Higer to lead the Bar: 'I love being lawyer, I love working with lawyers, and I love helping clients with their problems to the point that I make them my problems.'.

Miami Board of Governors member Michael Higer has become president-elect designate of The Florida Bar.

Higer won the post to be president in the 2017-18 Bar year when he was the only candidate to file by the December 15 deadline for the 2016 Bar elections.

"Becoming the president-elect of The Florida Bar is the highest honor that I have achieved in my professional career," Higer said. "It comes in at a close fourth to the day my wife said 'I do' and the days that my two children were born. I am very excited to be the future president of a group of dedicated, caring, and committed professionals who work tirelessly to do everything possible for the lawyers in this state, care about the legal needs of the citizens of our great state, and have a deep interest in how our legal system affects the community that we all serve."

Higer, who joined the board in 2008, is a civil trial lawyer handling a variety of matters and practices in the Berger Singerman firm.

The decision to run for president-elect was a natural outgrowth of his professional life.

"I am one of those who talks about 'lawyer stuff' nonstop all the time. I love being a lawyer, I love working with lawyers, and I love helping clients with their problems to the point that I make them my problems." Higer said. "I have also been highly involved in the Bar almost from my first day as a lawyer. I actively served in the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar, where I was fortunate to be elected chair. I've also served in nearly every major capacity on the Board of Governors for the past seven years, so this was a natural progression for me to run for president-elect. Actually becoming president-elect, however, is beyond my wildest dreams, as there are so many talented, intelligent, and dedicated lawyers on the board and in our legal community. It truly is an honor."

Higer will be sworn in as president-elect at the June Annual Convention when current president-elect Bill Schifino takes the oath as president. In June 2017, Higer will become Bar president.

He comes to a Bar leadership at challenging times, as Vision 2016 recommendations are reaching the board and he will preside when the upcoming Constitution Revision Commission--a once-every-20-year panel empowered to suggest constitutional amendments to voters--does much of its work.

Higer said his goals largely are informed by what the Bar has already done.

"Although it is a bit premature to identify the top priorities for a presidency, as...