QuickLINK #126

24/7 Florida Lawyers Helpline

The Florida Bar has launched a new Florida Lawyers Helpline that is available 24/7 at 1-833-FL1-WELL (351-9355). The helpline is a free, confidential service to connect Florida Bar members with professional counselors who can provide strategies for dealing with challenges and professional pressures. The counselors are coordinated independently through CorpCare as a Florida Bar Member Benefit. There is no cost for calls to the helpline and you may be referred for up to three free telehealth counseling sessions per year to help you develop strategies to overcome life’s challenges, balance priorities, and better handle both personal and professional pressures.

May 27 Free CLE: Stay Sane – Practice Better 

May 27, 12–1 PM live Zoom webinar, free CLE.  Join us for “Stay Sane – Practice Better” by SSF Section Chair Lee E. “Pete” Muschott to learn about the art of relaxation and the benefits it can have for your practice.

Pete Muschott has devoted much time and energy to the study and practice of relaxation since he started practicing law. He finds that relaxation becomes more and more important as his practice matures. Hear pro tips from an attorney who says this about the importance of mental health and wellness for lawyers:  “I have survived 45 years in the practice of law with my marriage intact, reasonably good relationships with my daughters and grandchildren, and my addictions limited to black coffee and things with two wheels that make a lot of noise. Also, and perhaps most important, I am still having a good time practicing law.”

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Do yourself a favor and register for this important wellness CLE. Course number 3845. Approved for 1.0 General; 1.0 Mental Illness CLE credit. REGISTER NOW

SSF Section Membership—A Great Return on Investment

It’s time to renew your Solo & Small Firm Section membership and pay your Florida Bar annual fees. The online portal is open for Florida Bar electronic fee payments, including voluntary section memberships and voluntary contributions. Understanding that these are also difficult financial times for many, The Florida Bar is providing an installment payment plan option that must be elected no later than Aug. 15. Read the Florida Bar News story here.

Why Join?

#1—FREE CLE. The section offers at least 10 free CLE hours each year; that’s a $750 value. Our free Wednesday Wisdom series—one-hour CLEs on practice management, tech and more—is a benefit to our section members. If you miss the webinars, the videos are available 24/7 in the section’s members-only Facebook group.

#2—Great Publications. Looking for great content to benefit your practice? Join the section to gain access to our biannual LINK magazine and biweekly QuickLINK email newsletter. Both publications are free resources for section members. We’re always seeking content, so this is a great opportunity to get published.

#3—Members-Only Facebook Group. The section offers a members-only Facebook group so you can interact with colleagues from around the state to get coverage for hearings, recommendations on vendors, CLE updates and more. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and join our LinkedIn group to stay up-to-date on Florida Bar news, section announcements, practice and tech tips and resources.

#4—Discounts on Outstanding CLE Programming. Take advantage of your section member discount on numerous section-sponsored CLE courses. We make it easy to get your credits by offering monthly live audio webcasts, in-person CLE events and a large inventory of aftermarket CLEs—all at reduced pricing for members. If you attend each seminar we offer and use your section-member discount, your cost savings will be more than $500!

#5—Leadership Opportunities Through Committee Service. Network with colleagues from around the state, make a lasting difference in the section and increase your professional profile by joining a section committee. The value to your practice is priceless! More details and the committee preference form are online; forms are due May 1. We welcome your participation.

How-To Guide: Choosing Tech for Working Remotely

Now that you’ve been practicing law virtually for a month or more, you probably are aware of your law firm’s remote working technology deficiencies. Want to upgrade but don’t know where to start? Check out this article. MyCase tech guru Nicole Black offers her top recommendations from the ABA’s 2020 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide. From finding the right scanner to choosing the best online collaboration tool, Black offers some excellent tips to get your remote workspace up to par.

How to Make a Weekly Podcast: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re like most of us, podcasts and streaming media have been true life-savers during the time we’ve been working from home. There is no better time than now to join the online conversation by creating a podcast of your own. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the tools and process you need to put together a weekly podcast—and an analysis of the time and effort each episode takes.

Join the section’s members-only Facebook group to network with colleagues around the state.

One of the most difficult things about working remotely is trying to stay connected. Let the Solo & Small Firm Section’s Facebook group be a resource for you. Find co-counsel, refer a case or ask for recommendations. It’s free. Our Wednesday Wisdom series is live on Facebook each month and the library of past videos is available 24/7 through the Facebook group for free, on-demand CLE. Join today to network with your colleagues from the section. JOIN NOW

Florida Bar COVID-19 Resources and News

The Florida Bar COVID-19 web page is regularly updated with coronavirus information and resources for the Florida legal community.

The Florida Bar is working diligently to implement work and schedule changes to keep its staff safe and ensure essential functions are carried out on behalf of Bar members. Tallahassee headquarters and branch offices closed Thursday, March 19. Certain Bar staff will be working remotely and essential functions will be continuing.

Deadlines for Florida Bar members scheduled to report three-year-cycle CLE for February, March, April and May have been extended to Aug. 31, 2020. Orders for CDs, DVDs and printed seminar course books will not be filled or shipped during the time The Florida Bar is closed.

• Online and downloadable CLE programming is available 24/7 from The Florida Bar at tfb.inreachce.com.
• Use this link to access programming for solos and small firms.
• Free CLE is available 24/7 in the Solo & Small Firm Section’s members-only Facebook group.
  

Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co. has created a free COVID-19 risk management checklist and cybersecurity risk advisory for Florida Lawyers.