We're All in This Together.

• Author: Suskauer, Michelle R.
• Position: Florida Bar - President's page

One of my great passions when it comes to Bar work is getting people together. I learned quickly as a young lawyer in West Palm Beach--in my first job as an assistant public defender --that the legal community is so much more than a walk to and from the courthouse. The chance to get involved in something greater than myself, to meet lawyers and judges from all facets of the law, and to make a real difference in the profession and my community swept me away. I love the work, making new friends, and the positive influence lawyers can have on society.

Focus on Solos and Small Firms

I am thankful for the opportunity to serve this year as your Bar president. During my campaign for this office, I traveled our state and talked with lawyers from every practice area--managing partners, government, corporate counsel, and solo and small firm lawyers--and learned about the challenges they're facing. In my own experience, I practiced with my husband in a small firm for 18 years, and I am now in a firm of less than 10 lawyers, so supporting solos and small firms is on my agenda. I'm excited that we can help all lawyers in Florida become more productive and profitable. One way we can do that is with LegalFuel--The Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar. Formerly the Practice Resource Institute, LegalFuel offers law office management and technology support for Bar members. All free of charge, highly experienced practice management advisors assist Bar members with the business-related aspects of running a law firm. Staff is available to chat online, by telephone, or email.

I'll be working to increase the visibility of LegalFuel with fresh marketing strategies so that more members take advantage of this incredible resource. It has a new website, legalfuel.com, with improved navigation and layout, which make accessing the valuable tools on this site much simpler. In addition, we plan to launch a speaker series on issues that address helpful topics for lawyers, ranging from technology to social media to how to attract new clients. The speaker series will be a great way for lawyers to bolster their knowledge of law firm management and to earn free CLEs at the same time.

Criminal Justice...