South Florida's Legal Community Update for December 15, 2010

SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS We do our best to provide accurate, updated information to you. Please understand that this information is collected from multiple sources and it is recommended that you contact the organizations listed for the most up-to-date event details.  Thank you to all who contribute to this calender. Donations  to the Miami Rescue Mission Center for Women and Children They need 50 pajamas more to reach the 1,000 goal!!! In the Spirit of the Holidays Lourdes Corvo, P.A. and Perla Sole Calas, P.A. invite their colleagues, family and friends to donate new pajamas and books for children (newborn to 13 years old). Over the last four years, they have donated 700 pajamas to children from abused homes. Their goal is to reach a total of 1,000 donated pajamas this year. To do this, they need your help. They need 50 more pajamas to meet the 1,000 mark!!! If you can buy a set of pajamas (or more) while you are out shopping this week, they would be happy to accept them. They will be collecting through December 15 (Wednesday). If you can't get to the store but would like to help, they will gladly accept a donation and purchase pajamas on your behalf. Donations will be collected through December 15, 2010 at: 15450 New Barn Road Suite 302, Miami Lakes, Florida 33014 For more information, call 305-827-0084 LEGAL EVENTS Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:30 am Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Association: Networking for attorneys, judges and legal professionals Where: Miami Chop House, 300 S. Biscayne Blvd., Miami Cost: $35 members, $45 potential members Contact: (305) 673-4440 UPDATED - 11:45am Coral Gables Bar Association Annual Holiday Party Benefiting CHARLEE Homes Where: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables Description: The Coral Gables Bar Association has been supporting the CHARLEE (Children Have All Rights: Legal, Educational and Emotional) Program for years. This year is no exception. CHARLEE is a private not-for-profit agency that cares for children ages 0-23 years old in Miami-Dade County who have been placed in foster care due ...to abuse, abandonment and neglect. For the past 25 years, CHARLEE has helped thousands of children in the foster care system begin a new life. CHARLEE assists in caring for abused, abandoned and neglected children in Miami- Dade County of all races and backgrounds through a variety of therapeutic, residential and supportive services. Those services include five Family Care homes housing six children per house, independent living programs for children who have “aged-out” of the state foster care system, and the Gladstone Center for Girls, which is a comprehensive treatment facility that serves up to 21 girls at a south Dade location. With the privatization of the child welfare system in 2005, CHARLEE has doubled in size, providing service to approximately 1,000 children annually. At the Holiday Luncheon CHARLEE will be presented with a check from the proceeds of the Holiday Luncheon as well as the toys we collect for their 26th annual holiday toy drive. Cost: Entry is $70 per person, proceeds to benefit the CHARLEE Programs. Please bring an unwrapped holiday gift for children ages 3-17. Call (305) 446-1504 http://www.coralgablesbar.org/ 6pm Bankruptcy Bar Association Southern District of Florida Holiday Party Where: Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, 3300 SW 27th Ave., Miami Cost: $75 members, $45 government employees, $25 students Contact: laura@bbasdfl.org.  7pm Come watch the Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes Where: Bank Atlantic Center Description: Join the Young Lawyers Sections of the Palm Beach County Bar Association & the Broward County Bar Association for a V.I.P. Night with the Florida Panthers - Open to your colleagues, friends, and family! Cost: $50.00 per ticket, which includes: *seat in Coach's Club Section *access to Coach's Club Lounge *free food and drinks (beer,wine, and soda) *free parking Contact: Julia Wyda at jwyda@sasserlaw.com Thu Dec 16, 2010 Miami-Dade Justice Assoc Holiday Party & Annual Elections Where: Ver Ploeg & Lumpkin - Miami 12pm Federal Bar Assoc, Broward Chapter Luncheon with Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Where: Riverside Hotel, 620 E. Las Olas Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale Cost: $35 Members, $40 non-members, $20 government attorneys, $15 judges and law clerks Contact: pol@trippscott.com 12pm Broward YLS Holiday Luncheon Where: Tower Club, 100 SE Third Ave., 28th floor, Fort Lauderdale Cost: $25 Contact: (954) 764-8040. 2pm The Honorable Steven Shutter Retirement Party Where: West Regional Courthouse, Courtroom 220, 100 Pine Island Road,Plantation, FL 33324 5:30pm North Dade Bar Association’s Annual Holiday Party and Officer Induction Where: Aquamare 18090 Collins Ave. Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 Cost: $30 for Members, $40 for Non-members, Judiciary are complimentary and their guest price is that of a member. includes two drinks and a wonderful assortment of the best from Acquamare’appetizers. 10% discount for people that will stay for dinner and door prize for a $50 dinner gift certificate Contact: Gregory Blackburn (303) 981-9055 or gregoryblackburn@lazegalaw.com 6pm Florida Lawyers Network Holiday Event Where: Chimas, 2400 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33301 Description: This event is a great opportunity to meet and socialize with FLN Members and Guests, and we invite you to bring spouses, colleagues, dates, friends, staff, etc........Reservations Required! We anticipate that this event will be sold-out, so if you plan to attend, please take a moment to confirm your reservation early.  RSVP: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e34t0jo73b2568ea Cost: $20.00 - Per Guest (Reservation Includes 2 Drinks & Appetizers) Contact: fln@floridalawyersnetwork.com  or 954.670.2800 6 pm Broward County Justice Association: Judges Night, "Honoring the Accomplishments and Careers of Retiring Judge Gary Farmer Sr. and Judge John Frusciante," Where: Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty Six, 2301 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale Cost: $90 Contact: bcja@att.net 6:30 pm F. Malcolm Cunningham Sr. Bar Association and the Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association: Holiday party Where: The Windsor Gardens Hotel, 11360 U.S. Highway 1, Palm Beach Gardens Cost: $30 members, $35 nonmembers, $55 at the door Contact: rjohnson@rivieriadoch.com 7:30 pm Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida: Holiday dinner Where: Miss Yip’s Chinese Café, 1661 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach Cost: $45 Contact: stellchu@gmail.com The Pro Bono & Community Service Committee coordinates public service projects and provides young lawyers with the opportunity to give back to our community through pro bono and community service. For more information about the Committee, please contact Ethan Wall at ewall@richmangreer.com  or call 305-373-4050 Fri Dec 17, 2010 5:30pm Broward County Bar Association Members Only Holiday Party Where: Norma B. Howard Bar Center, 1051 SE 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale Cost: Free Contact: (954) 764-8040 6:30 pm Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association: Holiday party Where: Mia at Biscayne, 20 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Cost: $15 members & Judges, $20 nonmembers, Free with black doll. Contact: (305) 536-2732 jellis@hunton.com CasaBlanca Academy is the only certified DIR®/Floortime ™  School for children with Autism in the state of Florida.  Opened in 2008, The Academy was founded by Baker & McKenzie Partner, Jim Barrett and his wife Stacey Coulter.  Their son has benefited greatly from the DIR®/Floortime ™ method.  Raffle tickets and event to provide scholarships for the CasaBlanca Academy The purchase of a $100 Limited Edition Raffle ticket gives you the chance to win: FIRST PRIZE: Private dinner for 10 by James Beard Foundation Award Winner Chef Michelle Bernstein SECOND PRIZE: Two tickets for a 7-night Royal Caribbean Cruise THIRD PRIZE: Luxury Day for 6 people at Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Spa Join CasaBlanca Academy, The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and Dave & Busters to celebrate Autism Awareness Month & announce the winners April 20th, 2011 from 5:30pm-7:30pm Dave & Busters, 300 Oakwood Boulevard, Hollywood, FL Admission $10 To purchase a raffle ticket and RSVP, contact Rebecca Dinar at (954) 415-1149 or rebecca@casablancaacademy.org Contributions are tax-deductible http://casablancaacademy.org/ Sat Dec 18, 2010 10 am Lawyers to the Rescue: Legal Clinic Where: Camillus House, 726 NE First Ave., Miami Cost: Free Contact: (347) 450-5887. 6pm-9pm Dade County Bar and Lawyers to the Rescue Networking & Fundraiser Event Where: Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134 Description: Featuring Sara Rose Kid Lawyer Children's Book Cost: Complimentary Food and Wine Contact: 347-450-LTTR (5887) info@lawyerstotherescue.org   Neat Stuff  http://www.neatstuffhelpskids.org/ Neat Stuff needs donations of new clothing, shoes, toys and school supplies for children ages infant to teenagers. For corporate giving (manufacturers, stores and others) Neat Stuff appreciates overruns, seconds, seasonal and any other merchandise that can be spared. They have corporate sponsorship opportunities, please contact them for more details. Neat Stuff is a 501(C)(3) organization. All contributions are tax deductible. Help lift the spirits of children in need. Phone NEAT STUFF today at 305.638.5878 Tues Dec 21,2010 11:30 am Dade County Bar Association Workers Compensation Committee: Seminar on "The Amended Rules of Procedure for Workers’ Compensation Adjudication What Attorneys Need to Know," Where: Lawson Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW 1st Ave., 11th floor conference room, Miami Cost: $25 members, $30 nonmembers Call (305) 371-2220 Thurs Dec 23,2010 8:30am – 3:00pm People In Crisis United (PICU) need volunteers Where: Holtz Children's Hospital at Jackson Memorial in Miami Description: People In Crisis United (PICU) need volunteers to help wrap the presents and to serve refreshments at Holtz Children’s Hospital. If you can not commit to the entire day, but if you have a few hours to spare PICU invites you to spend the day, experience the smiles, and understand why they do what they do not just over the holidays, but every day. For teenage volunteers PICU can give certificates of service hours. For everyone else PICU will give letters of recognition for your time and service. If you cannot come in to volunteer, but would still like to help please see PICU wish list below: * infant toys (rattles, light up crib toys, mobiles, etc) * teenage toys (gift cards, sports posters, jerseys, balls, nail polish, hair stuff, friendship bracelet kits, DVDs, video games, etc) * wrapping paper, tape, ribbon, bows * hot chocolate, coffee, pastries, cookies Contact: peopleincrisisunited@gmail.com  Sign up for event email blasts  http://eepurl.com/YSBw COMMUNITY EVENTS     Will You WalkAbout With Us on January 29, 2011? WalkAbout: (wo-kə-baut), noun, org. 1908, A “rite of passage” during which Australian Aborigines would undergo a journey during adolescence, live in the wilderness tracing paths that their ceremonial ancestors took, and imitate their heroic deeds. The Dan Marino Foundation WalkAbout Autism was inspired by this concept of a “rite of passage.”  We envision this event as a “rite of passage” for our children and adults with autism and their families. It is a reflection of where we have been and where we are going – the pathway to a better future for all of our heroes living with autism. This inaugural event was created to raise critical funds for programs and services benefiting people living with autism spectrum disorders right here in our community.  While we will continue to support the amazing and longstanding efforts to raise funds for research and advocacy, we have joined this particular venture because we hear every day from our families about limited service options, programmatic cuts to our schools and other government-funded services, poor access to available services because of lengthy waiting lists and/or insurance mandates that exclude far too many.  The systems meant to support those with autism and related disabilities are fragile and weakening every day in these economically devastating times. We must work together to strengthen them.  This effort represents just one important step along the way.  But we cannot succeed without you, so please join us, take this journey with us, and help make a difference for those living with autism today. www.dmfwalkaboutautism.org   CasaBlanca Academy School for children with Autism One Day Seminar Saturday, February 5, 2011, 8:30am-5:00pm Hollywood Hills United Methodist Church, 400 North 35th Avenue, Hollywood, FL Presented by: Monica G. Osgood, Founder, Celebrate the Children DIR® Faculty, NJ Ricki Robinson, M.D., M.P.H., Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, DIR® Faculty, CA Lois Gold, O.T.R. Occupational Therapy, DIR® Faculty, FL $35 per person before December 31st; $50 per person after January 1st (limited scholarships available) For a sign up form, contact Rebecca Dinar at (954) 415-1149 or rebecca@casablancaacademy.org http://casablancaacademy.org/      Celebrating 60 Years of Civil Legal Services to the Indigent of Dade County If you are an attorney and would like to donate your time, please visit the Dade County Pro Bono Website at DadeCountyProBono.org . Once you become a member of the website, you may view available pro bono opportunities. There are many ways to support Legal Aid Society and Put Something Back. Individual, Law firm, Cypres, Corporate and other donations help sustain the critical work of Legal Aid and Put Something Back. Your financial contribution fulfills The Florida Supreme Court pro bono mandate. Visit http://www.dadelegalaid.org/legal_aid_donate-now.php  to help provide "Equal Access to Justice for All." Children’s Book Written by Coral Children’s Book Written by Coral Gables Attorney to Benefit Lawyers to the Rescue/Miami Children's Hospital "Sara Rose, Kid Lawyer," written by Attorney Spencer M. Aronfeld, tells the story of Sara Rose, a tenacious elementary school student who likes to argue. She constantly debates with her parents, her little brother and her friends. One day her fourth-grade teacher tells her that all her arguing would make her a good lawyer. After a chance encounter with a real attorney who introduces her to the legal profession, Sara Rose soon finds herself thrust into the middle of a real case, representing her class in front of the school board. A portion of the proceeds from the book will benefit Lawyers to the Rescue, a non-denominational humanitarian organization created by lawyers committed to bringing legal assistance and humanitarian support to people around the world in times of crisis. Lawyers to the Rescue recently held a legal clinic for the homeless at the Camillus House in downtown Miami. The organization also assisted in the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home and held fundraisers for earthquake disaster relief efforts in Chile and Haiti. It also has a new student chapter at the Florida International University School of Law. For more information about the organization, visit: www.lawyerstotherescue.org Also, attorneys who buy the book have the option of having copies donated to the Miami Children's Hospital, with the goal that each child admitted this holiday season will receive a free copy. You can buy book by contacting Mr. Aronfeld's office: 305.441.0440 Sign up for the event email blasts http://eepurl.com/YSBw