Bar leadership academy applications now available: first session is set for the bar convention.

As The Florida Bar's new Leadership Academy readies to begin accepting applications March 1, the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism is hard at work developing a diverse and thorough curriculum to shape new leaders for the profession across the state.

"The Leadership Academy provides an exciting opportunity for the fellows to learn new skills not taught by most law schools or legal employers that are going to strengthen the lawyers' own personal and professional development, while benefitting their employers when they bring back and share their knowledge and expanded network," said Linda Calvert Hanson, director of the center.

The topics to be covered will range from strategic planning initiatives to building consensus and synergy to team building to harnessing the power of relationships to leaders looking at the future of the legal profession."

The academy is a key initiative of Bar President-elect Eugene Pettis, who said a growing need for leaders in the profession provided the impetus for the idea.

"It is my hope that fellows who graduate from the academy will be inspired to be leaders within our profession in their chosen path," said Renee Thompson, who worked closely with Pettis in drafting the program. "Fellows will be given a curriculum tailored toward enhancing personal and professional leadership skills which they can utilize in organizations like voluntary bars, bar sections or divisions, the judiciary, governing boards or their local community. The academy hopes to develop effective leaders at all levels within our profession, which will hopefully create a network of those leaders to allow them to best utilize resources and work with one another on common initiatives in the future."

Thompson will serve as chair of the Leadership Academy Committee in the coming year.

During its inaugural year, the program plans to invite a diverse group of attorneys from throughout the state to participate as fellows.

The fellows will be divided equally into two geographical branches, a Northern branch including the First, Second, and Fifth district courts of appeal and a Southern branch including the Third and Fourth districts.

The academy is set to kick off at the Bar's Annual Convention June 28-29 in Boca Raton.

Two additional full group meetings will take place at the Bar's fall joint meeting in September and January meeting in Tallahassee.

Each branch will also hold three meetings in July, November, and March at rotating locations within...