PRESIDENT ’ S MESSAGE
Scott B . Smith 2022-23 PBCBA President
On the Home page of our Association ’ s website the following is indicated :
The Palm Beach County Bar Association was founded in 1922 . The mission of the PBCBA is to serve its members , foster professionalism and enhance the public ’ s understanding and awareness of the legal system . We are very active in providing numerous public service activities and giving back to the community .
I ’ d like to take this opportunity to address how the PBCBA has fulfilled in the past , and will continue to fulfill in the future , its mission and its participation in the various community-related activities it is involved in .
First , this is a friendly reminder that the Palm Beach County Bar Association and all of its members are celebrating the Association ’ s 100th Anniversary this year ! In doing so , we will throughout the coming year recognize the rich history of the PBCBA and the many great things the Association and its members have helped accomplish . Undoubtedly , the PBCBA and its members have been at the forefront of positive and needed changes and advancements in our legal community , and society as a whole .
With respect to serving our members , the PBCBA is continuously looking and searching for ways to assist our members with their CLE , business , firm management , and networking needs . Our thirty ( 30 ) different practice , CLE , and specialty committees are regularly meeting to coordinate and schedule upto-date meetings , CLE seminars , and networking events . From our Alternative Dispute Resolution CLE Committee to our Worker ’ s Compensation Committee , and as with every committee in between , all of our committees and their respective volunteer members are already meeting and planning for an informative , productive , and successful year . Please join us at these events .
In addition , the PBCBA remains steadfast in fostering professionalism amongst our members and beyond . Our Professionalism Committee , in conjunction with other committees , will work with each other and The Florida Bar with the unwavering goal of achieving steady and true professionalism by lawyers practicing law in the State of Florida . Just a few weeks ago , I attended a professionalism workshop that was put on by the PBCBA for all of the Summer interns that were involved in the Committee for Diversity and Inclusion ’ s Diversity Internship Program ( DIP ). It was a remarkable and tremendous lunch program that provided real-life and practical examples and experiences to the interns about the importance of professionalism , integrity , honor , and civility in the legal system .
The PBCBA will also continue in every way possible to help enhance the public ’ s understanding and awareness of our legal system . Through various committees , such as the Law Week Committee and Law Related Education Committee , we will work to help the public better understand what occurs at the Palm Beach County Courthouse and what happens on a daily basis in Palm Beach County in our judicial / legal system . Access to justice should never be denied or delayed , and it should never be blocked or hindered because a member of the public did not have access to the judicial system and / or knowledge of such guaranteed access .
Our Association will also remain committed to giving back to our entire Palm Beach County community . In just the last few years , when times were arguably more difficult and / or different than in recent memory , the PBCBA and our members were there to provide for members of our community with considerable donations and gifts made to various local charities . In addition , our Association will remain a partner in helping the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County in fulfilling its mission of providing high quality civil legal advice , representation , and education to the disadvantaged of Palm Beach County in order to protect their personal safety , enhance their opportunities and living conditions , and promote self-sufficiency .
During the course of this year , we further intend to highlight all of the great volunteer and charitable work conducted and performed by our members through our theme for the year of “ Lawyers Due Care .” Every day in Palm Beach County and beyond , our members take an active role in volunteering at schools , hospitals , churches , parks , gyms , fields , and at many other locations and facilities . We plan this year to show members of our community that lawyers are not just stiff-suit and tie-wearing legal junkies who do not leave their office to join fellow members of their community , but rather that we are all actively engaged in helping others when at our offices and also when outside of our offices .
The PBCBA , after 100 years of service , is in great shape and as vibrant as ever . We are financially strong and blessed to have an incredibly active and committed membership . The Association exists for you and all of our fellow members . At nearly 3,000 active members , we are fortunate to have a strong , diverse , and competent group of lawyers here in Palm Beach County that we can all learn from and network with to help sustain and even grow our respective practices and the work we do for our clients .
We will continue to recognize and celebrate the great history of the PBCBA throughout our Centennial year , while at the same time ensuring that we are following through with our mission and giving back to the community . I look forward to seeing each of you as we continue our individual and collective march forward !
PBCBA BAR BULLETIN 3