The Jacksonville Bar Association has been serving the Northeast Florida legal community since 1897. In that time we have changed in many ways.
Starting with 33 members, the association has grown to approximately 2,000 members. As a voluntary bar association we must provide great value to encourage folks to join.
We have put on great social events and charity programs over the years. In the past year, we have increased both the number of CLE programs and CLE hours we have offered to our members.
When COVID-19 began to impact how many businesses operated, the Jacksonville Bar Association was not exempt. With our outstanding team we quickly transitioned many of our programs online.
We learned through trial and error, but our focus is to continue to offer outstanding programs to our members.
One of our first online-only programs was a COVID-19 update from the Circuit Civil Division with Circuit Judge Waddell Wallace. Almost 100 people logged in to hear from the judge and ask questions.
We have expanded our offerings in a partnership with other voluntary bar associations around the state including the Broward County Bar Association, Dade County Bar Association, Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, Hillsborough County Bar Association, Orange County Bar Association, Palm Beach County Bar Association, St. Petersburg Bar Association, Sarasota County Bar Association, South Palm Beach County Bar Association and Tallahassee Bar Association.
Through this coalition we offer applicable CLE programs that deal with substantive areas of the law.
Another benefit is highlighting the expertise of our members. With the majority of our CLE presenters being a member of the JBA, we are able to promote them throughout the state.
Our Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Seminar was presented July 29 with this partnership, giving our presenters statewide exposure.
This partnership with other voluntary bar associations will continue to grow and will remain after COVID-19.
With all of these, and other programs we continue to offer, it is important and easy to be a member of the JBA.
We accept credit cards, including American Express, for membership dues and event costs.
We changed how membership is calculated, changing from the membership year mirroring the July 1-June 30 Bar year to making membership good for 365 days from when you join.
We hope that you will renew or join today. If you would like more information about the best way to get involved, do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Craig Shoup is executive director of the Jacksonville Bar Association. Contact him at (904) 399-4486 or [email protected].