The Bench & Bar magazine is published to provide members of the KBA with information that will increase their knowledge of the law, improve the practice of law, and assist in improving the quality of legal services for the citizenry.
Issue link: https://kentuckybenchandbar.epubxp.com/i/104896
By Jackie Sue Wright, Chair, KBA Young Lawyers Division B NEW THINGS TO RING IN THE eginning in early 2013, the Young Lawyers Division will be launching the Brief Insights podcasts. As some of you may recall, Brief Insights began in 2007 as a web-based mentoring project created through the collaborative efforts of the Kentucky Bar Association and the Young Lawyers Section. The idea was to have experienced members of the Bar give short (5-10 minutes) video presentations on substantive legal, ethical and law-practice management topics that would be of use to the Commonwealth's younger attorneys. The video presentations were then made available for free at www.BriefInsights.com as a service to the members of the Kentucky Bar Association. From 2008 until 2010, the YLD recorded and produced six videos, which are currently available on the Brief Insights website. The topics discussed ranged from client and practice management to whistleblower and qui tam actions. Be on the lookout, as the YLD plans to resurrect Brief Insights as a monthly podcast very soon, with the same goal in mind! For those unfamiliar, a podcast is an episodic series of audio recordings that are made available to download or stream on your computer or mobile device. The Brief Insights podcasts will be available via the YLD's website at www.KBAYLD.org under the "podcast" tab and through iTunes. For 2013 Brief Insights will feature state and federal judges from across the Commonwealth providing practice tips and useful information. This project has been a top priority for the YLD this year and we are excited to offer this modern convenience to the entire KBA membership. If you are interested in participating as a speaker, or if you have ideas for topics please email me at jwright@fwweattorneys.net. 4 Bench & Bar January 2013 This last half of the Bar year will be packed with activities and projects for the YLD. In support of the Kentucky Bar Foundation, we are conducting a fundraising campaign among all of the members of the YLD to enroll 50 members as "Patrons" of the Foundation. The program is designed with young lawyers in mind with a total pledge of $500 to be paid at $100 per year over a five-year period. During these past few years, the Kentucky Bar Foundation has become increasingly more relevant and important to the Young Lawyers Division and to the legal community throughout the Commonwealth by helping to fund programs and projects which address unmet law-related needs on a statewide basis. Further, through its good works, the Bar Foundation helps the legal community create a more positive image with regard to the general public. It is the only statewide legal foundation in Kentucky, and during the past three years has made annual grants in excess of $200,000 per year. Please help us reach our goal by becoming a Patron of the Bar Foundation! The membership committee will be presenting four free CLE programs, titled "Technology Trends for Cases & Practice," focusing on cost effective use of technology on the road and in the courtroom. The schedule includes NEW YEAR Covington on Feb. 22, 2013; Lexington on March 1, 2013; Louisville on March 14, 2013; and London on March 22, 2013. An application for CLE program approval will be submitted in Kentucky. This program has been approved in Kentucky for 2.0 CLE credits, including 1.0 ethics credit. After realizing an unmet need regarding financial assistance to those taking the February bar exam, we are pleased to announce that we will be awarding a fifth bar study scholarship to an individual sitting for the February bar exam. In the past, we have awarded a $500 scholarship to a recent graduate of each of the three in-state law schools for the July exam. Last year, we expanded the program to include an out-of-state graduate returning to Kentucky to practice law. We are excited to offer another benefit to our deserving members. On the subject of awards, it is not too early to be thinking of nominees for the awards we present during the bar convention in June: Outstanding Young Lawyer, Young Lawyer Service to Community, Service to Young Lawyers and the Nathaniel Harper awards. The deadline for nominations has been moved up to April 5. Nominations for all awards can be found at http://www.kbayld.org/home. 2013 NATHANIEL R. HARPER AWARD CALL FOR NOMINATIONS NOMINATIONS DUE DATE: Friday, April 5, 2013 The Nathaniel R. Harper Award is a trailblazer award that seeks to recognize those individuals or organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to changing the face of the Bar in Kentucky by promoting full and equal participation in the legal profession through the encouragement and inclusion of women, minorities, persons with disabilities, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community and/or other underrepresented groups. The 2013 Nathaniel R. Harper Award recipient will be honored at the Membership Luncheon held during the KBA Convention on Friday, June 21, 2013. Completed nomination materials must be received no later than Friday, April 5, 2013. Materials must be mailed to Tiffany Bowman, Bluegrass Cellular, Inc., 2902 Ring Road, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 or sent as an email attachment to TBowman@bluegrasscellular.com. Nomination materials are located on the KBA YLD website: http://www.kbayld.org/home.