Section History & Awards
Section History
The General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm Section has undergone several name changes before settling on its current name. The Section's history can be traced back to 1971, when its ancestor was officially recognized by The Florida Bar.
In 1993, the Agricultural Law Committee was merged into the Section. Since that merger, the Section has continued to present seminars involving issues of agricultural law.
In 2007, the Practice Management and Development Section was merged into GPSSF. Following that merger, GPSSF has carried on PMDS's focus on practice management issues.
As presently constituted, the Section's mission is as follows:
- to assist the board of governors when called upon, in the implementation and promotion of the policies and objectives of The Florida Bar;
- to enhance the skill of the general practice, solo and small firm as well as the lawyer who has interests beyond the boundaries of a single professional specialty, by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information essential to improvement of the lawyer's quality of legal service.
- to provide an organization within The Florida Bar open to members in good standing having an interest in the economics of law practice; and
- to provide a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas leading to the improvement and development of the fields of economics of law practice and delivery of legal services, and to serve the public generally and The Florida Bar in interpreting and carrying out the professional needs and objectives in these fields.
Each year, a member of the Executive Council serves as Chair of the Section. The following is a list of members who have served as Chair of the GPSSF Section throughout its existence:
- 2009-10 - Peggy Hoyt
- 2008-09 - Ana M. Veliz
- 2007-08 - Jack Merritt
- 2006-07 - Michael T. Olexa
- 2005-06 - Linzie Bogan
- 2004-05 - Judge Marvin Gillman
- 2003-04 - Linda Barnaby
- 2002-03 - Jack Bettman
- 2001-02 - Charles Kane
- 2000-01 - Craig Ferrante
- 1999-2000 - C. Neil Gregory
- 1998-99 - Dykes C. Everett
- 1997-98 - L. Michael Roffino
- 1996-97 - Timothy S. Shaw
- 1995-96 - Carla Suggs Matthews
- 1994-95 - Gerald B. Curington
- 1993-94 - Frank D. Hall
- 1992-93 - Steven David Hutton
- 1991-92 - Jesus Modesto Hevia
- 1990-91 - Lewis Hamilton Hill, III
- 1989-90 - David A. Donet
- 1988-89 - Dean Clinton Kowalchyk
- 1987-88 - Stephen Charles Page
- 1986-87 - Jack Owen Hackett, II
- 1985-86 - George O. Wilson
- 1984-85 - Nancy Anne Young Smith
- 1983-84 - Ladd Hiram Fassett
- 1982-83 - Wynn Thomas
- 1981-82 - William A. Jacob
Awards
The Section presents three major awards each year. A description of each is provided below, along with a list of past winners.
Tradition of Excellence Award
In 1993, the General Practice Section of The Florida Bar initiated the Tradition of Excellence award. This prestigious award was developed to honor recipients whose efforts throughout that year have been beneficial to The Bar and specifically to the general practitioner, and is intended to encourage participation by all Bar members in activities that benefit the general practitioner and the community at large.
The Tradition of Excellence Award Ricipients
- 2009 Ernest A. Sellers, Live Oak City Attorney & Past President 3rd Circuit Bar.
- 2008 Hon. Jim Smith, Former Florida Attorney General and Secretary of State;
- 2007 Ben H. Hill III, Past President of The Florida Bar;
- 2006 former Chief Justice Major Harding, Supreme Court of Florida;
- 2005 Barry Scott Richard, Counsel for The Florida Bar;
- 2004 David A. Donet, Past Chair, General Practice Section;
- 2003 Gerald D. Curington, Past Chair, General Practice Section;
- 2002 Hon. Bob Butterworth, Former Attorney General of Florida;
- 2001 the late Justice Raymond Ehrlich, Supreme Court of Florida;
- 2000 George O. Wilson III, Past Chair, General Practice Section;
- 1999 Marsha G. Rydberg, Member, Board of Governors of The Florida Bar;
- 1998 the late Frank D. Hall, Past Chair, General Practice Section;
- 1997 Mandell Glicksberg, Professor Emeritus, University of Florida College of Law;
- 1996 Lewis H. Hill III, Past Chair, General Practice Section;
- 1995 former Chief Justice Ben Overton, Supreme Court of Florida;
- 1994 Hon. Patricia Seitz, Past President of The Florida Bar;
L. Michael Roffino Pro Bono Award
This award is given to recognize the pro bono organization within the state that has put together the best pro bono service program during the past year. The award was originally named the Bill Jacob award in honor of the Section's first chair, but it was renamed the L. Michael Roffino award in 2004 after the untimely death of former GPSSF chair L. Michael Roffino.
The Florida Pro Bono Coordinators Association nominates five programs for consideration. Our awards committee selects three finalists, one of whom is named the winner. The winner receives $3,000, while the two other finalists receive $1,000 apiece.
L. MICHAEL ROFFINO PRO BONO AWARD - PAST RECIPIENTS
(Previously known as the Bill Jacob Award, 1990-1992)
1990 |
Winner |
$2,500 |
Legal Aid Society of Orange County |
1991 |
Winner |
$2,500 |
The Sarasota Manatee Lawyer Referral Service, Inc. – created training program for attorneys assisting Guardians Ad Litem |
|
Finalist |
|
The Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. |
|
Finalist |
|
Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. |
1992 |
Winner |
$2,500 |
Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. -- produced a family law pro bono manual and Word Perfect disc |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Community Law Program, Inc. (St. Petersburg) |
1993 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (Tallahassee) -- Emeritus Attorney Project conducting legal clinics plus small claims advice clinic |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Northwest Florida Legal Services, Inc. |
1994 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Northwest Florida Legal Services, Inc. (Pensacola) -- Immigration law training – outreach |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Volunteer Lawyers Project (Daytona Beach) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. (Sarasota) |
1995 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid -- Youth Mediation Program |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
H.A.V.E. a Heart Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program (Tampa) |
1996 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Put Something Back Pro Bono Project -- Wills on Wheels Program |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Inc. |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. |
1997 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
The Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program (BAVLP) (Tampa) -- Domestic Violence Assistance Project |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Volunteer Attorney Program Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (Gainesville - Marcia Lockhart) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. (Altamonte Springs - Melissa Sasser) |
1998 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Broward Lawyers Care (Legal Aid Service of Broward - Christine Marini) -- The Lawyers for Children (TLC) Project |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Fifth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Project (Ocala - Diane Adams) -- Community Education Project |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. (West Palm Beach - Robert Johnson) -- The County Attorney’s Domestic Violence Program) |
1999 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Northwest Florida Legal Services, Inc. (NWFLS) (Pensacola - Phyllis A. Foley) --Initiated a Saturday Hotline; production of client self-education tapes |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Community Law Program, Inc. (St. Petersburg) - Kelly Vaughn Rauch |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) Pro Bono Project (Miami) - Carmen Gonzalez |
2000 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (Gainesville - Marcia G. Lockhart) -- developed a manual; held weekly Advice Clinic |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Community Law Program, Inc. (St. Petersburg) - Kelly Vaughn Rauch |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (Tallahassee) - John Fenno |
2001 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (Tallahassee - John J. Fenno) -- launched the preeminent web-site for a legal services program in the State of Florida at www.lsnf.org |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
The Legal Aid Society of Collier County (Naples) - Jana V. Jay |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc. (Sarasota) - Nina E. Perry |
2002 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. (West Palm Beach – Robert Johnson) -- Health Emergency Legal Panel – HELP |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
The Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program (Tampa - Sheila Seig) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Community Law Program (St. Petersburg) - Kelly Vaughn Rauch |
2003 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. (Altamonte Springs - Silvia Ponce de Leon) -- Increased access to justice for low-income people through the innovative use of technology to train, support and educate legal aid providers) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. (Orlando- Catherine A. Tucker) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. (West Palm Beach - Kimberly Rommel-Enright) |
2004 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. (Rockledge – Robert L. Johnson) -- Launched a new program, the Family Caregivers Legal Assistance Project (FCLAP) to provide legal assistance to caregivers |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (Tallahassee – John J. Fenno) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc. (Sarasota – Linda Harradine) |
2005 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Community Law Program (St. Petersburg – Janet Herron) -- a Video/DVD was produced on Pro Se representation in Family Law matters; sample notebooks with completed pro se forms; a new pro se clinic w/assistance |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc. (West Palm Beach – Kimberly Rommel-Enright) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. (Altamonte Springs – Erin M. Flemister) |
2006 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. (Jacksonville – Sarah Jones Fowler) -- Hands-on approach for young people to find employment; use public transportation; enroll |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc. (Sarasota) – Linda Harradine |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc. (Fort Pierce – Jane E. Helms) |
2007 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. (Rockledge - Rob Johnson) -- Low Income Worker Project, which will focus on hotel, hospitality and tourism workers with minimum-wage law and unemployment-compensation problems.) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Community Law Program, Inc. (St. Petersburg - Kimberly Rodgers, Esq.) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association (Orlando - Catherine Tucker) |
2008 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Seminole County Bar Association, Inc. (Longwood – Erin Flemister) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (Tallahassee – John Fenno) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County Bar Association (West Palm Beach – Kimberly Rommel) |
2009 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. (Rockledge – Robert Johnson) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (Ocala - Lana Smith) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
“Put Something Back” (Miami – Bruce Levine) |
2010 |
Winner |
$3,000 |
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (Ft. Pierce – Carolyn Fabrizio) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (Jacksonville – Kathy Para) |
|
Finalist |
$1,000 |
Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc. (Clearwater – Jane Helms) |
Grand Total Awarded (1990-2010): $99,500.00 |
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Walter S. Crumbley Award
The Walter S. Crumbley award is given each year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to practice management in the State of Florida. The award was originally created by the Practice Management and Development Section in honor of the long service by Judge Walter S. Crumbley on the Practice Management and Development Committee and on the Technology Law Committee. This tradition has been carried on by GPSSF.
WALTER S. CRUMBLEY AWARD - PAST RECIPIENTS
- 2010 Michael Cavendish
- 2009 Mary Cagle
- 2008 Jennifer A. Dietz
- 2007 Rick Georges
- 2006 J.R. Phelps
- 2005 Ronald Owen
- 2004 Walter S. Crumbley
