The Florida Bar

Thirteenth Circuit Judge Nicholas Nazaretian recently spoke to the new Cooley Law School students about integrity, professionalism, and ethics during its Tampa Bay campus orientation and Professionalism in Action Program. “As you navigate through your law school career, you will notice going through a transition to becoming lawyer,” said Judge Nazaretian, a Cooley graduate. “Part of that transition will be the ethical aspects of your new career, and the importance of civility and professionalism. Your reputation is essential to being successful as an attorney. You will work years to earn it and it takes just minutes to burn it. You will be challenged in your careers; you will see other attorneys acting unethically and maybe getting ahead. Don’t follow that lead. Once you start down that slope, your doomed. It is easy to be ethical when everyone is watching, the true test will be when you’re alone and maybe no one will find out – except there is always one person that knows. Who? You.” Cooley’s Tampa Bay campus incoming class includes 57% minority enrollment and 27% of students are coming from outside of Florida, according to the law school. https://lnkd.in/eVkC-qFH

It's already September, which means that it is time again! No, not pumpkin spice latte time! 🍂☕ Time to nominate your favorite selfless lawyer for the 2025 Pro Bono Awards, of course! 🙌 Nominations are due in a month on October 4, so get to nominating and make sure the lawyer that's always going out of their way to help others gets the recognition they deserve! 💪⚖️✨ https://lnkd.in/e-vs-Quf has all the nomination forms and all the information you might need!

If you or someone you know are a reporter - whether print, audio, digital, video, or television - and you report on legal happenings in Florida, you have GOT to send in a nomination for this year's Reporters' Workshop! Just take a look at these photos from last year! This honored tradition from the Florida Supreme Court and The Florida Bar Media and Communications Law Committee focuses on arming reporters with knowledge straight from the horse's mouth as they learn from public information officers, judges, and even get to chat with some Florida Supreme Court justices. Read more about the event (and maybe send the link to your editor 👀) at https://lnkd.in/dX2XaQCy

“Wyatt is a second-year law student, president of the Student Bar Association, and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and service,” said Merritt E. McAlister, interim dean of the UF College of Law. “He has shown an ability to balance his academic, extracurricular, and professional obligations, while maintaining a high level of integrity and compassion. He is a role model for his peers and a credit to the University of Florida - Fredric G. Levin College of Law.” https://lnkd.in/eRf2hTSq

An outstanding column from our president! We look forward to reading his thoughts every time a new Bar Journal issue arrives in our inbox.

We don't have to tell you how much having a great mentor helps your career, but finding a mentor or mentee is difficult! If you are a new lawyer looking for some guidance or an experienced lawyer looking to dole out some wisdom, Counsel to Counsel is the best way to do it! 🤝 Read more about it in the Bar News and apply to be paired with the perfect mentor or mentee! ⚖️✨💪 https://lnkd.in/env69bpu

⚠️ANNOUNCEMENT⚠️ The Florida Supreme Court, in recent orders, disciplined five attorneys, disbarring one, revoking the license of one, suspending two, and emergency suspending one. Read the full release on the Bar website. https://lnkd.in/erQXQcqJ

Do YOU know about merit retention voting? Only 20% of Floridians feel very confident about casting their merit retention votes. If you're not part of that 20%, don't sweat it! We're here to help. ✅🗳️ Get the facts BEFORE you vote. Check out our site, TheVotesInYourCourt.com, to make election season easier than pie! 🥧

You may have already seen the announcement, but you haven't gotten the full ✨Florida Bar News✨ write-up! JU Law has a new home in downtown Jacksonville. The growing college began in 2022, earning provisional ABA accreditation earlier this year. Its inaugural class will graduate in spring 2025, and administrators look forward to welcoming a growing class of students to fill their new space in the historic former Atlantic Bank Building. https://lnkd.in/edNEfshH

⚠️Don't forget!⚠️ If you have been considering becoming board certified, the first step is filing your application and the deadline is in THREE DAYS!! If you would like to become board certified for one of the practice areas listed at the end of this post, make sure you finish your application before the end of the month! 💪⚖️✨ Click on your practice area to find your application and requirements! https://lnkd.in/ecHkZqA4 Admiralty and Maritime Law Adoption Law Appellate Practice Aviation Law Civil Trial Law Condominium & Planned Development Education Law Elder Law Immigration & Nationality Law International Law Labor & Employment Law Marital & Family Law Tax Law