By If you practice law in Florida, the Florida Bar Annual Convention is the one event worth clearing your calendar for. It is where judges, attorneys, section leaders, legal vendors, and bar leadership converge under one roof for four days of continuing legal education, governance, and professional networking. The 2026 Annual Florida Bar Convention takes place June 17 through June 20 at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando, Florida — and if you have not registered yet, here is everything you need to know before you do.
Whether you are attending for the first time or returning as a section committee member, this guide covers the schedule, what to expect, who should attend, and how to make the most of one of the most respected Florida lawyers conventions of the year.
What Is the Florida Bar Annual Convention?
The Florida Bar Annual Convention is the flagship annual gathering of The Florida Bar Association — the statewide organization that regulates all attorneys admitted to practice law in Florida. With a membership of more than 110,000 attorneys, The Florida Bar is one of the largest state bars in the United States.
The Florida Bar Association Convention serves as more than a networking event. It is the official venue for bar governance, section executive council meetings, continuing legal education seminars, award presentations, and meaningful peer-to-peer connection across every area of legal practice. Attendance is open to all Florida Bar members, and many sections actively encourage new attorney participation.
2026 Convention Dates, Location, and Schedule
The Florida Bar Annual Convention 2026 is scheduled for:
- Dates: June 17 – June 20, 2026
- Venue: Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
- Address: 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando, FL 32821
- Phone: (407) 597-3600
The Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek sits within easy reach of Orlando’s major attractions, making it a comfortable destination for attorneys traveling from across Florida. Room blocks are available through the convention webpage, though availability fills quickly — if the block appears full, the organizers advise checking back regularly for updates.
Below is a snapshot of the Appellate Practice Section (APS) schedule, which is representative of the event’s format across all sections:
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
- 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Leadership Summit — open to committee leaders, aspiring leaders, and members seeking deeper section involvement
- 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Chair’s Reception and Presentation of the Adkins and Hamilton Awards
Thursday, June 18, 2026
- 8:45 AM – 10:00 AM: New Member Orientation and Committee Meetings
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: APS Executive Council (in-person only — no remote attendance)
- 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM: APS Dessert Reception – “Boston Tea Party”
Full schedules for all sections are available through The Florida Bar’s official meetings and conventions page. Each section publishes its own agenda closer to the event date.
Best Reasons to Attend the Florida Bar Annual Convention
Attorneys often ask whether the Florida Bar convention is worth the time away from the office. Here are the clearest answers:
1. Earn CLE Credits
The Florida Bar Annual Convention is one of the best venues for continuing legal education for Florida attorneys. Sessions span procedural updates, ethics, appellate practice, family law, technology in litigation, and more. For attorneys who need to fulfill their biennial CLE requirements, the convention packs high-quality, accredited programming into a concentrated window of time.
2. Engage in Legal Networking
Few events offer the density of peer connection that this Florida Bar legal networking event does. Judges, section chairs, managing partners, solo practitioners, and in-house counsel all attend. Conversations that begin in an elevator or at a dessert reception have led to referral relationships, co-counsel arrangements, and mentorships that last years.
3. Attend Section-Specific Programming
Most sections hold their annual executive council meetings, award ceremonies, and substantive CLE panels during the convention. If you are active in any Florida Bar section — appellate, family, real property, business law, or others — this is where the work of those sections gets done in person.
4. Professional Development
The Florida Bar Annual Convention professional development conference aspect is often overlooked. Programming regularly includes leadership development sessions, bar leadership training, and opportunities to step into committee roles. For attorneys early in their careers, it is one of the most efficient ways to become visible within the bar community.
5. Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities
For legal vendors and law-adjacent service providers, Florida Bar Annual Convention sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor registrations offer direct access to one of the most concentrated gatherings of Florida-licensed attorneys in any given year. Legal tech companies, court reporters, malpractice insurers, and practice management platforms are regular fixtures in the exhibitor hall.
Who Should Attend the Annual Florida Bar Convention?
The short answer: any licensed Florida attorney who wants to stay connected to the profession. More specifically:
- New attorneys looking to join sections and find mentors
- Experienced practitioners maintaining relationships with judges and peers
- Section committee members with governance responsibilities
- Bar leadership candidates building visibility within the membership
- Legal vendors seeking Florida Bar Annual Convention exhibitor registration and sponsorship placements
- Law school faculty and academic staff involved in bar programming
The convention is also open to paralegals, law clerks, and other legal professionals who support bar-regulated attorneys, though CLE credit is available only to licensed bar members.
How to Register
Registration for the Florida Bar convention 2026 is handled through The Florida Bar’s official website. Individual sections manage their own registration for section-specific events such as the APS Dessert Reception or Leadership Summit. For hotel accommodations, the room block link is posted on the convention webpage. Attorneys are advised to book early, as the Signia by Hilton is a popular property and the block does sell out.
If you have questions about registration, exhibitor placement, or sponsorship, contact The Florida Bar directly at 850-561-5600 or visit floridabar.org.
Making the Most of Your Time at the Convention
Four days goes faster than expected. A few practical suggestions from attorneys who attend annually:
- Review the full schedule in advance and identify your must-attend CLE sessions before you arrive.
- Attend your section’s committee meetings even if you are not yet a committee member — this is often how involvement starts.
- Show up to the social events. The Chair’s Reception and dessert socials are where unscripted conversations happen.
- Bring business cards. It sounds obvious, but many attorneys forget in an age of digital contact-sharing.
- If you are a legal vendor, reserve exhibitor space early — Florida Bar Annual Convention exhibitor registration spots fill up as the event date approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Florida Bar Annual Convention 2026 date and location?
The Florida Bar Annual Convention 2026 runs from June 17 to June 20, 2026, at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando, FL 32821.
Is the Florida Bar Annual Convention only for litigators?
No. The Annual Florida Bar Convention draws attorneys from every practice area — transactional, appellate, family, real property, criminal defense, and more. Each section holds its own programming, so the event is relevant regardless of your area of practice.
Can I earn CLE credit at the Florida Bar Association Convention?
Yes. The convention includes multiple CLE-eligible sessions across various sections. Many sessions qualify for general CLE credit, and some qualify for ethics or technology credit. Always verify individual session credit with the section hosting the program.
Are there sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities at the convention?
Yes. Florida Bar Annual Convention sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor registration are available for qualifying vendors and legal service providers. Contact The Florida Bar’s events team for current availability, pricing, and submission deadlines.
How is the Florida Bar Annual Convention different from other legal conferences?
Unlike general legal conferences, the Florida Bar Annual Convention is the official governance and professional development event of The Florida Bar — the regulatory body for all Florida-licensed attorneys. It combines formal bar business, substantive CLE, and peer networking in a way that few other Florida lawyers conventions replicate. Attendance is generally seen as a professional investment, not just a continuing education checkbox.