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Home Page Official Publication of the State Bar of California July2006
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Bar foundation board has open positions

The Foundation of the State Bar of California is seeking applications for several positions on its Board of Directors for terms beginning Jan. 1. Applicants should be attorneys, judges and members of the public who have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to the foundation’s charitable mission, who have previous board, public or community service, and/or who are knowledgeable about charitable fundraising.

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with the State Bar of California, dedicated to building a better justice system for all Californians. Through voluntary donations of California’s lawyers and contributions from corporate sponsors, the foundation distributes grants to nonprofit organizations, courts and bar associations for law-related projects; awards scholarships to law school students committed to public service; runs a legal literacy program for high school students; and supports an array of other educational programs.

The board of directors consists of a maximum of 25 members appointed by The State Bar Board of Governors and three ex officio members. Members serve two-year terms and are expected to attend approximately five board meetings per year and actively participate in three board committees. Meetings rotate between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and most committee meetings are conducted by conference call. Board membership may also require attendance at the bar’s Annual Meeting, meetings of the State Bar Board of Governors, and other Foundation-related events. All board members are expected to participate in fundraising and annually make a personally significant financial contribution to the foundation. 

The application deadline is Aug. 25. To apply, submit a resume and a statement of interest and qualifications via mail, fax or e-mail to: Leslie Hatamiya, Executive Director, Foundation of the State Bar of California, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105; fax: 415-856-0788; lhatamiya@fsbcal.org. The bar board of governors is expected to make the appointments at its November 2006 meeting.

Seven new members named to Judicial Council

Chief Justice Ronald M. George announced the appointment last month of seven new members to the Judicial Council of California, the constitutional policymaking body of the California courts. 

The appointees are Presiding Judge Thomas M. Maddock, Superior Court of Contra Costa County; Judge Peter P. Espinoza, Superior Court of Los Angeles County; Judge Terry B. Friedman, Superior Court of Los Angeles County; Judge Jamie Jacobs-May, Superior Court of Santa Clara County; Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl, Superior Court of Los Angeles County; Judge J. Michael Welch, Superior Court of San Bernardino County; and Michael M. Roddy, executive officer, Superior Court of San Diego County.

The Judicial Council consists of 14 judicial members appointed by the chief justice, four attorney members appointed by the State Bar Board of Governors, one member from each house of the legislature and seven advisory members. The Administrative Director of the Courts serves as secretary to the council.

In recent years, the 28-member council has taken a leadership role in the unification of the state’s municipal and superior courts, state funding of the courts, the ongoing transfer of trial court facilities from the counties to the state, jury system reforms, and numerous other initiatives to make the courts more effective in responding to the needs of Californians.

Los Angeles fee arb training set for July 20

Recent developments in fee arbitration will be discussed at a training program in Los Angeles sponsored by the State Bar’s Committee on Mandatory Fee Arbitration. The free training offers 2.75 hours of MCLE credit, including one hour of legal ethics and 1.75 hours of general credit, and is open to State Bar and Los Angeles County fee arbitrators and lay people and lawyers interested in joining the program.

Among the topics for discussion are how to write an enforceable award, conflicts of interest, disclosure requirements and how to control the proceeding.

The training will be held July 20, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., at the Los Angeles County Bar Association, 261 S. Figueroa St., #300. To reserve a space, call 213-896-6441. For additional information, call Jill Sperber, 415-538-2023.

Tell the bar if you move

Nearly a quarter of the State Bar’s membership — some 45,000 lawyers — changes their address every year. And although the Business & Professions Code requires attorneys to notify the bar about that address change, it often doesn’t happen.

Under B&P §6002.1, active and inactive members have 30 days to notify the State Bar about a change of address. Some law firms now ask departing employees to fill out the State Bar’s change of address form.

Complete information about changing an address can be found on the bar’s Web site, calbar.ca.gov; click on Attorney Address Change on in the right-hand menu. The change can be made online, by mail or by fax, and if done by mail or fax, must include a photocopy of one piece of identification, such as a driver’s license, State Bar membership card, passport, California identification card, military identification card or birth certificate.

A particularly difficult problem is keeping track of members who have died. There is no requirement that a family or business notify the State Bar of an attorney’s death, but the Member Services Center asks that the bar be notified if you are aware that a lawyer has died.

The Member Services Center can be contacted at 1-888-800-3400.

Opt out of list sales

Attorneys who wish to remove their names from lists the State Bar provides to qualified outside entities may do so by logging on to Member Login at calbar.ca.gov. After registering with My State Bar Profile, go to “Account Information” and select “Update my mailing preferences (opt out).” Members also may e-mail their opt out request to memrec@calbar.ca.gov. Include your bar number.

Transfer estate documents

The State Bar offers a Transfer of Estate Documents (TED) service to members which allows the transfer of original estate planning documents under certain circumstances. If an attorney is deceased, lacks legal capacity or is no longer an active member of the State Bar, original estate planning documents in his or her custody may be transferred to another attorney or to the Superior Court clerk of the county of the client’s last residence.

The information that such a transfer has occurred may be listed with the bar’s membership records department.

For purposes of this service, estate planning documents are defined as:

  • a signed original will, declaration of trust, trust amendment or other document modifying a will or trust;
  • a signed original power of attorney;
  • a signed original nomination of conservator; and
  • any other signed original instrument that the attorney and depositor agree in writing to make subject to the transfer service.

A TED form can be found at calbar.ca.gov > Member Services > Bar Member Billing & Records > Estate Planning Transfer. The form and a list of depositors should be mailed to The State Bar of California, Member-ship Records, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105. No original documents or copies should be filed with the bar.

Calling all artists

All members of the California bench and bar who draw, sculpt, or work in ceramics or photography are invited to participate in the 54th Annual Meeting Bench and Bar Art Exhibit. The artwork will be displayed in the Steinbeck Lobby of the Monterey Conference Center, Oct. 5 - 8.

Awards will be given in the following categories — oils and acrylics, portraits and figures, watercolors, prints, drawings, mixed media, ceramics, sculpture and photography.

Art show rules and entry blanks can be downloaded from the Annual Meeting pages on the State Bar's Web site, or obtained by calling Cheryl Morgan at 415-538-2210. All entries must be submitted by Sept. 1.

Guilford confirmed

On a 93-0 vote, former State Bar President Andrew J. Guilford won Senate confirmation as a U.S. district judge for the Central District.

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