MISSION

Mission. The mission of the Professionalism Committee of the Palm Beach County Bar Association (PBCBA) (“Professionalism Committee”) is to foster and promote, through programs, publications, and outreach, the values and expectations of professionalism among lawyers, judges, and others who provide or support the provision of legal, judicial, and related services in Palm Beach County. The Professionalism Committee, which is composed of lawyers, judges and paralegals, meets regularly to discuss emerging professionalism issues and how best to promote professionalism and civility in the Palm Beach County legal community, and creates and hosts continuing legal education programs on professionalism and civility topics.

In furtherance of its mission, the Professionalism Committee promotes The Florida Bar’s four sources that make up the “Standards of Professionalism” for attorneys practicing law in Florida, as referenced in In Re Code for Resolving Professionalism Referrals and Amendments to Rule Regulating The Florida Bar 6-10.3, 367 So.3d 1184 (Fla. 2023):

1. Oath of Admission, as amended by the Florida Supreme Court on September 12, 2011 to add: “To opposing parties and their counsel, I pledge fairness, integrity, and civility, not only in court, but also in all written and oral communications.” In re The Florida Bar, 73 So.3d 149 (Fla. 2011);
2. Professionalism Expectations found at floridabar.org/prof/regulating-professionalism/ professionalism-expectations-2
3. The Florida Bar Creed of Professionalism found at floridabar.org/prof/presources/creed-of-professionalism
4. The Rules Regulating The Florida Bar found at floridabar.org/rules/rrtfb

In 2014, PBCBA’s Board of Directors approved, and the Judges of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit endorsed, PBCBA’s second amended Standards of Professional Courtesy and Civility, which can be found at www.palmbeachbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Standards-of-Professional-Courtesy-2014-brochure.pdf

History. In 1990, the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar adopted the Ideals and Goals of Professionalism (“Ideals”). That same year, PCBCA created its own Standards of Professional Courtesy for attorneys practicing law in Palm Beach County (“1990 Standards”).

In 1997, the Chief Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, by administrative order, created a “Professionalism Council” to meet with and counsel attorneys whose conduct appeared to violate the Ideals or the 1990 Standards. The Professionalism Council was the precursor to the entity subsequently ordered by the Florida Supreme Court to be created, now known as the “Local Professionalism Panel” or “LPP.”

In 2007, PBCBA’s Board of Directors approved, and the Judges of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit endorsed, PBCBA’s amended “Standards of Professional Courtesy.”

On September 12, 2011, the Florida Supreme Court amended the Oath of Admission to The Florida Bar to add an attorney’s pledge of “fairness, integrity, and civility” to the court and opponents “in all written and oral communications.” 

Between 2012 and 2014, PBCBA led an effort across South Florida where 42 voluntary bar associations and 8 chief judges in federal and state courts adopted a Joint Resolution of South Florida Voluntary Bar Associations Regarding Lawyer Civility.

In 2014, PBCBA’s Board of Directors approved, and the Judges of the Fifteenth Circuit endorsed, PBCBA’s second amended “Standards of Professional Courtesy and Civility,” which added “Civility” to the title and updated the standards to conform with modern practice.

Recognition. In its continuing efforts to promote professionalism and civility, the Professionalism Committee annually issues an award to an attorney practicing law in Palm Beach County who has demonstrated outstanding professionalism, respect for the legal system, maintaining the highest levels of competence, courtesy, and civility, and a commitment to serving clients, the community, and the public good. The award, named for former PBCBA President Sidney A. Stubbs, is presented at the annual PBCBA Bench Bar Conference.

Prior award winners include: Jack Ackerman, Douglas Duncan, Judge Walter N. Colbath, Jr., D. Culver “Skip” Smith III, Judge Edward Rodgers, Judge Peter Blanc, Sidney A. Stubbs, Jr. David Ackerman, Kenneth Selvig, Jane Kreusler-Walsh, Manuel Farach, John G. “Jay” White III, Robert A. Bertisch, Carey Haughwout, John Mariani, Scott G. Hawkins, Adam Rabin, Amy Borman, Michael D. Mopsick, Patricia Lowry, Kara Berard Rockenbach, William E. Pruitt, Lawonda Warren, Michael Walsh, Scott N. Richardson, Gary Lesser, and Kalinthia Dillard.

For more information about the Professionalism Committee, please contact the current co-chairs Megan Wegerif ([email protected]) and David Vitale, Jr. ([email protected]).

November is Professionalism Month in Florida

Chief Justice Charles T. Canady, in conjunction with The Florida Bar, has proclaimed November as ‘Legal Professionalism Month’ in Florida.

The proclamation serves to encourage all those working in the legal profession to rededicate themselves to exhibiting the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.

• https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/november-is-legal-professionalism-month/ [floridabar.org]
• https://www.floridabar.org/news-release/no-category/legalprofmonth2021/ [floridabar.org]

The Florida Supreme Court’s Proclamation can be found:

• https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2021/11/11.01.2021-Proclamation-for-Legal-Professionalism-Month.pdf [www-media.floridabar.org]

• Southern District of Florida Local Rules
• Middle District of Florida Local Rules
• Northern District of Florida Local Rules