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"Together, We Can Meet These Challenges"
Read Herman's responses to 12 Florida Bar News questions.
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Dear Florida Bar Colleague, As we enter the new millennium, our profession is facing many challenges. Lawyers need to be able to rely on The Florida Bar to help them meet their professional demands and personal goals. Together, we can meet these challenges. I believe our legal profession has changed dramatically over the past 25 years, causing every law firm and lawyer to examine what drives his or her organization. As a leader of the Bar, I would have the opportunity to be an effective advocate and help shape the future of our profession. |
Promote High Professional Standards |
When I was with Floyd Pearson Richman Greer Weil Brumbaugh & Russomanno, I learned from former Judges Robert Floyd and Ray Pearson of the importance of giving back to the profession. They shared the tenet that lawyers should hold themselves to the highest professional and personal standards. They taught me as did my mother and father, who was an attorney, that an untarnished reputation is a substantial possession. |
Stop Promulgating Unnecessary Rules & Regulations |
I also came from a law firm that believed that lawyers should not be handcuffed with unneeded rules and unnecessary regulations, which impede the ability of lawyers to represent their clients and are intrusive into the lives of practicing attorneys. |
Improve Professionalism and Competence |
I support Bar efforts to promote professionalism and to advance the competence and public responsibility of lawyers. The Bar must make every effort to elevate the standards of integrity, honor and courtesy in the lives of practicing lawyers. |
Keep Lawyers and the Judiciary Independent |
The President must be a forceful advocate for the continued independence of lawyers and the judiciary. I think the biggest challenge facing our legal profession is to keep access to courts open for all citizens. |
| Promote the Use of Technology | The most important element in legal services is quality. The Florida Bar must help lawyers with the business and technology aspects of their practice. This will enable them to control costs, improve efficiency and prepare for the future as we enter the new millennium. Increasing efficiency will in turn help clients. |
Stop Unauthorized Practice |
The Bar must provide adequate funding to vigorously prosecute those engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. |
| Help Train Young Lawyers, Broaden Participation, Study Ancillary Businesses | We must help with the education and training of lawyers, especially young lawyers entering our profession. We must increase access and participation in the decision-making process by our out-of-state members, women, minorities, government lawyers and young lawyers. We need to study the significant issues of ancillary business involvement by attorneys. (This issue will be disccussed in the All-Bar Conference in Tampa Feb. 19. Click here to read The Florida Bar's report about the meeting.) |
Promote Political Involvement |
The Bar needs to step up efforts to get more lawyers active in state government, including urging attorneys to run for office. It is essential that lawyers become involved and run for elective office in the House and Senate. Lawyer-legislators traditionally have provided great service in state and federal governments and a shift into over-drive is needed by the Bar to strongly encourage attorneys to become involved in the legislature. Those who do not run should become involved by making it a top priority to contact their lawmakers before the start of the legislative session to discuss issues relating to the preservation of the independence of the Florida lawyer and the independence of a strong judiciary. |
Expand & Publicize Membership Benefits |
Although the Bar is to be praised for its membership benefits program, it can be expanded even more, especially with insurance products like long-term care for catastrophic illness as well as a variety of office assistance programs. The Florida Bar needs to publicize all of the membership benefits that presently exist to that all lawyers know what is available to assist them in their practice. |
Being your President will be a great responsibility, and it will take a professional and personal commitment. In March 1999, you will receive your ballot from the Bar for this year's election. I would be honored to have your support. As your President-Elect, I will work tirelessly to meet these challenges. Together, we can meet the challenges facing our profession. Sincerely,
Herman Russomanno |
