Updated Kids guide to be published in September
The State Bar’s popular Kids & the Law: An A-to-Z Guide for Parents will be published again this fall and distributed free throughout the state to children and their parents.
Produced by the bar’s Media & Information Services office, Kids & the Law provides parents with information about laws affecting their children, their relationship with their children and important resources about drugs, driving, drinking and other issues facing all families.
The revised guide will include information on recent laws making it illegal to smoke in a car if any of the occupants are under 18 (California is only the third state to enact such a law) and banning the sale of nitrous oxide to anyone under 18. It will also include new information and developments dealing with sexting and cyberbullying, as well as a law affecting young people’s patronage of tanning salons.
Paid in part by a $65,000 dedicated fund from the California Bar Foundation, Kids will be available in mid-September. A Spanish translation will be available later in the year.
The guide was first produced in 2001 and again in 2004 and 2007; together the bar has distributed more than 3 million copies free of charge.
To pre-order copies of Kids & the Law, e-mail kids@calbar.ca.gov and state the number desired (i.e., 100 copies, 200 copies), and provide a full name, complete mailing address (no P.O. boxes, please) and phone number.
The guide is free and may be ordered in bulk at no charge. For especially large orders, a contribution to defray shipping costs is always appreciated.
California Bar Foundation board has openings
The California Bar Foundation is seeking applications for several positions on its board of directors for terms beginning Jan. 1, 2011. The board consists of a maximum of 25 members appointed by the State Bar Board of Governors and three ex officio members. They serve two-year terms and are expected to attend approximately five board meetings per year and actively participate on at least two committees.
Meetings typically rotate between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and most committee meetings are conducted by conference call. Board members may also be required to attend a variety of other foundation-related events, and they are expected to participate in fundraising and annually make a personally significant financial contribution to the foundation.
The foundation is a nonprofit organization, affiliated with the State Bar, that distributes grants for law-related projects, awards scholarships to law school students who intend to pursue public interest law careers or who come from communities historically underrepresented in the legal profession, and it supports other educational programs. It raises funds through gifts of lawyers, law firms and other donors.
Applicants must submit a résumé and a statement of interest and qualifications by mail, fax or e-mail to: Leslie Hatamiya, Executive Director, California Bar Foundation, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105; (fax) 415-856-0788; e-mail lhatamiya@calbarfoundation.org. The deadline for applications is Aug. 13.
More information about the foundation can be found at www.calbarfoundation.org. For information about board member duties and expectations, e-mail lhatamiya@calbarfoundation.org.
Free section memberships are available
State Bar attorneys can now join any one of the 16 State Bar sections free of charge for the balance of 2010. This offer is designed to allow attorneys who may not be section members the opportunity to explore the many membership benefits, including quarterly scholarly journals, e-bulletins with important case alerts and legislative updates, major discounts on CLE programs (both live and online) and networking opportunities.
Current section members also can obtain one additional free membership.
To take advantage of this offer, you must enroll online before Aug. 15. To do so, go to www.calbar.org/join-a-section.
Find legal help
California attorneys are invited to use a new State Bar feature that allows them to expand their State Bar profiles. Using a secure link within My State Bar Profile, attorneys may add information to their public record to include area(s) of practice, any additional language(s) spoken, their law firm’s website address and a photo.
The information will be available tothe public next month. To get started, log in to My State Bar Profile, and click on the “Expanded Profile” link.
Legal Services of Northern California is looking for board members
Attorneys interested in serving on the board of directors for Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) are invited to apply for one of five openings. The vacancies are in the following regions: Butte (2), Mother Lode-El Dorado (1), Sacramento (1) and Shasta (1). Applicants must practice or reside in the county or region with a vacancy.
LSNC, a nonprofit Legal Services Corp.-funded program, provides legal assistance to low-income residents of 23 northern California counties. Its 36-member board meets five times a year to make policy decisions. Members serve three-year terms.
The deadline for receipt of applications is Sept. 3.
Interested attorneys should apply by letter, with bar number, and include a resume outlining work experience, community activity and educational background. The materials should be sent to Chris Zupanovich, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105-1639. Questions may be directed to 415-538-2534 or chris.zupanovich@calbar.ca.gov.
Calling all artists
Members of the bench and bar who draw, sculpt or work in ceramics or photography are cordially invited to participate in the 58th Annual Meeting Bench and Bar Art Exhibit. The artwork will be showcased at the State Bar Annual Meeting, Sept. 23-26, in Monterey.
Rules and entry blanks can be downloaded at www.calbar.ca.gov/calbar/annualmeeting or obtained by calling the art show coordinator at 415-538-2210. All entries must be submitted by Aug. 9.
Summer savings from CalBar Connect
CalBar Connect, the State Bar’s members-only website, connects members to a variety of partners who offer discounts and programs to help attorneys save money in their law practice management. To view the partner’s products and offerings, visit CalBar Connect.
Summer promotions now offered by select CalBar Connect partners include special discounts on phone orders placed with Office Max and T-Mobile; reduced rates on car rentals throughout the season with Hertz; and a free webinar on how to build and maintain your firm’s website hosted by Esquire Sites 1-2-3. Sign up for the seminar.
JNE switches to electronic forms
The JNE Commission is expanding efforts to transmit electronic confidential forms to raters in order to garner more responses, relieve commissioners of administrative burdens and reduce postage. Raters will be able to complete the form in a matter of minutes.
Testing began in Ventura County and forms have been transmitted to various populations in Los Angeles, Monterey, San Diego, Sonoma, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. The goal is to eventually send all confidential comment forms electronically.
Questions, comments or feedback about the new process may be sent to jneccf@calbar.ca.gov.
Opt out of lists
Attorneys who wish to remove their names from lists the State Bar provides to qualified outside entities may do so by logging on to My State Bar Profile. Go to “Account Information” and select “Update my mailing preferences (opt out).”
Members also may e-mail their opt-out request to memrec@calbar.ca.gov.
Include your bar number.