Casting aside flak jackets.

Back in the 1980s, my friend Stephen Masterson was executive director of the Florida Trial Lawyers Association. At the time, the lawyers and the doctors were battling over medical malpractice legislation, and the lawyers weren't pleased with press coverage.

So, Steve proposed a plan to meet with reporters and editorial boards across the state to explain the group's position and to generally clarify some law/media misunderstandings.

The reaction?

"One lawyer got up and said, 'The press hates us, they will always hate us, and this is a waste of time and money.'

"It was a time of mutual dislike," Steve said. "For a lawyer to go to an editorial board then, you almost had to be wearing a flak jacket."

Nevertheless, Steve eventually persuaded enough of his colleagues to go along with his idea. And while there were a few hostile encounters with editorial writers, the experience was good. "Most were open and hungry for discussion," he said.

Steve later went on to found the Institute for Law & Society, based at Florida State University. The aim was to educate the public about the law, which included participating in law and media forums.

He returned to private practice in Tallahassee after it was clear that good intentions -- that is, the Society -- wouldn't pay the mortgage.

But Steve still believes that there's a general lack of understanding of our different roles.

For example, after one spicy editorial board meeting, Steve advised a colleague: "This is a discussion, not a trial."

Lawyers are trained to be advocates, he said. It's easy to forget that the goal in an editorial board meeting is not to win a final judgment.

Efforts to understand each other may never be perfect, but as you'll discover in this issue, progress is being made. Delaware and Wisconsin are two states with formal law/press organizations. Elsewhere, such as in Tennessee, efforts are being made to increase our knowledge and accuracy about the law.

And at some newspapers, editorial-page departments are purposefully hiring lawyers as editorial writers. Inside, former ACLU lawyer Robyn Blumner writes about her transition to editorial writer/columnist at the St. Petersburg Times. Another paper, the San Jose Mercury News, recently added a "law beat" on the editorial page and hired lawyer Travis Armstrong.

These efforts to do a better job of writing about the law are commendable. After all, professionals in law and the media seek the same end: justice.

The Seattle Experience

Some conventions are coveted for friendships made and re-ignited. Some are remembered for meaty sessions. Or for great side trips or good food or accommodations. And for some, the gaffes stand out.

The Seattle conference had all but the gaffes.

For those of you who didn't make it, we had a good time without you -- but we wish you were there.

And, inside, we offer a synopsis of what we learned.

Kay Semion