The Atlanta Lawyer January/February 2013 | Page 8

professionalism Update from the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism By Avarita L. Hanson Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism T he Chief Justice’s Commission on Profession, now in its twenty-fourth year, continues to provide Georgia’s Bench and Bar with innovative, relevant and timely professionalism programs, while also working on a national stage to address professionalism challenges. Chief Justice Carol W. Hunstein of the Supreme Court of Georgia heads up the twenty-two member group that includes representatives from the bench, lawyer community and two laypersons. The Commission presents annual signature programs, as well as Convocations and CLEs that look at current professionalism issues. Each summer, along with the State Bar’s Committee on Professionalism, the Commission presents The Orientations on Professionalism at every law school in Georgia. In 2012, in addition to orientations at Emory, Mercer, John Marshall, Georgia and Georgia State, the first orientation was held at Savannah Law School. The orientations engage incoming law students with judges, lawyers and law professors by using hypothetical situations that create discussion opportunities about professionalism issues arising in both law school and law practice. Hundreds of judges and attorneys participate every year, some returning to their schools and many reflect on their own legal educational experiences. Professionalism orientations will take place this summer under the leadership of Joy Lampley Fortson, Chair, Committee on Professionalism. Anyone wishing to participate should contact Ms. Nneka Harris Daniel at [email protected] or at [phone] after April 1, 2013. The second signature program is the Justice Robert Benham Awards for Community Service. For the fourteenth year, the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism will partner with the State Bar of Georgia to recognize judges and attorneys who serve their communities beyond their legal or official work. Senator David H. Gambrell of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell Berkowitz, PC of Atlanta will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Other honorees include: The Honorable Joe C. Bishop, Albany; J. Michael Cranford, Macon; The Honorable Asha F. Jackson, Decatur; The Honorable Kimberly Esmond Adams, Peter Anderson 8 THE ATLANTA LAWYER January/February 2013 [email protected] and Audra A. Dial all of Atlanta; The Honorable Robert M. Crawford, Thomaston; Maziar Mazloom, Marietta; Rev. Dexter M. Wimbish, Madison; Peter A. Gleichman, Woodstock; and Laura C. Nehf, Athens. The program takes place on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at the Georgia Bar Center and is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Registration before February 21 is required by contacting Ms. Nneka Harris Daniel at [email protected] or at [phone] and providing your name, email address and telephone number. What are current “hot topics” and issues before the Commission? At a Convocation on Professionalism on November 15, 2012, the Commission addressed the topic: The Future of Legal Education: Will It Produce PracticeReady Lawyers? This day-long program brought law school administrators and scholars from Georgia and around the country together with practitioners to take a look at how lawyers are educated for today’s and tomorrow’s practice opportunities. As the Chair of the ABA Consortium on Professionalism Initiatives, Commission Executive Director Avarita L. Hanson is heading up a national and local effort to look at lawyers aging in the practice of law, with an eye to addressing issues not just from an ethics or malpractice standpoint, but from a professionalism and peer perspective. She is also sharing insights on generational diversity in the workplace and how this affects members of the Georgia Bar. The Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism, the first such entity in the world, provides information and support to individuals and entities on professionalism education programming, as well as programs that touch on every aspect of professionalism. Suggestion and comments are always appreciated and can be sent to professionalism@cjcpga. org or to the office at: 104 Marietta Street, N.W., Suite 620, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. ■ Avarita L. Hanson, Esq. is the Executive Director of the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism. The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association