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which could force delays throughout thejudicial system.As president, White has begunlooking into alternative solutions. Hehopes to resolve the problem beforeleaving office.“We need to find an adequate,permanent funding source for thejudiciary,” he said.In addition to addressing the budgetcuts, during his tenure, White will alsofocus on improving diversity in the legalPHOTO BY MARK WALLHEISERprofession and increasing mentorshipopportunities for young attorneys.He stressed the importance of TheFlorida Bar and all of its committees, aswell as all those committees not underThe Florida Bar, reflecting the makeup ofthe bar’s population and providing broadrepresentation for all its members.Among the first steps towards thediversity goal is ensuring all members ofthe bar are aware when openings occur inthe judicial system and apply for them.This includes alerting members of themore than 150 voluntary specialty barsand local bars across the state, such asbar associations for women and minorityattorneys, by e-mail when positionsbecome available.Another important step is havingsenior members of the bar call andencourage younger members andminority members of the bar to getinvolved and to apply for openings.Improving diversity requires youngattorneys get involved with The FloridaBar and voluntary specialty bars earlyon in their careers.“The earlier you get involved theearlier you can build your reputation,”White said.One way White has identified to helpget young lawyers involved in the barfrom the beginning of their careers isthrough mentorship programs.A committee is in the process oflooking into structuring a mentorshipprogram for students and first- andsecond-year attorneys, White said.Some law schools are also participatingin the process of developing mentorshipprograms. For White, the earlierstudents and young attorneys becomeinvolved in mentorship and attorneygroups the better.“It is important we teach youngattorneys that if you are professional,civil, honest and have a good moralcompass, those things are far moreimportant that winning cases,” Whitesaid. “Don’t get me wrong, winningcases is important, but not at the extentof being unprofessional.”White’s commitment to mentorshipstems from dedicated mentors he had“It is importantwe teach youngattorneys that if youare professional, civil,honest and have agood moral compass,those things are farmore important thanwinning cases.”as a young professional. Among them,he mentioned UF graduate Robert V.Romani (JD 73) and retired attorney EdCampbell.“I had wonderful mentors as a younglawyer, not only did they teach me thesubstance of law, but how we should beprofessional and civil in our practice,”White said.White began learning those lessonsduring his time as a student at theUniversity of Florida. He graduated in1980 with an undergraduate degree inpolitical science.“I feel like I got a wonderful educationand had a lot of fun doing it,” he said ofhis time at UF.As a law student, White receivedthe American Jurisprudence Award inAdministrative Law. During his time atUF, White was a member of Phi BetaKappa Honor Society, Phi Kappa PhiHonor Society, Phi Delta Phi LegalSociety and Sigma Alpha Epsilonfraternity.Almost 25 years after finishinghis studies at UF, White takes on thechallenge of leading The Florida Bar.One of his many priorities during histenure, mentorship of young attorneys,stems from his experiences as a studentand young attorney.“It is really important that we teachyoung lawyers and law students what isappropriate and what is not appropriate,”White said. “The most important messageis that you can be professional andcivil and still be a great lawyer and agreat advocate.” ■FALL 2008 39