On November 14, 2024, the first Florida Black Lawyers Summit & Judicial Reception took place in Orlando. The event was organized by the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association (VHFCNBA) and 14 other voluntary bar associations from Florida. More than 300 judges, attorneys, and law students attended at the Marriott Orlando Downtown and Florida A&M University College of Law to discuss professional development and networking.
VHFCNBA President Brendalyn Edwards opened the summit, encouraging collaboration among Black legal professionals in Florida. Bar President Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes and Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, also spoke at the event. Benjamin L. Crump, a civil rights attorney, delivered the keynote address, focusing on the role of lawyers in the legal system.
Attendees joined panel discussions on public service, leadership, and building legal practices. A session on clerkships and career development included Judges Rodney Smith and Embry Kidd, who discussed the process of selecting law clerks…