welCoMebaCk!
Marital & Family law Section
Chair:RachaelL.Rudin–FamilyFirstLawGroup,PLC
Strongand
compassionatebar
leadershipisespecially
importantthisyearas
wenavigatethroughthis
unprecedentedpandemic.
Welcome to the
start of the
2020-2021 year!
I am honored to serve as the
Chair of our Hillsborough County
Bar Association Marital & Family
Law Section. Before I share our
Section’s plans for the year, I would
like to briefly introduce myself. I
have been an attorney for more
than ten years. My primary area
of practice is family law litigation,
but I am also a Supreme Courtcertified
family law mediator and
trained in collaborative family law
practice. I am originally from New
Orleans, Louisiana, and received
my undergraduate degree from
Louisiana State University (Geaux
Tigers!). I graduated from Stetson
University College of Law in 2009,
and Tampa has been my home
ever since. I joined the HCBA
several years ago as a new attorney,
eager for mentorship, continuing
education and the hope that I
might get to better know my
family law colleagues. I am grateful
to those who encouraged my
involvement in the HCBA Marital
& Family Law Section — I have
found it rewarding in so many
ways. I encourage anyone who
is interested in Bar leadership to
become involved in our Section.
We welcome your participation and
there are many opportunities for
personal and professional growth.
Strong and compassionate Bar
leadership is especially important
this year as we navigate through
this unprecedented pandemic.
As we are all too well-aware, the
novel coronavirus, COVID-19,
has become the primary topic
of concern and discussion for all
of us. Our day-to-day personal
and professional lives have been
impacted. Not only are we doing
our best to keep ourselves and
our families safe, but there are
additional hurdles to overcome in
our profession. Some of us may be
working from home — attempting
to homeschool our children and
balance a career. Some of us may
have experienced financial strain
due to layoffs or cutbacks. We are
all learning how to screen share
exhibits for hearings, cross-examine
witnesses via Zoom, and effectively
represent our family law clients
who are most certainly
experiencing their own set of
personal challenges. Let’s make a
point to practice patience, kindness
and empathy to each other and to
the family law litigants we work
with — especially during these
difficult times.
Despite the uncertainties that
lie ahead, we continue to prepare
for an active and engaging Bar
year with the HCBA. Our Section
is already planning several events,
such as CLE opportunities
(including a timely Technology
CLE in September), a pro bono
clinic, a judicial appreciation
lunch, and membership luncheons.
Although we are hopeful that we
will be able to host these events
in-person, we are prepared to
make alternative arrangements
should it become necessary to
ensure the health and safety of
everyone. Regardless of the format
of our programming, whether it
be live or virtual, I am confident
that we will have an informative
and productive Bar year.
I am truly looking forward to
working with you all. Please do
not hesitate to contact me directly
if you have any questions or
suggestions. n
Author: Rachael L. Rudin – Family
First Law Group, PLC
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