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/213936
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION By: Matthew P. Cook Be honest, how many of you know what the Kentucky Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Commission is or what it does for Kentucky attorneys? My guess is not that many. Before I joined the CLE Commission three years ago, I too knew very little about the commission. Like most of you, I knew that the end of June was the CLE deadline and that every year there was a mad rush by Kentucky attorneys to satisfy that requirement to keep their law license in good standing and to continue practicing. I now know that the CLE Commission is comprised of seven dedicated attorney members who are each appointed by their district's Supreme Court justice to represent each region of the Commonwealth. The CLE Commission is responsible for the administration and regulation of all continuing legal education programs and activities for KBA members. Practically, this means the commission, with the help of a very able CLE Department at the KBA in Frankfort, reviews and votes to approve or disapprove all proposed CLE programs and legal writings which are submitted for credit in Kentucky. We also work with the CLE staff to plan and approve programming for the KBA Annual Convention, the annual Kentucky Law Updates and the New Lawyer Programs which are held twice each year. The commission also helps Kentucky attorneys meet their annual CLE requirement by making DVD and web-based educational programming available. A great resource for KBA members to learn more about the CLE Commission and all things CLE is the KBA's website (www.kybar.org) where there is a dedicated CLE tab with available information. Here, you will find the name and contact information of your district's CLE Commission member as well as forms and information about upcoming CLE programming. The current members of the CLE Commission are: Deborah B. Simon of Paducah (1st Supreme Court District); Matthew P. Cook of Bowling Green (2nd Supreme Court District); Julie Roberts Gillum of Somerset (3rd Supreme Court District); Janet Jakubowicz of Louisville, chair, (4th Supreme Court District); Janis E. Clark of Versailles (5th Supreme Court District); Shane C. Sidebottom of Covington (6th Supreme Court District); and William Mitchell Hall, Jr., of Ashland (7th Supreme Court District). As you can see, the commission is represented by attorneys from all over the state; this allows us to hear and consider the views of attorneys who practice in both small, medium and large communities throughout our Commonwealth and to make decisions understanding that one size does not always fit all – law practice in Murray or London is not always the same as it is in bigger cities like Lexington or Louisville. Neither perspective is more important than the other; each deserves attention and consideration when policy decisions for attorneys are made. Commission members are Kentucky attorneys from all over the state and we try very hard to make CLE decisions to best serve all of our constituents. Finally, should you ever have a question concerning CLE programming or the annual CLE requirement, please feel free to call or email one of the Commission members listed above and we will help you get the answer to your question. I also encourage you to contact the CLE staff at the KBA Office, led by our fearless leader, CLE Director Mary Beth Cutter. We are here to help Kentucky attorneys and want to do so. Please take a few minutes and learn more about this hidden asset that exists to aid Kentucky attorneys. The 2013-14 CLE Commission: Matthew P. Cook of Bowling Green (2nd S.Ct. District); Deborah B. Simon of Paducah (1st S.Ct. District); William Mitchell Hall, Jr., of Ashland (7th S.Ct. District); Janis E. Clark of Versailles (5th S.Ct. District); Shane C. Sidebottom of Covington (6th S.Ct. District); Mary Beth Cutter (Director of CLE) and Julie Roberts Gillum of Somerset (3rd S.Ct. District). Not pictured, Janet Jakubowicz of Louisville, chair (4th S.Ct. District). B&B; • 11.13 35 THE CLE COMMISSION: THE KBA'S HIDDEN ASSET FOR KENTUCKY ATTORNEYS