The Lawyer/Leader Podcast

This episode kicks off the new season of the Lawyer/Leader podcast and explores the foundations of effective leadership, with a focus on developing a personal mission and vision. Leadership Academy members Kerven Montfort and Maria Hossain join Florida Bar President-Elect Paige Greenlee to discuss leadership, purpose, and what it means to lead with intention.This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General and 1.0 hour of Professionalism CLE credit Course #260070

Bet on YourselfJoin us as Attorney Yolanda Cash Jackson of Becker and Poliakoff in Ft. Lauderdale and Tallahassee and Attorney Sean Pittman of the Pittman Law Group, P.L. based in Tallahassee share their professional experiences and personal reflections on leadership, balance, dealing with pressures in work and in life, the importance of service and having a societal impact.  Mr. Pittman’s podcast can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/the-sean-pittman-podcast/id1466151036 Hosts: Natasha Dorcent, Kathy Dupuy-Bruno, Ashanti King, Angelica Knight, and Briana SaffoldThis podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit Course #9898

In this episode of the Lawyer/Leader Podcast, Leadership Academy Class XIII fellows Zane Katz, Shanice Cameron, Clyde Lemon, Edna Pierre, and Johnny El-Hachem join guest Evan Nierman. Evan Nierman is the founder and CEO of Red Banyan, a strategic communications firm, and a leading expert in crisis PR and reputation management. The episode explores how effective communication drives leadership, influences outcomes, and protects reputation in high-stakes legal and crisis situations.This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit Course #9773.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing how we operate as a society, and it’s impacting the legal profession. Hear from current law school students on how they are interacting with AI, from learning-enhancement hacks to pitfalls to avoid. Then, hear from the co-chairs of the Florida Bar’s Special Committee on AI Tools and Resources to learn how the Florida Bar is seeking to balance the pros and cons of AI tools by educating and communicating with the legal community.References: https://www.floridabar.org/etopinions/opinion-24-1/ (https://www.floridabar.org/etopinions/opinion-24-1/)This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit, 1.0 hour of Professionalism credit. Course #9730.

In this episode of The Lawyer/Leader Podcast, Class XIII Fellow Sean Mendez-Catlin interviews Past Florida Bar President and Founder of the Leadership Academy, Eugene Pettis. The two have an in-depth discussion about how to effectively network, being authentic, and building relationships over time that allow you to do public good.The Professional Expectations: https://www.floridabar.org/prof/regulating-professionalism/professionalism-expectations-2/ (https://www.floridabar.org/prof/regulating-professionalism/professionalism-expectations-2/) (https://www.floridabar.org/prof/regulating-professionalism/professionalism-expectations-2/)Eugene K. PettisEugene K. Pettis is a Partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Osborne Francis & Pettis. For nearly 40 years, Eugene has represented an impressive number of individual clients in civil trial matters. He handles a range of complex cases, with a primary focus on representing plaintiffs in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury and commercial litigation.Eugene has the historic and laudable designation as the first African American President of The Florida Bar (https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/eugene-k-pettis-first-african-american-president-of-the-florida-bar/#:~:text=Now%20the%2052%2Dyear%2Dold,whatever%20he%20chose%20to%20be.) . In his role at the helm of The Florida Bar, which governs more than 100,000 attorneys, he provided visionary leadership and brought a passion for giving back to his profession and his community. Eugene spearheaded an assortment of initiatives while President, including the conceptualization of the still active William Reece Smith Leadership Academy (https://www.floridabar.org/about/academy/) , a multi-session training program designed to help a diverse and inclusive group of lawyers become better leaders.Eugene is a highly sought-after speaker who uses his engaging and enthusiastic style to raise the concerns and issues that are confronting our communities. He fights to speak for those that have no voice and has dedicated his life advocating for justice and equality for all people. Eugene is also the host of the Can We Talk? 360° podcast (https://canwetalk360.blubrry.net/) . His “Can We Talk 360°” interview sessions and “Motivational Moments” solo sessions focus on topics that seek to embody what the late John Lewis stated, “if you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it.”Eugene currently serves as a member of the Board of Regents for the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers (https://www.actl.com/) . He represents Region 7, which includes Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, for a four-year term.Eugene and his wife Pam, who is also a lawyer, live in beautiful Fort Lauderdale. Together they have 4 daughters, the oldest is a 3rd Grade school teacher, next is an in-house corporate lawyer, the third is a Doctor of Child Psychology, and the youngest is a medical doctor in her Family Medicine Residency.Contributors: Sean Mendez-Catlin, Jennifer Blackmon, Brian Goldenberg, Kathelyn Jacques-Adams, & Yasha OsbyThis podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit, 1.0 hour of Professionalism credit. Course #9613.

The Lawyer/Leader Podcast is a production of The Florida Bar’s Wm. Reese Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy.Class XIII’s debut episode features attorney Brooke West Blake, Senior Director of Legal Services for the Eisner Advisory Group LLC (EisnerAmper) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and The Honorable Michael Baggé-Hernández of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, Florida. These two power-house legal professionals discuss the importance of trust, learning how to pivot, navigating the adversarial system with kindness, and remembering that what we do really matters.Key points:1. Get over your ego.2. Ask for help.3. Look at the statutes.4. Establishing trust matters.5. Stay open and be willing to bet on yourself.6. Put your authentic self forward.7. Be optimistic.8. Take steps forward.Hosts: Yesenia Arocha, Gabrielle Higgins, Ayanna Hypolite, Mallorie Milord, and Hillary ThorntonThis podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit, 1.0 hour of Professionalism credit. Course #9612.

In this episode of The Lawyer/Leader Podcast, Fellows Sarah Gresham, Margaret Hassan, Freddie Menard, Judeen Molyneaux, Imani Williams, and Alfredo Zamora interview Sia Baker-Barnes, President of The Florida Bar, and Dean Tarlika Nunez-Navarro of St. Thomas University’s Benjamin L. Crump College of Law. These two powerhouse leaders in the legal profession discuss how to find a work/life blend, prioritize self-care, and build a career that is joyful, sustainable, and meaningful. Can this be done? Thankfully, President Baker-Barnes and Dean Nunez-Navarro prove it can!* The Florida Bar’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD) CLE, Managing Secondary Trauma While Maintaining Professional and Ethical Standards (May 21, 2025): https://flayld.org/2025/05/managing-secondary-trauma/* The Florida Bar’s Mental Health and Wellness Center: https://www.floridabar.org/member/healthandwellnesscenter/* Florida Lawyers Helpline: 833-FL1-WELL* FLA Inc: https://www.fla-lap.org/ (https://www.fla-lap.org/)This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit, 1.0 hour of Professionalism credit. Course #9230.

In this episode of The Lawyer/Leader Podcast, Class XII Fellow Clyde Mathes interviews The Honorable Robert Cohen, administrative law judge, about what it takes to become an effective communicator. The two discuss keys to effective communication, the importance of understanding the type of conversation you are having, the role of nonverbal communication, how to be an active listener, and they share important resources for legal professionals.Special thanks to Jessica Falkner, Josef Hess, Russell Monilla, and Assita Toure for their production contributions.This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit, 1.0 hour of Professionalism credit. Course #9187.

In this episode of The Lawyer/Leader podcast, Leadership Academy Fellows Austin Kwikkel, Emmanuella Telfort, and Whitney Duteau define artificial intelligence; discuss how it can best be used in the practice of law; and look at the dark side of using AI in practice, including ethical considerations, cost of implementation, job displacement, confidentiality and security risks, potential for incorrect legal advice, client trust issues, bias in algorithms, and limited creativity in advocacy.Special thanks to Michael Lorigas and Wanda Morgan for their contributions to the production of this episode.This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit, 0.5 hour of Professionalism, and 0.5 Technology CLE credit. Course #9123.

In this episode of the Lawyer/Leader Podcast, Fellows explore the concepts of networking and mentoring through discussions with Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor and Ashley Sybesma.Link: https://www.floridabar.org/prof/pmentor/counsel-to-counsel-mentoring-program/This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit, and 1.0 hour of Professionalism CLE credit. Course #8973.