Positions open on 2005 JNE Commission

Active members of the State Bar, former members of the judiciary, and members of the public who are interested in volunteering to serve on the 2005 Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE Commission) may now apply for an appointment. The JNE Commission, established pursuant to Government Code §12011.5, evaluates all candidates who are under consideration for a judicial appointment by the governor. It is composed of attorneys and public members (those who are not lawyers or who are not admitted to practice in California) who represent a broad cross-section of California’s diverse legal profession and general population.

Appointed by the State Bar Board of Governors, the volunteer commission cannot nominate or appoint judges; it does, however, thoroughly investigate candidates for judicial appointment while maintaining a code of strict confidentiality. Commissioners serve terms of approximately one year and may serve up to three consecutive terms.

The application form, as well as information on the commission, qualifications and time commitment, are available from the web site at calbar.ca.gov (select links to Attorney Resources/Committees and Commissions/ Other Entity Appointments) or from the Appointments Office, State Bar of California, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105-1639; 415-538-2299.

The application deadline is July 15. The board of governors will make the appointments at its September meeting and terms begin Feb. 1.

Ballots for State Bar board election mailed April 30

Ballots for election to the State Bar Board of Governors and the California Young Lawyers Association Board of Directors were mailed April 30. Five seats are open on both boards and candidate statements can be found at page 17).

Voting must be completed by June 30.

Ballots were sent to active bar members who maintain their principal office for the practice of law in one of the five districts with a vacancy.

For additional information about the State Bar board election, contact Billie Sivanov at 415-538-2274. Information about the CYLA election is available from Carol Madeja at 213-765-1329.

Toll-free number to find a lawyer referral service

The State Bar has activated a toll-free telephone information system to assist callers in locating the nearest lawyer referral service. The number takes callers to a voicemail tree where they can select a county from an alphabetized list to find a service.

The toll-free number for callers in California is 1-866-442-2529 or 1-866-44CALAW. Callers outside California should call 415-538-2250.

The phone service is for use by clients, lawyers, agencies, community-based organizations, the courts and others. Comments about the service may be sent to Rodney Low, 415-538-2219, or rodney.low@calbar. ca.gov.

Spring Summit scheduled for June 5 in San Diego

Leadership is the theme for the State Bar’s Spring Summit (formerly the midyear meeting), featuring well-known speakers who will explore different paths to leadership, potential careers and the meaning of leadership. The summit also marks the inauguration of the Access & Fairness Leadership Academy, a program to provide leadership training to 12 California attorneys who were selected on the basis of their commitment to serve underrepresented communities.

The one-day conference at Paradise Point Resort and Spa in San Diego is scheduled for June 5.

Speakers include Robert Grey Jr., president-elect of the American Bar Association, former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, California Court of Appeals Justice Laurie Zelon, Paul Igasaki, former vice chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Angela Blackwell, Stewart Kwoh and Manuel Pastor, co-authors of Searching for the Uncommon Common Ground.

Program and registration information is available at calbar. org/summit or by calling 415-538-2508. Preregistration deadline is May 28.

Client trust accounting handbook available

The 2003 revised edition of the Handbook on Client Trust Accounting for California Attorneys is available. The handbook is a practical guide created to assist attorneys in complying with the record-keeping standards for client trust accounts.

The handbook includes a copy of the standards and statutes relating to an attorney’s trust accounting requirements, a step-by-step description of how to maintain a client trust account and sample forms.

Copies can be obtained by mail for $10 by sending a request and payment to: State Bar of California, Attn: Trust Accounting Handbook, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105. 

Copies can be picked up directly from the State Bar offices in San Francisco (180 Howard St.) or Los Angeles (1149 South Hill St.). The cost is $5.

Full text of the handbook also is posted at the bar’s Web site, www.calbar.ca.gov, under the “Ethics” heading in the right-hand menu.

Seniors translated into three more languages

Seniors & the Law: A Guide for Maturing Californians was recently translated into Korean, Vietnamese and Tagalog. The brochure is now available in those languages as well as English, Spanish and Chinese.

To order, send an e-mail to seniors@calbar.ca.gov and state your name, complete mailing address (P.O. Boxes are not acceptable), the number of copies ordered and choice of “English,” “Spanish,” “Chinese,” “Korean,” “Vietnamese” or “Tagalog” version for each number, and a daytime phone number.

If you do not have access to e-mail, please include the required information above and send to: The State Bar of California, Attn: Seniors & the Law, 180 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105-1639.

Opt out of list sales

Attorneys who wish to remove their names from lists the State Bar sells to outside entities may do so by e-mailing a request to memrec@calbar.ca.gov. Include your bar number.

The bar has a policy under which members’ names are sold to outside entities that meet certain criteria. The restricted lists include, among others, MCLE providers, the Foundation of the State Bar, local bars and bar-approved insurance providers.