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FREE CLE for Section Members: Conservation Easements—Traps for the Unwary

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Presented by Dr. Michael T. Olexa. Details and registration will be available soon.

Smiling man wearing business attire and glassesDr. Michael T. Olexa, Distinguished Teaching Scholar and Professor; Director of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Center for Agricultural and Natural Resource Law. Following military service, Michael Olexa received his MS and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Pathology. On completion of post-doctoral work in biological pest control of invasive plant species, he entered and completed law school and was admitted to The Florida Bar. After law school, he owned and operated a plant nursery for 10 years. Later, while on assignment from the University of Florida to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he also served as a policy advisor in the Office of the Secretary and as a National Program Leader for Agricultural Law Education.

He is currently a Professor of Agricultural Law at the University of Florida and teaches in both the colleges of agriculture and law. He also serves as Director of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Center for Agricultural and Natural Resource Law and chaired the General Practice Solo and Small Firm Section of the Florida Bar. He is currently chair of the Agricultural Law Committee of the Florida Bar. His honors include the USDA’s Distinguished Service and Superior Service Awards and the USDA’s National Teaching Award. In 2005, he was named a University of Florida Distinguished Teaching Scholar.

You Don’t Need to be a Tax Lawyer to Understand These Tax Essentials

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Free Wednesday Wisdom live Zoom webinar for Solo & Small Firm Section members* by Justin J. Klatsky, Valrico Law Group. Moderator: Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin, Suwanee County Judge. Course number and CLE credit pending approval. REGISTER

*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.

As a solo practitioner or member of a small firm, you encounter tax issues every day, likely several times a day. This CLE is designed to give you tips and understanding from a tax attorney to help you navigate some of the most common situations that practitioners encounter including company formation, sale of business, most common notices from the IRS, and estate planning, now and looking toward the future.

Smiling person, hands crossed, wearing suit and bow tieJustin J. Klatsky is a tax lawyer and partner in the Valrico Law Group, practicing over 15 years in the areas of estate planning and administration, general business and corporate law, and tax law.  Justin earned his B.A with honors from the Johns Hopkins University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and he earned both his Juris Doctor (J.D.) with honors and his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from the University of Florida College of Law.  While much of Justin’s practice is now transactional, he still handles tax controversy cases before the IRS and that perspective informs his other areas of practice.  He is a member of The Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court.

Legal Nomads: Thriving Remotely by Leveraging Technology

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Don’t miss “Legal Nomads: Thriving Remotely by Leveraging Technology” by Liz McCausland, Orlando. Moderator:  Chrissy Davis. Solo & Small Firm Section members register for only $55, with 90-day, on-demand access. Registration opens soon.

DESCRIPTION:  Liz McCausland, attorney, and legal tech consultant will explore technology essentials for remote communication and collaboration.   She will also discuss strategies to help build a competitive practice by hiring and training a remote team to ensure your firm provides exceptional client service as well as address cybersecurity and data protection concerns when working from anywhere. If you desire to work from home or abroad and achieve the elusive work-life balance, this seminar will offer practical takeaways to help you achieve this goal.

Link to attorney Liz McCausland websiteLiz McCausland has been practicing law for over 20 years after graduating from the University of Florida with both her Bachelor of Arts and JD degrees. She practiced civil litigation representing both individuals and national corporations before starting her own firm. Ms. McCausland now concentrates in bankruptcy and mediation. She is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator. She served on committees to establish both the Orlando Bankruptcy Division’s Mortgage Modification Mediation Program, as well as the Orange County Mortgage Modification Program. She has conducted over 4,000 Mortgage Modification Mediations in every district in Florida, as well as in Indiana, California, Nevada, and Arizona. She travels throughout the US to teach other attorneys and mediators how to successfully obtain and mediate mortgage modifications in bankruptcy.

Liz has served in leadership positions in many voluntary bar associations and has won awards for her devoted service including being recognized with the Lawrence G. Matthews Professionalism Award. She is a past president of the Orange County Bar Association, and serves on the executive board of the Florida Bar’s Solo and Small Firm Section. She has also previously served on the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Section, The Florida Bar’s Leadership Academy Committee and on the executive board of the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers.

Liz is a self-proclaimed gadget geek and has never met an app she didn’t try. Unfortunately, the nuances of Microsoft Excel still confound her.

Becoming a Client Magnet: How to Attract and Retain New Clients

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Don’t miss “Becoming a Client Magnet:  How to Attract and Retain New Clients” by Peggy Hoyt, Law Office of Hoyt & Bryan, Oviedo. Moderator: Alicia Perez. Live InReach Zoom webinar. Solo & Small Firm Section members register for only $55, with 90-day, on-demand access. Registration opens soon.

Description: Do you have magnetic qualities?  Join us for a peek into promoting your practice using relationship strategies to attract and retain an endless stream of clients.  We will discuss the benefits of “educate to motivate,” “creating niche practice areas,” “the law of abundance,” and tools you can use now to grow your influence and your practice.  It’s all about top-of-mind awareness!

Smiling woman with long blond hair wearing a pink jacketPeggy Hoyt is a lifelong animal advocate, pet mom, author, and attorney. She is a founding partner of The Law Offices of Hoyt & Bryan, a Central Florida estate planning and elder law firm. She and her law partner hold the distinction of being the only Florida law firm with two members who are dual certified by the Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts, and Estates and in Elder Law.

Peggy is the founder of Animal Care Trust USA, Inc., a national nonprofit, whose mission is to keep loved pets in loving homes using Pet Trusts and Pet Trustee services. You can learn more about her charitable work at Act4Pets.org. She is the host of the weekly Pawcast All My Children Wear Fur Coats and author of the book of the same name. The podcast is available on Buzzsprout and wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Her books are available on Amazon.com.

In addition to practicing law, Peggy has written numerous books that include niche estate planning topics and gratitude marketing. Her newest book, 101 Ways to F$$k Up Your Estate is an Amazon bestseller in seven categories.

Peggy enjoys spending time with her husband, Joe, six dogs, two cats, and four horses.

A Solo/Small Law Firm’s Guide to AI-Powered Efficiency & Automation

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Free Wednesday Wisdom live Zoom webinar for Solo & Small Firm Section members* by Kate Bell, Clio Affinity Partnerships Manager. Moderator: Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin, Suwanee County Judge. Course number and CLE credit pending approval. REGISTER

*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.

Law firm automation frees up lawyers to focus on utilization efficiencies, improving the success of their firm and client experience. In this session, we’ll walk through the importance and rise of automation in the legal profession, discuss key considerations to keep in mind, and learn the formula for automating the most tedious tasks at your firm with the power of AI.

A person with long hair wearing glassesKate currently serves as a Clio Affinity Partnerships Manager, where she leverages her background in law firm management and consulting to forge strategic alliances and collaborations. Her expertise lies in fostering partnerships that drive innovation and elevate the legal profession.

FREE CLE for Section Members: Against the Clock—An Analysis of Time Law With Ethical Considerations in Implementation

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Free Wednesday Wisdom Zoom webinar for Solo & Small Firm Section members* by G.C. Murray II, Esq., DPL, CEO & Managing Attorney, Association GC, Washington, D.C. Moderator: Judge Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin. Course number and CLE credit pending approval. REGISTER

*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.

This program will provide an in-depth exploration of time law, the new standards of ethical conduct specifically covering a solo/small firm practitioner’s responsibility to employ effective client-relation skills to increase service to the client and foster a newfound understanding of fee structures due to new efficiencies from time law and practice management.

Smiling person wearing a coat and tieG.C. Murray II, Esq., DPL is a nationally recognized lawyer, leader, and lobbyist who has received numerous awards for his legal acumen and his philanthropy. He focuses on all aspects of nonprofit management including Federal and State compliance, organizational leadership, and high-level fundraising. He is also the Presidentof Global Cyber Management, a division of Association GC. In this capacity he focuses on helping businesses with compliance with cybersecurity, privacy, and consumer laws.

2024 Florida Law Update

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Save the Date! Make plans to join us in person at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek or via live webcast for the annual Florida Law Update on eight key areas of law. This program takes place during the Annual Florida Bar Convention. Moderator: Judge Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin, Live Oak. Course number and 8.0 CLE credits pending approval.