To the Membership of the HCBA and the Community at Large:
As the current President of the Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA), I wish to thank
you for visiting our informative website. Our Association consists of more than 3,500
participating lawyers, judges and other legal professionals who practice their trade in
Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City. The HCBA is an
active, highly collegial and diverse bar organization with a pristine national reputation. One
of the missions of the HCBA is to inspire and promote respect for the law and the judicial
system through service to the legal profession and the community.
To accommodate our membership, the HCBA has its own impressive Mediterranean-styled
facility, the Chester H. Ferguson Law Center, which is adjacent to the Tampa campus of
Stetson College of Law and is staffed by many full and part-time professional employees
dedicated to its successful operation. The building is complete with well-appointed
conference rooms, a large ball room, a lounge area, several board rooms and comfortable
settings to conduct confidential mediations, all of which are available for use by the general
public. Photos of the building and meeting rooms as well as the rental rates can be viewed
on our website.
As a part of its high-quality service, the HCBA offers many amenities, such as assisting the
public in finding an attorney; providing legal referral services for its lawyers; publishing the
Lawyer magazine which contains eminently readable lawyerly and other public interest
articles; and holding numerous continuing legal education seminars throughout the year, in
addition to other available opportunities.
More specifically, HCBA Membership benefits include:
• Outstanding, low-cost CLE seminars on a monthly basis
• A Lawyer Referral and Information Service to help lawyers connect with potential
clients
• Up to thirty substantive law sections and event committees a member can consider
joining, each of which encourages voluntary participation in the HCBA and fosters
collaboration and the mutual exchange of ideas
• Numerous public service projects benefitting the community in which a member can
become involved
• Four membership luncheon events each year with top-notch state and national
speakers, plus several other social and professional networking opportunities
• Receipt of the award winning "Lawyer" magazine published seven times a year
• A website Pictorial Membership Directory, categorized by name and firm specialty, to
assist in contacting lawyers within and outside one's realm of practice
• Benefit providers offering HCBA members exclusive discounts on their products and
services
• Entertainment events that highlight the legal profession, such as Law Week, the
Judicial Pig Roast, the 5k Run, an annual Holiday Open House, the Law Follies, and
an occasional historical program or law related celebration
• The annual Bench/Bar Conference and Judicial Reception
• The Bar Leadership Institute, which was specially established and designed for young lawyers to
become actively involved in HCBA activities and promote and develop their interest in becoming
future leaders within the Bar Association
HCBA services available for the benefit of the public include:
• The Lawyer Referral and Information Service, which connects lawyers with citizens in
need of particular legal assistance
• Library Services, where attorneys of the HCBA visit various libraries throughout
Hillsborough County and the surrounding area to offer insight and facilitate
discussion regarding different law-related subjects
• The Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program, designed to bring
homeowners and lenders together to address their foreclosure issues
• The Ask-A-Lawyer Program, shown the first Thursday of each month on Fox TV
Channel 13, where viewers can call in with legal oriented questions that will be
addressed by our volunteer lawyer studio members
• Community Service Opportunities, where the various sections and committees of the
HCBA host a wide array of community programs and projects, including Lawyers for
Literacy--Helping Head Start, Courtroom Tours, a Veteran's Day Wish List event,
Elementary School Mock Trials, the Foster Angels Day at the Stadium, and the
additional foster children charitable events promulgated and planned by the HCBA's
Young Lawyers Division, including its Steak & Sports Day held at The Children's
Home and its Holiday In January Party held at the Tampa Grand Prix Fun Center.
Additionally, the HCBA has a separate charitable arm, the Hillsborough County Bar
Foundation, which raises money for charitable causes, especially through its annual gala,
The Law and Liberty Dinner. The Bar Foundation also operates and manages the Residential
Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program.
Opportunities for law firms, outside businesses, law-related vendors or suppliers, and
individuals to sponsor events, activities and seminars scheduled by either the HCBA or the
Bar Foundation can be discovered on this website or by calling the HCBA at (813) 221-7777.
If you are not already a member and are considering joining the HCBA as an attorney,
affiliate or student member, the Membership Application can be found on our website. I
sincerely invite you to join the HCBA. It is a decision I am certain you will embrace. Thank
you for your support and the privilege of serving you during the 2012-2013 bar year.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Nader, PresIdent