Supreme Court cracks open the door
to out-of-state attorneys
In a nod to the realities of modern law practice, the California Supreme Court approved new rules last month that will allow out-of-state lawyers to practice in California under limited circumstances. The new rules affect four categories of lawyers: in-house counsel, legal services attorneys, litigation attorneys who are in California in anticipation of litigation or in connection with litigation elsewhere, and non-litigation attorneys temporarily in California.

Kids and the Law updated and translated
Are parents liable if they host a party and one of the young guests gets drunk and causes a traffic accident? Do youngsters have to file separate income tax returns? Is it against the law to belong to a street gang? Is it legal for children to operate motorized scooters on city streets? Do online sexual predators pose a threat to children who use computers? Are there any legal restrictions on Web sites that collect personal information from children?

A little of everything on the State Bar complaint line
Agnes Nocom has been on the phone for more than two years. Trained as an attorney in the Philippines, Agnes is a State Bar complaint analyst who with three others on her shift responds to calls on the bar's public hotline. Her intake unit receives more than 112,000 calls, while complaint analysts speak to approximately 55,000 callers each year.

50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education commemorated nationwide
The 50th anniversary of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision that outlawed "separate but equal" schools will be commemorated nationwide this month in events ranging from symposiums to interactive exhibits to poster competitions.

Fran Bassios, architect of discipline system, dies
Francis P. Bassios, an architect of the State Bar of California's unique attorney discipline system and a pillar of the bar for more than 30 years, died April 3 following a year-long illness.

12 vie for Board of Governors seats
Twelve candidates are running for five open seats on the State Bar Board of Governors this year in a race that includes a deputy public defender, a prosecutor, a co-publisher of a legal affairs newspaper, a law school career services director and a 94-year-old solo practitioner.

Online Exhibit Hall
The businesses and services listed here support the State Bar through various means, most notably as exhibitors at the State Bar's Annual Meeting. Visit them online or via phone to serve your individual needs.