Pillars of Justice 2024

Indefinitely Postponed: Pillars of Justice 2024

After careful consideration, we have made the decision that the Foundation must indefinitely postpone our 2024 Pillars of Justice event due to the state of emergency caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and its impact on our community. The decision to cancel is difficult, as the revenue from this event is used to support our mission to fund, develop and promote efforts which enhance the legal profession and encourage better public understanding of and access to the judicial system. 

Refunds will be available to ticket purchasers along with an option to support The St. Petersburg Bar Foundation – ticket purchasers will receive an email. We are also reaching out separately to our Sponsors and Corporate Annual Sponsors with options for their consideration.

Thank you for your understanding, patience, and continued support.


Do you know an attorney who volunteers to help others – not through pro bono service – but through other volunteer efforts? Among our efforts in enhancing the legal profession is to honor those who go above and beyond the call of duty in volunteering their time and talents in our community.

9th Annual Professionalism Seminar

The Benefit of Candor and the Cost of Deception
Presented in-person on March 30, 2023 from 12:30-5:30pm
Supported by Friends of Mike & Marty

3.5 General CLEs/3.5 Professionalism CLEs

Featured Speaker: Paul Tash, chairman of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies and retired chairman of Tampa Bay Times

Panel Discussion:
The Honorable Nelly Khouzam
The Honorable Thomas Ramsberger
The Honorable Pat Siracusa
Frederick Layton Schaub
Belinda B. Lazzara
Joshua Magidson

Skits: Attorneys and students illustrating challenges relating to conduct that is less than candid

The 9th Annual Professionalism Seminar is focused on the importance of candor with the Court, clients, and opposing counsel.  With an emphasis on practical application, the seminar will train you on the interplay between your mindset and the risk of ethical liabilities in the practice of law. The seminar will be presented in three sections- first, keynote speaker, Paul Tash, chairman of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies and retired chairman of Tampa Bay Times, who will engage us on the tribulations of information warfare; video skits illustrating common “honesty” challenges faced by attorneys, and an expert panel discussing implications relating to a lack of candor. This program is designed for attorneys in all areas of practice.

12:30pm – Lunch in the Mann Lounge

1:30pm – Seminar in the Great Hall

4:30pm – Reception in the Mann Lounge

RESCHEDULED – Pillars of Justice 2022

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available for the rescheduled Pillars of Justice event, to be held in person at Stetson University College of Law’s Mann Lounge at 1401 61st St. S., Gulfport, FL 33707 on January 19th, 2023 from 5:30-7:30pm. All tickets and sponsorships purchased for the original date will be honored for the rescheduled date. If you had previously purchased a ticket and we do not hear from you, your ticket purchase will continue to support this event.

Pillars of Justice recognizes those individuals who have dedicated their lives to community service, including past and current recipients of the Liberty Bell Award, Heroes Among Us Award, and Stetson’s Dean’s Award. It also provides an opportunity to recognize the Foundation’s monument at the Stetson University College of Law campus, which is dedicated to the recipients of these awards.

This year’s award ceremony will be recognizing the following award recipients:

2022 Liberty Bell Award: Helen Levine
2022 Heroes Among Us Award: Bruce Denson
2022 Dean’s Scholarship for Community Service: Tiffany Hilton

Heroes Among Us Award Nominations

Do you know an attorney who volunteers to help others – not through pro bono service – but through other volunteer efforts? Nominations for 2022 are now closed, but we will be looking for new Heroes in late summer 2023!

Among our efforts in enhancing the legal profession is to honor those who go above and beyond the call of duty in volunteering their time and talents in our community. Each year, the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation honors an outstanding lawyer with the Heroes Among Us Award. The recipient will be honored at the Foundation’s Pillars of Justice event.