16 elected to YLD board, three contested races set Sixteen lawyers were elected without opposition to the Board of Governors, while seven others are contesting for three seats following the close of qualification for 2012 board races. Three candidates filed for Seat 1 in the Second Circuit; Benjamin J. Gibson, Jennifer Shoaf Richardson, and Joshua D. Zelman. In the Fourth Circuit, Christian P. George will face Michael E. Lockamy to fill Seat 1. In the 18th Circuit, Vera L. June will vie with Andrew B. Pick. . . ...

E-filing’s time is nowBy Gary BlankenshipSenior Editor Except in a handful of counties and the First District Court of Appeal, virtually every document filed in Florida courts is done by paper. In less than two years, that’s almost certain to be reversed. Paper filing will be the rare exception, and electronic filing will be the order of the day. So likely will be the electronic serving and sharing of papers. The impacts will extend beyond filings for the courts. Lawyers involved in the process and court cl. . . ...

RPPTL Section fellowships designed to attract young lawyers to section work The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section is now accepting applications to its fellowship program aimed at recruiting young practitioners to the Bar’s largest and oldest section. The fellowship program — created in 2007 and modeled after the successful fellowship program of the ABA — allows individuals to be substantially involved in the section’s work, receive leadership training, and work closely with leading attorneys in . . . ...

E-filing resources on the way Electronic court filing and all its related processes and rules can be a major challenge for lawyers and their firms. Fortunately, there are some resources to help them, with more on the way. Bar Board of Governors member Laird Lile, a member of the Florida Courts Technology Commission, said the best way for lawyers to begin preparing to the day when e-filing is required is to start now. “Don’t wait until it’s mandatory,” he said. “Lawyers ought to take advantage of the optiona. . . ...

Hands-on pro bono helps Holocaust survivorsBy Jan PudlowSenior Editor Eighty-four-year-old Bernie Yeger will never forget the dreadful details of living in the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II, including saving his own brother from extermination. More than six decades after Allied soldiers liberated him from the Nazis’ clutches of cruelty, Yeger sat in the law office of Steven Marcus, a partner/shareholder at Fowler White Boggs in Ft. Lauderdale. He brought his birth certificate and shared m. . . ...

Panel fears the declining number of jury trials may undermine public confidenceBy Gary BlankenshipSenior Editor The declining number of jury trials in both state and federal courts and in civil and criminal cases can undermine public confidence in the judicial system and decrease the skills of lawyers and judges when they actually do have a trial. Better funding for the courts, internships and better training for law students, and expedited procedures to make trying cases more cost effective could help offs. . . ...

Supreme Court asks for e-filing advice The Florida Supreme Court has asked for more information before acting on a rules case that could set a schedule for mandatory electronic filing in Florida courts. Part of that request, issued last month, was for a reduction in the proposed number of exceptions from electronic filing in criminal cases. The court also asked for advice on how mandatory electronic filing would affect mandatory electronic service of case documents and other paperwork between parties, which. . . ...

Trial Lawyers Section gives $75,000 to support children’s legal services lawyer‘We were alarmed when we learned of the potential loss of career children’s legal services attorneys due to the slump in IOTA revenue'By Nancy KinnallySpecial to the News The Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section has approved a $75,000 charitable gift to The Florida Bar Foundation for a Trial Lawyers Children’s Legal Services Fellowship. The section indicated that it might make the gift for one or two additional years. The gift wil. . . ...