Paul Lipton, RumbergerKirk Director of Professionalism, Career and Skill Development, discusses a new CLE course from the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism that explores “Professionalism and Gender Empowerment” with the Florida Bar News on August 3, 2023. In the article, he shares the inspiration for the new CLE.

After the success of the popular CLE series, “Your Honor,” which was hosted by Lipton, Professionalism Center Director Rebecca Bandy and Paul were brainstorming ideas for the new CLE that would explore professionalism and gender with a focus on empowerment instead of bias.

“So often these programs are very similar,” Lipton said. “We wanted different ideas to break the mold and see if we could create programs that are different and creative. We wanted candid opinions.” While sharing ideas with 11th Circuit Chief Judge Nushin G. Sayfie, Lipton realized that the most of the administrative judges in the 11th Circuit are women.

Located in Miami-Dade County, the 11th Circuit is the largest in Florida and the fourth largest trial court in the United States, serving over 2 million people in a 2,000 square mile area. More than half of the circuit’s 123 judges are women, including Chief Judge Sayfie.

That is where the idea for the program began and Judge Sayfie convinced her fellow 11th Circuit judges, including Judge Carol J. Kelly, Judge Andrea Wolfson, Judge Samantha Ruiz Cohen, Judge Chiaka Ihekwaba, Judge Michelle Delancy, and Judge Jennifer Bailey, to participate.

“I didn’t want to do individual interviews; I wanted to have them all in the same room and the judges talking to each; bouncing ideas off each other,” Lipton said.

The result is a CLE that brings together a diverse group of women jurists who share their stories to inspire and empower others. Lipton believes the CLE sends a strong message that will impact Florida Bar members in a positive way.

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