Last year, I had the good fortune to be selected for the Florida Bar Leadership Academy, Class X.  Just looking at the list of alumni was daunting.  From the judiciary to the House of Representatives, leadership in the Florida Bar and beyond, the alumni of the Leadership Academy are impressive without doubt.

The program is designed to recognize future bar leaders, and to train and connect them for greater opportunities within the Florida Bar as a whole.  Meetings are held throughout the year and the state, each addressing aspects of leadership and personal growth.  The meetings stretch from Tallahassee with time spent at the Supreme Court of Florida, government houses and the offices of the Florida Bar to Boca Raton during the Florida Bar Annual Conference and graduation from the program.

When I arrived at my first meeting, I was humbled by the members of my class.  Two were retired from active military service and one was legal counsel for the FBI. The majority spoke multiple languages and had as many commitments outside of the law as in.  It was so rewarding to be in a room full of such accomplished people who wanted to know each other and become better.  That was rare to encounter.

I took a deep breath, swallowed my insecurities and threw myself into taking in as much as I could.  There was so much development and knowledge to gain from the speakers and work of each meeting, and so much to learn from my amazing cohort of attorneys.  As an added bonus, each session not only integrated the legal community of the area, but also the local culture (and food!).

It was a complete surprise to me how much I loved the Tallahassee session and the time spent discussing what it is really like to serve as a State Representative with Ashley Gantt, former Leadership Academy Fellow.  Every session brought book recommendations and the opportunity to dig deeper in so many areas of leadership and life. I finished my year feeling both grounded and inspired by those I met along the path.

The Florida Bar Leadership Academy is, in my opinion, one of the best programs of the Florida Bar. I cannot recommend it enough. I am thankful to the Florida Bar and to TRLS for supporting me on this journey.

Mikel Bradley
Managing Attorney
Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc.