The Jacksonville Bar Association’s mission is multi-faceted. Each component is worthy of pursuit and will remain a focus of the JBA.
However, as we continue to emerge from pandemic-prompted seclusion, my presidency will emphasize collegiality and its primary impetus – community.
Technology allows us to work efficiently and conveniently from home. That efficiency and convenience has come at the cost of community, furthering the trend of interacting with our peers and friends via devices.
Connection has suffered, as has collegiality.
Jacksonville’s legal community has long enjoyed the reputation of being civil, professional, trustworthy and friendly. Local lawyers are able to strike the commendable balance between zealous advocacy and interpersonal integrity. Our peers from other parts of the state noticed, as did their envious voluntary Bar associations.
What distinguished our legal community from others is that we quite simply get along with each other. Why? Because we know each other and like each other. That allows us to trust each other and form relationships outlasting the particular legal matters at hand.
I credit the JBA for fostering this healthy legal community.
The JBA has a long history of social activity, shared meals, quality seminars, service projects and committee structures that allow our large organization to become small, affording its members abundant opportunities to commune, serve and lead.
Zoom and the like have been detrimental to true community.
While that technology has value and relevance in a post-COVID society, particularly as it pertains to certain legal proceedings, it must not be our preferred means of professional or personal interaction.
Let us resume communing . . . in person.
Unless you are an A La Carte member, your JBA dues already paid for your entry to all six of our scheduled luncheons, so come.
When you do, sit at a table with some folks you don’t know.
I challenged the June luncheon attendees to not dine with their fellow law firm mates, as they (hopefully) already know each other.
Instead, I encouraged them, and you, to use each JBA luncheon as an opportunity to meet some of your other lawyer peers.
While you are at it, meet some local judges as well. We’ve made that goal easier to achieve.
Our judiciary is invited to lead by example and intentionally sit no more than two judges per table, greatly increasing the odds of your sharing a luncheon meal with a few of them during the course of the next fiscal year . . . if you attend.
The 50 CLE hours worth of programming that the JBA averages per year will almost always have an in-person attendance option. Join us instead of attending remotely.
Will you learn more by attending in person? Probably. Will you commune more by attending in person? Absolutely. Will you have a better experience attending in person? Undeniably.
I encourage our committee leadership to emphasize in-person meetings and events.
Hybrid formatting with remote attendance will often be available, but I challenge you to view that option as your exception and not your default.
To get the most value from your JBA membership, you should attend our scheduled events.
People, including lawyers, have always needed connection, now more than ever.
This truth informs and inspires the theme for my presidency. The JBA builds community so you can better enjoy being a lawyer.
I look forward to seeing you this year, live and in person.
Blane McCarthy is a certified circuit mediator with Miles Mediation & Arbitration.