Beef up your online profile
Sept. 1 marked the start of a new “Find Legal Help” feature on the State Bar website that allows the public to get more information about California attorneys that may aid in their decision to hire a particular lawyer. Attorneys are invited to add a photo and such information to their public record as area(s) of practice, additional language(s) spoken and law firm website address.
By mid-September, more than 1400 attorneys have added information on their State Bar page. Information is added through My State Bar Profile. Bar officials hope that other California attorneys will be encouraged to voluntarily update their profiles knowing that the public now has access to the additional information.
Besides the current search by attorney name and bar number (in the regular search) and by location (in the advanced search), the new feature will allow for searches based on languages spoken. A random list of up to 500 attorneys will be available based on the search criteria. Although the area of practice may be included on the website, the board of governors decided not to include it as a searchable feature by the public.
Other information currently visible to the public includes contact information, date admitted to the State Bar, undergraduate and law schools attended, disciplinary record, if any, sections membership and other bar administrative information.
Updated Kids guide is now available
The State Bar’s popular Kids & the Law: An A-to-Z Guide for Parents has been updated and published and is available free to children and their parents. The bar has received 165,000 orders for the publication.
Produced by the 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 includes 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 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.
Feeling stressed?
The Lawyer Assistance Program can help
Attorneys struggling to cope with the stress of a challenging economic environment or a difficult employment situation are invited to contact the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP), which now offers new support programs in addition to its traditional help with substance abuse and depression. Support is offered for issues like stress, relationship and personal problems, grief and anxiety.
The all-new Support LAP is designed for attorneys who might wish to participate in a weekly group with other lawyers and would like the support of a mental health professional (group facilitator) or a trained peer counselor who is familiar with attorneys’ particular challenges.
The LAP also offers an Orientation & Assessment (O&A) to any attorney who wants professional assistance to cope with personal problems, work problems, substance abuse or other mental health issues. The O&A provides a confidential assessment completed by one of the LAP clinicians located throughout the state. Referrals to outside resources and an opportunity to participate in a LAP group for a short period of time also are provided. There is no fee for this service.
Interested attorneys should call 877 LAP 4 HELP (877-527-4435) or contact LAP@calbar.ca.gov. All calls are confidential.
Litigation Section schedules
A Week in Legal London in May
The State Bar Litigation Section will hold its 23rd “A Week in Legal London” May 15-20, offering attendees an opportunity to experience the inner workings of the English legal system, expand litigation skills and network with members of the London legal community. Participants will attend sessions at the Royal Courts of Justice, Old Bailey and the High Court of Justice, and attend luncheons at historic Inns of Court generally available only to members of the British legal community.
Participation is limited to 60 people. Additional information about the educational programs, registration and travel arrangements is available at www.aweekinlegallondon.com. Questions may be addressed to Michelle McFadden at legallondon@mosaicevents.com or 801-278-3641.
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 partners’ products and offerings, visit CalBar Connect.
Promotions now offered by select CalBar Connect partners include special discounts on phone orders placed with Office Max and T-Mobile and reduced rates on car rentals throughout the season with Hertz.
Visit our partner MarketYourLawPractice.com for information on its upcoming MCLE program: The Ethics of Marketing Your Law Practice: The Rules Related to Marketing in California.
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.
One opening on Indian legal services board
One three-year position on the board of directors of California Indian Legal Services (CILS) will open Sept. 1 and interested attorneys are invited to submit an application to the State Bar. The 13-member board meets four times a year to make policy decisions governing CILS’ operations. The agency provides legal assistance to the rural poor.
The deadline for applications is Dec. 10.
Interested attorneys, who must be bar members and have an interest in quality legal services for the poor, should apply by letter. A resume outlining work experience, community activity and educational background must be included. The materials should be sent to Chris Zupanovich, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105-1639; or chris.zupanovich@calbar.ca.gov. Questions may be directed to 415-538-2534.
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.