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Bar News - July 8, 2005 Bar Year In Review: A Year of Reaffirmation, Improvement and Outreach The following is a very brief review of some of the significant events and advancements of the past Bar Association year. Upbeat results at the Annual Meeting. Russell Hilliard passes the leadership gavel to Jim Gleason on an upbeat note, as the members’ votes on the unified Bar are counted. The results—in a referendum dictated by a law ultimately ruled unconstitutional –shows overwhelming support for the concept of the unified Bar.
Court rules ballot question defeated by voters. Election Day brings a number of new faces to the state capital, including John Lynch, a Bar member and businessperson, as governor. Four attorneys (one incumbent) join the State Senate. More importantly, a constitutional amendment jeopardizing the Supreme Court’s authority to make rules governing the courts, fails to win approval in its second outing before voters –garnering fewer votes this time. During the upcoming legislative session, Bar leaders and its legislative representative, John MacIntosh, collaborate with lawmakers on a number of bills (see related story on page one). Pro Bono referrals hit 1000. Efforts to diversify the kinds of cases handled enables the Pro Bono Referral System to refer more than 1,000 cases in 2004, including organizing estate-planning assistance for military reservists; special education and low-income tax representation; and continuation of a hands-on innovative training program for family law cases known as "Divorce Camp." Law-Related Education programs increase participation. High levels of participation mark the We the People and Mock Trial programs. New Hampshire’s entry in the Mock Trial national competition, Souhegan High School, places well, and one team member wins a national award for her presentation. Mock Trial also scores another first as two elementary schools, Alton and Hopkinton, hold a head-to-head competition at the Concord District Court building. A new LRE program, Project Citizen (showcasing students’ public policy solutions), draws increased participation and the exhibits are displayed at the Legislative Office Building for the first time. Focused outreach to new lawyers. Several initiatives, including a special leadership conference held at Waterville Valley on Oct. 22-23, sharpen the Association’s focus on how to stimulate participation in the Bar and develop new leaders. Nearly 100 Bar members gather to brainstorm ways to make the Bar more relevant and engage lawyers in public service and efforts to improve the profession. The "Spirit of Waterville Valley" expresses itself in successful efforts to welcome newly admitted members of the Bar. The New Lawyers reception, held Nov. 18, draws a record crowd—due to personal invitations made by members of the New Lawyers Committee. The Committee also schedules a night at the Manchester Monarchs’ game and reinvigorates the New Lawyers e-mail discussion list, which doubles its subscribers during the year. The NHBA Association Survey Series draws widespread participation from members. Part 1, circulated via e-mail and by snail-mail, draws extensive comment from Bar members on Association priorities and member needs. Part 2, circulated in the late spring, gathers information on law practice management and economics. (See future issues of Bar News for more survey follow-up.) Sections increase activity. Now served by a full-time coordinator, sections increase their activity of meetings, publications, and e-mail discussions. A section policy manual is developed, the Children’s’ Law Section is created, and the Criminal Law Section begins discussing programming ideas. Web site makeover. During the year, the Web site undergoes structural improvements. Relaunched in mid-June, the site now has a search engine, a member directory with photos, and improved navigation and an updated look. New insurance services. The NHBA Insurance Agency continues to provide service exclusively for Bar members for professional liability insurance, and adds competitively priced long-term care policies, life and disability policies. Ethics Committee drafts new Rules of Professional Conduct. Utilizing the Bar’s Web site to provide links to both the current NH Rules of Professional Conduct and the recently revised ABA Model Code, the Ethics Committee completes a top-to-bottom rewrite and update of the code. The Ethics Committee will present its draft to the Supreme Court this fall. Proposals regarding limited appearances. The Ethics Committee and the Pro Bono Board collaborate on suggested revisions to a draft rule on limited appearances aimed at encouraging attorneys to provide "unbundled" legal services in the litigation context. It is one of a number of areas where bar members and the Association are collaborating with the judicial branch on efforts to improve access to justice. Our thanks to the following members of the 2004-5 NHBA Board of Governors who have completed their terms and are leaving the Board: IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Russell Hilliard, Concord Cheshire Gregory T. Martin, Keene CoÖs David D. King, Colebrook Merrimack Martin P. Honigberg, Concord Rockingham Michael L. Alfano, Portsmouth |
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