E D I T O R ’ S M E S S A G E J i m W i m s a t t – H a r r i s , H u n t & D e r r , P . A .
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This month in the Magazine , many of the new Section Chairs are taking the opportunity to introduce themselves and lay out their vision for the coming year . I want to repeat what has become a familiar refrain to those who read these Notes each issue — Get Involved ! I encourage all HCBA members to join the Section relevant to their practice area and to take an active role in the Section . They are such a great resource of both substantive education and collegiality . I also encourage you to look at Sections that are outside your strict practice area , but may touch on it , or just areas of law where you have an interest , even if it is purely academic .
For younger attorneys ( and also for those like me who are not as young as we like to think ), I cannot speak highly enough about the Bar Leadership Institute . The deadline for applications this year will have passed by the time this edition is printed , but please read the superb introduction by Paige Tucker and Hillary Thornton , two excellent attorneys who are going to be two of the leaders of the Institute this year .
I participated last year and found the whole experience to be invaluable . The interactions with your classmates provide a great opportunity to meet new attorneys outside your field , and the modules put on by the Institute provide introductions not just to some amazing companies and organizations in the Tampa Bay area , but also to the lawyers who are helping to lead them .
This issue is full of interesting and topical articles related to the practice of law in Florida . I was especially interested in the article from the Clerk of the Court detailing a newly enacted statute addressed at curtailing real property fraud . In addition , Judge Claudia Isom provides a fascinating profile of attorney Kemi Oguntebi that I commend to all of our readers .
I would also highly recommend checking out the details of the upcoming annual Bench Bar Conference . I know the Committee has been hard at work , and it looks like they have an excellent event planned again this year . I am personally looking forward to attending .
I hope that everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing Summer , and I look forward to the upcoming Bar Year ! n
S E P - O C T 2 0 2 3 | H C B A L A W Y E R
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