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Bar News - June 3, 2005 Board of Governors Approves NHBA Budget for 2005-2006 At its May 19 meeting, the NHBA Board of Governors approved the budget for the fiscal year 2005-2006, which began June 1, 2005. The budget was balanced without a dues increase. The total budget of slightly more than $3 million increased by about 10 percent over last year, including increased revenue from dues from the influx of new members entering through the admission by motion rule, which will continue in the coming year with the extension of the rule for newer lawyers from Maine; increased revenue from CLE programs and online programs and the sale of advertising in Bar publications. (Details on the budget and the date of a scheduled budget information session will be published in an upcoming issue of the Bar News.) Bar members will begin receiving their packets of membership dues, court fees, and trust accounting and NHMCLE reporting forms in the mail in the first week of June. (There were no increases, either, in the Supreme Court's Attorney Discipline assessment or in the Public Protection Fund assessment.) The Board also voted to revise its process for approval of amendments to the NHBA Constitution. An amendment to the Constitution and bylaws (Article II, Section 6 regarding delinquency fees for payment of Association dues), approved by the membership at the Midyear Meeting, was slightly amended by the Supreme Court, raising the question of whether the amendment must again be submitted for a vote by the Bar membership. In the future, the Board will provide the Court with proposed language changes in advance of the membership vote. The Board reappointed three long-time NHBA appointees to the Supreme Court Public Protection Fund Committee, which administers the fund. They are David Jordan, of Concord; Thomas Quarles, of Manchester; and John Bomster, of Belmont. As required by statute, the Board approved the NH Public Defender Program to obtain a contract for state funding to provide indigent criminal defense services. The Public Defender Program is seeking a renewal of its three-year contract by the Executive Council and the Governor. The Board also discussed: Limited appearance rules. Proposed revisions developed by the Pro Bono Board to enhance the Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee's proposal for a rule allowing limited-scope representation. In addition to reviewing the language for a new Rule 1.1 (b)(4) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, the Pro Bono Board also has proposed changes to several court rules regarding court appearances that it believes are essential to the working of the concept of limited appearances. Both the Ethics Committee and the Pro Bono Board were to make comments on the rules changes at the Advisory Committee's June 1 public hearing. (The finalized language of the Pro Bono Board's proposal will be featured in a future issue of Bar News. Typically, changes to court rules or to the Rules of Professional Conduct are not adopted by the Court until it also conducts a comment period separate from the public hearing process of the Rules Advisory Committee.) Coverage of lawyer discipline, malpractice cases in Bar News, Web site. Discussion continued on reporting or commentary on malpractice and discipline in Association media beyond the official notices provided by the Supreme Court or the Professional Conduct Committee. The Board is continuing to develop a policy that emphasizes that the purpose of reporting on such cases beyond routine summary notices is to provide educational information while minimizing unnecessary personalization of the incidents being described. Participation by the Association in the Legal Services Campaign. The Board discussed a proposed cooperation agreement with the Legal Services Campaign. The NHBA Board of Governors approved participation in concept, while it continues to work on the details of the agreement. The Board of Governors next scheduled meeting will take place on Thursday, June 16. The incoming members of the Board will be meeting together with the current Board to provide for continuity and new-member orientation. |
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