TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Bar is seeking a member of the public to become a part of its governing board.
According to a press release made public on Nov. 19, the new member of the board "will replace Lawrence W. Tyree of Orlando, whose second two-year term expires June 2019."
The bar has been admitting members of the public into its board since 1987, when a Florida Supreme Court ruling approved its request to have nonlawyer representatives. Among the bar associations of the country's 50 states, only 12 have nonlawyer members on their governing boards.
"A screening committee of The Florida Bar Board of Governors has been appointed to review the applications for the public member position, conduct final interviews and make recommendations to the Bar’s governing board during its March meeting in Washington, D.C.," where the board will recommend three people to the Supreme Court, which will appoint one name to take the spot, the press release says.
Members of the board "average 200-300 hours per year on Bar business, depending on committee assignments," and nonlawyer members get compensated for their travel and other expenses.
The new member will serve a two-year term starting Jun. 28, 2019. Only one re-election for another two-year term is allowed.
"Most of the Bar’s board is apportioned according to Florida’s 20 judicial circuits, with attorney members elected by lawyers in their locality," the release says, adding that "there are four additional out-of-state representations."
The other nonlawyer member of the board is Sharon B. Middleton of Ponte Vedra Beach.
The board of governors is responsible for overseeing the bar association’s lawyer discipline program, legal education programs, legislative activities and administration.
Those who are interested in serving as a public member, please contact the Florida Bar at floridabar.org/public/probono/serviceawards or by calling 850-561-3127.