Live GoToWebinar presented by Shannon Miller of The Miller Elder Law Firm, Gainesville, and moderated by General Magistrate Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin. Course number 5812 is approved for 1.0 General CLE and 1.0 Elder Law certification credit. Section members register for only $50. REGISTER

Shannon Miller, a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Elder law, will provide a basic overview of how to prevent vulnerable adult exploitation in Florida and how to pursue the recovery of exploited assets. She also will provide an update on the current statutory changes in pursuing cases involving the exploitation and undue influence of vulnerable adults in Florida.  The latest statutory changes have created new ways to recover assets from exploiters through criminal and civil means, perhaps creating a new niche area of practice to add to your tool kit.  Shannon will also educate you on how to identify the exploitable brain and what the current clinical research tells us.

April 27, 12 – 1 PM, free Wednesday Wisdom Zoom webinar for Solo & Small Firm Section members.* Presented by Melissa Caballero Alton, Alton Law, Miami Lakes and Samantha S. Loveland, Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, Jacksonville, and moderated by Joshua Hertz. Course number 5890 is approved for 1.0 General CLE credit. REGISTER

The challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic have undoubtedly changed the way we practice law, but the lasting impact of how we prioritize home life, work life, and parenting has been entirely revolutionized as well. This CLE will explore the unique trials and tribulations lawyers face as they attempt to excel in their career as well as in parenthood—and how to use the changes of post-pandemic lawyering to benefit them in both.

*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.

Melissa Caballero Alton is a lawyer mom of three, a Cuban American, and a South Florida native. She launched her own law firm when her firstborn was only two months old. She now runs her law practice together with her husband, who is also a lawyer, and they focus on business and transactional matters. Ms. Alton is also the founder of The Objectionable Mom, a movement that recognizes, supports, and encourages working lawyer moms.

Samantha S. Loveland is an associate in the firm’s Jacksonville office and practices in the area of insurance defense, personal injury, and civil litigation matters. Some of her notable representations include defending claims brought for personal injury and sexual assault arising under maritime law; seafarer workplace injuries under the Jones Act; and contractual arbitration of seafarer claims.

In addition to her background in admiralty & maritime and civil litigation, Ms. Loveland has experience in bankruptcy, guardianship, criminal defense, and family law.

May 17, 2022, Live GoToWebinar presented by Tim Chinaris and moderated by Chris Johnson. Course number 5714 is approved for 1.0 General CLE credit, all of which may be applied toward Ethics. Section members register for only $50. REGISTER

Change seems to be the only constant in the legal profession.  How have recent changes in the legal landscape affected lawyers’ ethical obligations?  This session highlights recent rule changes, cases, and ethics opinions that may affect how Florida Bar members ethically practice law, both now and going forward.

Tim Chinaris is Associate Dean for Information Services and Professor of Law at Belmont University College of Law in Nashville, Tennessee, where he teaches courses in legal ethics, torts, insurance law, and other subjects.  Professor Chinaris was Ethics Director of The Florida Bar from 1989-1997, where he ran the popular “ethics hotline” service that answers more than 25,000 calls annually from bar members.

Professor Chinaris holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University and received his J.D. With Honors from the University of Texas School of Law.  He is admitted to practice law in Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas.

Professor Chinaris has chaired or served on state bar ethics and UPL committees in four states, including chairing both the Professional Ethics Committee and the Committee on Professionalism for The Florida Bar.  His legal ethics website is “sunEthics.com.”  He co-authored the authoritative treatise Florida Legal Malpractice and Attorney Ethics (American Legal Media, 2017) (with Warren Trazenfeld and Robert Jarvis).  His new book, Florida Legal Ethics, will be published by West Academic Publishing in 2021.

Professor Chinaris consults with and represents lawyers and others on professional responsibility issues, including lawyer advertising and bar admission matters.  He has served as an expert witness in various legal ethics matters, including in the first case decided under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Professor Chinaris is the immediate past Chair of the Solo & Small Firm Section of the Tennessee Bar and is the Florida Bar Out of State Liaison to the Florida Solo & Small Firm Section as well.

Annual “Out-of-Country” CLE Trip

This year we are staying in the U.S. and visiting the big island of Hawaii and Oahu. Instead of going through a travel agent, you will make your own reservations directly with the hotels, airlines, and group tours (excursion details will be provided as they become available).

This page provides the trip schedule, activities, and hotel reservation links. When making your flight arrangements, don’t forget to include the flight from Hawaii to Oahu on June 1. Flight destinations are Kona International Airport and Honolulu International Airport.

Online reservation information for the group tours and airport transfers will be available soon. View the event brochure.

9:00-9:05 AM:  Introduction by Moderator Jacina Parson, Chair, Solo & Small Firm Section, Senior Assistant County Attorney, Pinellas County Attorney’s Office, Clearwater

9:05-10:10 AM:  “Let’s Talk Tech” by Janette M. Smith, Assistant County Attorney for Broward County, Fort Lauderdale

10:15-11:20 AM:  “Say Aloha to M & A: Tackling Your First Solo Forward Triangular Merger,” by  Diriki T. Geuka, Esq., Corporate Associate, Townsend & Lockett, LLC, Atlanta.

11:25 AM-12:30 PM:  “Ethical Considerations in Fee Sharing Agreements:  Navigating Serious Ethical Pitfalls; and, Recent Developments In Attorneys’ Fees Litigation” by Kristy M. Johnson, Chief Legal Counsel, Department of Health, Broward County and Jason R. Alderman, Managing Partner, The Alderman Law Firm, Miami Shores

Jacina Parson, a Central Florida native born and raised in the heart of Orlando, currently serves as Senior Assistant County Attorney for the Pinellas County Attorney’s Office. Prior to joining the County Attorney’s Office, she served as the Director of the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism with The Florida Bar.  Before joining The Florida Bar, she held positions with the Ninth Judicial Circuit Public Defender and Legal Services of North Florida.  At Legal Services, she represented victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and the elderly in the area of Family Law.  She has practiced before the Northern District Federal Bankruptcy Court and Florida Circuit Courts.  She served as legal advocate for the Refuge House and as an advocate for the Grandparents as Parents (GAP) Program with Leon County Elder Care Services.  She currently serves as Chair of the Executive Council of the Solo and Small Firm Section with The Florida Bar and the Board of Directors of the Jean Honor Foundation of Hope.

Additionally, she is a graduate of Leadership Tallahassee and The Florida Bar Foundation Leadership Academy. She served on the Student Education and Admission to the Bar Committee for five years. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, reading, spending time with family and friends and completing marathon races. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Florida and earned her Juris Doctor from Stetson College of Law.

Janette M. Smith, Esq. began her technology career when she was 16 years old by volunteering to build computers for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She then spent a decade working for Nova Southeastern University (NSU) where she held various technology positions. While working at NSU, she received her Master’s in Business Administration in 1999 and her Juris Doctorate in 2006. For her contribution to improving technology at the NSU Shepard Broad law school, Janette received a full scholarship. After graduating from law school in 2006, Janette resigned from her position at NSU and opened her solo law practice. In 2007, she took a chance to follow in her father’s footsteps and accepted a position in local government. For the past 15 years, Janette has been serving in local government while maintaining her solo law practice. She currently works as an Assistant County Attorney for Broward County with her primary focus reviewing and negotiating IT contracts. Janette is a member of the Solo & Small Firm section, and this year, she is the Chair of the City, County, and Local Government law section of the Florida Bar. For fun, Janette loves to travel and adores her two dogs (Nyla and Broddy).

Diriki T. Geuka is an Associate in Townsend & Lockett, LLC’s transactional practice group, serving on a team focusing on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture capital agreements.  Diriki was previously a Pinellas Assistant County Attorney where he represented County agencies and elected and appointed officials.  Diriki began his career as a federal staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, where he served for a year and was an intern for the Honorable Julie S. Sneed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida while in law school.  Diriki was president of Stetson University College of Law’s Student Bar Association before graduating in 2017 with the Dean Richard Dillon Excellence in Real Property and Marc L. Levine Awards.  Diriki is a frequent mentor and community volunteer, and currently serves as a member of Morris Brown’s President’s Advisory Board and as Parliamentarian for the Emerging 100 of Atlanta.

Kristy M. Johnson focuses her practice in the areas of complex business dispute litigation and employment matters.   Ms. Johnson was a Shareholder with an AmLaw 200 law firm, having worked there for more than eleven years.  She recently served as Associate General Counsel for one of America’s premier real estate development and property management companies.  Ms. Johnson served as President of Miami-Dade FAWL in 2010-2011, after having been actively involved with Miami-Dade FAWL for six years.  In 2011, Ms. Johnson was selected as a Glass Ceiling Award recipient by the Florida Diversity Council.  Ms. Johnson regularly speaks on diversity issues and particularly issues impacting women in the legal profession.  Ms. Johnson graduated from the University of Florida (B.S., 1994), and the University of Florida College of Law (J.D., 1999, with honors).

Jason R. Alderman focuses his practice on national and international litigation with a particular emphasis on complex banking, real property, contract, corporate, creditors’ rights, fiduciary, and valuation litigation.  Mr. Alderman is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida; the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.  Mr. Alderman has been repeatedly named as a SuperLawyer; a Legal Elite lawyer by Florida Trend Magazine; and, a Top Lawyer by South Florida Legal Guide.  He graduated from Florida State University (B.S., 1999) and the University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1999), where he was a member of the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review.

Ms. Johnson and Mr. Alderman received the 2018 Daily Business Review Award for Most Effective Lawyer in Employment.  They are married, and live in Miami Shores, Florida, with their two daughters.

Florida Law Update 2022 Thursday, June 23, 2022 (8 credits ). Live (in-person) during The Florida Bar Annual Convention and live GoToWebinar. Registration opens soon.

Business Law Update, Clay Roesch, Orlando; Employment Law Update, Kevin Johnson, Tampa; Animal Law, Ralph DeMeo, Tallahassee; Elder Law & Estate Planning, Peggy Hoyt, Oviedo, and Alex Douglas, Orlando; Criminal Law, Brice Aikens, Orlando; Personal Injury Law Update, James Gordon, Oviedo; Real Estate Law, Patrick Neale, Naples. Course number 5722 and 8.0 General credits pending.
Moderator and Program Chair: Peggy Hoyt.

7:55 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Opening Remarks
Peggy Hoyt, Oviedo, Program Chair

 8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. Business Law Update
Clay Roesch, Orlando

 8:50 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. Employment Law Update
Kevin Johnson, Tampa

9:40 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Animal Law
Ralph DeMeo, Tallahassee

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. Elder Law
Peggy Hoyt, Oviedo
Alex Douglas, Orlando

11:35 – 12:20 p.m. Estate Planning
Peggy Hoyt, Oviedo
Alex Douglas, Orlando

12:20 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Lunch  (on your own)

1:45 p.m. – 2:35 p.m. Criminal Law
Brice Aikens, Orlando                                              

2:35 p.m. –3:25p.m. Personal Injury Law Update
James Gordon, Oviedo

3:25 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. Break

3:35 p.m. – 4:25 p.m. Real Estate Law
Patrick Neale, Naples

Details coming soon. This meeting takes place during The Florida Bar Annual Meeting.

Live GoToWebinar presented by Don Blackwell of Bowman and Brooks LLP and moderated by Cristina Alonso. Course number and Professionalism and Mental Health Awareness CLE credit pending approval. Registration opens soon.

Don Blackwell, who has written and spoken extensively on issues relating to mental health and professionalism, will share an account of the personal challenges that often overlay our already highly stressful and demanding professional lives as attorneys – challenges that not only can affect our own professionalism, but be profoundly impacted by the professionalism or lack of professionalism of others.  He will highlight the alarming statistics relating to attorney mental health, discuss commons triggers and signs of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and eating disorders, before suggesting everyday practices that attorneys can utilize to be more mindful of their and their colleagues’ (friends and foes) mental and emotional well-being and, in the process, enhance everyone’s level of professionalism.  He will conclude by educating attendees on the myriad resources that exist through The Florida Bar to assist those in need of mental health counseling, support, and professional guidance.

The goals of this presentation are fivefold:

1. To share a firsthand account of the personal challenges that often overlay our already highly stressful and demanding professional lives;
2. To highlight the alarming statistics relating to attorney mental health;
3. To discuss common triggers and signs of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and eating disorders;
4. To suggest everyday practices that attorneys can utilize to be more mindful of their and their colleagues’ (friends and foes) mental and emotional well-being; and
5. To educate attendees on the myriad of resources that exist through The Florida Bar to assist those in need of mental health counseling, support, and professional guidance

Don Blackwell is a trial lawyer at Bowman and Brooke, LLP, in Lake Mary, who, for the past 38 years has defended designers, manufacturers, and retailers of automobiles, watercraft, medical devices, power tools, heavy equipment, chemicals, and friction products in personal injury and wrongful death actions. He earned his Bachelor’s in English with Honors from Spring Hill College and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Don has written and spoken extensively on issues relating to mental health and professionalism, including several articles that have appeared in The Professional: “Compassionate Professionalism,” “The Time Has Come to Give Mental Health’s No. 1 Killer a Seat at the Table,” “Who Cries at Texas Roadhouse,” “The Help Desk,” and “The Price of Needing to Be Right.”

Free Wednesday Wisdom Zoom CLE that is open to all members of The Florida Bar. Presented by Tom Boyle, CPA and Co-founder TrustBooks, Raleigh. Course number 6119 is approved for 1.0 General CLE credit. Moderator: Renee E. Thompson, Upchurch, Watson, White & Max Mediation Group, Ocala. REGISTER

Join us to learn about the trust accounting needs of solo and small firms. Tom Boyle will explain how TrustBooks trust accounting software program, a Florida Bar member benefit, can help streamline the record-keeping process to help attorneys better maintain compliance.

Tom Boyle, CPA and Co-Founder of TrustBooks (now part of Paradigm):

• CPA in NC – past experience with Deloitte & Touche and McGladrey & Pullen
• Founded Boyle CPA, PLLC in April 2010 (sold CPA practice in June 2014).  Boyle CPA provided outsourced accounting services for small law firms.
• Presented over 100 webinars and CLE presentations on trust accounting and legal accounting to over 10,000 attorneys and legal staff over the past 5 years.
• Co-founder of TrustBooks – software created specifically to help attorneys manage, record, and reconcile their trust accounts. TrustBooks was acquired by Paradigm in January 2022 and now helps lead the TrustBooks team at Paradigm.