TCJA

December 17, 2025

Sponsorship Makes It Possible: Supporting TCJA Matters More Than Ever in 2026

TCJA

December 17, 2025

Sponsorship Makes It Possible: Supporting TCJA Matters More Than Ever in 2026

Meta: The Treasure Coast Justice Association (TCJA) highlights the value of the organization's sponsors and membership renewals, noting growing opportunities for Florida attorneys and law firms in the Treasure Coast area.

When attorneys in the Treasure Coast come together, great things happen. The Treasure Coast Justice Association continues to grow, offering outstanding networking, meaningful community outreach, and a shared commitment to improving how lawyers serve local residents in Florida. Our Holiday Party on November 19th was a tremendous success that showed our community is full of energy, conversation, and a strong momentum we are working together to continue heading into 2026.

Before we highlight the upcoming Gala, we need to pause and say something important:

We couldn’t do any of this without our sponsors.

Sponsors are the reason we can host CLEs, provide innovative programming, offer leadership training, and bring impactful voices to our events. If you are already a sponsor, thank you. If you’ve considered sponsoring but haven’t yet committed, now is the time. Sponsorship and membership support the TCJA and the continued professional growth of attorneys across the Treasure Coast.

Key Takeaways

Sponsorship keeps TCJA programs, CLEs, and special events possible.
The Nov. 19 Holiday Party confirmed our organization’s momentum heading into 2026.
The Jan. 22, 2026 Gala at Flagler of Stuart is our largest annual gathering (Save the Date!)
Renowned attorney, author, and speaker Dorothy Clay Sims, Esq. will deliver a powerful keynote at our Gala.
Continued TCJA membership helps attorneys and law firms throughout the Treasure Coast remain aware and engaged, especially regarding topics like AI, case and cross-examination strategies, community outreach, and evolving practice developments.
Members should continue to support and do business with TCJA Sponsors whenever possible.

Sponsorship Fuels Our Mission

When Treasure Coast Justice Association members support sponsors, they directly enable more networking opportunities, better programming, and high-level education. Sponsorship dollars go toward CLE events on legal matters, breakfast roundtables, business development workshops, and speaker engagements.

As we shared in our membership-value blog from October, TCJA offers:

A chance to develop your practice area and referral network
Leadership roles and community engagement
Quality CLE credits
Events that help attorneys meet clients, meet other lawyers, and grow together

And as we highlighted in the August blog on AI in law, TCJA members stay ahead of evolving tools, technology changes, and new approaches to handling the entire process of litigation, negotiation, trial strategy, and case preparation.

Sponsors make this possible. We encourage every firm, company, and FL attorney who is able to become a TCJA sponsor today.

Save the Date: The 2026 TCJA Gala — January 22, 2026 at Flagler of Stuart

This is the one event our members talk about all year. On January 22, 2026, the TCJA Gala returns to Flagler of Stuart, featuring:

A sit-down dinner
Board inductions
Community involvement highlights
Casino night
The highly anticipated recipient of the Hastings Award
And, of course, our keynote speaker Dorothy Clay Sims, Esq.

Mrs. Sims is one of the most respected litigation educators in the nation — known for cross examining medical experts, training dedicated attorneys around the world, and her work related to the acquittal of Casey Anthony. Her extensive experience in complex cases, including medical malpractice, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and car accidents, means she has meaningful insights for business, civil trial lawyers, criminal defense firms, and personal injury attorneys alike. She consults on trial strategy and helps attorneys pursue better case resolutions on behalf of their clients.

This is an evening that combines celebration, education, networking, and fun, so we want every member to be present. You won’t want to miss it.

Why Members Should Continue Supporting Sponsors

One of our goals in 2026 is to strengthen the connection between TCJA members and our sponsor organizations. When choosing services, making referrals, and discussing options with clients, we encourage members to prioritize the organizations that keep TCJA events sponsored and accessible to everyone.

Supporting our TCJA sponsors strengthens our entire law community, keeps our programming vibrant, and helps us continue to bring in nationally known speakers like Sims in the future.

TCJA Helps You Stay Ahead Professionally

Being a lawyer today is more complex than ever. A FL Attorney may navigate everything from medical bills in personal injury cases to cybersecurity disputes, real estate closings, and cross-border legal issues involving a state department filing. The TCJA helps lawyers discuss emerging developments, share winning strategies, and sharpen focus on new opportunities.

Let’s Keep Growing Together

If you were at the Holiday Party, you saw the energy firsthand. The room was full of attorneys, paralegals, office managers, legal partners and law firms sharing new year goals, referral ideas, and partnership concepts. Multiple members told us the benefits of participation this year far exceeded expectations, especially for solo lawyers and small law firms looking to build relationships with other attorneys handling personal injury, workers' comp, and criminal defense.

Let's continue this growth throughout 2026.

Continue to Support the TCJA in 2026!

As we approach the new year, here is your TCJA checklist:

Renew Your TCJA Membership
Become a TCJA Sponsor (or Renew)
Choose TCJA sponsors when making referrals
Save the Date of our Gala – January 22, 2026

With your help, the Treasure Coast Justice Association will continue serving the Treasure Coast legal community, strengthening professional relationships, expanding CLE offerings, and creating more opportunities for innovators like Dorothy Clay Sims to inspire us in the months ahead.

We look forward to seeing you and your law firm at the Gala. Let’s make 2026 our best year yet.

The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or a law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.

Treasure Coast Justice Association
200 Circle West
Jupiter, FL 33458
(561) 201-4816
https://www.tcjusticeassociation.org/

TCJA

October 14, 2025

The Value of TCJA Membership: Why More Treasure Coast Attorneys Are Joining Every Year

TCJA

October 14, 2025

Each year, more attorneys across the Treasure Coast are discovering the unmatched value of membership in the Treasure Coast Justice Association (TCJA). Since revitalizing after COVID-19, TCJA has grown by roughly 30% annually, becoming one of the most dynamic and collaborative regional bar organizations in Florida.

For personal injury attorneys, workers’ compensation attorneys, and criminal defense attorneys, TCJA offers far more than networking — it provides an ecosystem for professional growth, shared knowledge in roundtables, networking events, and a growing online community, as well as community advocacy that strengthens both law practices and the local legal profession.

Whether you’re new to the Treasure Coast legal community or a seasoned practitioner looking to stay connected and inspired, now is the perfect time to join or renew your membership.

Apply or renew today at: https://www.tcjusticeassociation.org/membership-application

Key Takeaways

Treasure Coast Justice Association membership is growing rapidly — up 30% annually since its relaunch after COVID.
Members gain access to exclusive roundtable discussions, a members-only listserv, and a thriving online forum where attorneys collaborate and share case strategies.
TCJA provides CLE opportunities, social events, and community advocacy programs that strengthen local professional bonds.
Networking, mentorship, and collaboration directly enhance member attorneys’ case resolutions, client service, and overall law firm growth.
The annual Installation Gala, Holiday Party, and awards programs highlight both camaraderie and excellence in the legal community.
Joining TCJA (or renewing your membership) is a powerful investment in your practice and the regional legal profession.

Benefits of TCJA Membership

The Treasure Coast Justice Association is a membership organization of Florida plaintiffs' trial lawyers and paralegals that actively practice in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida.

Members of the Treasure Coast Justice Association enjoy:

Access to roundtable discussions and strategy-sharing among peers
Members-only listserv and online discussion platform
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) opportunities
Annual Installation Gala and Holiday Party
Opportunities to advocate for the legal profession in the Treasure Coast region
Mentorship, collaboration, and networking with other local attorneys
Service to the community through TCJA-led initiatives
Awards, recognition, and leadership opportunities
Exposure to new tools, perspectives, and legal trends
Membership in a growing association that amplifies your professional impact

The Power of Professional Connection

Roundtable Discussions: Where Ideas and Strategies Are Shared

One of the most valuable aspects of TCJA membership is access to member roundtables — small-group discussions where attorneys exchange stories, insights, and case strategies. These sessions are more than networking; they’re real-time professional collaborations that can help members identify new arguments, discover precedents, and even enhance case values.

Whether you’re tackling a complex personal injury case, a nuanced criminal defense issue, or a workers’ compensation claim, you’re never alone when you’re part of TCJA. Members routinely report that these exchanges directly impact their success in and out of court.

Stay Connected — 24/7

Members-Only Listserv and Online Forum

TCJA’s exclusive members-only platform provides round-the-clock connection to other attorneys in the Treasure Coast area. Through the listserv and collaborative online forum, members can create topic-specific channels, share documents, ask questions, and learn from one another’s experiences.

This digital extension of the TCJA community ensures that even busy practitioners can remain engaged, informed, and supported — any time of day, from anywhere.

Learn, Lead, and Grow

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Opportunities

Staying sharp in the legal field requires ongoing education. TCJA provides CLE events and programs designed to keep members informed on the latest changes in Florida law, courtroom best practices, medical advances, and updates and evolving legal technologies.

Members often enjoy exclusive access to local and virtual CLEs hosted by the association — ensuring that professional growth is both accessible and relevant to regional practitioners.

Celebrate the Profession and Community

Annual Events and Awards

Every year, TCJA members come together for hallmark events that celebrate the legal community’s strength and camaraderie:

The Annual Installation Gala, where new officers are inducted and accomplishments are recognized.
The TCJA Holiday Party, a yearly tradition filled with networking, celebration, and community spirit.
Yearly Awards, recognizing outstanding service, leadership, and achievement among members.

These gatherings are more than just celebrations — they are opportunities to build genuine relationships, find mentorship, and strengthen the bonds that keep the Treasure Coast legal community thriving.

Advocate for the Legal Profession

Service and Leadership Opportunities

TCJA members are actively involved in advocating for the legal profession and for fair access to justice in the Treasure Coast region. Members can contribute to legislative discussions, participate in public outreach, and help shape the local conversation about the role of law and justice in our community.

As membership grows, so does the collective voice of TCJA — pursuing and representing the interests of attorneys and clients in the region and across Florida’s legal landscape.

A Community That Builds Together

A Growing Network with Compounding Value

Each new member who joins TCJA adds to its depth of experience, diversity of perspective, and professional reach. As the association continues to grow by about 30% annually, so does the value of belonging — in mentorship opportunities, shared resources, and strategic collaborations.

It’s a rare moment when the growth of a professional association translates so directly into benefits for every member — but that’s exactly what’s happening at TCJA. The more members join, the stronger and more valuable the network becomes for everyone involved.

How TCJA Helps Attorneys Strengthen Their Practices and Bottom Lines

The Treasure Coast Justice Association (TCJA) isn’t just a professional network — it’s a career accelerator for dedicated attorneys across a variety of practice areas. From criminal defense and personal injury to workers’ compensation, TCJA gives its members the tools and connections needed to grow their practices, strengthen client results, and build lasting referral relationships with other lawyers throughout the Treasure Coast area and beyond.

Empowering Criminal Defense Attorneys

For attorneys focused on criminal defense, TCJA provides opportunities to exchange strategies on everything from negotiating a plea deal to analyzing complex criminal offense cases. By joining, criminal law practitioners gain access to peers who share successful courtroom tactics, case preparation methods, and insights into regional prosecutorial trends. These discussions not only improve case resolutions but also expand each law firm’s credibility and client trust across the Treasure Coast.

Driving Success for Personal Injury Attorneys

Personal injury attorneys in TCJA benefit from collaboration that directly impacts their ability to serve injured clients and enhance case value. Through peer roundtables, members share proven approaches to handling car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other injury-related claims. This exchange helps attorneys pursue fair compensation for medical bills and long-term damages while increasing efficiency and profitability for their firms. Whether you’re handling a complex catastrophic injury or refining settlement negotiation techniques, TCJA connects you with other lawyers who’ve been there and succeeded.

Advancing Workers’ Compensation Practices

For workers’ compensation attorneys, TCJA membership offers an invaluable forum to share practical strategies for managing claims efficiently and increasing recoveries for clients. Through networking events, online discussions, and collaborative case reviews, members exchange proven techniques for improving client satisfaction and firm profitability. The Treasure Coast’s growing network helps workers’ compensation lawyers stay informed about local trends, judicial preferences, and emerging changes in Florida law that can directly affect their bottom line and long-term career growth.

Building a Stronger Law Firm Through Collaboration

Every successful law firm thrives on strong business development — and that’s one of TCJA’s core strengths. The association’s networking events help attorneys connect with referral partners, collaborate on joint ventures, and discover emerging opportunities in their practice areas. Many members credit TCJA with introducing them to mentors and collaborators who’ve shaped their long-term career success.

For newer attorneys just out of law school, TCJA offers early exposure to regional leaders and hands-on learning that accelerates professional growth. For experienced practitioners, the organization provides a platform to lead, teach, and expand their reach across the Treasure Coast legal community — particularly in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach.

Where Professional Growth Meets Purpose

Whether you handle personal injury, criminal law, or workers’ compensation cases, TCJA empowers you to grow your professional reputation while improving case resolutions for your clients. TCJA membership is more than just access — it’s immersion within a community that amplifies your impact, sharpens your knowledge, and strengthens your bottom line.

Why Join Now

There’s never been a better time to invest in your professional community. Joining TCJA means aligning yourself with the region’s most engaged, forward-thinking attorneys — professionals who believe in collaboration, excellence, and service to both clients and community.

Whether your goal is to sharpen your skills, expand your practice, or help elevate the regional legal profession, TCJA membership provides the structure, network, and support to make it happen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can join the Treasure Coast Justice Association (TCJA)?
Membership is open to plaintiff attorneys, workers’ compensation attorneys, and criminal defense attorneys practicing in or connected to the Treasure Coast region of Florida.

2. How can I apply or renew my membership?
You can easily apply or renew your membership online at:
https://www.tcjusticeassociation.org/membership-application

3. What types of networking opportunities does TCJA offer?
Members enjoy both in-person and virtual networking, including roundtable discussions, social events, and online forums. These provide ongoing access to a community of experienced attorneys eager to collaborate and share insights.

4. Does TCJA offer Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits?
Yes. TCJA regularly hosts CLE sessions that address current issues, best practices, and updates in Florida law — helping members stay current and compliant.

5. What are the main annual TCJA events?
The TCJA Installation Gala and Holiday Party are two major events each year, alongside our regular monthly meetings, CLE sessions, roundtables, and community service initiatives that engage and celebrate our growing membership.

Ready to Join the Treasure Coast’s Fastest-Growing Legal Association?

The Treasure Coast Justice Association continues to expand its reach, relevance, and resources — and every new member makes it stronger. Join or renew your membership today and become part of a thriving network of attorneys committed to professional excellence, collaboration, and service.

Apply or renew your membership now at:
https://www.tcjusticeassociation.org/membership-application

Treasure Coast Justice Association
200 Circle West
Jupiter, FL 33458
(561) 201-4816
https://www.tcjusticeassociation.org/

TCJA

August 18, 2025

How AI is Changing the Practice of Law

TCJA

August 18, 2025

The Treasure Coast Justice Association (TCJA) explains how the use of Artificial Intelligence is already transforming the legal industry by introducing many new opportunities, risks, and responsibilities for attorneys and law firms.

“Artificial Intelligence” is no longer just a buzzword, it’s actively reshaping the way legal professionals work. From research to client communication, AI tools are streamlining processes, reducing costs, and opening new opportunities for law firms of all sizes. As Florida attorneys adopt generative AI tools like ChatGPT, other large language models (LLMs), and a growing constellation of “AI-powered” research and drafting tools, these systems are already altering the day-to-day practice of law.

Used wisely, these new tools can sharpen workflows, reduce drudgery, and widen access to legal insights. Used carelessly, they can erode client trust, jeopardize confidentiality, and draw judicial sanctions. Florida lawyers should take heed: both the Florida Bar and the ABA have begun to issue concrete guidance on how to integrate AI responsibly.

Faster, Smarter Legal Research

Traditionally, legal research could take hours, sometimes days. AI-powered platforms can now scan statutes, case law, and legal opinions in seconds, pulling relevant information to allow attorneys to focus more on analysis and strategy instead of manual research. While many of these tools have impressive capabilities to gather accurate and relevant information, firms face risks of referencing hallucinated information, such as fake precedents for cases that never existed.

Reliance on LLM outputs is risky. The now-famous Mata v. Avianca sanctions arose when lawyers submitted a brief containing non-existent cases generated by ChatGPT, complete with fabricated quotes and citations. Courts and commentators have treated it as a cautionary tale: AI can sound authoritative while being utterly wrong. Verification is non-negotiable.

Attorneys need to temper their desire to accelerate their research methods with their natural intelligence by skillfully using these tools with clear and intentional prompts or inputs, carefully reviewing the returned information or outputs, and diligently checking information for veracity.

Enhanced Client Communications and Faster Intake

Some firms are integrating AI chatbots to answer basic client questions, schedule consultations, and collect intake information. This can create opportunities to improve efficiency and enhance client experiences by providing instant responses, but law firms need to make sure they strategically control the scope of automated responses to maintain accuracy in communications and set appropriate expectations while avoiding perceptions that they are delaying or limiting access to the actual personnel at the firm.

Overreliance on these tools for client communication and intake can lead to frustration and a negative experience. When explained transparently, responsible AI use can shorten turnaround times and lower cost for routine tasks, and this can be particularly helpful for small firms and legal aid organizations.

Accelerated Organization, Triage, Predictive Analysis, Drafting, & Review

Large language models (LLMs) can summarize lengthy client documents, produce first-pass chronologies, and generate issue spotters or checklists. In litigation, AI-aided document review is maturing to accelerate early case assessment and prioritize documents while reducing manual error. Simple automations, such as turning meeting notes into action lists or converting deposition outlines into clean scripts, can reclaim hours for higher-value analysis.

AI systems are increasingly able to forecast legal resolutions by analyzing past rulings and trends. While these predictions are not guarantees, they can help attorneys assess the strength of a case, advise clients more effectively, and develop better case strategies.

Modern legal research platforms embedding LLMs can surface relevant authorities from natural-language prompts and, with proper constraints, generate case synopses, rule breakdowns, and side-by-side comparisons. AI can also assist in drafting contracts, pleadings, and other legal documents by suggesting language, flagging potential risks, and helping to maintain compliance. For document review in litigation, AI tools can quickly identify key information in massive datasets, reducing the time and cost of discovery.

Ethics and Responsibility

While AI offers significant benefits, it also raises important ethical considerations. Attorneys must make sure AI-generated work meets professional standards and complies with confidentiality, privacy, and applicable regulations. The Florida Bar and other governing bodies are beginning to address these issues, and lawyers should take care to stay informed regarding these developments.

Confidentiality and Privilege

Sending client facts to a public model can expose confidential information to third-party providers. Florida Bar Ethics Opinion 24-1 explicitly permits generative AI use, but it warns lawyers to protect confidentiality, exercise competence, avoid improper billing, and comply with advertising rules. It also recommends gaining the affected client’s informed consent before disclosing confidential information to a third-party AI system. If a tool offers an enterprise walled-garden or on-prem option, evaluate whether it better satisfies your confidentiality and data-security duties.

Competence, Supervision, and Billing

ABA Formal Opinion 512 provides a helpful framework: lawyers must understand AI’s benefits and limitations, supervise its use (including nonlawyers and vendors), protect confidentiality, and bill fairly.

Routine, general use of a consumer chatbot is typically overhead. Discrete, metered use of a specialized AI service for a particular client matter may be an expense, but only if it is reasonable and disclosed. Above all, lawyers remain responsible for the accuracy of their work, no matter what tool helped produce it.

Bias and Explainability

LLMs are trained on vast datasets that can encode historical bias. That matters in areas like employment or housing advice, or when using AI to screen claims.

Outputs should be treated as hypotheses to test, not conclusions to trust. Where a decision must be explained (to a client or a court), you need human-readable reasoning tied to primary sources.

Court Rules and Standing Orders

Some judges now require certifications about AI use or impose restrictions on AI-generated content in filings. Judge Brantley Starr (N.D. Tex.) issued an early standing order requiring disclosure and attorney attestation that any AI-assisted content was checked against reliable sources.

Similar orders and local practices continue to proliferate across jurisdictions; Florida practitioners should confirm the expectations of the forum judge before filing.

What These Accelerating Technological Changes Mean for Florida Attorneys in the Future

AI won’t replace attorneys but attorneys who use AI effectively may replace those who don’t. By embracing these tools thoughtfully and ethically, law firms can work more efficiently, serve clients better, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.

Florida lawyers integrating AI must do so without compromising core duties. Florida Bar Opinion 24-1 permits generative AI use but stresses confidentiality, competence, reasonable fees, and truthful advertising. It encourages informed client consent before sharing confidential information with third-party AI tools. For firm operations, that translates to:

Defaulting to enterprise-grade, non-training environments or on-premises solutions
Written AI use policies for law firms and their employees
Human review and citation verification for all court-facing work
Clear billing practices distinguishing overhead from matter-specific AI expenses

AI is altering the economics of legal work by accelerating routine drafting and research work, but quality still hinges on precise instructions and rigorous verification. Courts and regulators are watching, and attorneys remain responsible for the filings they sign. Firms that train teams in prompt discipline, retrieval-augmented research, and adversarial self-review (e.g., “argue the other side; list likely errors”) will keep quality high while earning speed gains.

Follow These Technological Developments with Local and Regional Peers in the Treasure Coast Justice Association

At the Treasure Coast Justice Association (TCJA), we help South Florida legal practices throughout our area connect with other law firms to network and learn together, growing professionally to provide excellent legal services and adjust intelligently to changes affecting the legal industry. Established in 2013, the TCJA offers members educational and professional development opportunities, continuing education on timely topics, monthly networking meetings, and access to a ListServ to participate in shared discussions regarding matters affecting legal professionals in Southeast Florida. Contact the TCJA today to learn more about membership benefits.

Treasure Coast Justice Association
200 Circle West
Jupiter, FL 33458

treasurecoastja@gmail.com
(561) 201-4816
https://www.tcjusticeassociation.org/