2017 Annual Convention

2017 Annual Convention and Policy Meeting, October 12-15, New Orleans, LA

Conference Brochure (pdf)
Schedule at a Glance (pdf)

2017 Convention Host Hotel

Astor Crowne Plaza-French Quarter
739 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

2017 Convention Charity

SOLACE (Support of Lawyers/Legal Personnel—All Concern Encouraged)

SOLACE stands for “Support of Lawyers/Legal Personnel—All Concern Encouraged.” SOLACE provides a way for the Federal Bar Association (“FBA”) legal community to reach out in small, but meaningful and compassionate ways, to FBA members and those related to them in the legal community who experience a death, or some catastrophic event, illness, sickness, injury, or other personal crisis. Judge Jay Zainey and Mark Surprenant, in connection with the Louisiana State Bar Association, originally developed the SOLACE program, and in 2016 FBA President Judge Michael Newman made the SOLACE program one of his national priorities for the FBA.

The SOLACE program has helped numerous individuals by handling a wide variety of requests. Examples of past requests and responsive help include securing a medical evacuation airlift from a foreign country, donating furniture to a solo practitioner whose office was consumed by a fire, contributing frequent flyer miles or hotel points for families who cannot afford the travel costs associated with medical treatment, volunteering to care for the dog of an individual who was away from home while receiving cancer treatment, providing a family with meals, lodging, assistance with grocery shopping or child care, or providing non-legal information—whatever the situation may warrant. SOLACE does not, however, handle requests for money.

The FBA’s SOLACE initiative is open to all FBA members and those related to them within the legal community— judges, lawyers, court personnel, paralegals, legal secretaries and their families—not just lawyers. More information at http://www.fedbar.org/Outreach/SOLACE.aspx.

2017 Social Event

Friday, October 13, 2017 7:00-11:00 pm - The Astor Crowne Plaza-French Quarter
Laissez Le Bons Temp Rouler (pronounced “Lay-sey le bon tom roo-lay”) – Let the Good Times Roll!

The Friday Night Social will be held at the host hotel – The Astor Crowne Plaza-French Quarter on Friday, October 13, 2017 from 7:00 – 11:00 pm. This event will make you think that you are in the Big Easy for an actual Mardi Gras celebration. We will have a brass band, visits from the local krewe mascots, specialty drinks and, of course, Mardi Gras novelties!