The Orange County Bar Association -The Briefs - November 2021

A Publication of the Orange County

November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

Bar Association

Inside this Issue: President’s Message Fall – Saying Thanks Eric C. Reed, Esq.

Family Law Committee 5 Must-Have Software Solutions for An Efficient Firm Conti Moore Smith, Esq.

Chief’s Column Thank You IT! The Honorable Lisa T. Munyon

Solo & Small Firm Committee Tips on Leveraging Technology in Private Practice Thomas Bert Feiter, B.C.S.

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15

President’s Message Fall – Saying Thanks Eric C. Reed, Esq.

Legal Aid Society What We Do...

The OCBA is Basically New Orleans Bethanie Barber, Esq.

4

Clerk’s Corner Clerk’s Office Making a Difference in the Community The Honorable Tiffany Moore Russell

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Nominations Now Open for OCBA Leadership Positions

16-17

OCBA and HBACF Joint September Luncheon

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Solo & Small Firm Committee Tips on Leveraging Technology in Private Practice Thomas Bert Feiter, B.C.S.

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6

OCBA Member News Hearsay Michael V. Andriano, Esq.

Professionalism Committee Delaying For Lucre or Malice Robert W. Borr, Esq.

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7

New Members

Chief’s Column Thank You IT! The Honorable Lisa T. Munyon

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8

Guest Column Balloon Payment of Mortgages on Primary Residence in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Michael A. Paasch, Esq.

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Family Law Committee 5 Must-Have Software Solutions for An Efficient Firm Conti Moore Smith, Esq.

Paralegal Post Learning to Fly (Learning Something New) Nancy L. Jordahl, ACP, FRP, FCP

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Young Lawyers Section News YLS on the Move Linnea M. Eberhart, Esq.

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Voluntary Bar News SideBar Alena V. Baker, Esq.

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From the Archives

Classifieds

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OCBA Member Perks July and September

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32

Calendar

Legal Aid Society Teaching Tips Preparing Our Clients for Virtual Hearings as We Navigate a New Hybrid Court System Kimberly Palmer, Esq.

DEADLINE INFORMATION

Magazine Advertising – 10th of the month prior to the month of publication eEdition Advertising – 20th of the month prior to electronic distribution Copy – 15th of the month six weeks prior to the month of publication If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day. Publication of advertising herein does not imply any endorsement of any product, service, or opinion advertised. The opinions and conclusions, including legal opinions and conclusions contained in articles appearing in The Briefs, are those of the authors and do not reflect any official endorsement of these views by the Orange County Bar Association or its officers and directors, unless specifically stated as such.

All contents ©2021 Orange County Bar Association. All rights reserved. Designer: Catherine E. Hébert Cover photo: Adobe Stock ISSN 1947-3968

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www.orangecountybar.org

the Briefs Editor John M. Hunt

©2021

Associate Editors Karen L. Middlekauff & C. Andrew Roy Hearsay Columnist Michael V. Andriano YLS on the Move Linnea Eberhart SideBar Alena V. Baker

w OFFICERS Eric C. Reed, President Karen L. Persis, President-elect Amber N. Davis, Treasurer Arti Ajit Hirani, Secretary w EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Euribiades Cerrud, II Keshara D. Cowans Lisa Gong Guerrero Catherine T. “Kate” Hollis Kristopher J. Kest Bruce A. Mount Rafael Orlando Rodriguez C. Andrew Roy Brandon M. Sapp Jennifer Smith Thomas Jessica A. Travis M. Ryan Williams LaShawnda K. Jackson, Ex-officio Michael Barber, YLS President w EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jenny Brown w Advertising & Sponsorship Manager Ursla Gallagher w Publication Services Candice Maull

880 North Orange Avenue • Orlando, FL 32801 (407) 422-4551 • Fax (321) 430-1558 www.orangecountybar.org Legal Aid Society 407-841-8310 Citizen Dispute 407-423-5732 Family Law Mediation 407-423-5732 Lawyer Referral Service 407-422-4537 Orange County Foreclosure Mediation 407-515-4330 Young Lawyers Section 407-422-4551

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President’sMessage

November 2021

Fall – Saying Thanks

F

all has arrived, bringing drier and cooler temperatures – finally! Our air conditioners are certainly in need of a vacation. Coming off of Halloween and now moving into Thanksgiving with Christmas around the corner, this season allows us time to spend with family and friends.

I’m hopeful this also gives us a break from work (or at least a slight slow-down) in order to enjoy the holidays.

Eric C. Reed, Esq. The OCBA is in full swing including a two-day New Lawyer Training Program held on October first and second. We had 48 attendees which covered a plethora of topics including an introduction to the courthouse (presented by Judge Julie O’Kane), inside the Clerk’s office (presented by Clerk Tiffany Moore Russell), best practices in county/ circuit court (presented by Judges Eric DuBois and Kevin Weiss), ethics and professional responsibility (presented by Keshara Davis Cowans, Esq.), and the ins and outs of mediation (presented by Frank Bedell, Esq.). This program is a fantastic way for our new lawyers to get a jump start on their career.

On October 28, 2021, the OCBA teamed up with the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers (CFAWL) for our monthly luncheon. It was great event with speakers from the Harbor House of Central Florida CEO, Michelle Sperzel, and the author of Unintentional Hero: From Domestic Violence Victim to Survivor to Advocate, Rania Arwani, Esq. Also, make sure to attend the OCBA Legal Aid Society 14th Annual Breakfast of Champions held virtually on November 18th, 2021. This fundraiser helps the Legal Aid Society to provide free and quality legal services to low-income residents in Orange County.

As we recover from the pandemic and get back to normal, I want to thank the following Ninth Judicial judges who retired since 2020: Gail Adams, Maureen Bell, Nancy Clark, Patricia Doherty, John Kest, Jon Morgan (deceased), Julie O’Kane, and Janet Thorpe. This group combined for more than 125 years of service on the bench!

The pandemic hampered our ability to properly and formerly say thank you and wish these judges well. The service they provided to our community is more than appreciated. I wish each of them well as they move on to the next stage of their lives – hopefully enjoying some retirement fun.

We now say welcome to 11 judges to the Ninth Circuit, some new to the bench and some moving from county court to circuit court.

Although they have been on the job for a few months to over a

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year, we finally get to celebrate each of them as we are in full swing with investitures. On August 20th, we celebrated Judges Andrew Bain, John Beamer, Paetra Brownlee, and Elizabeth Gibson, and on September 24th, we celebrated Judges Christy Collins, and Mikaela Nix-Walker. The party continues on November 5th with the investiture of Judges Michael Dean, Gisela Laurent, and Joshua Mize, and wrapping up 2021, the investiture of Judges Vincent Falcone III and Barbara Leach is set for December 3rd. But that is not all… 2022 will bring at least one more investiture with four recent judges appointed to the bench. I am thankful for having such a great judiciary in our circuit.

OCBA has marked this issue of The Briefs as Technology Month.

The growth of legal technology in the last 10 to 20 years is truly amazing. I was blown away in the early 2000s that you could “fax” a document and receive it in your email box… crazy. Now we have litigation support software where we can sort, search and mark documents in seconds… with no papercuts. Probably none bigger over the last year is Zoom, now as much a household name as Kleenex. The Zoom, Teams, Web-Ex, Skype, etc., video platforms have revolutionized how we practice law. The ability to take a deposition with parties from across the street to across the country is amazing and I imagine our clients appreciate the cost savings. During the pandemic “shut down” period, the video conferencing allowed the courts to remain open and provided a tool for our judges to efficiently handle their dockets. It is probably safe to say that video conference hearings are here to stay. Although we’ve had telephonic hearings for ages, the ability to now see and hear, makes it so much better. However, I sort of miss the days when we would head to ex parte/UMC 8:30 a.m. hearings, first retrieving the file from the third-floor clerk’s office, then heading up to patiently wait for the judge. Although one benefit to these early morning hearings, it gave us an opportunity to catch up with colleagues which is hard to do during a video conference hearing.

Now on to all the great November celebrations – Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Black Friday. In addition, some of my favorite November “days” include Deviled Egg Day (11/2), National Doughnut Day (11/5), National Pickle Day (11/14), and Play Monopoly Day (11/19). I also learned that National Happy Hour Day is celebrated on November 12th – who knew it was only one day a year…

Enjoy the holidays.

Eric C. Reed, Esq., is a partner in the Orlando office of Shutts & Bowen, LLP, where he practices business litigation. He has been a member of the OCBA since 2000.

www.orangecountybar.org

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Clerk’sCorner Clerk’s Office Making a Difference in the Community

P

ublic service, helping to make a difference, and giving back to my community are key priorities to me as I like to consider myself a public servant first and foremost.

That’s why this month I am excited to share with you what my office has been working on as we continue to navigate through these difficult times to continue to reach and help our community.

First, my team and I had the pleasure of delivering school supplies throughout the county to continue to assist students several months into the school year. My office held a school supply drive as our 2021 Clerks Care Service Project. In total, we collected more than a thousand school supplies and hand-delivered them to Youth Services, Great Oaks Village, Harbor House of Central Florida, and Dillard Street, Eccleston, and Apopka elementary schools.

I’m also pleased to share that my office recently participated in Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s 3rd Annual Legislative Day of Service. We joined a total of 18 volunteers and accomplished packing 765 boxes full of food and supplies for home delivery.

My office is also in the middle of our 2021 Heart of Florida United Way fundraising campaign. This year we hope to continue the trend to once again make a huge impact with the dollars we raise along with Orange County Government.

While there are dozens of organizations that receive support from United Way, my office’s outreach priorities continue to be mental health, domestic violence, and access to justice which directly relate to the work we do.

We could never make an impact like this without the hard work and dedication of our employees who either give their time, pledges, or help with events to raise donations. I am proud of everything our employees, their families, and volunteers work to accomplish to make a difference and serve our community.

The Clerk’s Office has participated in many community outreach initiatives, and I am excited to see what we will continue to accomplish together this year for the community.

The Honorable Tiffany Moore Russell, Esq., Orange County Clerk of Courts, has been a member of the OCBA since 2004.

8th Annual Law Day 5K Saturday, March 5, 2022 7 a.m. to noon Lake Baldwin Park, Orlando

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SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE! Contact Ursla Gallagher at urslag@ocbanet.org To register: https://runsignup.com/ocbalawday5K

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www.orangecountybar.org

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Nominations Now Open for OCBA Leadership Positions Nominating Guidelines The following elected leadership positions are open for nominations:

OCBA Executive Council (One-year term for each position: June 1, 2022, through May 31, 2023.)

• Vice President/President-Elect • Treasurer • Secretary (Three-year term for each position: June 1, 2022, through May 31, 2025.)

• Three (3) Executive Council Seats Legal Aid Society of the OCBA (Three-year term for each position: June 1, 2022, through May 31, 2025.)

• Two (2) Trustee Seats Young Lawyers Section of the OCBA (Two-year term for each position: June 1, 2022, through May 31, 2024.)

• Five (5) Board Member Seats Important Deadlines Nomination Period: Open now through Friday, January 14, 2022 Election Period: Late February / Early March 2022 Board Appointments / Officer Installations: May 2022

1. Blank nomination forms are available on the OCBA website, under the About Us/Nominations-Elections section.

2. Completed nomination form(s) must be sent via email to Jenny Brown, Executive Director, jennyb@ocbanet.org.

3. Each nomination form must be signed by no less than five (5) OCBA members in good standing.

4. For YLS nominations, the forms must be signed by no less than five (5) OCBA members in good standing, who are also YLS members.

5. Any nomination for the offices of Vice President/ President-Elect, Treasurer, or Secretary of the OCBA Executive Council shall only be accepted if the nominee has already served on the OCBA Executive Council at least one (1) year.

6. To make sure you receive your election ballot, log in to your member account on the OCBA website to check that your email address is correct, no later than December 31, 2021.

7. If you need to update your email address and do not know your username, please contact Carolyn Cochrane, at carolync@ocbanet.org, or 407-4224551, Ext. 245, for assistance. If you need to reset your password, please follow the password reset instructions.

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

Lunchtime Training • legalaidocba.org • Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 2, 2021

Nov. 16, 2021

VAWA and U Visas for Victims of Crimes

Ana Bernal Roberts, LAS Immigration Staff Attorney Learn how to help immigrant victims of domestic violence or violent crimes.

GAL – Baker Acts and Long-Term Placements: How to Advocate for Dependent Youth in Residential Treatment

Coravious Cowart, LAS GAL Litigation Director & Alrick Esberry, LAS GAL Case Coordinator Learn the process for having a youth Baker Acted and placed in a long-term residential treatment facility.

It will teach PB GALs how to advocate for youth in these settings.

How to Become an Unintentional Hero Dec. 7, 2021

Dec. 14, 2021

Presented by Rania Arwani, Esq. Learn how to intentionally and unintentionally best serve your client survivors of domestic violence through empathy training.

DUE TO COVID-19, ALL TRAININGS ARE PRERECORDED AND ADDED TO OUR WEBSITE: www.legalaidocba.org Please feel free to email Marilyn Carbo at mcarbo@legalaidocba.org or Michelle Erazmus at merazmus@legalaidocba.org

GAL – Conditions for Return Part II: Advocating for Return of Children to Parental Custody Coravious Cowart, LAS GAL Litigation Director Learn how to enhance understanding of the method to return children safely to parents.

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www.orangecountybar.org

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ProfessionalismCommittee Delaying For Lucre or Malice

T

he title of this article should seem at least somewhat familiar to my fellow attorneys.

It is the last canon in the Oath of Admission to the Florida Bar, and is included in many other oaths throughout the U.S. “I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed, or delay anyone’s cause for lucre or malice. So help me God.” Malice is a word that ought to be Robert W. Borr, Esq. familiar, at least from law school – malice aforethought, express or implied – generally connotating an intentional wrongdoing.

Lucre is a word from antiquity, perhaps less common in today’s times, that generally means money, monetary gain, profit, and carries a negative connotation.

Diving into Chapter 4, the Rules of Professional Conduct, there are two rules highlighted along these lines which the Bar may rely upon to prosecute misconduct: RULE 4-1.3 DILIGENCE A lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client. Comment excerpt: Perhaps no professional shortcoming is more widely resented than procrastination.

RULE 4-3.2 EXPEDITING LITIGATION A lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation consistent with the interests of the client. Comment excerpt: Realizing financial or other benefit from otherwise improper delay in litigation is not a legitimate interest of the client.

The Rules of Civil Procedure provide timeframes to move through litigation. But those timeframes are often sought to be expanded by counsel and many times the court docket/availability ultimately drives the speed of administering of justice. This leads to “less than genuine” motions being filed to fit the Rules of Civil Procedure, clog the docket and ultimately delay cases.

At what point does this type of conduct rise to lucre or malice?

Assuming counsel is being paid to file a dilatory motion or engage

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in a dilatory practice, e.g., delaying for monetary gain/profit – is that lucre? What if a motion is patently erroneous, e.g., motion to dismiss attaching would-be evidence for the court to consider?

How about the exact same blanket discovery objection to each and every item sought? And what if the same practitioner has filed those same “less than genuine” motions/responses for many years across hundreds of cases?

Orange County implemented its meet and confer order for civil cases almost 10 years ago, among other things, in order “to promote the prompt and efficient administration of justice” and “to provide effective coordination and in the interest of promoting judicial economy, the prompt and efficient administration of justice and in service to the citizens…” Specifically requiring counsel to attempt to talk to one another prior to setting a motion for hearing with the goal of clearing the judicial dockets of bogus dilatory hearings.

Unfortunately, the dilatory motions are still filed and the meet and confer requirement is being used by the delay artists for quite the opposite of its intended purpose. The meet and confer order states that counsel must “respond promptly” to opposing counsel who is attempting to schedule the meet and confer conference, however, the coy delay artist provides availability to meet and confer weeks or even months later. To boot, the motion attempting to be set is a delay hurdle and there is no availability on the Judge’s calendar for month(s), and hearing time will not be given until meet and confer has occurred.

Enter 2021, the Florida Supreme Court mandates civil case management orders across the State. Here in Orange County, timeframes for moving parties to call their own motions up are in place.

Time will tell how the rubber meets the road with the enforcement of case management timelines. The root is still judicial economy, efficiency, and citizen access to justice.

The Florida Bar has recently created a new online resource. It includes approximately fifty detailed disciplinary opinions by the Florida Supreme Court over the past 10 years, categorized by rule, canon, and discipline. https://www.floridabar.org/rules/florida-bar-referee-resources/supreme-court-opinion-search/ Robert W. Borr, Esq., sits on the Florida Bar Professional Ethics Committee and is a past chair of the OCBA Professionalism Committee. He has been a member of the OCBA since 2011.

www.orangecountybar.org

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Chief’sColumn Thank You IT!

H

ow fitting is it that November – the month dedicated to gratitude – is also the technology issue of The Briefs? Knowing I chair the Florida Courts Technology Commission, you might be surprised to learn that I have mixed feelings about technology.

Or more accurately, I have mixed feelings about how I use technology. I’m not beyond mindlessly scrolling through news feeds or checking work email when I’m The Honorable Lisa T. Munyon supposed to be on vacation. But, Chief Judge my inability to unplug doesn’t Ninth Judicial Circuit Court sway me from feeling a deep sense of gratitude for technology, and an even deeper sense of gratitude for the people behind it.

When COVID hit our region in March 2020, court hearings were strictly analog. Around the country, courts were barely having exploratory conversations about remote testimonies, let alone entertaining the idea of remote hearings. While the Ninth has been a leader in technology for a long time, remote hearings were rarely done. Yet, almost immediately after stay-at-home orders were issued, we made virtual hearings the norm. Since we are talking about gratitude, we can be incredibly grateful for our circuit’s insight in investing in technology. We’d spent well over a decade building a technology infrastructure, and that foundation was instrumental in allowing our courts to quickly pivot. However, we all know that having technology and knowing how to adeptly use technology are two entirely different things. We were navigating largely uncharted territory, and we needed help.

In a recent article that the Ninth wrote for Court News, we referred to the famous quote from Mister Rogers – “When I was a boy and I would see scary things happen in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” The helpers we were referencing in that instance were all of our community partners, like the OCBA, who helped, and continues to help, keep our courts accessible and open (for which we are truly grateful). In this instance, however, if you were to look for the helpers I am referring to, it’s likely that you may not actually see them at all, but you have undoubtedly directly benefited from the efforts of their helping hands.

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I am, of course, referring to the circuit’s IT staff – the behindthe-scenes talent that not only built the Ninth’s technology infrastructure, but also keeps it running smoothly no matter how often a judge, judicial assistant, or staff member inadvertently tries to break it. And, it was their innovation and resourcefulness that allowed the circuit to quickly overcome the challenges COVID presented to the courts.

IT staff replaced outdated equipment, installed new software circuit-wide, increased network bandwidth, upgraded courtroom systems, deployed a complete mobile ecosystem, created onsite conference kiosks, live streamed hearings… I could go on and on about their tireless efforts to ensure access to justice during a time when access to courthouses was severely restricted. They gave us all the tools we needed and, equally as important, they gave us the help we needed to learn how to use those tools.

As it was for everyone, those first few months of the pandemic at the circuit were hard. There was so much stress and strain just in the daily act of living. Now, add to that, establishing new technology and new processes. That made everything even harder.

Now, add to that, teaching judges, judicial assistants, and staff how to use and navigate new technology and processes while also troubleshooting every single one of their technological (and sometimes user error) issues. That took everything to a new level of hard, and it is at that level that our IT staff diligently worked to keep our courts open and accessible. They never shied away from any challenge, and they never left our side as they taught us how to navigate these new uncharted waters. I honestly have no idea where our courts would be without them, and I am so incredibly grateful that we didn’t need to find out.

Often the unsung heroes in the story, I’d like to ensure IT’s place in the legendary tales that I am sure will be told about COVID and the courts once the pandemic retreats to its final resting place as a faded collective memory. And, while I may not be grateful for my waxing and waning addiction to technology, I will always be deeply grateful for each and every person in our IT department.

So, the next time you log in to a virtual courtroom, I hope you think of the IT staff supporting your virtual hearing and send a bit of virtual gratitude their way.

The Honorable Lisa T. Munyon, Chief Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, was first appointed to the Circuit Court for Orange and Osceola Counties in 2003 and has been an OCBA member since 1989.

www.orangecountybar.org

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GuestColumn Balloon Payment of Mortgages on Primary Residence in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filings Resulting from the Pandemic. espite the significant unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer bankruptcy cases were down approximately 20% in the Middle District of Florida, and 30% nationwide in 2020 from 2019.1 Consumer bankruptcy filings have also not increased conMichael A. Paasch, Esq. siderably in 2021. The government’s response to the pandemic has been swift, comprehensive, and has provided a safety net for consumers. Stimulus payments, extended unemployment benefits, foreclosure and eviction moratoria, and the additional support provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) have undoubtedly prevented many consumer bankruptcies.2 Rising asset prices in the housing and financial markets may also be a factor in the reduced number of consumer bankruptcies. There are some, however, who predict a coming tidal wave of consumer bankruptcies as a result of the pandemic.3 Others believe that bankruptcy can have a “long tail” as some people struggle for two to five years before filing bankruptcy. For many, “the time to file is when you’ve made it through the catastrophe” and have income sources for attorneys and creditors.4

D

Restructuring Primary Mortgages in Chapter 13.

An important issue arising in consumer Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases is the permissible restructuring of a mortgage on the debtor’s primary residence which is in default. Chapter 13 generally provides two options for restructuring a defaulted mortgage in the absence of a voluntary mortgage modification.5 The first option is a “cure and reinstate” under § 1322(b)(5) of the Bankruptcy Code (found in Title 11, Chapter 13 of the United States Code) for long-term mortgages with payments coming due after the term of the debtor’s Chapter 13 plan. Under this option, the debtor must resume regular mortgage payments during the plan. In addition, the debtor must pay a monthly amount towards the unpaid pre-petition payments and any allowable attorneys’ fees and costs (the “arrearages”). The arrearages must be satisfied in full by the conclusion of the plan.

The second option is full payment of the mortgage in installment payments during the term of the debtor’s Chapter 13 plan, with interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs if the creditor is over-secured. In some cases, the final payment under a debtor’s defaulted mortgage will fall due during the term of the debtor’s plan. Under this second option, the debtor is allowed to modify the mortgage pursuant to § 1322(c)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code but must satisfy the mortgage in full over the term of the Chapter 13 plan.

Balloon Payment of Mortgages on the Debtor’s Primary Residence.

Under either Chapter 13 modification option, the question arises whether the debtor may confirm a so-called “balloon” payment plan. With a balloon payment plan, the debtor proposes a large PAGE 8

final payment at the end of the debtor’s plan, rather than satisfying a short-term mortgage or arrearages in even monthly installments.

By utilizing a balloon payment at the end of the plan, the debtor can defer significant increased payments on the mortgage or arrearages until several years after bankruptcy is filed. Creditors will often object to balloon payment plans based on “feasibility.”6 However, a feasibility objection involves a fact-intensive inquiry into the likelihood of refinancing or obtaining funds from another source to make the balloon payment.

Recently, in December 2020, Orlando’s newest bankruptcy judge, The Honorable Lori V. Vaughan, entered an order denying a debtor’s motion to modify a confirmed plan when the proposed modified plan included a balloon payment of arrearages at the end of the plan. In re Shumbera, Case No. 6:20-bk-00100-LVV, 2020 WL 7183540, 2020 Bankr. LEXIS 3438 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. Dec. 3, 2020). Judge Vaughan’s decision in Shumbera follows the majority rule and holds that a balloon payment at the end of a debtor’s plan violated § 1325(a)(5)(B)(iii)(I) of the Bankruptcy Code. Shumbera, 2020 Bankr. LEXIS 3438, at *3-4. This section requires that when periodic payments are proposed to satisfy a secured claim, “such payments shall be in equal monthly amounts[.]” Id., at *2.

Judge Vaughan recognized the minority of reported cases in her decision finding balloon payment plans permissible. Id., at *3.

These cases hold that a balloon payment is permissible because a balloon is a final payment by its nature, not a periodic payment, which must be in equal monthly amounts under the statute. Id. Judge Vaughan, however, rejected this reasoning and followed the plain language and legislative history of the statute in holding that a balloon payment, even though a final payment, is still one in a series of periodic payments on the secured claim. Id., at *3-4.

Based on this ruling, a debtor with a significant short-term mortgage, or large arrearages on a long-term mortgage, may not be able to keep mortgage payments artificially low in the beginning of a Chapter 13 plan which provides for a large balloon payment at the end of the plan. Judge Vaughan’s decision in Shumbera is therefore an important decision for counsel for both debtors and creditors in future consumer Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.

Michael A. Paasch, Esq., is a shareholder with Mateer & Harbert, P.A., where he practices bankruptcy and commercial litigation. He is a member of the Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association. He has been a member of the OCBA since 1990.

State of the District, Chief Judge Carol Delano, Bankr. Ct. M.D. Fla., available at https://pacer.flmb.uscourts.gov/cle/index.asp (last visited Sept. 23, 2021).

2 S. Biswas & H. Torry, Coronavirus Was Supposed to Drive Bankruptcies Higher: The Opposite Happened, WALL STREET JOURNAL (Mar. 29, 2021, 5:30 am ET), https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-was-supposed-to-drive-bankruptcies-higher-the-opposite-happened-11617010201; A. Keshner, COVID-19 Has Caused Real Financial Pain, So Why Did Consumer Bankruptcies Drop in 2020, MARKET WATCH,(Jan. 17, 2021, 9:48 am ET), https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ covid-19-has-caused-real-financial-pain-so-why-did-consumer-bankruptcies-dropin-2020-11610627048.

3 M. Hendricks & D. Foreman, After the COVID-19 Deluge, A Bankruptcy Title Wave?, FORBES ADVISOR (Sept. 23, 2020, 9:16 am ET), https://www.forbes.com/sites/ advisor/2020/09/23/after-the-covid-19-deluge-a-bankruptcy-tidal-wave/?sh=9df1dee4abab. continued page 24 1

www.orangecountybar.org

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Family LawCommittee 5 Must-Have Software Solutions for An Efficient Firm

W

hen you think about law firms, cutting-edge technology might not be something you think of right off the bat. Some firms are stuck in the past, still relying on outdated methods on a daily basis. The pandemic was a reminder that we can’t stay rooted in the past. We need to develop more innovative ways to run our firms and better help our clients.

Conti Moore Smith, Esq. It is important to try to become more efficient, which may help clients save money. Also, with effective technology solutions, attorneys can spend time actually working on cases instead of on the paperwork involved. Below are the top five software programs recommended to help attorneys better serve their clients.

1. Calendly. This is automated scheduling software. Does it seem like your receptionist is spending way too much time on the phone scheduling appointments for you and your staff? Check out Calendly to help automate this process. You can send a link to your calendar right to your clients and let them take care of setting up their own appointments. You can keep better control of your calendar and set more parameters. It definitely lets you be more intentional with how you spend your time. It isn’t just for client appointments, either. You can send the link to new clients, opposing counsel, and even lunch dates. It’s so easy to customize and allows your team members to spend time on more important things. It’s a very robust, customizable program that allows you to send and schedule text and email reminders about scheduling appointments. It’s not that expensive, and you’ll definitely see your return on investment.

2. Lawmatics. This can be used especially for the client onboarding process. Lawmatics is an alternative to the manual onboarding process that can take valuable time out of attorneys’ schedules and keep attorneys from focusing on work. A manual onboarding process may prevent attorneys from keeping p up with leads in a timely manner, which is costly in the long run. Lawmatics is an automated solution that allows firms to put the focus back on clients. Using Lawmatics to automate more of the onboarding process can radically increase the efficiency of a firm. It’s important to note that these automations don’t mean you have to sacrifice quality personal interactions. Firms can still assign tasks, like phone calls and text messages, so that personalized experience is not lost.

Instead of spending time creating to-do lists and double-checking that all tasks are completed, staff members can rely on Lawmatics to keep everything streamlined and organized. This allows firms to spend more time on legal strategy and analysis. This process can help lead to an increase in business and more profitability for the firm.

3. Legalboards. It basically allows you to visualize how your firm operates. You can set up tasks and automations and see everything theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No.

laid out in front of you. In family law, cases happen in stages. For example, tasks can be broken out and assigned according to what stage they are in, like intake, discovery, mediation, and trial prep.

It’s easy to see how long a case takes to move through all of these stages and where the bottlenecks might be located. This software helps a firm to see where it can improve processes throughout each case. Legalboards uses a card system to automate your tasks. So, if you move a card, it goes to the next stage and assigns the next card to someone else and keeps the process flowing. It is beneficial in case meetings because you can see right away where a case stands, and what you need to do next. It is just an amazing way for a firm to visualize what has been done and what still needs to be done.

It doesn’t leave you guessing on where your team stands on each case. It clearly displays what you need to know and leaves the guesswork out of it.

4. Invoice Sherpa. This software is geared towards accounts receivable. It allows you to automate how you collect money from clients, and it can help youget paid much faster. You can create custom schedules for each account, which allows you to send out email and text message reminders. You can also customize the language to make it more casual or more serious, depending on what is needed. Invoice Sherpa has reduces the time a billing department has to spend actually calling people to inquire about outstanding payments. If a client doesn’t respond and ignores your emails, you know it might be time to let that case go. We can also create custom schedules if a client needs to work out a payment plan. The cost is definitely worth the investment on this one because it saves so much time. It can drastically cut down on outstanding accounts receivable and you would pay someone much more to keep track of everything as seamlessly as this software.

5. Trainual. This one is a little different because it is all about onboarding and employee training. Trainual allows a firm’s ownership to record training videos and create documents about the office’s standard operating procedures. It does take a little time to set up, but it’s definitely worth it. You can create a business playbook for your firm, and it’s easy to do with Trainual’s templates and training library. Trainual forces a firm to look at its procedures and ensure there are written, as well as recorded, versions of onboarding procedures. You can set up quizzes or tests to make sure each new team member understands everything and is on the same page. It’s definitely a more engaging way to train people and teach them about your policies.

As you can see, these software platforms can be game changers for a firm. They have definitely helped my firm streamline and automate many of our processes, so then we can free up valuable time for our clients and the things that really matter. It has helped us reduce time spent on administrative tasks and allowed us to double the amount of business we handle.

Conti Moore Smith, Esq., is a managing partner at Conti Moore Law, PLLC. She primarily practices family law including dissolution of marriage, time sharing, custody, paternity, modification for time sharing, and injunctions. She is a member of the Family Law Section Executive Committee and has been a member of the OCBA since 2011.

www.orangecountybar.org

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From theArchives

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t a recent meeting of The Briefs Editorial Board, we were discussing ways to make the publication even better. A member of the amazing team suggested we incorporate articles from past editions to connect the OCBA’s history to the present. This article represents the first in what hopefully will be a long line of snapshots from The Briefs archive. It is a fascinating look at what OCBA members thought of emerging technology in November 1985. We hope you enjoy this new section of The Briefs.

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Also, I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to thank the amazing team at the OCBA, my fellow editors, and our publisher for all their hard work in putting The Briefs together. And thank you for continuing to support the OCBA and The Briefs. I hope you all stay safe and healthy.

– John Hunt, Editor

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theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

OCBA Member Perks July 7, 2021 Speaker: Kim Ashby September 4, 2021 Speaker: Mark Horwitz OCBA Center

Ava Doppelt Judge Emerson Thompson, Jr. Kim Ashby

Olliver W. “Ollie” Phipps, Scott Willick, Kim Ashby, Ava Doppelt, Robyn Lesser

Judge Emerson Thompson, Jr., Mark Horwitz

Eric Reed Alisa Hanke

Judge John Antoon II, Ava Doppelt, Ollie Phipps, Judge Emerson Thompson, Jr., Mark Horwitz

Allison Espinosa (Seacoast Bank), Mark Horwitz, Charlene Hotaling (Seacoast Bank)

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

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Legal Aid SocietyTeaching Tips

O

Preparing Our Clients for Virtual Hearings as We Navigate a New Hybrid Court System

n a sunny day in February, Mrs. M and I sat next to each other at a coffee shop in downtown Orlando waiting for her virtual case management conference to begin for her pending dissolution of marriage. Eight months prior, Mrs. M was waiting in person at the Orange County Courthouse for her domestic violence injunction hearing where she would appear virtually but in a separate room Kimberly Palmer, Esq. from her alleged abuser. In two months, Mrs. M will appear in person in a live courtroom to finalize her dissolution of marriage. These changes in courtroom appearances have transpired, no doubt, because of COVID-19 and the need to ensure the safety of our community. However, along with the many changes that COVID-19 brought, the one significant thing that has remained is the continual need to represent and prepare our clients indistinguishably in what is now considered to be a hybrid court system.

Although the courthouse has reopened, our family law judges still have the discretion to hold some hearings virtually. In what now can be considered a hybrid model, virtual hearings come with their own set of experiences. There are a few things that I have found to be helpful in preparing clients for virtual hearings as they navigate their cases.

Prepare as you would for an in-person hearing.

The preparation involved for a virtual versus an in-person hearing does not change. It is our job to make sure that our clients feel comfortable regardless of the setting. Although we (the attorneys) have been able to adapt to virtual hearings, it is the first time for some of our clients so it is important for them to know what to expect, and it is equally important for us to be available to them for every question that they may have whether the injunction or hearing will be in person or behind a computer screen.

Explain the process to your client and make sure you and your client are in a secure location.

If your client is to appear in a virtual hearing, it’s imperative that the client appear from a secure location. It is easy to believe that if a hearing is virtual, that courtroom rules and decorum don’t apply.

Although we have been able to adapt to the changes that COVID-19 brought, a lot of people in our community have never had to appear in a virtual hearing. It is essential to explain how the virtual hearing will go. Explaining the process could include making sure that your client is aware of his/her facial expressions while in a hearing, or simply letting the client know that they may be sitting in a virtual waiting room for a while as they wait for their case to be called. It is also critical that our clients know that they will need to be alone, and if they have witnesses, they will need to be in a separate room until they are called for testimony. Explaining the process of the virtual hearing and making sure the clients PAGE 14

are in a secure location will help decrease the nervousness and uncertainty they are likely to face in an unfamiliar environment.

Do a practice run-through with your client.

Although we live in a technologically driven world, there are many in our community who are not technologically savvy. Before a virtual hearing with your client, a procedure is to do a practice run.

This practice run falls right in line with the other ways in which you prepare your client for an upcoming hearing. You will want to make sure that your client has a computer or computer access.

You will also want to make sure that the app in which they will appear is downloaded and ready prior to the beginning of the hearing. Doing a practice run will help you and your client work out any kinks, and, as stated previously, decrease any nervousness the client may have. You will also have an idea of the strength of your client’s Internet connection in the secure location that has been chosen. It may seem simple, but there is nothing worse than having technical difficulties during a hearing that could have been avoided with an extra phone call or prep session.

Dress for the occasion.

There are times that I have personally witnessed other parties show up to a virtual hearing dressed as though they were going to a state fair. There have been tank tops, t-shirts, and even a person who appeared to be in the middle of washing their hair. Our clients need to know and understand that a virtual hearing is no different from an in-person hearing. Appearing in court requires professionalism from all parties. Forgetting this step in preparing your client could very well be a detrimental mishap.

Mrs. M is one of many clients who has or will experience the new ways in which our court system operates. Whether these changes were solely a result of the pandemic or an inevitable evolution of how legal matters will be resolved, she and our future clients will still need the same zealousness in preparation as they would have needed had things gone unchanged.

Mrs. M states of her experience that while she is not the most technical person given her age, she has felt prepared and comfortable because not only was she afforded the opportunity to practice beforehand, when she didn’t have a computer, she was able to meet and share mine. She also states that although her final hearing is in person, should anything change in the future, she will be ready because the virtual world is the real world.

For more information regarding family law issues or injunctions for protection, please contact Kimberly Palmer, Esq., at 407-8418310 ex. 3167 or via email at kpalmer@legalaidocba.org. For more information on how to become a financial donor or help with our fundraising efforts, please contact Donna Haynes, Manager of Development, dhaynes@legalaidocba.org or by calling (407) 515-1850.

Kimberly Palmer, Esq., is a family law staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. She has been a member of the OCBA since 2020.

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theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

Legal Aid SocietyWhat We Do...

The OCBA is Basically New Orleans

I

am a native New Orleanian. I grew up eating red beans and rice every Monday, sewing thousands of sequins on my costume with my extended family in preparation for carnival season, and attending the same primary school my parents attended. I knew Mrs. Patterson around the corner who talked to herself was going to have that Tupperware my mother dropped off in front of her house full of food every Bethanie Barber, Esq. Sunday clean, bone-dry, and sitting on her doorstep for me to pick up every Wednesday after school. I grew up knowing if I “stepped out of line” anywhere, my family would know about it. That came with some distinct benefits, though, because I also knew I had the support of my entire neighborhood when I needed it.

My hometown taught me about respect for others, what it means to voluntarily take on a sense of obligation, maintaining traditions, and it gave me a true sense of belonging. I am so proud of where I come from. You look in any direction in the city, and you understand my upbringing is a very, very common one; there is a culture of community in New Orleans. It has its own identity, and you just cannot replicate it anywhere.

When I think about our legal community here in Orange County, I feel some of that same spark with the Orange County Bar Association’s relationship with the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, Inc. No other bar association in the nation makes the commitment our OCBA does to helping the indigent members of our community through pro bono legal service. That commitment is so much more than transactional to the thousands of deserving clients our volunteer attorneys serve each year; that commitment is transformative. It gives us our identity as a legal community and it absolutely saves lives.

On behalf of the Legal Aid Society, thank you for helping us reach new heights in 2021. Our organization was created by Orange County Bar Association members in 1961 as the community’s primary means of providing the poor civil legal access to the court system. Despite the incredible global challenges we faced this year, staff, pro bono attorneys, and volunteers like you delivered free, quality legal services for low income clients, children, and disadvantaged groups such as seniors, veterans and the disabled who have special legal needs.

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This year alone with the help of pro bono attorneys like you, our legal services prevented homelessness, enabled our neighbors to secure employment, reduced reliance on our public benefits system, and removed children and survivors of domestic violence from physically dangerous relationships. We provided these services at the most critical times for our beloved community. Together, we can continue to use our legal skills to provide safety and stability for the most vulnerable in our community. Please help us to again carry on this unmatched tradition of service in 2022.

Your legal skills make a difference in the lives of the families and individuals we serve. With your efforts, we will continue to build a healthier and stronger community. We also strengthen our profession through collective action and frequent, free continuing legal education opportunities. Your financial contribution to support the staff and pro bono program is what enables us to achieve such life-altering legal results for our deserving, appreciative clients.

Florida Bar Rule 4-6.1 requires attorneys report pro bono service hours. OCBA attorneys who volunteer with or provide a fee in lieu of service to the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA have complied with the OCBA membership and Florida Bar pro bono reporting requirements.

I ask you to please make your Legal Aid Society pro bono selection online. If you follow the link below, you will be directed to a fillable 2022 Preference Form through which you can select cases, projects, or contributions.

2022 Online Fillable Preference Form: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=PtsWdL For the 2022 pro bono projects brochure or the paralegal preference form, visit the www.legalaidocba.org.

If you prefer to receive the forms via email or mail, please contact Ms. Larri Thatcher, Pro Bono Director, lthatcher@legalaidocba. org, or Marilyn Carbo, Pro Bono Specialist, mcarbo@legalaidocba.org.

Thank you for keeping the spark alive. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.

Bethanie Barber, Esq., is the Legal Aid Society Executive Director and OCBA member since 2008. For more information on the Legal Aid Society, please contact Bethanie at bbarber@legalaidocba.org.

www.orangecountybar.org

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Panelists Orlando Evora, Woody Rodriguez

Panelists Judge Meredith L. Sasso, Clerk Kelvin Soto

Eric Reed, Thomas Wert Jessica Travis, Lisa Gong Guerrero, Jennifer Smith Thomas, Rebecca Smith-Hameroff, Amy Testa

Alisia Adamson Profit, Stephanie Alcalde

Title Sponsor Withum+: Ken DeGraw, Jennifer Liem, Jennifer Barrows

Jay Small, Deborah Moskowitz

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theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

OCBA and HBACF Joint Luncheon: Hispanic Heritage Month

Moderator: Eddie Fernandez; Panel: Orlando Evora, Diego “Woody” Rodriguez, The Hon. Meredith Sasso, The Hon. Kelvin Soto September 23, 2021 Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown Orlando // Title Sponsor: WITHUM+

Judge Eric DuBois, Judge Eric Netcher, Judge Elizabeth Gibson, Chief Judge Lisa T. Munyon Orlando Evora, Woody Rodriguez, Eddie Fernandez, Judge Meredith L. Sasso, Clerk Kevin Soto

Eric Reed, Woody Rodriguez, Penelope B. Perez-Kelly, Cindy Duque-Bonilla, Ana Lopez, Judge Tarlika Navarro, Judge Gisela Laurent, Eddie Fernandez

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

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For complex immigration matters made simple, this is where you want to

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14th Annual Breakfast of Champions Fundraising Event NOVEMBER 18, 2021 | 8:00 AM The Legal Limit is the official podcast of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. The Legal Limit brings you one-on-one interviews with the people shaping our Central Florida community.

Join the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. as we celebrate 60 Years of Service at the 14th Annual Breakfast of Champions Fundraising Event.

During this event, you will hear heartwarming stories of the Legal Aid Society's impact on Central Florida communities.

Register by Visiting: www.legalaidocba.org W an t t o b e a S po n s o r? C a ll: 7 7 2- 81 2- 5 1 7 5 "Fueled by the Past, Gearing Up for a Better Tomorrow."

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theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

NEW!

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Based on the real trial of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, this training will cover topics including opening statements, direct examination, cross-examination, closing arguments, and a discussion with federal judges on what they want from a trial lawyer.

Registration opens November 1, 2021 Visit orangecountybar.org for more information.

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

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The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) encourages all members to utilize the services of these vendors, who provide quality products and services and are supporters of the OCBA. Many businesses on the list offer special promotions or discounts to help you grow your practice.

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Prime Legal provides comprehensive business solutions, empowering small to large-size firms to successfully build their brands and connect with the clients they actually want to represent. Members of the Orange County Bar Association qualify for: A Free Digital Audit, 25% Discount, Two Free Months of Social Media Management. To get your free digital audit or schedule an appointment, please visit www.findmorecases. com/ocba.

National Purchasing Partners – NPP is a member benefit provider of The Orange County Bar Association, Florida, and helps members reduce costs with exclusive pricing through a variety of brands used by millions of businesses nationwide. Visit mynpp.com/association/ocba/ The businesses listed herein (the “Vendors”) are not affiliated with the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) and shall not under any circumstances be deemed to have any authority to act on behalf of the OCBA. The OCBA does not make, and expressly disclaims, any warranty, representation, responsibility, or guarantee as to (a) the quality or suitability of the Vendors, their products, or services, and (b) the duration or validity of any discount or other promotion offered by any of the Vendors.

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Grow your practice and serve the community!

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The LRIS referred 5,546 clients and generated more than $1.5 million in attorneys’ fees last year.

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theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

Solo & Small FirmCommittee Tips on Leveraging Technology in Private Practice

D

epending on how you look and easier and clients tell us they prefer that over providing credit at it, today’s technology and card numbers over the phone. My firm also doesn’t mind getting information availability can rid of the clunky old credit card machine we have had since 2011! be either a blessing or a curse. Laptops!

I sometimes think how nice it Using a laptop and plugging into a larger display at the office is must have been to practice law the way to go for us. First, whether you use a PC or Mac, you in a time when clients did not do not need an expensive high-end laptop because most software have the ability to contact you these days is cloud-based. Large cinema displays are no longer (their attorney) at any time day prohibitively expensive, and you have the versatility of bringing or night, demanding a prompt your lightweight laptop to client meetings and court hassle-free. response. It must have been such In my firm we used to use iMacs, but now we are transitioning to Thomas Bert Feiter, B.C.S. a nice break (pre-cell phone days) laptops for everyone so even support staff can just pick up and go to be able to drive to court/meetings/lunch without being conto staff meetings or client meetings with a laptop. And if we get stantly interrupted by phone calls, text messages, direct messages, sick or need to work from home, we can still get a lot done. alerts, reminders, and everything else we have constantly interrupting us on our smartphones now. The days of being left alone VOIP (Voice Over IP) Phone Systems are gone, though. And nowadays if you want to “unplug” for a few Your smartphone has now taken the place of that bulky plastic hours here or there, you run the risk of losing out on business or phone on your desk! Now, with the right app, you can call and worse – getting a negative Google review! Ahhhh! But, let’s try to text with your business line right on your smartphone. Working remain positive about it. Today’s technology (1) gives us all more from home (or really anywhere) is as easy as you want it to be with information faster; and (2) provides other benefits and options this technology. Whenever I am out of town, I can get messages not previously possible. For example, by allowing us to be more and make calls just as if I am sitting behind my desk at the office. productive and work remotely, if we choose.

The other person will never know. And even if you tell them, what All in all, I think the technology available to us today is just amaz- does it matter? Almost anything you can do in your office, you can ing, and I feel pretty blessed to be living in a time when we have so do from where you are on your laptop. When a coworker calls my many options at our disposal. As a law firm owner/administrator, extension at the office, it simultaneously rings my desk phone and my iPhone. I’ll answer on my iPhone if I am about to run out of here are some of my favorite benefits of modern technology. the office and wrap up the conversation in the car on the way to Cloud Based Case Management Software pick up my kids, for example. VOIP technology and smartphone I refused for years to spend money on case management software apps for business lines have taken a major leap in recent years.

(CMS) because I saw and heard about so many law firms getting Apple TV and Screen Sharing taken advantage of by CMS companies with less than stellar products and/or customer support. However, I now have CMS that One of the things that impresses our clients the most is our Apple does wonders for our firm and my stress level! Our firm uses Clio, TVs here in the office. They are not actually TVs, but small devicbut I have also heard good things about PracticePanther, MyCase, es you can plug into any television. When you have one of these and others. I never thought we would be as paperless as we are, Apple TV devices, it easily allows anyone with an iPhone or Mac which is also really nice (once you get used to it). A good CMS to screen share onto the larger TV display. Reviewing photos, vidwill allow attorneys and paralegals to work on documents and files eos, maps, and other items is much more efficient with this techsimultaneously and dynamically with ease. It should also allow nology. I highly recommend it. Apple TVs cost less than $200. you to track case progress, track bills and payments, and conduct Airdropping Photos conflict checks quickly and with ease. It should also securely back Technology has made it easy for even the most technologically everything up on a cloud, so your client information is safe even challenged people to help their attorneys and get us the informaif you lose (or break) your computer. My advice: find a good case tion we need. Now when I meet with a new client, they usually management software based on the recommendations of similarly just airdrop high-quality, high-resolution photos and videos right situated practitioners out there. What works in personal injury to my laptop when they come in. Accident photos and videos might not work so well in family law, for example. Visit the Solo used to have to be uploaded somewhere and a link shared, which and Small Firm Committee’s Facebook page or come to some of was cumbersome. If they forget an important document or other our CLEs or networking events for recommendations. piece of information at their home, they just send it to me later in an e-mail or text with their cameras.

Virtual Meetings and Getting Retained Online Zoom and Microsoft Teams are becoming more ubiquitous, and YouTube, Social Media, and Information Sharing clients love them for meetings. We have even done FaceTime on I have been making informational videos on YouTube for a few our Macs or iPhones when that is easier for the client. And I never years now, but I am going to take it to a new level. We are all thought we would love LawPay as much as we do. Their fees may getting our news and information online more and more and sobe a bit higher, but we have been using them for years now, and it continued page 24 is worth it in our practice. LawPay allows a firm to get paid faster theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9 www.orangecountybar.org PAGE 21

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(6 spots available) ■ Send 3 firm members to the Bench Bar Conference ■ Law firm mentioned as a sponsor on the marketing materials of the conference ■ (¼) page full color ad in the conference brochure ■ Announcement of sponsorship of one session at the beginning of that session (subject to availability) ■ Logo on rotating PowerPoint ■ Logo on MOST WANTED signage outside main ballroom ■ Opportunity to pick up conference ad to run in The Briefs magazine for $240 ■ Social media recognition with committed sponsors Contact Ursla Gallagher 407-422-4551 ext. 244 for details – or email urslag@ocbanet.org PAGE 22

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theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

OCBA MemberNews Hearsay Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

–Melody Beattie

I

have no doubt we’ve all been told at one time or another to have an “attitude of gratiMichael V. Andriano, Esq. tude.” Honestly, it sounds like we should all be sitting around a campfire singing “Kumbaya” which does not seem realistic. However, there is something worth heeding in that expression. An attitude of gratitude means creating a conscious mindset and habit to be thankful and express appreciation for every aspect of your life, both big and small. November encourages us to embrace the power of gratitude. Gratitude is more than simply saying “thank you.” Gratitude’s amazing powers have the ability to shift us from focusing on the negative to appreciating what is positive in our lives. Practicing daily gratitude gives us a deeper connection to ourselves, the world around us, and to our spirituality. Everything in our lives has the ability to improve when we are grateful. Practicing gratitude enhances our moods, decreases stress, and improves our overall health. Indeed, at the core of it, practicing gratitude just makes us happy. Our lives transform and we begin to be more satisfied in our personal and professional relationships. Remember through life and especially through December’s holiday season to leave a little sparkle wherever you go.

Honors and Awards Michael Andriano, Esq., has joined The Law Office of Michael L. Dear, PLLC, focusing on construction litigation and business litigation.

Richard Dellinger, Esq., has joined Dan Newlin Injury Attorneys as Lead Trial Counsel, focusing on motor vehicle collisions and premises liability matters.

Catherine “Kate” Hollis, Esq., has joined Milne Law Group, P.A., focusing on transactional work for local governments and the private sector.

Brian Lawrence, Esq., has joined Baker & Hostetler, LLP, focusing on complex commercial disputes, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, intellectual property and trusts.

Jillian Skinner, Esq., has joined Dean Mead, focusing on Business Litigation and Labor and Employment Law. Tucker Thoni, Esq., of GrayRobinson, was elevated to Shareholder.

Michael V. Andriano, Esq., is an Associate Attorney at The Law Office of Michael L. Dear, PLLC. He has been a member of the OCBA since 2018.

Invite your colleagues to join the OCBA today!

Ne w Me mbers Regular and Government

Affiliate

Sheena ALLEN Melissa DANGOND Angelica FIORENTINO Thameshwarie GHAMANDI Nicky C. HINTON Dorothie Laguerre SMITH Rachel A. SHAW Trevor WARD Kyle Edward WILHELM

Law Student

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

Melissa MADERA Quannisha ALLEN Tabetha BENNETT Shanice CAMERSON Kristen Elizabeth HUETHER Funmilayo Ranti IKUNIKA Tia A. MARSHALL Yolanda Danielle MARTINEZ William MONTGOMERY Shenelle NEATH

Taylor A. PAULIN Jessica POLYCARPE Amari ROBERTS Lynnette R. SATTERFIELD Matthew Phillip SNYDER

Paralegal Student Angela LEFFERS

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Go to: www.orangecountybar.org to join online and see our calendar of upcoming events, seminars, and activities!

407-422-4551, ext. 245

PAGE 23

EARN OCBA BAR BUCKS FOR REFERRING NEW MEMBERS! From November 1 – December 31, 2021 earn $ 10 in Bar Bucks for each new member (or returning renewing member) who joins the OCBA and references your name in the “referred by” area of their membership form.

DETAILS: Bar Bucks can be used for OCBA programs and dues (excluding Court Access Cards) and will be valid through December 31, 2022.

Bar Bucks can be collected and stacked for a more substantial discount!

Members who make 5+ referrals will also be highlighted on social media and in The Briefs magazine.

There will also be random prize drawing after the campaign ends for a “Grand Prize” Apple iPad. Questions? Call 407-422-4551 x245

H T T P S : / / B I T. LY / J O I N T H E O C B A

GuestColumn

Solo & Small FirmCommittee

continued from page 8 Keshner, supra note 1.

The Home Affordable Mortgage Program (“HAMP”) is no longer mandatory, but there are many lenders that still offer mortgage modification options to borrowers experiencing hardship. The U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in the Middle District of Florida provide a comprehensive mortgage modification procedure at the request of borrowers seeking to modify their mortgages. See generally, Bankr.

4 5

continued from page 21 Ct. M.D. Fla., Admin. Order FLMB-2019-6, Sixth Amended Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Mortgage Modification Mediation (Bankr. M.D. Fla. Dec. 20, 2019).

6 § 1325(a)(6) requires that the debtor will be able to make all payments under the plan and to comply with the plan as a condition of confirmation.

Technology feeds on itself.

Technology makes more technology possible.

–Alvin Toffler

cial media appears to be a big resource for information. More to follow on this, but I would encourage everyone to investigate how they might leverage these platforms to share information and increase awareness on your respective areas of law.

In conclusion, I believe new technologies like these can make your professional life a lot easier (and more efficient) if you make the time to find what works. I resisted embracing technology for a long time and I have come to regret that. My advice would be (1) not to be intimidated by new technologies; and (2) thoroughly investigate the right providers before taking the leap (with personal referrals being the best source for information). You will probably be pleasantly surprised as to how affordable, user friendly, and intuitive these services are now. Yes, you can always expect a learning curve when you try something new, but it’s almost always turned out to be fun and well worth it for our firm. As the saying goes, the only constant is change, and if you’re not changing, you’re not growing.

Thomas Bert Feiter, B.C.S., with Fighter Law in Orlando has been Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law since 2012. Fighter Law represents clients in personal injury, criminal defense, injunctions, military law, and as victim counsel. He has been a member of the OCBA since 2006.

PAGE 24

www.orangecountybar.org

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

ParalegalPost Learning to Fly (Learning Something New)

P

eople employed in the legal field have to and want to learn new things all the time. It is one of the best parts of having a law-related career and counterbalances some of the less enjoyable aspects of the law like having to deal with difficult people or constant deadlines.

There are so many things to learn in the law. You have to learn your specific cases, learn procedures, Nancy L. Jordahl, ACP, FRP, FCP learn about your clients’ businesses, learn soft skills, and learn new technology (this is the technology issue after all). You may choose to learn a whole new area of law, learn information for tests like the NALA Certified Paralegal Examination, or learn leadership skills.

Learning something new can be a challenge. As adults, we have constraints on how much time we can dedicate to learning something new. We also have many, many distractions that make it difficult to focus. We can be sidetracked by trying to learn but not having credible sources of information. We might lack motivation to increase our knowledge. While staying aware of the negatives, let’s investigate the positives.

“You, who are on the road, must have a code that you can live by. And so become yourself because the past is just a goodbye.

Teach your children well.” These lyrics from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s Teach Your Children help to illustrate that not only is learning something new fun, learning something new is ethical.

Canon 6 of the NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility states that “a paralegal must strive to maintain integrity and a high degree of competency through education and training with respect to professional responsibility, local rules and practice, and through continuing education in substantive areas of law to better assist the legal profession in fulfilling its duty to provide legal service.” Florida Bar Rule of Professional Conduct 4-1.1 requires that “to maintain the requisite knowledge and skill, a lawyer should keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, engage in continuing study and education, including an understanding of the benefits and risks associated with the use of technology, and comply with all continuing legal education requirements to which the lawyer is subject.”

The song Learning to Fly written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne begins with, “Well, I started out down a dirty road. Started out all alone.” When you are preparing to learn something new, do not start out alone but communicate your interest to others. Seek out people that can assist in the learning process. Within your

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

firm there should be a paralegal, an associate, a partner, or an of counsel attorney that can point you in the right direction. When I was employed at Rumberger Kirk, OCBA Past President Leon Handley was available to provide years of experience and wisdom on a wide range of topics. At my current firm, I frequently rely on the other paralegals in our Atlanta office for guidance, especially since I am the only paralegal in the Orlando office.

If you are the one that has knowledge about something, do not be stingy about sharing it. If you are the firm expert on something (like Relativity, best billing practices, seatbelt buckles, 80’s hair bands, or whatever) please be available to your colleagues and willingly share your knowledge. One of the best ways to learn something new is to teach it to others. Another way to share and learn something new at the same time is to write an article.

People are not your only source for available information. Read up on the topic. There is so much information available in dictionaries, treatises, practice guides, encyclopedias, statutes, regulations, case law and articles. A great way to gather some introductory information on a topic can be to Google it. However, be aware of the risks associated with search engines including privacy concerns and false results.

We all have very different learning styles. Some people are more visual, some more auditory, and some more physical. If reading is not your favorite option, a great way to get information is by watching YouTube videos. Or you can take advantage of all the apps available on your phone. TED Talks are another valuable learning resource. Listen to podcasts or audiobooks.

Whatever your topic, look at a variety of sources. If you are the defendant, look at information from the plaintiff’s side. If you are a Democrat, look at Republican news sources. If you are on one side of an argument, look at the information available to and from the other side.

Tap into your creativity. Meditation and exercise can assist the learning process. A great way to memorize something is by a song (why do you think we all learn the ABC song as children?).

Keep your curiosity at the forefront. Enjoy the process of learning.

My hope for you and your path to learning new things is that you feel like the lyrics from Pink Floyd’s Learning to Fly, “There’s no sensation to compare with this. Suspended animation, a state of bliss…”

Nancy L. Jordahl, ACP, FRP, FCP, is a litigation paralegal at Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial, LLC providing support on construction litigation, product liability, insurance coverage, insurance bad faith and insurance defense cases. She currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Paralegal Section and has been a member of the OCBA since 2010.

www.orangecountybar.org

PAGE 25

YLS Whiskey Tasting October 7, 2021 Heaven Hill Distillery sponsored by:

Sponsors from Haliczer, Pettis, & Schwamm: Trisha Widowfield (left) and Carrie Ryder (center)

Skip the General Line With A Courthouse Access Card!

Enter the courthouse through the easy access entrance instead of waiting in line with the public.

JANE Q. PUBLIC Attorney

Issued: 11/01/2021 Expires: 12/31/2023

N BAR ASSOCIATIO ORANGE COUNTYE ACCESS CARD COURTHOUS

New 2022 – 2023 Card

Please send in the application found on the OCBA website along with a copy of your driver’s license and a .jpg photo, or we will use the photo we have on file. We will mail you your card within 7 business days!

www.orangecountybar.org/cac Good only for the Orange County Courthouse | For attorneys and legal support staff | Good through December 2023 $80 | Purchasing card is optional for courthouse entry | OCBA membership is not required PAGE 26

www.orangecountybar.org

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

Young Lawyers SectionNews YLS on the Move

O

n October 15, we kicked off our Mentoring Program and welcomed a new class of mentees at our monthly luncheon. The program pairs mentors with law students and continues over the course of the school year, providing students with valuable insight and guidance both on succeeding in law school as well as planning for their future after graduation.

Linnea M. Eberhart, Esq. Thank you to committee chairs Davidson Anestal, Ashley Baillargeon, and Michael Piccolo for organizing this year’s program and making what we hope will be long-lasting connections between today’s young lawyers and the next generation of young lawyers in Orange County.

We also continued our commitment to bring CLE opportunities to our members (and new class of mentees!) by hosting two joint events with the OCBA this month.

First up was our Empower Hour with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee on October 21 where the Honorable Tom Young, Onchantho Am, Keshara Cowans, and Eugene Pettis shared their experiences and insight on facing adversity within the legal profession and also discussed measures we can implement to make our workplaces and organizations more inclusive environments.

Thank you to our committee chairs Eloisa Pino and Devyn Nixon for moderating and organizing such an impactful discussion.

Our second CLE was with the Professionalism Committee on October 27 where we were joined by the Honorable Alice Blackwell, the Honorable Joshua Mize, and Marc Consuelo from the UCF Legal Studies Department to discuss the Florida

Bar Oath of Attorney as well as common malpractice pitfalls for young lawyers. Thank you to our committee chairs Ryan Tindall and Kelsey Weiss for coordinating and for always being on the lookout for new CLE opportunities to bring to our members.

The holidays are almost upon us and YLS is getting in the spirit!

On October 28 we held our much beloved Halloween Party and Mock Trial. Thanks to the support of our members and the efforts of the Community Service Committee, including chairs Vaughn Glinton, John Hunt, Madonna Snow, and Kenway Wong, we were able to provide costumes and a fun Halloween party for the children at the Salvation Army – and of course, lots of candy!

Our volunteers also gave an Oscar-worthy performance in their reenactment of the trial of the Big Bad Wolf, a program designed to help teach about the judicial process and the impact of implicit bias.

And of course, the year isn’t over yet! Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates on what we have planned for the rest of 2021. If you’re able to join us at any of our events, either in person or virtually, don’t forget to tag us @ocbayls and #WeDoMore and #WeRiseAbove!

Stay tuned for these upcoming YLS events: November 19, 2021 – YLS Luncheon December 9, 2021 – YLS Holiday Party (Members Only) January 15, 2022 – YLS Annual Charity Putt-Putt Tournament Linnea M. Eberhart, Esq., is an attorney with Losey PLLC, where she practices intellectual property law. She has been a member of the OCBA since 2015.

September Luncheon with Florida Bar President-Elect Candidates: YLS President Michael Barber, Lorna BrownBurton, CFAWL President Heather Meglino, and F. Scott Westheimer

Annual Gator Bus Trip | October 9 UF Homecoming Game theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

www.orangecountybar.org

PAGE 27

Serving TK–8th Grade

WE LOVE OUR STUDENTS AND THAT COMPELS US TO EXCELLENCE!

Visit a school where hugs are welcomed, grace abounds and learning is hands-on.

TUESDAY TOURS at 5:30 P.M.

NOW ENROLLING FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR

contact Joanne Fleming, Director of Admission, RESERVE YOUR DATE: Please at 407-849-1665 or jfleming@thechristschool.org.

Is your firm part of the 100% Club? Firms with two or more attorneys and 100% membership in the OCBA can belong! If you believe your firm is eligible, please call the Membership Department at 407-422-4551, ext. 225.

20 or More Members

Carr Law Firm, P.A. Compass Law Cullen & Hemphill, P.A. Davey Law Group, P.A. Debra Wilkinson Botwin, LLC DeCiccio & Johnson 10-19 Members Dellecker Wilson King McKenna Ruffier & Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter, LLC Sos, LLP Fisher Rushmer Divine & Estes, P.A. Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Fassett, Anthony & Taylor, P.A. Association, Inc. Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Flammia Elder Law Firm Forward Law Firm P.A. Goggin Gans Law, P.A. McDonald Toole Wiggins, P.A. Gasdick Stanton Early, P.A. 2-9 Members Anderson & Ferrin, Attorneys at Law, P.A. Giles & Robinson, P.A. GoodBlatt – Leo Artemis Family Law Group, PLLC Green Family Law, P.A. Arwani Law Firm Harris Harris Bauerle Ziegler Lopez Aust Law Firm Hilyard, Bogan & Palmer, P.A. Barrister Law Firm, P.A. Hornsby Law Barry Miller Law Infocus Family Law Firm, P.L. Beshara, P.A. Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell P.A. Shutts & Bowen, LLP Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, et al.

Winderweedle, Haines, et al.

PAGE 28

Jill S. Schwartz & Associates, P.A. Keating & Schlitt, P.A. King, Blackwell, Zehnder & Wermuth, P.A. Korshak & Associates, P.A. Kosto & Rotella, P.A. Law Offices of Brent C. Miller, P.A. Law Offices of Horwitz & Citro, P.A. Marcus & Myers, P.A. McMichen, Cinami & Demps PLLC McMillen Law Firm, P.A. McShane & McShane Law Firm, P.A. Meenakshi A. Hirani, P.A. Men’s Divorce Law Firm Morgan, White-Davis & Martinez, P.A. Murphy & Berglund, PLLC N. Diane Holmes, P.A. O’Mara Law Group Page & Eichenblatt, P.A. Perez LaSure, LLC Rebecca L. Palmer Law Group Sawyer & Sawyer, P.A.

www.orangecountybar.org

Schwam-Wilcox & Associates SeifertMiller, LLC Shannin Law Firm, P.A. Stovash, Case & Tingley Tangel-Rodriguez & Associates The Aikin Family Law Group The Arnold Law Group The Brennan Law Firm The Elder Law Center of Kirson & Fuller The Fighter Law Firm, P.A. The Law Office of Michael L. Dear, PLLC The Llabona Law Group The Marks Law Firm, P.A. The Skambis Law Firm Warner & Warner, P.L. West Family Law Group Wieland & DeLattre, P.A. Wilson McCoy, P.A. Wooten Kimbrough, P.A. Yergey & Yergey, P.A.

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

Voluntary BarNews SideBar

W

ith so much to be thankful for, here is a glimpse of what some of our voluntary bar associations have been busy doing this fall ahead of the busy holiday season upon us.

Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida

Alena V. Baker, Esq.

The Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida enjoyed their annual Domino Tournament on October 21, 2021, at M Lounge in Downtown Orlando.

The Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Law Association The Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Law Association (CFGALLA) celebrated the annual Come out with Pride event on Saturday October 9, 2021.

The Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers The Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers (CFAWL) has been very busy these last two months. As they get ready for the holiday season, CFAWL members continue to help serve our community both virtually and in-person because as their hashtag says: #CFAWLWeGotThis!

On September 9, 2021, Sharlene Stanford and Leia Leitner hosted a Table for Eight at The Capital Grille. This event took place CFAWL Table for 8 – September 2021 during Magical Dining, where a portion of each meal benefited Pathlight HOME and IDignity, both of which help to combat homelessness in Central Florida.

A month later, on October 9, 2021, CFAWL, along with other voluntary bar associations, joined together for the annual Come Out With Pride event hosted by the Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Law Association (CFGALLA). CFAWL showed its support with a tent and goodies along the parade route hosted at Barry Miller Law.

CFAWL’s annual Fall Festival returned on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at The Twisted Handle. Members and their families enjoyed a fun-filled evening of food, drinks, kids’ crafts, and games. It was a great experience for everyone to spend time in-person and meet new families and friends.

Later in October, CFAWL’s Tables for Eight continued with a wonderful evening under the stars. CFAWL would like to CFAWL Table for 8 October 2021 thank hosts, the Honorable Vincent Chiu and his wife Alicia Chiu. CFAWL members enjoyed an evening of paella, tapas, and sangria, while sitting on the patio and enjoying each other’s company. A second Table for Eight (or 16) was hosted

by Traci Deen and Kathleen Shea. Members enjoyed a spooky Halloween Murder Mystery 80s-themed get together.

CFAWL ended the month of October with a joint hybrid luncheon with the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) at the Embassy Suites to support Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Members witnessed an impactful conversation between Harbor House of Central Florida CEO, Michelle Sperzel, and Rania Arwani, Esq. author of Unintentional Hero: From Domestic Violence Victim to Survivor to Advocate.

As they head into the holiday season, CFAWL would like to express our gratitude for our CFAWL annual sponsors, Milestone Reporting and Celebration Title Group, as well as CFAWL members and supporters. If after reading all of this you are having FOMO, it’s not too late to join! Renew or join at www.fawl.org.

Alena V. Baker, Esq., of Alena Baker Criminal Defense, P.A., is a solo practitioner who practices primarily in the area of criminal law throughout Central Florida. She has been a member of the OCBA since 2011 and is a board member of the Criminal Law Committee of the OCBA.

Ryan Fletcher; Lisa Harvey; Annie Blanc; Ashley Wright – President Elect of PCPBA; Tanisha Gary – President of the Central Florida Chapter of the African American Chamber of Commerce; Benjamin Garcia – President of PCPBA; Jennell Loper; Ayana Barrow; Anika Boyce

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

www.orangecountybar.org

PAGE 29

CLASSIFIED ADS EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY FOR SEX CRIMES. The State Attorney’s Office for the 9th Judicial Circuit (Orange & Osceola Counties) is currently accepting applications from experienced prosecutors with a strong interest in sex crimes prosecutions. Prior experience in sex crime prosecution is a plus, but not required. Applicants must also possess a strong interest in courtroom litigation, with excellent communication and critical thinking skills. Positions in this classification generally perform high-level, professional legal work and will assist in the prosecution of cases of routine complexity. Only active members of The Florida Bar in good standing should apply at this time. The salary range for Sex Crimes is $5360k. If interested, please send a cover letter, résumé, and final law school transcript via e-mail to ASA-Recruiting@sao9.org.

ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY, CHILD ABUSE CASES. The State Attorney’s Office for the 9th Judicial Circuit (Orange & Osceola Counties) is currently accepting applications from prosecutors with significant experience in child abuse cases (2 year minimum; 5 years or more a plus).

Applicants must also possess a strong interest in courtroom litigation, with excellent communication and critical thinking skills.

Positions in this classification generally perform high-level, professional legal work and will assist in the prosecution of cases of routine complexity. Only active members of the Florida Bar in good standing should apply at this time. The salary range for Child Abuse is $55-62K. If interested, please send a cover letter, resume, and final law school transcript via e-mail to ASA-Recruiting@sao9.org.

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY – INSURANCE DEFENSE – rated Winter Park law firm with statewide practice and extensive and established clients seeking an experienced Florida licensed attorney to handle significant real estate transaction matters.

PAGE 30

Experience in trust and estates, tax, and/or real estate litigation is a plus. Competitive compensation with significant bonus potential and excellent benefits, including 401K. Email resume to francesg@fishbacklaw.com.

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY – LITIGATION – Garganese, Weiss, D’Agresta & Salzman, P.A., an AV Rated Orlando law firm, seeks a highly motivated and organized associate attorney with 4 – 8 years’ experience, who is interested in being a part of the firm’s expanding trial practice.

Ideal candidate will have experience in business, commercial, real estate or construction law.

Applicant must possess an excellent work ethic and exemplary research and writing skills.

Competitive salary and benefits.

E-mail resume in confidence to Sheri Shell, sshell@orlandolaw. net.

“AV-PREEMINENT” rated Winter Park law firm with statewide practice and extensive and established clients seeking an experienced Florida licensed attorney to handle significant real estate transaction matters.

Experience in trust and estates, tax, and/or real estate litigation is a plus. Competitive compensation with significant bonus potential and excellent benefits, including 401K. Email resume to francesg@fishbacklaw.com.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Great opportunity for advancement for an attorney with excellent writing skills. You will have the ability to participate in and manage a caseload to prepare for trial and also to use your research and writing skills to prepare for trial and also to use your research and writing skills to prepare briefs at the trial and appellate level. Interesting issues, fast-paced environment, excellent compensation, great people to work with. Send your resume ASAP to mheaberlin@ gobelflakes.com.

age a case load. Federal Court experience is a plus. Candidate must have strong research skills and be an excellent writer. Our compensation package will exceed expectations for the right candidate. Please send resume to mheaberlin@gobelflakes.com.

FAST-PACED INSURANCE DEFENSE FIRM LOCATED IN MAITLAND, FL is searching for a Legal Assistant. The firm handles first-party property/liability coverage issues. Insurance defense and strong litigation experience preferred. Experience with calendaring, scheduling of depositions, and court reporters as needed. and follow up as it relates to discovery matters Experience with E-Filing software and procedures. Familiarity and compliance with judicial orders Please send resumes: jmccallister@ rocklawpa.com.

FULL-TIME LEGAL ASSISTANT OR PARALEGAL for well-established small family law firm to schedule hearings; entry of Financial Affidavit; re view and assemble discovery; draft documents. Use of Adobe Pro and Excel helpful. Bilingual a plus. Firm is AV-Preeminent.

Salary commensurate with experience. Email resume to staff@troumlawfirm.com.

INSURANCE DEFENSE FIRM handling first-party property/ liability coverage issues, PIP, and contractual/tort litigation seeks attorneys for statewide practice.

Insurance defense experience preferred. Email/Fax/Mail resume to Office Manager jmccallister@ rocklawpa.com, (407) 647-9966, The Rock Law Group, P.A., 1760 Fennell St., Maitland, Florida 32751.

LEGAL SECRETARY/ASSISTANT General Practice Attorney located in Oviedo is looking for a parttime (24-30 hours) legal secretary/assistant with a minimum of three years relevant experience.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, maintaining case files, filing and serving documents through the e-portal, calendaring deadlines, scheduling depositions, hearings, and mediations, drafting correspondence, and communicating with clients.

Candidate must have excellent organizational and communication skills, the ability to multitask, and experience with MS Office Suite, including Outlook. Experience in the areas of personal injury, probate, and family law a plus.

Salary and schedule negotiable.

Please submit resume, references, and a cover letter to kleitch@ cfl.rr.com.

Find the perfect business gift with 1-800 Flowers and NPP!

Explore exclusive flowers & gourmet gifts while saving on your purchases.

OCBA members save on 1-800 Flowers with their membership. https://mynpp.com/association/ocba/

ESTABLISHED DOWNTOWN ORLANDO LAW FIRM IS SEEKING AN ATTORNEY WITH 5+ YEARS OF LITIGATION EXPERIENCE with the ability to manwww.orangecountybar.org

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY, 9TH CIRCUIT PARALEGAL SPECIALIST – DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF WORK The ideal candidate will be responsible for the legal analysis of criminal cases. Duties include reviewing and analyzing investigative reports, sworn statements and evidence received from law enforcement, tasking law enforcement for evidence needed to effectively prosecute a case, and assisting attorneys in preparation for trial.

Minimum Training and Experience Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in criminal justice, legal studies, social services or psychology. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and successful completion of a legal assistant education program approved by the American Bar Association; or Graduation from a professional school of law accredited by the American Bar Association or Graduation from an accredited two-year college and successful completion of a paralegal certification. Preference will be given to applicants with experience as a Paralegal in the Criminal Justice field. Please send your resume’ and cover letter to Tamra Crane @ tcrane@sao9.org. No phone calls please.

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

OFFICE SPACE LARGE OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR RENT. Impressive, large office with great views, on the 18th floor of the City National Bank building, (390 N. Orange Ave.), across from the courthouse in downtown Orlando. Conference room and kitchen use included. As low as $900/mo. Contact Amy at Admin@LongwellLawyers.com, or call 407426-5757.

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT plus space for an assistant $800/month. Located at 710

www.orangecountybar.org

Vassar Street, Orlando, FL 32804 robert@ buonauro.com.

OFFICE SPACE/SUITES FOR RENT – Downtown Orlando, 250 East Colonial Bldg., 1,500 sq. ft. Available now! May rent separate office suites. Parking included. Call or email: John at 407-425-2907; jkk@keatlaw.com Classified ads work!

For more information or to place a classified ad, please contact: Ursla Gallagher at 407-422-4551 x244 or urslag@ocbanet.org.

PAGE 31

O C BNOVEMBER A C -aDECEMBER lendar

NOVEMBER

2

LAS Lunchtime Training

VAWA and U Visas for Victims of Crimes Prerecorded • LAS website Professionalism Committee Meeting

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

OCBA Center

Member Perks 3 (In Person and Virtual

Options)

Speaker: Bill Sublette, Esq.

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

OCBA Center

Sponsored by Seacoast Bank

Business Law Committee

MAJOR CLE “Tech”nically our Major CLE 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

OCBA Center Immigration Committee Meeting

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual

Law Week Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

OCBA Center/Virtual Lawyers Literary Society Committee Meeting

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, Mark Haddon 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual

Florida Bar Diversity & Inclusion Committee Pathway to Unity Reception

6:00 p.m.

OCBA Center (Tentative) Criminal Law Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

OCBA Center

Civil Rights Law Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual

4

10

11

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Social Security Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

OCBA Center

Lunchtime Training 1 6 LAS GAL “Baker Acts and Long-Term Placements: How to Advocate for Dependent Youth in Residential Treatment” Prerecorded • LAS website

17

OCBA Solo & Small Firm Vendor Expo 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

OCBA Center

Appellate Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lowndes Drosdick, 215 N. Eola Dr. Orlando, FL 32801 Elder Law Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Legal Aid Society of the OCBA Breakfast of Champions 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Virtual

ADR Committee Meeting

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual

Intellectual Property Committee Meeting

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Young Lawyers Section Luncheon

11:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Citrus Club Health & Wellness Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual

18

DECEMBER

2

Immigration Committee Meeting

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Law Week Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

OCBA Center/Virtual Professionalism Committee Meeting

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

OCBA Center

Lawyers Literary Society Committee Meeting

The Dead, James Joyce 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Criminal Law Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

OCBA Center

Civil Rights Law Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual

7 8

9

Social Security

Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

OCBA Center

Young Lawyers Section Holiday Party

(Members Only) 6:30 p.m.

Alfond Inn

15

Appellate Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lowndes Drosdick, 215 N. Eola Dr. Orlando, FL 32801 Elder Law Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual ADR Committee Meeting

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual

Intellectual Property Committee Meeting

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual Young Lawyers Section Luncheon

11:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Citrus Club Health & Wellness Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Virtual

16

17

22

24-31

OCBA Office Closed Winter Break

LAS Lunchtime Training 14

GAL “Conditions for Return

19

Part II: Advocating for Return of Children to Parental Custody” Prerecorded • LAS website

24

25-26

OCBA Office Closed Thanksgiving

Please note that live OCBA and Legal Aid seminars and events may be offered virtually, prerecorded, postponed, or cancelled. Please follow the most current news in the OCBA’s weekly newsletter eblast and on the OCBA and LAS websites and social media.

Nancy Weber • Hon. Heather Pinder Rodriguez • Lori Caldwell-Carr Juna Pulayya • Lorna Truett • Andrew Windle Hon. Tesha Ballou • Susan Staggs • Mark O’Mara www.orangecountybar.org

theBriefs November 2021 Vol. 89 No. 9

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MID-FL FL PERMIT NO. 581

880 North Orange Avenue Orlando, Florida 32801

UNITY IS STRENGTH. Let’s Collaborate.

Tony Sos Attorney

A Referral-Based Personal Injury Firm dwklaw.com | 407.244.3000 | asos@dwklaw.com