LSBA Solo & Small Firm Section Sponsoring Aug. 22 CLE on Mental Health, “Lincoln Lawyer”The LSBA’s Solo and Small Firm Section is presenting a CLE program, “Mental Health for Lawyers & The Lincoln Lawyer,” on Friday, Aug. 22, at The Chimes in Covington, 19130 Rogers Lane, Covington. Covington solo practitioner Warren Montgomery, who practices in federal and state criminal litigation, is the guest speaker. The CLE, scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., has been approved for 2 CLE credits, including ethics and professionalism. The cost is $25 for Section members and $35 for others; lunch is included.
For more information and to download a registration form, go to:
http://files.lsba.org/documents/Committees/mentalhealthforlawyersthelincolnlawyer.pdf.
Registration Open for Aug. 15 LSBA/Lafayette Bar Free CLEThe Louisiana State Bar Association and the Lafayette Bar Association are co-sponsoring a free CLE for solo practitioners and small firms on Friday, Aug. 15, at the Lafayette Bar Association office (2607 Johnston St., Lafayette). Limited seating is available. Registration is required. The program has been approved for 2 CLE credits, including ethics. Lunch will be provided at no cost to participants.
To register or for more information,
click here.
July 2014 Bar Briefs Available Online The July 2014 issue of “Bar Briefs” is available for review online. To read this issue, go to:
http://www.lsba.org/NewsAndPublications/BarBriefs.aspx. The next issue is coming in September.
Pilot Mentoring Program Begins Jan. 1, 2015: Registration Now Open for Mentors The Louisiana Supreme Court has approved a pilot mentoring program for newly admitted Louisiana lawyers. The program begins Jan. 1, 2015. The LSBA is now seeking mentors from all practice areas and all parts of the state to guide this next generation of lawyers. Mentors must be in good standing, have no disciplinary history and must have at least 10 years of experience. Mentors can receive up to 6 hours of free CLE credit by volunteering. If you are interested in being a mentor to one or two new lawyers, email LSBA Professional Programs Administrative Assistant Connie Sabio at
connies@lsba.org. Or, complete online or download the registration form at:
http://files.lsba.org/documents/SL/MentoringProgramFillInRegistration.pdf.
Comment Period Extended for Proposed Amendments to USDC Local Rules The comment period for proposed amendments to the Local Rules of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, has been extended to Aug. 18. Amendments are proposed for Rules 47.5, 67.1 and 67.2 of Local Civil Rules and for Local Criminal Rules (adding Local Criminal Rule 23.2). All comments must be submitted in writing. Written comments may be emailed to
clerk@laed.uscourts.gov or mailed to: Clerk, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, 500 Poydras St., Room C-151, New Orleans, LA 70130. The order and amended notices may be reviewed on the court's website:
http://www.laed.uscourts.gov/.
LSBA Francophone Section Schedules International Civil Law Symposium in Canada The LSBA Francophone Section’s Judge Allen M. Babineaux Civil Law Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16, in conjunction with the World Acadian Congress at the University of Moncton, Edmundston Campus, Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada. Attendees can make their own travel plans or join the Section’s tour which departs from Lafayette on Aug. 12 for Quebec City. After the symposium, the group will tour Prince Edward Island and Halifax. For more information, contact Iva Clavelle at Uniglobe, (337)233-5521,
iva@ineedatrip.com; or Francophone Section Chair Warren A. Perrin, (337)233-5832,
perrin@plddo.com.
Save the Date: LSBA Animal Law Section CLE is Dec. 12 The LSBA Animal Law Section's sixth annual CLE is set for Friday, Dec. 12 at the St. Christopher Hotel in New Orleans. The agenda and registration information will be posted on the website soon. For updates, go to:
http://www.animallawla.org.
4th Judicial District Court and LSBA Launch Legal Self-Help Website The 4th Judicial District Court, in conjunction with the LSBA, launched a new self-help website for Ouachita and Morehouse parishes. The “Virtual Self-Help Resource Center” provides the public with legal information, helpful resources and information to help identify local non-profit and governmental agencies that may be able to provide representation or assist with both legal and non-legal issues. The website may be accessed online at:
http://www.4thjdcselfhelp.com. For more information on the LSBA’s efforts to support local courts and issues raised in the courts by self-represented litigants, contact LSBA ATJ Self-Represented Litigation Counsel Michael W. Schachtman at (504)619-0145 or email
michael.schachtman@lsba.org.
Volunteers Sought for 2014 Law School Professionalism OrientationsThe LSBA’s Committee on the Profession is seeking lawyers and judges to volunteer their services in the next round of law school professionalism orientations.The orientations are scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at Loyola University College of Law; 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at Southern University Law Center; 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center; and 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Tulane Law School. For more information or to volunteer, contact LSBA Associate Executive Director Cheri Cotogno Grodsky at (800)421-5722, ext. 107, (504)619-0107, fax (504)598-6753 or email cgrodsky@lsba.org.
Save the Dates for LSBA CLEs and Events: New York, Disney, Diversity, Solo and Small Firm • New York: The “New York, New York!” multi-topic CLE is Nov. 22-24 at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York. Stay tuned for more details online.
• Disney: The “Dazzling Disney!” multi-topic CLE is Feb. 16-18, 2015, at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. More details to come.
• 2015 Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession: Friday, March 6, 2015, at the New Orleans Marriott, 555 Canal St., New Orleans.
• 2015 Solo and Small Firm Conference: Thursday and Friday, March 19-20, 2015, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, 2 Poydras St., New Orleans.
Interested in Volunteering for a Diversity Subcommittee? Respond by Aug. 30The LSBA’s Diversity Committee is seeking volunteers to serve on six subcommittees: Diversity Awards; Diversity Communications; Diversity Conclave; LGBT Diversity; Diversity Integration; and Pipeline to Diversity (outreach to law students, students, law firms and judiciary).
The preferences form should be returned by Aug. 30. For more information and to download the form, go to: http://files.lsba.org/documents/Diversity/2014Divsubcomprefform.pdf.
Tech Tips: LSBA Offers New Online Information Source The LSBA has set up a new “tech tips” online information source. The web page includes a “Legal Tech Products and Services Spotlight,” as well as informative articles on choosing and using technology. Check out the page at: http://www.lsba.org/Members/PracticeManagementTechTips.aspx.
LBLS Accepting Applications for Bankruptcy Law Certification Through SeptemberThe Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (LBLS) is accepting applications for 2015 certification in business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law through Sept. 30, 2014. Regarding applications for business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law certification, although the written test(s) is administered by the American Board of Certification, attorneys should apply for approval of the LBLS simultaneously with the testing agency in order to avoid delay of board certification by the LBLS. For more information, contact LBLS Executive Director Barbara M. Shafranski, email
barbara.shafranski@lsba.org or call (504)619-0128.
Notice: Comment Period Set for U.S. Magistrate JudgesThe current terms of office for United States Magistrate Judges Sally A. Shushan and Karen Wells Roby will expire on Jan. 31, 2015, and Feb. 21, 2015, respectively. The United States District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of a magistrate judge to a new eight-year term. Comments are sought from members of the Bar and the public as to whether the incumbent magistrate judges should be recommended by the panel for reappointment by the court. Comments should be mailed to: William W. Blevins, Clerk, United States District Court, 500 Poydras St., Room C-151, New Orleans, LA 70130. Comments must be received by Aug. 1.
Sponsors Sought for 2014 Law School Professionalism OrientationsSponsors are being sought for three of the law school professionalism orientations in August. The programs are coordinated by the LSBA’s Committee on the Profession. Sponsors are needed for the programs at Loyola University College of Law, Monday, Aug. 11 Southern University Law Center, Thursday, Aug. 14; and Tulane Law School, Tuesday, Aug. 19. Sponsor deadline is Monday, Aug. 4.
For sponsorship information, contact LSBA Program Coordinator Christine A. Richard, (800)421-5722, ext. 105, (504)619-0105, or email crichard@lsba.org.
July 31 is Deadline for Listings in “Who’s Who in ADR 2014” DirectoryArbitrators and mediators have until July 31 to book a listing in the LSBA’s “Who’s Who in ADR 2014” directory. The directory will be mailed with the October/November 2014 Louisiana Bar Journal, then uploaded to the LSBA’s home page for a full year of access.
For more information, go to: http://www.lsba.org/goto/ADRDirectory2014.
Book Ad Space Now in the 2015 Expert Witness, Consultant & Legal Services DirectoryThe LSBA is publishing its seventh Expert Witness, Consultant & Legal Services Directory. The directory will be mailed with the December 2014/January 2015 Louisiana Bar Journal. The directory also will be accessible online via the LSBA's website for a full year. Early-bird pricing is available through Sept. 12. As an added bonus this year, all advertisers purchasing space in the directory will receive a free text listing in the December/January Journal’s Service Directory.
For more information, go to: http://www.lsba.org/goto/ExpertDirectory2015.
Want to Become Part of the SOLACE Network and Assist Your Legal Colleagues?The LSBA/Louisiana Bar Foundation's Community Action Committee coordinates the program SOLACE (Support of Lawyers/Legal Personnel — All Concern Encouraged). Through the program, the legal community reaches out in many ways to judges, lawyers, court personnel, paralegals, legal secretaries and their families who experience deaths or other catastrophic illnesses, sickness or injury. Through a vast network of coordinators and volunteers, the requests for assistance are gathered and disseminated to the network. Within days or hours — even minutes — the requests are fulfilled. Volunteers working on this project have experienced a true sense of doing something for others in need. If you want to become part of this network, email Hon. Jay C. Zainey at
jay_zainey@laed.uscourts.gov. For more on the program, go to:
http://www.lsba.org/Members/solace.aspx.