Continuing its practice of public involvement, The Florida Bar seeks a new nonlawyer to serve on its governing board.
Two public members have served on the Bar’s 52-member governing board since the Supreme Court of Florida approved the organization’s request to have nonlawyer representation on the board in 1987. Only 12 other state bar organizations have public members on their governing boards.
The new board member will replace Linda Goldstein of Tampa, whose second two-year term expires June 2024.
The new board member would serve a two-year term commencing June 21, 2024. Candidates must be able to commit to attending/participating in five, two-day meetings held at locations around the state; one, two-day meeting held at a location outside of Florida; and one virtual two-day meeting, in addition to occasional committee meetings held virtually throughout the year. (See Expectations of Service as a Public Member on The Florida Bar Board of Governors.)
A screening committee of The Florida Bar Board of Governors has been appointed to review the applications, conduct final interviews, and make recommendations to the Bar’s governing board during its March meeting. The board will then recommend three persons to the Supreme Court of Florida and the Court will appoint one of the three nominees to the board.
The Board of Governors oversees the Bar’s lawyer discipline program, continuing legal education programs, legislative activities, and the overall administration of The Florida Bar. Board members, who are all volunteers, average 200-300 hours per year on Bar business depending on committee assignments. Although attorney members of the Bar’s governing board pay their own expenses related to their attendance at six board meetings and other events held each year, nonlawyer board members are reimbursed for “reasonable travel and related expenses for attending official bar functions.”
Most of the Bar’s board is apportioned according to Florida’s 20 judicial circuits, with attorney members elected by lawyers in their locality. There are four additional out-of-state representatives. The other public member currently serving on The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors is Melanie Shore, Gainesville.
Applications will be accepted until close of business on Monday, January 22, 2024. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the required application.
Persons interested in serving as a public member may download the Application for Public Member on the Board of Governors or call Bar headquarters at 850-561-3127, to obtain the application. Completed applications must be received by the Executive Director, The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, 32399-2300, or submitted via email.
Original source can be found here.