Dispelling myths.

• Author: Bookman, Alan B.
• Position: About bar associations - Florida - President's Page

For years I have heard the same statements about the Bar as you have heard: "The Bar does nothing for me, only to me." "The Board of Governors is run by plaintiff's trial lawyers." "The Board of Governors does nothing but play." "The Bar pays for the expenses of the members of the Board of Governors." "I cannot get appointed to any committees of the Bar." "The sections are a waste of my time."

As you read this column, you may agree with some of the above comments. All of them are simply incorrect, and I ask you to consider my counter arguments.

1) "The Bar does nothing for me, only to me."

Our Florida Bar (note I said "our" and not "my") strives daily to make the practice of law more manageable for all of us. When was the last time you reviewed the list of the Bar's member benefits? From car rentals to malpractice insurance, to office supplies, to office management policies and procedures, our Florida Bar provides meaningful programs and products to assist our professional lives. Browse the list of benefits that is published on page 26 of your September membership directory. The list is updated regularly on the Bar's Web site, floridabar.org.

Have you ever considered LOMAS (Law Office Management Assistance Service)? This program provides a broad range of practice management information and answers to questions on such subjects as proper trust accounting procedures. On-site consultations can provide evaluations of office systems and suggest improvements on your office's equipment, software, mergers, marketing, and document management. Call The Florida Bar LOMAS office toll-free at 866/730-2020 for more information.

Additionally, the Bar now offers to all members FREE Florida legal research. FASTCASE is available by simply going on-line to the Bar's Web site under member services and clicking the link.

Do you have an ethics question regarding proposed conduct? Established in 1985 is a toll-free ethics hotline which connects inquiring attorneys directly with ethics counsel located at Bar headquarters. By calling 800/235-8619, members may receive an informal advisory opinion on anticipated conduct. A compilation of formal ethics opinions from the Professional Ethics Committee are available on the Bar's Web site at floridabar.org.

2) "The Board of Governors is run by plaintiff's trial lawyers."

There are 52 members on the Board of Governors which consists of the president and president-elect, president and president-elect of the Young Lawyers...