Florida Law Related Education Association board member Lonnie Groot and attorney Wayne Hogan.
The Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. recognized Wayne Hogan of the Terrell • Hogan, Ellis, Yegelwel law firm in Jacksonville recently for his outstanding contributions to law related education in Florida. Lonnie Groot, board member with The Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. presented the Attorney of the Year award during the Judicial Luncheon at the Florida Bar Annual Convention in Boca Raton.
Hogan, a graduate of Florida State University College of Law, is a Florida and National Board Certified Trial Lawyer. Mr. Hogan’s involvement with FLREA and his generosity came at a critical time. “He gave not only of his time but he also intuitively recognized the need and offered funding for our organization to assist with training over 3,000 plus judges and lawyers throughout the state who had enlisted as volunteers with the new Justice Teaching initiative,” stated board member Groot. The Justice Teaching program was created by Justice R. Fred Lewis, Florida Supreme Court to bring resource persons into Florida schools to further law related and civic education.
FLREA Executive Director Annette Boyd Pitts traveled to every judicial circuit in Florida to assist Justice Lewis in training volunteers for the Justice Teaching program. Under the Justice Teaching program, public schools throughout Florida were paired with trained lawyers and judges. “Wayne Hogan stepped in to save the day,” stated Pitts. “His contribution allowed me to focus on planning the trainings and conducting over twenty sessions throughout the state,’ Pitts added. In addition to circuit trainings, additional sessions were held in conjunction with Bar conventions and voluntary bar association meetings.
The Justice Teaching program has become a model for the nation. California as well as other states have asked to review the program for replication. “I am excited to have been given the opportunity to work with Justice Lewis on this valuable initiative,” stated Pitts. “The funds provided by Mr. Hogan were used to offset my travel expenses and fund some of the supplemental materials used in the trainings.”
The trainings set the stage for the volunteers with the Justice Teaching program to become equipped with the methods necessary to effectively carry out their roles as partners with the schools. “Mr. Hogan’s contribution allowed our staff to play a critical role in one of the most comprehensive and inclusive law related education programs ever created in this country,” Mr. Groot added.