Each year, the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division hosts the Affiliate Outreach Conference (AOC), a premier conference for young lawyer leaders practicing throughout the state of Florida providing the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, get the most up to date information about young lawyer issues, resources, and more.  This year AOC 2023: Driven to Success is at the Hard Rock Hotel in Daytona Beach, FL on February 3-4, 2023.  Event registration will begin at 12 pm Friday and will be followed by Affiliate grant presentations, a scavenger hunt, Friday night fun, and other amazing things! On Saturday, the day begins with breakfast and CLE programming from speakers addressing young lawyer-specific issues, including leadership and diversity. To celebrate the success of the weekend, Affiliates and young lawyers are invited to join the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division with a dinner and dance.

Friday, February 3, 2023
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM · AOC Registration
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Affiliate Grant Presentations (concurrent sessions) (business attire)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM · Law School Affiliate Meeting (business attire)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Council of Affiliates Meeting (business attire)
Starts at 5:00 PM · AOC Scavenger Series & Friday Night Fun (casual attire)

Saturday, February 4, 2023
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM · AOC Breakfast and General Session (business attire)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM · AOC Luncheon & Facilitated Roundtable Discussion (business attire)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM · AOC Health and Wellness Yoga (athletic/workout attire)
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM · AOC Winner’s Circle Celebration & Dinner (cocktail attire)

How do I register for AOC? Click here.  (Register by January 18, 2023 to receive a conference t-shirt; overall registration cutoff is January 25, 2023).

What are AOC Grants and how can I apply? The YLD is awarding $50,000.00 to Affiliates during AOC for specific events they are interested in hosting during the upcoming year.  To apply for a grant, each Affiliate submits a written application in advance and makes a presentation in-person at the conference to our Grant Committee.  Apply for grants by the January 20 deadline here: https://flayld.org/affiliates/aoc-grant-application/. An Affiliate that applies for an AOC Grant but does not have at least one Affiliate Representative register and attend the required AOC events (In Person Grant Presentation, AOC General Session and Roundtable Luncheon) will be deemed ineligible to receive grant funds. More information about the grant presentations can be found at the grant application link above.

Are CLE Credits available? YES! CLE credits are pending for the AOC General Session scheduled for Saturday. Stay tuned for our reveal of dynamic speakers this year.

Where do I book my hotel, and does the YLD offer any reimbursement for travel? Please book your room here: Young Lawyers Division AOC 2023 Booking Link. You have until January 25, 2023 to book your room under the YLD room block. Each Affiliate may receive up to a $800 reimbursement, $400 per person up to 2 representatives per Affiliate, for travel costs. Reimbursement covers any travel cost such as mileage (for use of personal car), airfare, rental car cost, fuel for rental car, tolls, as well as lodging and parking.  It does not include personal food purchases or reimbursement of the registration fee. To be eligible for reimbursement, you must apply through the attached form within 30 days of AOC.

I know someone interested in sponsoring, what sponsorship opportunities are available?  There are still sponsorship opportunities available for AOC. Please review the attached sponsorship packet for specifics. If you or an organization have any sponsoring interest, please contact Ashlea Edwards or Brandon Sapp. Sponsorship Information is also available here.

YLD Suit Drive – During AOC, the YLD will be collecting gently used suits to provide to local charities: (1) the Daytona State College Falcon Hope Center and (2) the Seventh Judicial Circuit Public Defenders Office. So, start going through your closets in preparation of AOC to bring suits to empower members of the local community and help change a life!

The Honorable Rachel D. Myers was appointed to the bench in 2022. Prior to her appointment Judge Myers was an assistant state attorney, an associate in private practice and, for the last five years, she ran her own firm. She graduated from the University of Florida with her B.S. and Liberty University School of Law with her J.D. She has served her local professional community as the immediate past president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Volusia County Bar Association, a past president of the Volusia Flagler Association for Women Lawyers and is a member of her local Inns of Court chapter. She dedicates her time volunteering in her community with Teen Court, the Division of Blind Services, Grace House Crisis Pregnancy Center and the YMCA. Judge Myers has a visual impairment called Stargardt’s Disease. Rapidly losing 80% of her sight at age seventeen, she is now legally blind with only magnifiers and visual aids to assist her.  As a fifth generation Volusia County resident she is proud of her home county and proud to serve as a Volusia County Court Judge. Together with her husband she is raising their three young children in DeLand.

Sue-Ann Robinson is an award winning renowned trial attorney, commentator and TV featured guest legal analyst for Court TV. She has become known for her in depth and common sense analysis on criminal justice reform, police misconduct and high profile cases. Sue-Ann’s breadth of experience and expertise has earned her acclaim across all media platforms. Her legal commentary has been featured on Revolt TV, VH1, Fox News, NBC, Black News Channel, The Young Turks, and Law and Crime. Sue-Ann began her legal career at 23 years old as a Prosecutor in the 17th Judicial Circuit in Broward County, Florida. Since leaving government service she has been in private practice representing individuals and businesses in high stakes litigation in both Federal and State Court. In tandem with a vigorous trial practice Sue-Ann covered the Derek Chauvin trial daily for Fox Soul. She anchored a nationally syndicated morning show based in Miami Florida. Among her many accolades she has been recognized by Superlawyers Magazine, received a certificate of special recognition from the United States Congress, awarded as a “Changemaker” for her work in civil rights by the Thurgood Marshall Foundation, and  listed as one of the “top ten black women lawyers you should know” in Black Enterprise Magazine. A native of South Florida, Robinson is the mother of two girls and lives in Broward County. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), and her law degree from the Florida International University College of Law.

Ben Odom has been Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for NASCAR in Daytona Beach. In that role Ben works on corporate governance, business development and special projects.  Prior to working at NASCAR Ben was Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at International Speedway Corporation, a publicly traded company that owned 13 racetracks plus One Daytona and the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway.  Ben got his start for ISC in 2006.  Ben earned a J.D. from Florida State College of Law in 2004 and earned a B.S in Communications and Political Science from Florida State University in 2001.

Kelsey is Senior Corporate Counsel for the LPGA, the world’s leading promoter of professional women’s golf. Kelsey is from Charlotte, North Carolina, but has called Florida home since moving to warmer weather for law school. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Sport and Entertainment Management, cum laude, from the University of South Carolina in 2014, and went on to gain her Juris Doctor, cum laude, with a Certificate in Business Law, from the Florida State University College of Law in 2017. She began her career during law school as an extern with International Speedway Corporation. After graduation, Kelsey returned to ISC, now NASCAR, as Corporate Counsel, where she drafted and negotiated a wide variety of facility related contracts and was responsible for the career development of several interns, paralegals, and contract managers. After spending almost five years at NASCAR, Kelsey Copeland joined the LPGA in 2022 as Senior Corporate Counsel. Kelsey currently oversees the sponsorship and licensing transactions at the LPGA.