Practice Sections have been organized to give members an opportunity to interact with others practicing similar areas of law and to sponsor meetings and CLE programs.  A description of purpose for each of the Sections is provided below.

Family Law
The Family Law Section offers monthly educational luncheon programs of interest to attorneys.  It promotes continuing discussions between the Bench and Bar. When new judges rotate into the Family Law Division, the Section sponsors a “Judges Speak” workshop where guidelines for courtroom procedure are addressed.  The Section publishes and distributes a brochure for clients entitled “What to Expect…Divorce in the 12th Judicial Circuit.”

Estate Planning & Probate
The purpose of the Estate Planning & Probate Section is to provide an organization within the SCBA open to persons having an interest in estate planning, probate and trust law; to assist the SCBA in interpreting and carrying out public and professional needs and objectives in the fields of estate planning, probate and trust law; to develop and maintain proper professional relationships between estate planning, probate and trust lawyers and non-lawyer groups and other lawyer groups. The Section holds bi-monthly luncheon meetings.

Probate & Trust Litigation Sub Section
The Probate & Trust Litigation Sub Section meets quarterly to improve knowledge of substantive and procedural issues, to get to know each other on a personal/social basis, obtain CLE credit and to network.

Guardianship Sub Section
The Guardianship Sub Section provides SCBA probate section members with an active guardianship practice, the opportunity to discuss guardianship law and policy, including court procedures and policy, the role of professional guardians and examining
committee members, and the duties and responsibilities of the court appointed
attorney.

Real Property
The Real Property Section focuses on issues of interest to real estate practitioners through quarterly luncheon meetings and periodic seminars. New to the Section’s agenda this year was a “Real Estate and Law Summit,” a full day continuing legal education program held in conjunction with the Sarasota Association of Realtors.

Solo Practice Section
True solos and partners in P.A.’s with no more than two members are eligible to participate in the Solo Practice Section. Meetings feature speakers on issues relevant to solo practice including practice management, marketing and technology.  Networking Luncheons, an interactive session featuring four members speaking about their law practice, are held twice a year. 

State & Local Government
The State and Local Governmental Law section is composed of attorneys practicing in the field of governmental law, including career members of the staff of city attorneys, county counsels and private attorneys representing public agencies on a contract or other regular basis.

Labor & Employment
The Labor & Employment Law Section is open to persons having an interest in labor and employment law in order to provide practice development and knowledge in the areas of labor and employment law to its members, furnish educational opportunities to its members, the bar and the public, foster professionalism and fellowship among its members, assist the SCBA in interpreting and carrying out public and professional needs and objectives in labor and employment law, strengthen proper professional relationships among its members, the bench, the bar and the public, serve as an information source for the public on labor and employment law, and render public service to the community in the areas of labor and employment law. 

Meetings are scheduled four times a year in January, April, July and October, from noon to 1:00 p.m in the private dining room of the Bijou Café, located in downtown Sarasota, 1287 First Street.

ADR
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Section sponsors continuing legal education and training opportunities for ADA professionals.

Business Section
The Business Section provides educational and networking opportunities for business lawyers, focusing on business and commercial transactions and working collaboratively with other sections in areas of overlapping interest and concern. The section meetings are typically held once a quarter and address topics of interest to business practitioners, most of which offer CLE credit as well. The section also co-hosts presentations with other sections from time to time.

Health Law
Circuit Civil
Commercial Litigation Sub Section
County