Continuing Legal Education, better known as CLE, has been the most visible and respected service provided by the Section to its members. Typically, four to six high quality, topically diverse seminars and workshops, along with the Annual Update, would take place. Section members have come to expect that significant changes in the law or new developments in law or technology would oftentimes be quickly disseminated through very focused CLE programs.

     Sometimes, our efforts resulted in programs with less than a full house audience. But then attendance, and the financial implications of attendance, was not the primary consideration in the planning of a program. In many ways, this distinguished Section CLE programs, from those of many of the other CLE providers.

     Nevertheless, the need to make changes, even to something that has worked so well, has been thrust upon us. This year marks the beginning of a change in CLE that is the result of a change in the financial relationship between your Section, in fact all the Bar Sections, and the Bar. Without going into the obtuse mathematical calculations, let it be said that the new process of sharing the expenses and profits of CLE programs, puts a premium on the numbers of attendees and thus makes low-attendance programs extremely costly to the Section. These changes were the focus of the recent Executive Council Retreat led by Chair Elect Robert Manning.

     How, you may ask, does this affect me and why should I care? Well, for one thing, the number of seminars and workshops are likely to be reduced, at least initially. Fewer programs mean less financial risk to the Section. Fewer programs would also allow for more advanced notice which makes it easier to work a program into our busy schedules. Theoretically, this should increase the likelihood of greater attendance at these programs. On the other hand, fewer programs means that many of the specialized programs of the past will go by the way side and, it goes without saying that having fewer dates available will make it more difficult for some of us to attend any Section CLE programs in a given year.

     However, there is certainly an up side. For one thing, sponsorship of programs with other Sections will help reduce financial risks and, at the same time, provide a greater pool of attendees. The Section already co-sponsors a program every other year with the City, County and Local Government Section in Tampa and the general law Section at the Farm Bureau in Gainesville. In the future, I would expect to see more cooperative efforts. It also appears that our highly specialized programs will simply move to the web. The affiliates in our Section are already busy working the bugs out of web seminars. Moving such programs to the web may actually increase programs of this sort and provide for even more timely dissemination of information. The end result of this is that in the next few years, expect the face of CLE to change; hopefully for the better.

     Speaking of CLE programs, take a moment now to mark your calendar for the Section Annual Update at Amelia Island on August 24 - 26. The Update has always been the flagship event of the Section. This year, as in the past, the affiliate program will run during the morning of August 24th and will be followed by the Update for the remainder of the 24th and the 25th. Committee meetings and other goings on dominate the 26th.

     Finally, the Treatise continues to move ever forward toward its internet release to Section members. Already a limited “beta” version containing several chapters is being tested and the “on-line” version appears to be user friendly. If all goes as planned, an entry portal displaying the contents of the Treatise will serve as the primary means of accessing the various chapters which will be in pdf format. Specific items can also be pulled up through the index. For the many of you who have not had the opportunity yet to view this magnum opus, I can assure you that you will be pleased.