Oct
21
Fri
October 21, 12 – 1 PM Live GoToWebinar. Presented by Professor Chad G. Marzen, J.D., American General Insurance Associate Professor of Insurance Law, Florida State University College of Business, Tallahassee. Moderator: Dr. Michael T. Olexa, Professor & Director Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources Law, University of Florida, Gainesville. Course number 6337 is approved for 1 General CLE credit. REGISTER
The federal crop insurance program is a significant one for America’s agricultural producers. This webinar provides a brief overview of contemporary legal issues with crop insurance that some producers and practitioners may encounter. This webinar will review recent caselaw from courts throughout the United States as well as Final Agency Determinations (FADs) of the United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency.
Learn more about Professor Chad G. Marzen here.
Oct
26
Wed
Oct 26 @ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Oct. 26, 12 – 1 PM, free Wednesday Wisdom Zoom webinar for Solo & Small Firm Section members.* Presented by Peggy Hoyt, Law Offices of Hoyt and Bryan, LLC, Oviedo. Moderator Joshua Hertz. Course number 6633 is approved for .5 General CLE credit; .5 Technology, and .5 Ethics. REGISTER
*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.
Peggy R. Hoyt, J.D., M.B.A., B.C.S.* is a Stetson University graduate receiving her B.B.A., cum laude, in 1981, her M.B.A. in 1982, and her J.D., cum laude, in 1993. Her work experience includes time as a college recruiter, financial consultant, account executive, and chief financial officer before entering law school. She is a founding partner of Hoyt & Bryan, LLC. Peggy is dual certified by the Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts, and Estates and in Elder Law.
Peggy describes herself as “an attorney, animal advocate, and pet mom.” Her love for animals was developed as a child when her father, John A. Hoyt, was the President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.
She is the author of All My Children Wear Fur Coats – How to Leave a Legacy for Your Pet, a book for pet parents on the importance of including their pets as part of their estate plan. She also hosts a weekly “paw-cast” on Buzzsprout called All My Children Wear Fur Coats.
Peggy is the Founder and CEO of Animal Care Trust USA, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping pet parents keep loved pets in loving homes. The organization offers several Forever Loved Pet Trust solutions including Forever Home, Forever Family, and Forever Sanctuary. Animal Care Trust USA can act as a corporate Pet Trustee and is leading the animal estate planning world with the creation of the Forever Loved Pet Trust, a community Pet Trust.
*Board Certified Specialist
Oct
28
Fri
Oct 28 @ 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
October 28, 8 AM – 12:30 PM live GoToWebinar. Course number 6247 has been approved for 5 General CLE credits, 3 of which may be applied toward Ethics; 1 of which may be applied toward Professionalism; and 1 Technology credit. Solo & Small Firm Section members register for only $250. REGISTER
8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
Welcome
John Maceluch
Stephanie Cagnet Myron
8:10 AM – 9:00 AM
Maintain Heading: Ethical Impacts of Recent Lawyer Advertising Decisions, Opinions, and Rule Changes
Jonathan Grabb, Director, Ethics & Advertising Department of The Florida Bar
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
Secure Your Mooring: Effective Strategies to Boost Technology and Maintain Security
John Stewart, Melbourne
9:50 AM – 10:05 AM
Break
10:05 AM – 10:55 AM
Stay Aboveboard: Compliance Requirements Resulting From Recent Rule Changes and Ethics Opinions
Tim Chinaris, Nashville, TN
10:55 AM – 11:45 AM
Retain Your Bearing: Ethical and Professional Obligations of Practicing Virtually and in the Courtroom
Moderator: John Maceluch, Panama City
Panelists:
Judge Jessica Goodwin Costello, Tampa
Judge Keith Meyer, Clearwater
Judge William Dyer, Panama City
11:45 AM – 12:35 PM
Follow Your Compass: Professionalism and Civility in Trying Times and Difficult Situations
Elizabeth Hunter, Palm City
Nov
15
Tue
Live GoToWebinar presented by Marck Joseph, The Joseph Firm P.A., Miami. Moderator: Chris Johnson. Course number 6338 is approved for 1.0 General; 1.0 Technology credit. REGISTER
This seminar is intended to provide detailed information on various software, programs, and subscriptions to help streamline your practice from start to finish. From schedules and calendars to billing and invoicing, this CLE is here to make your practice efficient as well as successful. Attendees will leave with a great understanding of how technology can help us serve our clients while balancing work/life balance and keeping a team in sync.
Marck Joseph, Esq., is the founder and owner of The Joseph Firm, a South Florida-based practice focusing exclusively on Marital and Family Law. His strong passion for justice has resolved hundreds of cases for clients, involving divorce, alimony, equitable distribution, paternity (establishment and disestablishment), time-sharing (custody/visitation rights), child support, and domestic violence. He is also a Florida Supreme Court-certified family mediator and collaborative law practitioner. Marck also serves on various committees, including the 11th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, the Family Law Rules Committee, and The Florida Bar Family Law Sections Legislative Committee.
An experienced litigator who is dedicated to delivering his clients the results they deserve, Marck has a solid familiarity with each of the South Florida courts and agencies. The Joseph Firm has been trusted by national celebrities and maintains an established record for resolving high conflict cases and high net worth litigation.
Nov
29
Tue
Nov 29 @ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Live GoToWebinar presented by Liz McCausland, Liz McCausland, P.A., Orlando, and Legal Tech Consultant, Law Tech Partners. Moderator: John Maceluch, Sunshine Legacy Law, PLLC, Panama City. Course number 6246 is approved for 1.0 General; 1.0 Technology CLE credit. Section members register for only $50. REGISTER
Today’s legal technology has given lawyers the ability to work from anywhere. They can gain a competitive edge and improve legal services to their clients without being in the room. Technology and remote work also have opened the doors to hiring and training staff members who are not “in our backyards.” In this presentation, Liz McCausland, attorney and legal tech consultant, will explore opportunities for today’s lawyers to deliver service and value to their practice, clients, and cases while working remotely.
Liz McCausland has been practicing law for over 20 years after graduating from the University of Florida with both her Bachelor of Arts and JD degrees. She practiced civil litigation representing both individuals and national corporations before starting her own firm. Ms. McCausland now concentrates in bankruptcy and mediation. She is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator. She served on committees to establish both the Orlando Bankruptcy Division’s Mortgage Modification Mediation Program, as well as the Orange County Mortgage Modification Program.
She has conducted over 4,000 Mortgage Modification Mediations in every district in Florida, as well as in Indiana, California, Nevada, and Arizona. She travels throughout the US to teach other attorneys and mediators how to successfully obtain and mediate mortgage modifications in bankruptcy.
Liz has served in leadership positions in many voluntary bar associations and has won awards for her devoted service including being recognized with the Lawrence G. Matthews Professionalism Award. She is a past president of the Orange County Bar Association and serves on the executive council of the Florida Bar’s Solo and Small Firm Section. She has also previously served on the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Section, The Florida Bar’s Leadership Academy Committee, and on the executive board of the Central Florida Association For Women Lawyers.
Liz is a self-proclaimed gadget geek and has never met an app she didn’t try.
Dec
7
Wed
December 7, FREE CLE Zoom webinar for Solo & Small Firm Section members.* Presented by Nefra-Ann MacDonald, Clio Cloud-Based Legal Technology, Senior Manager, Strategic Engagement. Joshua Hertz will serve as moderator. Course number 6488 is approved for 1 General; 1 Technology CLE credit. REGISTER
*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.
According to the 2020 Legal Trends Report, the average lawyer spends only 2.5 hours on billable work per day—which means nearly 70% of each workday is consumed by tasks like data entry, scheduling follow-ups, and timekeeping. Yet these tedious tasks also need to get done.
Luckily, there’s a way to get the non-billable work done faster and more efficiently. With the right technology, law firms can automate many time-consuming tasks—spending less time on administrative work and freeing up more time for billable hours and attention to clients.
Join Nefra MacDonald, Clio’s Senior Manager of Strategic Engagement, to learn how to leverage automation tools to increase productivity and profits at your firm.
In this session, you’ll learn:
- How to differentiate between busywork and billable work in your legal practice
- Three key areas in a law firm that are open to automation
- How to select legal technology that can save you time and money
Nefra-Ann MacDonald is a legal technology and wellness speaker who, as the Senior Manager of Strategic Engagement at Clio, works with bar associations and other legal organizations to help lawyers succeed in their practices. With over a decade of experience in the legal industry, Nefra understands the pain points that affect law firms, and she uses her expertise to help lawyers streamline processes and run a better business. A graduate of the University of Miami, Nefra is passionate about bringing a practical lens to each one of her presentations, so each attendee leaves with a takeaway that can improve their day-to-day. She has been a speaker at the Clio Cloud Conference, ABA TECHSHOW, and at many other legal conferences across North America.
Jan
24
Tue
Live GoToWebinar by Bill Curphy, William E. Curphy Law, Palm Harbor. Course number 6914 is approved for 1.0 General CLE credit. Solo & Small Firm Section members register for only $50. Webinar registrants have 90-day, on-demand access. REGISTER
There are many reasons for taking a deposition; the person is out of the jurisdiction of the court, preserving the testimony, gathering facts to support your case and learning about the other side’s position. One of the most important depositions is of the opposing party. Opposing party’s deposition can form the basis of a summary judgment or at least eliminate some of the issues for trial. It is getting key admissions without a judge ruling on an objection although everyone knows an objection can be made to the form of the question. But do you leave it there? The session will discuss the objection to form and how to deal with opposing counsel who tries to interrupt your flow as well as getting the key information you need.
Bill Curphy started his own practice in 1999 after decades of litigation experience, including work in the government sector for the U.S. Department of Labor, as in-house counsel at a Fortune 200 company, and as a partner at a large law firm. Bill has tried hundreds of cases over the course of his career. Clients seek him out for his formidable trial skills and keen instincts. His experience encompasses jury trials for corporate defendants and plaintiffs alike, in both federal and state courts, in cases including complex business disputes, breach of contract including employment contracts, covenants not to compete, sexual harassment, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and other employment-related matters. He has also successfully handled numerous appeals.
In addition to his active litigation practice, Bill also assists client outside of the courtroom, advising businesses on regulatory compliance, and responding to EEOC, OSHA and other government investigations of the workplace. An accomplished and engaging speaker, he has traveled around the United States and as far as India, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines speaking on such topics as regulatory compliance, how to avoid employment litigation, supervisory skills and negotiation. He has also served as an adjunct professor on labor and employment law at Stetson College of Law and the University of South Florida Graduate School of Business.
Jan
25
Wed
12–1 PM live on Zoom. Course number 6917 is approved for 1.0 General CLE credit. Free CLE, open to all Florida Bar members. REGISTER
In “The Law is Local,” Florida government law attorney Chris Hand will discuss some of the legal challenges and opportunities that clients may encounter with Florida county and city governments. Hand, a former Chief of Staff for the City of Jacksonville, will highlight the stakeholders and processes available to help Floridians use their effective citizenship skills in making local government respond.
For all of the attention focused on the federal government in Washington and state government in Tallahassee, local government has the most significant and immediate impact on our lives—including our lives as attorneys.
Chris Hand has a long record of public, civic, and legal service. He currently leads Hand Law, a firm that helps clients throughout Florida seek opportunities and solve challenges with government.
From 2011 to 2015, Hand served as Chief of Staff at the City of Jacksonville — the largest city by area in the contiguous United States, 12th largest by population in the nation, and most populated city in Florida. Following his service at City Hall, Hand authored the 50th Anniversary update to the chronicle of Jacksonville’s historic city-county consolidation: A Quiet Revolution–the Consolidation of Jacksonville-Duval County and the Dynamics of Urban Political Reform.
From 1996 to 2000, Hand served as speechwriter, campaign press secretary, and Senate press secretary for U.S. Senator and former Governor Bob Graham. With Senator Graham, Hand is co-author of America, the Owner’s Manual: You Can Fight City Hall – and Win, a guide to helping Americans use their effective citizenship skills to make government respond.
In 2008, Hand served as one of 27 Florida electors in the U.S. Electoral College. Ten years later, Hand helped to lead the bipartisan Groveland Four Clemency Coalition, which worked to achieve justice for four Floridians unjustly accused of crimes. On January 11, 2019, the Florida Cabinet unanimously pardoned the Groveland Four. On November 22, 2021, the Fifth Circuit Court restored their legal innocence.
Hand graduated from the Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs. He was honored with the Daily Princetonian Award for efforts to reform the university’s then century-old Honor Code. Hand later graduated from the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law. The law school student body elected him as president of the student bar association.
In addition to his government law practice, Hand is an author, speaker, and commentator who provides political, legal, and governmental analysis for Northeast Florida media. An enthusiastic hiker who loves the outdoors, Hand lives in Jacksonville with his wife and two children.
Feb
22
Wed
Feb 22 @ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
FREE Wednesday Wisdom webinar for Solo & Small Firm Section members* by Jordan Ostrow, a visionary entrepreneur, President of LegalEase Marketing, Managing Partner of Jordan Law FL, and host of multiple Facebook live shows. Course number and CLE credit pending approval.
Course Description: How to come up with the right idea for a law firm you love, and then make decisions toward that while following ethical rules, being profitable, etc.
*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.
Feb
24
Fri
Feb 24 @ 8:00 AM – 12:35 PM
Live GoToWebinar. Course number 6826 is approved for 4 General; 2 Technology CLE credits. Webinar registrants have 90-day,on-de,and access; Solo & Small Firm Section members register for only $245. REGISTER
Thank you to Conference Chair Camara Williams of Orlando.
This seminar will cover automating your practice; simplify on boarding and collections; from lawyering to leading: knowing the numbers that matter most; funding your law firm and how to get financing; website best practices and educating different customer groups.
8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
Welcome
Camera Williams, Program Chair
Gary Lesser, The Florida Bar President
8:10 AM – 9:00 AM
Automating your Practice
Conti Moore, Conti Moore Law, PLLC, Orlando
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
Simplify On Boarding and Collectons
Marko Skarica, Conti Moore Law, PLLC, Orlando
Nikie Lomax, Conti Moore Law, PLLC, Orlando
9:50 AM – 10:40 AM
From Lawyering to Leading: Knowing the Numbers That Matter Most
Leticia DeSuze, Elite Wealth Enterprises, LLC
10:40 AM – 10:55 AM
Break
10:55 AM – 11:45 AM
Funding your Law Firm – How to get Financing
Scott Leitner, SVP, Centeral Counsel, Climate First Bank
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Website Best Practices and Educating Different Customer Groups
Robin Cardella, Titletap
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