Want to serve on a Bar Committee? Forms are available at www.floridabar.org.

The annual committee preference forms for Bar members seeking appointments for the term of President-elect Bill Schifino are available at floridabar.org.

As president-elect, Schifino will make 500 or so committee appointments, and he wants to make sure he has a diverse group of lawyers from which to choose.

"It is a privilege to practice law in this state, and with that privilege comes a responsibility," Schifino said. "We need the active engagement of our membership to work together to address the many challenges facing our profession."

Schifino said the quality of work performed by the Bar's standing committees is a direct reflection on the reputation of The Florida Bar.

In making committee appointments in spring 2016, Schifino said several factors will be considered, including:

* Prior service to the Bar and voluntary bar organizations;

* The need to infuse new members into a particular committee; and

* Diversity, which includes, but is not limited to, gender, ethnicity, geography, practice area, and firm size.

* Previous committee participation and contributions in conjunction with the evaluation of committee chairs.

Schifino said to provide more opportunities to serve on standing committees, members should not request more than one appointment.

If you are currently serving...