About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

50 Fla. B. News 1 (2023)

handle is hein.barjournals/flabn0050 and id is 1 raw text is: New Men toring Program on Track for Summer Launch - Page 16 a SinceBa97 arTecForia Brn Volume 50, Number 1 FloridaBar.org /News January 2023 Bar launches educational initiative to help Floridians navigate Life's Legal Moments The initiative provides 'helpful resources' on how to hire lawyers, where Floridians may find lawyers to meets their specific needs, and how to navigate the legal system By Mark D. Killian Editor Hiring a lawyer for important legal moments in life alleviates stress, saves time and money, and increases the likelihood of more favorable outcomes. With that premise, The Florida Bar k has launched LLife's Legal LESSER Moments, an educational initiative to help Floridians understand when and how to access legal counsel. The program is designed to offer the public guidance on when navigating critical life moments necessitate retaining counsel to evaluate and help handle matters so Floridians can protect their interests. A priority of Florida Bar President Gary Lesser, the Life's Legal Moments initiative was developed after a June 2022 survey found three in four Floridians consider the state's legal system difficult to navigate. The program will help Floridians understand the value attorneys offer as trusted legal advisors during particularly important and challenging life events. Those major moments of life may include real estate transactions, drafting a will, handling employment disputes, dealing with an insurance claim, filing for divorce, starting a business, obtaining guardianship for a loved one, and much more. The ability of the legal profession to serve the public is essential to what we do as lawyers, Lesser said. With our experience and knowledge of legal proceedings and of the complications that often occur within it, we know hiring a lawyer can help someone and their family increase the odds of better outcomes. It's imperative the public we serve recognize this as well, and why Life's Legal Moments is designed to help every Floridian understand that professional guidance is important and needed. Lesser said the initiative provides helpful resources on how to hire lawyers, where Floridians may find lawyers to meets their specific needs, and how to navigate the legal system. The recently launched Life's Legal Moments website (FloridaLawyersCanHelp. com) provides a host of resources including research showing the benefits of hiring a lawyer; a step-by- step guide on How to Hire an Attorney, an animated, informational video series; lawyer referral service information; and pro bono and legal aid information. Lesser said the campaign also includes a robust social media component and the efforts to spread the word and reach the public will be most successful with the help and support of all Florida lawyers. The efforts of Florida's lawyers sharing these resources via social media, at community events, and within your networks will See Moments, page 5 Sixth DCA launches January 1 By Patrick R. Fargason Senior Editor As the calendar turns to 2023, the newly formed Sixth District Court of Appeal worked hard gearing up for its January 1 implementation date. In June, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 7027, which established the new appellate court by realigning the boundaries of the First, Second, and Fifth DCAs. The realignment calls for: The First DCA is to be composed of the First, Second, Third, Eighth, and 14th circuits. The Second DCA is to be composed of the Sixth, 12th, and 13th circuits. The Fifth DCA is to be composed of the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, and 18th circuits. The Sixth DCA is to be See Sixth DCA, page 24 GARY LESSER: We know hiring a lawyer can help someone and their family increase the odds of better outcomes. It's imperative the public we serve recognize this as well, and why Life's Legal Moments is designed to help every Floridian understand that professional guid- ance is important and needed Aggressive case management, sanctions needed to bring about a 'cultural change' Court hears arguments on civil rules proposals meant to ensure 'the fair and timely resolution of all cases through effective case management' By Jim Ash Senior Editor Major reforms are needed to combat a culture of non-compliance in Florida's civil trial system, proponents of a Judicial Management Council workgroup's sweeping rules petition told the Supreme Court during oral arguments in December. Second District Court of Appeal Chief Judge Robert Morris, who chairs the Workgroup on Improved Resolution of Civil Cases, said the proposal's call for aggressive case management and tough sanctions are needed to bring about a cultural change. Yes, sanctions are everywhere in our report and we've not recommended this because we're autocratic, but because we recognize a growing culture of noncompliance in the absence of consequences for failing to follow the rules, he said. Sanctions are also necessary to force popularly elected judges to compel lawyers to follow MORRIS the rules, he said. Critics warned that the workgroup is calling for too much change, too soon, See Civil, page 12 At 100, Jay Simons isn't slowing down I've been practicing since 1950, and I'll keep practicing until I get it right' By Jim Ash Senior Editor Westin attorney J. Jay Simons is much more likely to spend his 100th year in a Zoom mediation than a porch , swing. I love what I do, and I g just can't see myself sitting - around in a rocking chairz' doing nothing, he said. Q The Boston native and former World War II aircraft JAY SIMONS gets set to begin a mediation session at his mechanic crossed the century residence in December. Simons, a legendary Broward County mar Deembr lasaactve ersonal iniurv and medical malpractice attorney as well as a See Simons, page 10 peroa inuy aumuia aprat ato y, aswnaa former judge, turned 100 December 19, but still continues to work part-time as a mediator. w 0 O Zu d Qw . t 0 H Z w*6Qi _ ca G) C 0 Co L- 0 C) w J O0 No >' 0) - ~ (4- LL t- , G) E Fe- v is ry

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most