 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 
|
|
 |
||||||||||||||||
|
Bar News - November 4, 2005 Membership Cards Coming; Board Supports Retention of ‘Live’ Credit Rule
• NHBA Membership Cards. The Board, in response to member requests and interest, will begin issuing membership cards starting next year. The membership cards will be distributed to all active members following the payment of dues for the 2006-7 year. Bar President-Elect Richard McNamara applauded the action, saying that such identification will be helpful, especially for attorneys practicing out of state. • Board advocates for retaining ‘live’ credit requirement. In response to the report issued by the NH Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules (see article on other aspects of the report on page one), regarding proposed changes to NHMCLE Supreme Court Rule 50, the Board voted to again advocate its position, representing the CLE, Ethics and Professionalism committees, that six hours (or half) of the annual 12-hour requirement be conducted in a “live” or interactive format or setting. The Rules Committee, by a close vote, sided with the NHMCLE Board, which seeks to eliminate the “live” hours requirement. The Board noted that the Rules Committee has adopted the NHBA’s recommendation that the ethics/professionalism requirement be retained. • Appointments, Resignations. Jennifer Parent, Hillsborough County Northern District Governor, has been appointed as the NHBA representative on the NH Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules. Edward M. Gordon, sworn in last month as presiding judge of the Franklin District Court, resigned as Belknap County Governor. (See letter on page 5.) Dorcas Gordon, an attorney with the Wescott, Millham & Dyer law firm in Laconia, was appointed by the Board to complete the remainder of his term, which ends in June 2006. • New England Bar Association. George Moore has been named Vice President of the New England Bar Association for the 2005-6 year, and will step up to President in 2006-7, when NH again hosts this regional organization. Richard Uchida has been appointed to a three-year term and Eleanor Dahar to a one-year term (fulfilling the remainder of George’s Moore term as a board member.) The NH Bar will host the New England Bar Annual Meeting in the fall of 2007.) • Mediation of complex litigation. The Board approved a recommendation from the Committee on Cooperation with the Courts that the superior court establish a process that would enable superior court judges to mediate certain complex cases in addition to the dispute resolution efforts now underway under Rule 170. A proposed Rule 170-b, drafted by Superior Court Chief Justice Robert Lynn with assistance from other members of the Bar, was reviewed. The rule will be proposed to the Supreme Court Rules Committee for its consideration. (See page 24 for text of the proposed rule.) • Pro Bono Overview. From case referrals and special projects to attorney supports and systemic work, Ginny Martin, NHBA Associate Executive Director for Legal Services sketched the expanse of Pro Bono Program efforts. Martin outlined diverse participation options including DOVE, special education and low-income taxpayer assistance along with emergency responses such as the Military Pro Bono and recent bankruptcy clinics. Martin detailed the breadth of services supporting attorney casework—coordination and payment of foreign and deaf language interpreters, reduced cost training seminars, provision of primary malpractice coverage and more. In its effort to provide for wider representation of clients, she explained that Pro Bono also pursues systemic solutions such as the drafting of rule changes to allow unbundling of legal services. • Monitoring of potential NHBA responses to assist flood, storm victims. Many legal needs will arise for low- and middle-income households affected by the hurricanes in the southern states as well as in southwest NH. Martin reported that the Pro Bono program has already received several inquiries regarding insurance law and bankruptcy from Cheshire County residents whose homes were damaged in the recent flood. Board members agreed that many legal issues are likely to develop for some 600 families whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged in NH, and that the legal services community must be prepared to assist them. • Policy Regarding LRS and NHBA legal services budget. The Board approved a policy that provides that any revenues in excess of expenses for the NHBA Lawyer Referral Program be used to support the expenses of the Reduced-Fee Referral and Pro Bono programs. The policy formalizes existing practice. • Other updates. The Board also received updates on the follow-up work of the NHBA Fall Leadership Conference on the Future of the Profession, Law Practice Management Task Force, and the BOG Survey Group. The Board also met recently with the NH Supreme Court on Sept. 28, and Bar leaders were to meet with representatives of the NH Trial Lawyers Association and the NH Women’s Bar Association to discuss issues of mutual concern. President-elect Richard McNamara reported on a recent legislative study committee meeting on HB 541, a bill that proposes revocation of the NHBA Charter. McNamara said he remains in contact with lawmakers and legislative staff on the issue.
|
|
Home | About the Bar | For Members | For the Public | Legal Links | Publications | Online Store New Hampshire Bar Association |
