April 20, 12 – 1 PM Live GoToWebinar presented by Melanie Griffin, Of Counsel attorney at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, Tampa, and Senior Advisor, Business-to-Business Relationships of Shumaker Advisors Florida. Time Management Strategies & Life Hacks for the Productive, Professional Lawyer. Moderator:  Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin. Live InReach webinar. Course number 4278. 1.0 General; 1.0 General CLE, all of which may be applied toward Professionalism. REGISTER

Time. It is something we all want more of. Yet, no matter how hard we wish, there are only 24 hours in each day. During this virtual webinar, Melanie S. Griffin will help you stretch these 24 hours as far as possible. Together, we will develop a personal strategy that incorporates time management skills and other productive habits to become more effective, efficient, professional and happy lawyers who best serve ourselves, our clients and employers/employees, and the legal profession and justice system as a whole.

Melanie S. Griffin, Esq. is a triple-graduate of The Florida State University (Business Finance, 2003; MBA, 2006; JD, 2006). Her entrepreneurial skills were honed for thirteen years at a prominent Florida corporate law firm where she served as a law clerk and then attorney from 2006-19, the last five years of which she was an Equity Shareholder and the Tampa Office Managing Partner. In 2019, Melanie joined Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, an Am Law 200 firm that is the largest law firm in Tampa Bay, Of Counsel and Shumaker Advisors as Senior Advisor, Business-to-Business Relationships.

During her legal career, Melanie has served as the 2011-12 President of the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers and 2013-14 President of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division. In 2021-22, she will serve as President of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers.

Melanie has been recognized as Florida’s Most Productive Young Lawyer (2009), FAWL Leader in the Law (2010), OBJ 40 Under 40 (2011), Super Lawyers Rising Star (Business Litigation 2010-20), Florida Trend Legal Elite (Up & Comer 2010-14, Commercial Litigation 2014-18), TBBJ BusinessWoman of the Year Legal Services Finalist (2016), FSU Notable Nole (2016), Tampa Bay Metro Inspiring Woman in Business (2016-17), FSU College of Business Recent Alumni Achievement Award (2017), and Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation 2017-20). In 2019, Melanie assisted with the launch of Nora Riva Bergman’s book 50 Lessons for Women Lawyers from Women Lawyers at the New York City Bar Association. Her Lesson, Dream Beyond Perfection!, is published as Lesson #20.

Beyond her legal career, in 2017, Melanie created Spread Your Sunshine, her then passion project committed to empowering others with the confidence to break the glass ceiling and achieve their dreams. After two years of experiencing the excitement over and need for the #ShineItForward™ movement, Melanie is dedicated to intentionally focusing on the inspiration of joy in and encouragement of others.

Melanie’s success shining others through the glass ceiling to their most audacious dreams was celebrated through her receipt of the TBBJ BusinessWoman of the Year Angie Joseph Excellence in Mentorship Award (2016), GSWCF Woman of Promise Award (2017), FSU Inspire Award (2017), Florida Bar YLD Outstanding Woman Lawyer of Achievement Award (2018), KNOW Tampa Feature (2018), The Best of KNOW Feature (2019), Florida Bar SSFS Mentor of the Year Award (2019), Florida State University College of Law Alumni Association Service Award (2020), and KNOW Tampa Contributor Feature (2020).

Melanie is happiest when she is building up all those around her, including her husband Mike, son Maverick, and Golden Lab Molly.

May 11, 12 – 1 PM Live GotoWebinar presented by Frank Ramos, Managing Partner, Clarke Silverglate, P.A. of Miami. In “Virtual Business Development – Developing Relationships, On and Offline,” Frank will discuss how attorneys can maximize online platforms for business development and use relationships created online into in person professional relationships. Moderator:  Scott Merl. Course number 4502. Approved for 1.0 General; 1.0 Technology CLE credit. REGISTER

Frank is the Managing Partner of Clarke Silverglate, where he practices in the areas of commercial litigation, drug and medical device, products liability and catastrophic personal injury.  He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers in America for his defense work in product liability matters.  Frank has been with Clarke Silverglate for virtually his entire career.  He has tried to verdict personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, and inverse condemnation cases.  As a certified mediator, Frank has resolved numerous matters through alternative dispute resolution.

Frank is an ambassador for the Firm’s mission of leadership and service.  He has been President of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and the 11^th Judicial Historical Society and has served on the boards of the Defense Research Institute, Florida International University’s Alumni Association, Florida International University’s Honors College, Parent to Parent of Miami, Miami-Dade Defense Bar Association, Legal Services of Greater Miami, and Florida Christian School.  He serves as a mentor to countless young lawyers and law students through his publications, social media posts, presentations, webinars, and his “coffee chats.”  Frank has written 15 books for lawyers, edited five books for lawyers,  and has written over 400 articles for lawyers and business professionals.

Franks’s dedication to young lawyers is exemplified through his development of a Deposition Boot Camp and Art of Marketing Program for the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, an invitation-only defense organization that handpicked Frank for membership just eight years into his practice.  Frank’s daily practice pointers and business tips on LinkedIn has almost 35,000 followers.

In his spare time, Frank enjoys writing, reading science fiction, and listening to his two sons, David and Michael, perform classical and jazz music.

June 10, 7:55 AM – 4:25 PM. Statutory updates in eight key areas of Florida law:  Business; Employment; Bankruptcy; Elder; Estate Planning; Criminal; Family and Construction. Approved for 8.0 General CLE credits and the following board certification credits:  1.0 Juvenile Law; 2.0 Business Litigation; 1.0 Civil Trial; 1 Construction Law; 1.0 Criminal Appellate; 1.0 Criminal Trial; 1.0 Elder Law; 1.0 Labor and Employment; 1.0 Wills,Trusts, & Estates; 0.5 Workers Compensation. Course number 4380. REGISTER

7:55 AM – 8:00 AM
Opening Remarks
Peggy Hoyt, Program Chair

8:00 AM – 8:50 AM
Business Law Update
Clay Roesch, Orlando

8:50 AM – 9:40 AM
Employment Law Update
Kevin Johnson, Tampa

9:40 AM – 10:30 AM
Bankruptcy
Kristina Feher, St. Petersburg

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Break

10:45 AM – 11:35 AM
Elder Law
Peggy Hoyt, Oviedo
Alex Douglas, Orlando

11:35 AM – 12:20 PM
Estate Planning
Peggy Hoyt, Oviedo
Alex Douglas, Orlando

12:20 PM – 1:45 PM
Lunch

1:45 PM – 2:35 PM
Criminal Law
Brice Aikens, Orlando

2:35 PM – 3:25 PM
Personal Injury Law Update
James Gordon, Oviedo

3:25 PM – 3:35 PM
Break

3:35 PM – 4:25 PM
Construction Law
Patrick Neale, Naples

Live GoToWebinar presented by Kristin Tyler of LAWCLERK™. Course number 5104. Approved for 1.0 General CLE credit, all of which may be applied toward Ethics. Section members register for only $50. REGISTER

Want to grow your firm? Historically, you could charge more or hire. But what if there was a third way? Technology facilitates access to high-quality legal expertise at a surprisingly reasonable cost. Using freelance and contract legal help, you can do more work, grow your firm, and help more clients. But, as is the case with everything for a lawyer, it’s important to be mindful of the business and, of course, the ethical implications of working with freelance attorneys.

This session is about getting out of your head long enough to stop thinking and start embracing what technology and new billing models have to offer before you show up as a T-Rex in the years ahead.

This course offers an informative, frank, and even fun discussion about how to apply the freelance legal ecosystem to up-level your legal practice.  It will explore the business and ethical groundwork to help growth-driven attorneys understand how they can use freelance legal help to achieve their law firm business goals.

Kristin Tyler is Co-Founder of LAWCLERK, where attorneys go to hire freelance lawyers.  She is also a trusts and estates lawyer, busy mom and firm believer that the practice of law can be rewarding despite its daily demands.

Joint CLE program by The Florida Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution and Solo & Small Firm sections.

Live GoToWebinar presented by Christina Magee and Glenn Waldman, ADR Section members. Moderated by Jake Schickel, ADR and SSF Section member. Course number 5227. Approved for 1.0 General CLE credit, 0.5 of which may be applied toward Ethics. Section members register for only $45. Available for purchase through Florida Bar InReach.

Looking for a way to speed up your case even as post-COVID court dockets present obstacles to resolution?  Is your case bogged down as court dockets are too big to advance?  Are your motions and litigation strategies delayed or ineffective due to competition for the court’s time with unprecedented and unresolved civil matters and hearings in only virtual formats?  The Alternative Dispute Resolution and Solo & Small Firm Sections invite you to spend an hour to learn from an expert-moderated panel including a mediator and arbitrator about inventive ways arbitration and mediation are being used to move cases forward even in post-pandemic times.

Topics covered will include:

1. When is the best time to invoke mediation or arbitration in a case that is not progressing?
2. Should you arbitrate or mediate discovery disputes – what are the strategic advantages to each approach?
3. Are there ethical issues with the order of the selection of processes?
4. Are ethical issues involved if you mediate to a predetermined set of outcomes based on a court’s dispositive ruling on a pending motion?
5. Can you utilize “Baseball” arbitration – where the parties provide the arbitrator with a limited number of outcomes?

Christina Magee, Esq. of Satellite Beach is a mediator and arbitrator with a 100% neutral-oriented practice.  She is a public arbitrator on the FINRA panel.  She is a former Chair of The Florida Bar ADR Section, former Chair of The Florida Bar Small Claims Rules Committee, a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator for Circuit Civil, Appellate and County, and is a designated Primary Trainer for Circuit Civil.  She has been practicing law for more than 30 years.

Photo by Chris Salata/CAPEHART
Taken on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Copyright Capehart Photography 2020

Glenn J. Waldman, Esq. of Fort Lauderdale has been practicing law primarily in Florida’s state and federal courts (including appellate courts) for nearly four decades.

Glenn holds the maximum rating “AV” (pre-eminent) by the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory and is similarly rated the maximum 10.0 (“Superb”) by the AVVO ratings guide.

In addition to his complex commercial litigation practice, Glenn is a long-standing certified mediator (state and federal court) and arbitrator (certified by the American Arbitration Association, American Health Lawyers Association, AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society, International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).

He is a Member of the Executive Council of The Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of The Florida Bar.

He devotes a substantial amount of his practice to serve as a Mediator and Arbitrator in a broad range of commercial disputes, including general contract and business matters, large payer/provider health care disputes, intellectual property claims, shareholder and employment disputes (including restrictive covenants), real estate and construction, and probate and estate disputes.

Glenn also serves as an expert witness on issues concerning the standard of care for attorneys in Florida in matters of professional liability.

Jake Schickel’s decorated career could be considered the benchmark for success in the legal community. In addition to multiple professional leadership positions, he has been highly active in supporting legal professionalism and the cause of justice. He has been named a Florida Super Lawyer every year since the program’s inception and was honored by The Florida Bar in 2006 with the Justice Harry Lee Anstead Board-Certified Lawyer of the Year. In 2017, the E. Robert Williams American Inn of Court even named their chapter’s professionalism award in his honor.

Mr. Jake Schickel’s passion for justice is matched only by his long-term commitment to his community. He has served the Jacksonville community on several executive, strategic, economic and planning committees, including leadership positions with nonprofit and civic organizations. Prior to becoming a founding partner of Coker Law, Mr. Jake Schickel worked as an Assistant State Attorney and Chief Assistant Attorney for the 4^th Judicial Circuit.

Jake can be reached at his email address: jjs@cokerlaw.com.

September 21 Live GoToWebinar presented by Mindi Wells of Wells Law in Columbus, Ohio, and moderated by Paige Greenlee of Greenlee Law in Tampa. Course number 5109. Approved for 1.0 General CLE credit. Section members register for only $50. REGISTER

Many law firms, more especially solo and smaller firms, do not have a succession plan in place for the continued operation or wind-down of their law firms. Lack of planning for what happens next—whether the change is from the loss of a partner, sale by founding attorneys, retirement or other unanticipated events—can throw a firm, its clients, employees, and business colleagues into a nosedive.  Join us for this workshop on the fundamentals of succession planning for law firms of all sizes.

In this session, you will learn:

• Why you need to start planning for your exit now—even if it is years away
• What to consider in your succession plan
• How to get started now
• Who you need to get involved

Mindi Wells is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Wells Law, a boutique firm offering legal counsel, investigations, and training to businesses.  An attorney for over two decades, Mindi comes from a family of small business owners and spent much of her career on the business side of organizations. Her commitment to assisting growing businesses in proactively addressing workplace legal issues led her to develop a unique concierge legal service package that includes “house calls” to the C-suite.  Mindi’s clients appreciate her practical approach in simplifying legal complexities developed from years as a business professional herself.  Her no-nonsense style and humorous stories come from over 20 years’ experience in human resources, financial and organizational leadership, operations management, and higher education. Mindi splits her time between Columbus, Ohio, and Sarasota, Florida and serves clients throughout both states.

Live GoToWebinar presented by the Chair of the Cannabis & Controlled Substances Group for Lowndes Law, Tara Tedrow, will focus on the quickly evolving legal and ethical issues in Florida with representing medical marijuana and/or hemp growers, distributors and sellers. Tara also teaches “Marijuana Law and Policy” as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. General Magistrate Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin will moderate. Course number 5309. Approved for 1.0 General; 1.0 Ethics CLE credit. Section members register for only $50. REGISTER

Tara Tedrow is a shareholder at Lowndes Law and the Chair of the Cannabis & Controlled Substances Group.  In addition to working with clients statewide on land use, zoning and development issues, Tara handles complex regulated industries such as alcoholic beverage and marijuana and hemp licensing.  Tara is a regular presenter and speaker at industry seminars and conferences and advises a variety of clients on the impacts of cannabis regulations.  Tara is also an adjunct professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she was the first to teach a course on Marijuana Law and Policy and continues to teach today. Tara is the only person in the state to be appointed by the Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to serve on both the Industrial Hemp Advisory Board the state Hemp Advisory Committee, which she chairs. Tara serves on many community and philanthropic boards, and is most proud of founding an educational non-profit called the Florida Debate Initiative, where she helps establish competitive speech and debate programs statewide.

“Malpractice & Ethical Perils for Law Firms to Avoid,” will be presented by Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company’s Cathy M. Sargent, Esq., Executive Vice President & COO, and Margaret “Peggy” Hewitt, Esq., Resources and Services Manager, and moderated by Renée E. Thompson, Upchurch Watson White & Max. Live GoToWebinar. Course number 5406. Approved for 1.0 General; 1.0 Ethics CLE credit. Section members register for only $50. REGISTER

Even the best lawyers can be sued for malpractice, and in our litigious environment, lawyers can face a number of risks from clients due to real or perceived errors.  No one single error accounts for the majority of claims against attorneys from a myriad of possibilities: substantive law error, administrative mistakes, client relations faux pas, and intentional wrongs are at the top.  Join Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company’s Executive Vice President & COO Cathy M. Sargent and Resources and Services Manager Peggy Hewitt to understand from where and why claims happen to help you take proactive steps to reduce the likelihood a claim will be successfully made against you.

Cathy M. Sargent is Executive Vice President & COO of Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, responsible for overseeing the Company’s day-to-day operations.

Prior to joining FLMIC, Ms. Sargent led for 34 years at Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company of California, serving as Vice President of Development and Outreach, Vice President of Underwriting & Marketing, and General Counsel for Claims. She was a founding member of the California Lawyers Association Lawyer Well-Being Committee, reflecting a personal passion for lawyer well-being and personal and professional happiness — a passion she brings to FLMIC in furtherance of our commitment to serving our member lawyers.

Additionally, Ms. Sargent served as a guest speaker at the international 2019 NABRICO conference. She is currently a nominee for the ABA Standing Committee on professional liability insurance.

Ms. Sargent is a graduate of the Loyola Law School, where she worked in the Domestic Violence Clinic and served as Certified Student District Attorney, a trial advocate, and as a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals extern. After graduating with a Juris Doctorate, she served as defense counsel in a California law firm handling legal malpractice claims and coverage disputes. Prior to entering law school, Ms. Sargent graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola Marymount, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and was recognized as part of the University Honors Program during each of her four years. While enrolled at Loyola Marymount, she served as Vice President of Tri Sigma and was a member of distinguished scholarship society Alpha Sigma Nu.

Before coming to Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, Margaret “Peggy” Hewitt, Esq. was a 20-year partner of Jones, Hurley & Hand, P.A.  Before joining a law firm, Ms. Hewitt was in-house counsel for the Walt Disney Company; before Disney, she was Counsel to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and an Assistant State Attorney.  Her practice experience included over 120 jury trials, and countless administrative hearings and appeals in the areas of Insurance Defense, Employment and Labor Law, and Workers’ Compensation.  She has been designated an “AV” Peer Review Rated Lawyer by Martindale Hubbell.

Ms. Hewitt has an extensive library of articles and advisories for legal and risk management publications, including the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association News and LinkedIn.  Her Florida Bar CLE manuals and presentations include “Trying a Difficult Liability Case in Florida.”  She has been an accredited CEU presenter for the Florida Department of Finance since 2002, has created and presented dozens of Power Point assisted seminars both for the CEU Institute and for her self-insured and self-administering clients, and has presented at the ABA Annual Conference and the NRRDA National Conference.

Ms. Hewitt was raised in Florida.   She received her BA in History and Music from the University of Florida in 1980, while working full time and participating in the UF Band.  She also earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida in 1983.  She was recently nominated by the City of Winter Park Chamber of Commerce for Volunteer of the Year, for her years on the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival Committee as their Entertainment Committee Director.

321-663-9017
peggyh@FLMIC.com

Live GoToWebinar presented by General Magistrate Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin and moderated by Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy. Course number 5673 is approved for 1 General; 1 Technology CLE credit. Section members register for only $50. REGISTER

Learn pro tips that let you skip trial-and-error tutorials and find out how to fully integrate Microsoft Word into your law practice. Magistrate Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin will teach you exactly what you need to make your practice more efficient and will walk you through, step-by-step, how to set up and use Microsoft Word effectively. Practice with your PC or laptop while you listen. Learn Word features that can make formatting nightmares go away—and master shortcuts that will take your efficiency in Word to new levels.

Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin has presided over more than 20,000 hearings and trials since 2010. First as the Third Judicial Circuit Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer and now as the General Magistrate. Jennifer currently presides over domestic relations, probate, guardianship and foreclosure cases.

Jennifer obtained her J.D. from the University of Florida, where she graduated Cum Laude. Jennifer received her B.S. from the University of South Florida, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Jennifer’s extensive service within The Florida Bar includes: Past Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Section; Executive Council member of the Solo and Small Firm Section (past secretary, treasurer); Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Technology Conference 2015, 2016, 2017; Family Law Section of The Florida Bar – Magistrate and Hearing Officer Committee Chair 2014-15, 2015-16; Third Judicial Circuit Young Lawyer’s Division Board of Governor’s Representative 2009-2015; Vision 2016; Statewide Advertising Grievance Committee; and The Florida Bar Ad Hoc Committee to Study SCOPE Program.

Jennifer has served her local bar as the President of the Third Judicial Bar Association, as the Vice Chair of the Third Circuit Grievance Committee and as the President and founder of the Young Lawyer’s Section.

Jennifer holds the maximum rating, AV Preeminent® by the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory. Jennifer’s pride and joy is her four-year-old daughter, Kendall.