The Florida Bar's LegalFuel Podcast

Every year, there are updates and changes to the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar and new Ethics Opinions. We are fortunate to have knowledgeable attorneys standing by on the Ethics Hotline responding to calls from our members. Because it’s a new year, we are going to discuss some of the changes that have recently gone into effect as well as review other important ethics and advertising rules. In...

The Florida Supreme Court has partnered with the Bar to declare November “Legal Professionalism Month” and is asking members to rededicate themselves to the highest ideals of professionalism and civility in all they do.  To close out the month and as reference going forward, we thought we'd discuss how to navigate the new normal as it pertains to our virtual or socially distanced workplace int...

Here at the Practice Resource Center, we frequently get calls from lawyers who are thinking about starting their own firms and we explain that they will be doing two jobs: practicing law and running a small business.   In this latest episode, host Christine Bilbrey speaks with Amie Remington to discuss why law firms should consider outsourcing some or all their human resource functions.  Amie Remi...

Today, practicing law requires a lot more technology know-how than in the past. Back in 2016, The Florida Supreme Court increased the number of mandatory CLE hours to include 3 in technology. We know that members are taking advantage of our large library of free CLE courses to get technology credit, but some lawyers have managed to successfully avoid actually using technology either by having supp...

Helping others gives a lawyer’s work meaning but carrying the weight of their client’s stress and trauma can also exact a heavy toll on a lawyer’s well-being. Secondary trauma is caused when one is indirectly exposed to someone else’s trauma, and it can develop into secondary traumatic stress which manifests itself in ways that mimic PTSD. Secondary Trauma can especially affect lawyers, judges, an...

Social media platforms have become ubiquitous marketing tools. According to a report by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and conducted by PwC, social media advertising revenues reached $41.5 billion in 2020, which is nearly 30% of all internet advertising revenue. So, how can Florida lawyers leverage social media to create impactful advertisements while ensuring compliance with Florida Bar ethic...

In 2020 the Florida Supreme Court adopted a presumptive three-month parental leave rule for many court cases that would require judges to grant a lead attorney’s request for leave for the birth or adoption of a child. More recently, The Florida Bar’s YLD published an excellent resource entitled, A Practical Guide to Parental Leave for Employers: What to Expect When Your Employee is Expecting. In t...

The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal system links all of the 20 judicial circuit courts, the 5 District Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court – all through one single, integrated Portal website. Usage of the E-Filing Portal has grown significantly since it first began accepting documents in 2011. According to its 2019-2020 Annual Report, almost 300,000 registered filers use the system, sending over...

Many of our listeners are new, solo, or small firm attorneys, so we like to explore and demystify as many topics as we can to help them in their practices. In this episode we explore the court reporting and captioning industry. Court reporters have long played a crucial role in the legal world, but there is a lot more to this industry than quietly recording testimony for the record.  Hosts Christi...

Practicing law was stressful enough before COVID-19 exacerbated the anxiety and depression that can come from worrying about finances, job security, or the health of loved ones. In response, The Florida Bar fast tracked the debut of the free, 24/7/365 mental health helpline. The Florida Lawyers Helpline is exclusively for Bar members to call and speak to mental health professionals, and if needed,...

While many lawyers likely credit much of their success to their high IQ’s, studies have shown that the happiest and most successful people also possess high emotional intelligence (EI or EQ).     In this episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt speak with Ronda Muir to discuss how attorneys can understand, use, and raise their emotional intelligence to increase their happiness and be more...

Some attorneys have been using alternatives fee arrangements for years while others have staunchly held on to the traditional billable hour model. In the face of the current pandemic, many in the billable hour camp have been forced to innovate and transform their practices to ensure they continue to attract and retain clients.   In this episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt talk with J...

Wondering about the difference between a qualifying provider and a lawyer referral service? Are you interested in becoming a qualifying provider or participating with one? Are you familiar with The Rules Regulating the Florida Bar that specifically address the division of fees between lawyers in different firms and the sharing of fees with nonlawyers?  In this episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and K...

As we’ve discussed in previous episodes and articles , COVID-19 has prompted law firms to reassess their business continuity plans with many lawyers facing challenges that will permanently impact their careers. While some are going solo, others have opted for retirement.  In this episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt talk with The Bar’s own Jessica Malloy, Nathan McClure, and Jonathan...

The Florida Bar’s Rule 1-3.8 requires every member to designate an inventory attorney. Why? Your clients need to be protected in the event you are suddenly unable to practice law, and your inventory attorney will contact your clients and ensure the proper handling of their files. To help members understand how this process works, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt talk with Patricia Savitz...

The ever-evolving role of technology in records and information management has left many lawyers with a lot of questions. What do you need to know about on-site versus off-site data storage? How do you migrate from physical to electronic files? And what about record retention rules and document disposal practices? Together with records management expert John Montaña, Christine Bilbrey and Karla Ec...

The Florida Bar continues to seek to lessen the stigma surrounding mental health issues and offer more support to its members in the future. To bolster these goals, it has been working to develop a partnership with CorpCare Associates, Inc. and their employee assistance program. Hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt welcome George Martin and Lisa Hardy, both of CorpCare, to outline the many se...

Attracting new business is important to your legal practice, but there are many questions you should consider when marketing your firm. What type of content can your ad contain? How should you interact with potential clients online? Which marketing materials must be submitted to the Bar for review? From online campaigns to tv ads to social media posts, lawyers must follow advertising regulations a...

Employment law violations happen in all businesses— even law firms. How can you protect your firm and, more importantly, your employees from harassment and other workplace issues? In this edition of the Florida Bar Podcast , Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt welcome employment law expert Deborah Minnis to help lawyers understand the applications of Title VII and other antidiscrimination statutes...

Is your practice in need of a firm administrator? You may be reticent to pass the baton, but it could help your firm become significantly more efficient and profitable. Florida Bar podcast hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt sit down with Debra Elsbury, president-elect of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), to discuss what lawyers need to know about the successful management of th...

We are all well-aware of the mental health crisis in the legal profession, but how much do you know about the work being done to improve attorney well-being? In this episode from The Florida Bar Podcast , hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt talk to Anne Brafford about her shift from big law to the study of positive organizational psychology. They talk about Anne’s book, “Positive Professiona...

Retirement requires planning, but not all plans are created equal. The Florida Bar Podcast hosts Christine and Karla talk with business valuation expert Gary Trugman and financial advisor Michael Davino about how best to prepare and effectuate your retirement. Together, they explore the pitfalls to avoid, and the best practices to explore to maximize your return and ensure yourself a comfortable f...

How well are guidelines for professionalism understood by lawyers? In this episode of the Florida Bar Podcast , hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt talk to Rebecca Bandy and Adriannette Williams about how the Florida Bar is seeking to elevate professionalism amongst its lawyers. Rebecca and Adriannette outline their roles at the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism and describe the cente...

How can law firms attract good employees and keep them? In this episode of the Florida Bar Podcast, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt talk to Michael Cohen about the critical things attorneys need to know when hiring, evaluating, or terminating an employee. They outline proper preparation for interviews, effective employee evaluation processes, and how to handle employee terminations. Mich...

Many people are not aware that the Florida Bar and the Florida Board of Bar Examiners are two separate entities. In this episode of the Florida Bar Podcast , hosts Christine Bilbrey and Karla Eckardt talk to Missy Gavagni and Scott Baena about the roles of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. They outline its various functions including character and fitness investigations and the development, admi...