William R. Newman, J.D.
Founder and President
Contact : wnewman@BarristersCLE.com

Billy Newman practiced law full-time for fourteen years and now devotes the bulk of his time as a full-time professor at The University of Southern Mississippi. Billy founded Barristers in 1994.  His years of practice and his academic duties at the University contribute to the innovative Barristers approach to CLE.  He is also the originator of the "Trivia Challenge," the popular trivia contests that are a staple at every Barristers seminar.

Billy began his career in Jackson, Mississippi at Thomas, Price, Alston, Jones and Davis, where he led an active practice in complex commercial litigation, business entities, Wills and estates, and intellectual property.

After moving home to Hattiesburg, he developed further expertise in the area of intellectual property, a topic he teaches today at the University and in a popular annual course for Barristers.

Billy received his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from The University of Southern Mississippi where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame and where he received the coveted "Silver Bowl Award for the Top Graduating Scholar."  He then earned his law degree at the University of Mississippi School of Law where he was an Eastland Scholar, Articles Editor of the Mississippi Law Journal, a member of the National Moot Court Team, and president of the student body.

Billy is the proud father of Will, a Presidential Scholar at Tulane University, and Sam, a talented high school junior.  He and his new fiancee', Charissa, will marry in 2010.

 

Sarah D. Middleton-Hernandez
Program Coordinator
Contact : information@BarristersCLE.com

Sarah Middleton-Hernandez is the point person on all logistics of seminar planning and production. She oversees seminar advertising, production of course manuals, and coordination of meeting sites. She also maintains all registration and attendance records and is the librarian for Barristers' extensive collection of research on virtually every conceivable legal topic.  Sarah's attention to detail has become crucial to the success of our programs.

A former high school English teacher, Sarah attended The University of Southern Mississippi and holds an undergraduate degree from William Carey College. Her invaluable organizational skills were cultivated in a variety of retail and professional positions before joining Barristers in 2006.

Sarah and her husband, Joey, live in Hattiesburg with Sammy, an adorable Jack Russell terrier with an uncanny resemblance to the dog on Frasier, and Scooter, their very loveable English bulldog.

 

Bridget H. Robinson, J. D.
Senior Editor               
Contact: brobinson@BarristersCLE.com

Bridget Robinson edits most of the seminar manuals associated with Barristers courses (with the primary exception of our “lightning round” seminars – where the seminar speakers prepare their own “bite-sized” chapters to accompany their fast-paced lectures).  Bridget’s goal is to ensure that the manual remains a practical and helpful resource for our attendees long after the seminar is over.  She also recruits most of the presenters at our seminars and coordinates the details of each speaker’s presentation.
                      
Bridget practiced law for over eighteen years in a wide range of practice areas, including extensive experience in litigation as well as work in business and consumer finance, bankruptcy, and foreclosure.  This real-world experience is evident in the high-quality contributions Bridget makes to our seminar manuals and agendas.

A native of Natchez, Mississippi, Bridget earned an undergraduate degree in marketing from The University of Southern Mississippi.  In 1992, she graduated from the Mississippi College School of Law, where she was Associate Editor of the Law Review.  She and her husband, Lyle (also an attorney), live in Madison, Mississippi, with three daughters – Sarah Beth, Claire, and Abby.

 

Rebecca J. Roderick
Technical Supervisor
Contact: rroderick@BarristersCLE.com

Rebecca Roderick joined the Barristers family in 2008 and now serves as the “go to” person on most technical issues of seminar production.  An all-around trouble-shooter, she also cultivates an understanding of our customers and their needs by working on-site at many of our seminars. 

Rebecca oversees the use of technology at our seminars, and she masterfully manages the popular interactive equipment used at many Barristers courses.  This equipment allows our attendees to actively and competitively participate in special seminar segments by electronically “answering” legal and ethical questions posed to the audience.

Rebecca holds an associates degree in business management from Jones County Junior College.  Known for her infectious enthusiasm, she honed her customer relations skills in a variety of retail management positions before coming to Barristers.  Rebecca and her husband, Chad, live in Petal, Mississippi with their son River.

 

Sabrina W. Woodward
Program Consultant
Contact : information@BarristersCLE.com

Sabrina Woodward has been an integral part of the Barristers team since 1997.  A former paralegal, she has a special rapport with the hundreds of lawyers served by Barristers, and she has a keen sense of what lawyers want, need, and expect in their CLE.

A graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi and a full-time staff member until 2007, Sabrina now serves as a special consultant to Barristers and assists in recruiting the best available speakers on each seminar topic. Over the years she has cultivated extensive contacts with the most prominent legal practitioners in the Southeast. As a result, you can regularly count on seminar presentations by lawyers who are true leaders in their areas of practice.

Sabrina and her husband, Christopher, live in Madison, Mississippi, with son McKinley and daughter Shelby.

 

Seasonal On-Site Staff:

Amanda Santmyer	Shaye Caldwell	Shana Caldwell

 

Not Pictured:

• Adrian Westbrook
  
  
• Amber Westbrook