established this award in 2016 to recognize an outstanding Florida-licensed attorney who has shown remarkable achievements in the area of mentorship to younger attorneys and/or law students in Florida. The award honors an outstanding lawyer who has demonstrated above-and-beyond efforts to achieve a high standard of professionalism in the delivery of mentorship.
Mentor of the Year Award Recipients:
- 2023 Katherine Hurst Miller
- 2022 Nora Riva Bergman
- 2021 Frank Ramos
- 2020 Not awarded
- 2019 Melanie S. Griffin
- 2018 Not presented
- 2017 Charles Hilleboe
- 2016 Dr. Michael T. Olexa
Tradition of Excellence Award
In 1993, the General Practice Section of The Florida Bar initiated the Tradition of Excellence award. This prestigious award was developed to honor recipients whose efforts throughout that year have been beneficial to The Bar and specifically to the general practitioner and is intended to encourage participation by all Bar members in activities that benefit the general practitioner and the community at large.
Tradition of Excellence Award Recipients:
- 2023 Gary S. Lesser
- 2022 Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy (posthumously)
- 2021 Senator Arthenia Joyner
- 2020 Not awarded
- 2019 Eugene K. Pettis – Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, former Florida Bar President, founder of The Florida Bar William Reece Smith Leadership Academy
- 2018 Stephen N. Zack – Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, former ABA and Florida Bar President
- 2017 Bruce Robinson – Florida Bar Board of Governors Liaison
- 2016 Carl Schwait – Eighth Judicial Circuit, The Florida Bar, Board of Governors
- 2015 Frank E. Maloney, Jr. – Past Chair, General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section
- 2014 John F. Harkness, Jr. – Executive Director, The Florida Bar
- 2012 Edwin Browning, Jr. – Former Chief Judge, First District Court of Appeals
- 2011 Peggy Hoyt – Past Chair, General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm Section
- 2010 John V. Quinlan – Partner, Greene, Hamrick, Perrey, Quinlan & Schermer, P.A
- 2009 Ernest A. Sellers, Live Oak City Attorney & Past President 3rd Circuit Bar
- 2008 Jim Smith, Former Florida Attorney General and Secretary of State
- 2007 Ben H. Hill III, Past President of The Florida Bar
- 2006 Major Harding, former Supreme Court of Florida Chief Justice
- 2005 Barry Scott Richard, Counsel for The Florida Bar
- 2004 David A. Donet, Past Chair, General Practice Section
- 2003 Gerald D. Curington, Past Chair, General Practice Section
- 2002 Bob Butterworth, Former Attorney General of Florida
- 2001 the late Justice Raymond Ehrlich, Supreme Court of Florida
- 2000 George O. Wilson III, Past Chair, General Practice Section
- 1999 Marsha G. Rydberg, Member, Board of Governors of The Florida Bar
- 1998 the late Frank D. Hall, Past Chair, General Practice Section
- 1997 Mandell Glicksberg, Professor Emeritus, University of Florida College of Law
- 1996 Lewis H. Hill III, Past Chair, General Practice Section
- 1995 former Chief Justice Ben Overton, Supreme Court of Florida
- 1994 Patricia Seitz, Past President of The Florida Bar
Walter S. Crumbley Award
The Walter S. Crumbley award is given each year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to practice management in the State of Florida. The award was originally created by the Practice Management and Development Section in honor of the long service by Judge Walter S. Crumbley on the Practice Management and Development Committee and on the Technology Law Committee. This tradition has been carried on by the Solo & Small Firm Section.
Walter S. Crumbley Award Recipients:
- 2023 Tim Shaw
- 2022 Linda Calvert-Hanson
- 2021 Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin
- 2020 Not awarded
- 2019 Zackary T. Zuroweste
- 2018 John M. Stewart
- 2017 Kevin D. Johnson
- 2016 Renee Thompson
- 2015 Eugene E. Shuey
- 2014 Myer J. (Michael) Cohen
- 2013 Myer J. (Michael) Cohen
- 2012 Lawrence J. Marraffino
- 2011 Kirk N. Kirkconnell
- 2010 Michael Cavendish
- 2009 Mary Cagle
- 2008 Jennifer A. Dietz
- 2007 Rick Georges
- 2006R. Phelps
- 2005 Ronald Owen
- 2004 Walter S. Crumbley
Paralegal of the Year
This prestigious award is given to that singular paralegal who has contributed significantly to the community and/or (his) (her) law firm. The section’s purpose in providing this award is to recognize that very deserving individual for above-and-beyond efforts in achieving a high standard of professionalism in the delivery of paralegal services.
Paralegal of the Year Award Recipients:
- 2023 Samantha B.V. Angel FRP
- 2022 Sherry Webber CP FCP FRP
- 2021 Asha Maharaj-Lucas
- 2020 Not awarded
- 2019 Jennifer M. Heape CP FRP
- 2018 Jennifer Wallace CP FCP FRP
- 2017 Marcia Muldoon CP FRP
- 2016 Beatrice LeVine CP FRP
- 2015 Patricia C. DeRamus ACP FRP
Michael Roffino Pro Bono Award
(Previously known as the Bill Jacob Award, 1990-1992)
This award is given to recognize the pro bono organization within the state that has put together the best pro bono service program during the past year. The award was originally named the Bill Jacob Award in honor of the Section’s first chair, but it was renamed the L. Michael Roffino Award in 2004 after the untimely death of former Section Chair L. Michael Roffino.
The Florida Pro Bono Coordinators Association nominates five programs for consideration. Our awards committee selects three finalists, one of whom is named the winner. The winner receives $4,000, while the two other finalists receive $2,000 each.
Grand Total Awarded (1990-2022): $188,500
Michael Roffino Pro Bono Award Recipients:
| 2023 | Winner | $4,000 | Community Law Program Inc. of the St. Petersburg Bar Association (St. Petersburg area) |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Legal Aid of Manasota Inc. (Sarasota area) | |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. (Orlando area) | |
| 2022 | Winner | $4,000 | Venture Law Project of Dade Legal Aid (Miami area) |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida’s virtual legal Clinic (Orlando area) | |
| $2,000 | Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association’s virtual COVID-19 Eviction Consultation Clinic (Orlando area) | ||
| 2021 | Winner | $4,000 | Bay Area Legal Services’ Frontline Heroes Project and Advanced Directives Clinic (Tampa Bay area) |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc.’s Legal Lifeline for Youth program (Sarasota area) | |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Catholic Legal Services Archdiocese of Miami, Inc. Board of Immigration Appeals Program (Miami area) | |
| 2020 | Winner | $4,000 | Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (Stuart) | |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Cuban American Bar Association (Miami) | |
| 2019 | Winner | $4,000 | Legal Aid Foundation of Tallahassee Bar Association (Tallahassee) |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Community Law Program (St. Petersburg) | |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Dade Legal Aid, Put Something Back (Miami) | |
| 2018 | Winner | $4,000 | Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc. (Sarasota) |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. (Longwood) | |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Jacksonville Area Legal Aid | |
| 2017 | Winner | $4,000 | St. Petersburg Bar Association Community Law Program Inc. |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc. | |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (Lakeland) | |
| 2016 | Winner | $4,000 | Seminole County Bar Association |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Three Rivers Legal Services Inc. of Gainesville | |
| Finalist | $2,000 | Three Rivers Legal Service Inc. of Jacksonville | |
| 2015 | Winner | $3,000 | Dade Legal Aid – Put Something Back |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc. | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Community Law Program, Inc. | |
| 2014 | Winner | $3,000 | Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (Project entitled Private Attorney Involvement Program provides extended legal aide services to pro se litigants beyond the Courts and into the Division of Administrative Hears.) |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc. | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Community Law Program, Inc. | |
| 2013 | Winner | $3,000 | Dade Legal Aid – Put Something Back (Project entitled Miami Human Trafficking Pro Bono Project provides direct legal representation to victiums of human Trafficking.) |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. Volunteer Attorney Program | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. | |
| 2012 | Winner | $3,000 | Hillsborough County Bar Association (Tampa – Debra Smietanski) – Wills for Heroes Program (offers free legal advice on wills, health care advance directives and durable powers of attorney to all first responders and their spouses or partners located in Hillsborough County). |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid Service of Broward County (Plantation – Mertella T. Burris) – Broward Lawyers Care | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Bay Area Legal Services, Inc. (Tampa – Susan Sandler) – Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program | |
| 2011 | Winner | $3,000 | Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (Jacksonville – Kathy Para) – Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership (a network of medical and legal providers who identify and resolve legal issues that are barriers to the good health and well-being of low-income persons). |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc. (Ocala – Lena Smith) – Volunteer Lawyers Project | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Dade Legal Aid (Miami – Bruce Levine) – Put Something Back | |
| 2010 | Winner | $3,000 | Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (Ft. Pierce – Carolyn Fabrizio) |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (Jacksonville – Kathy Para) | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc. (Clearwater – Jane Helms) | |
| 2009 | Winner | $3,000 | Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. (Rockledge – Robert Johnson) |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (Ocala – Lana Smith) | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | “Put Something Back” (Miami – Bruce Levine) | |
| 2008 | Winner | $3,000 | Seminole County Bar Association, Inc. (Longwood – Erin Flemister) |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (Tallahassee – John Fenno) | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County Bar Association (West Palm Beach – Kimberly Rommel) | |
| 2007 | Winner | $3,000 | Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. (Rockledge – Rob Johnson) — Low Income Worker Project, which will focus on hotel, hospitality and tourism workers with minimum-wage law and unemployment-compensation problems.) |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Community Law Program, Inc. (St. Petersburg – Kimberly Rodgers, Esq.) | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association (Orlando – Catherine Tucker) | |
| 2006 | Winner | $3,000 | Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. (Jacksonville – Sarah Jones Fowler) — Hands-on approach for young people to find employment; use public transportation; enroll in high school completion; develop job skills; access college programs; connect with support agencies, etc.) |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc. (Sarasota) – Linda Harradine | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc. (Fort Pierce – Jane E. Helms) | |
| 2005 | Winner | $3,000 | Community Law Program (St. Petersburg – Janet Herron) — a Video/DVD was produced on Pro Se representation in Family Law matters; sample notebooks with completed pro se forms; a new pro se clinic w/assistance |
| Finalist | $1,000 | The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. (West Palm Beach – Kimberly Rommel-Enright) | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. (Altamonte Springs – Erin M. Flemister) | |
| 2004 | Winner | $3,000 | Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. (Rockledge – Robert L. Johnson) — Launched a new program, the Family Caregivers Legal Assistance Project (FCLAP) to provide legal assistance to caregivers |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (Tallahassee – John J. Fenno) | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc. (Sarasota – Linda Harradine) | |
| 2003 | Winner | $3,000 | Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. (Altamonte Springs – Silvia Ponce de Leon) — Increased access to justice for low-income people through the innovative use of technology to train, support and educate legal aid providers) |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. (Orlando- Catherine A. Tucker) | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. (West Palm Beach – Kimberly Rommel-Enright) | |
| 2002 | Winner | $3,000 | The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. (West Palm Beach – Robert Johnson) — Health Emergency Legal Panel – HELP |
| Finalist | $1,000 | The Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program (Tampa – Sheila Seig) | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Community Law Program (St. Petersburg) – Kelly Vaughn Rauch | |
| 2001 | Winner | $3,000 | Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (Tallahassee – John J. Fenno) — launched the preeminent website for a legal services program in the State of Florida at www.lsnf.org |
| Finalist | $1,000 | The Legal Aid Society of Collier County (Naples) – Jana V. Jay | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc. (Sarasota) – Nina E. Perry | |
| 2000 | Winner | $3,000 | Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (Gainesville – Marcia G. Lockhart) — developed a manual; held weekly Advice Clinic |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Community Law Program, Inc. (St. Petersburg) – Kelly Vaughn Rauch | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (Tallahassee) – John Fenno | |
| 1999 | Winner | $3,000 | Northwest Florida Legal Services, Inc. (NWFLS) (Pensacola – Phyllis A. Foley) —Initiated a Saturday Hotline; production of client self-education tapes |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Community Law Program, Inc. (St. Petersburg) – Kelly Vaughn Rauch | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) Pro Bono Project (Miami) – Carmen Gonzalez | |
| 1998 | Winner | $3,000 | Broward Lawyers Care (Legal Aid Service of Broward – Christine Marini) — The Lawyers for Children (TLC) Project |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Project (Ocala – Diane Adams) — Community Education Project | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. (West Palm Beach – Robert Johnson) — The County Attorney’s Domestic Violence Program) | |
| 1997 | Winner | $3,000 | The Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program (BAVLP) (Tampa) — Domestic Violence Assistance Project |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Volunteer Attorney Program Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (Gainesville – Marcia Lockhart) | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. (Altamonte Springs – Melissa Sasser) | |
| 1996 | Winner | $3,000 | Put Something Back Pro Bono Project — Wills on Wheels Program |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Inc. | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. | |
| 1995 | Winner | $3,000 | Jacksonville Area Legal Aid — Youth Mediation Program |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | H.A.V.E. a Heart Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program (Tampa) | |
| 1994 | Winner | $3,000 | Northwest Florida Legal Services, Inc. (Pensacola) — Immigration law training – outreach |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Volunteer Lawyers Project (Daytona Beach) | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. (Sarasota) | |
| 1993 | Winner | $3,000 | Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (Tallahassee) — Emeritus Attorney Project conducting legal clinics plus small claims advice clinic |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Northwest Florida Legal Services, Inc. | |
| 1992 | Winner | $2,500 | Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. — produced a family law pro bono manual and Word Perfect disc |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. | |
| Finalist | $1,000 | Community Law Program, Inc. (St. Petersburg) | |
| 1991 | Winner | $2,500 | The Sarasota Manatee Lawyer Referral Service, Inc. – created training program for attorneys assisting Guardians Ad Litem |
| Finalist | The Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. | ||
| Finalist | Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. | ||
| 1990 | Winner | $2,500 | Legal Aid Society of Orange County |
