Anaheim hosts the State Bar Annual Meeting

Jane Goodall, Eleanor Clift and author James Bradley will headline the State Bar Annual Meeting this year, scheduled for Sept. 27-30 in Anaheim. A new State Bar president and five new members of the board of governors will be sworn in at the convention, which ofhttp://calbar.ca.gov/state/archive/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10103ers a low-cost opportunity for California attorneys to earn up to 20 MCLE credits in one weekend. Members of Group 3, whose last names start with N-Z, must complete 25 hours of MCLE by Feb. 1.

The meeting also will feature an exhibit hall, a series of receptions honoring outstanding attorneys, a fun run/power walk and an art show. The California Women Lawyers will hold its annual dinner and the Conference of Delegates of California Bar Associations will convene. The president’s reception will be held at Disney’s California Adventure Park.

The Bench Bar Biannual Conference will be held at the same time, bringing together judicial leaders from throughout the state to share their insights on issues affecting the justice system. 

Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, will discuss current chimpanzee research at the Gombe National Park in Tanzania as well as programs that conserve the precious forest habitat and improve the lives of those living adjacent to the park.

Newsweek contributing editor Eleanor Clift will present the keynote address at the always popular California Women Lawyers dinner. Other speakers include James Bradley, author of the best-selling Flags of Our Fathers, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Charles N. Charnas, vice president and deputy general counsel at Hewlett-Packard Co.

Chief Justice Ronald M. George will deliver his State of the Judiciary address as well.

The latest in legal technology and all manner of assistance to help attorneys run their practices effectively will be on display at the exhibit hall. And the 55th annual art exhibit offers lawyers a chance to showcase their artistic talent.

MCLE credit will be offered in all required subfields and legal specialization credit will be available in appellate, criminal, estate planning, trust and probate, family, immigration, taxation and workers’ compensation law.

A full preview of meeting events is online. Attendees may register and make hotel reservations online at that site. The deadline for early bird registration is Aug. 27.

California Bar Foundation seeks new board members

The California Bar Foundation is seeking applications for several positions on its board of directors for terms beginning Jan. 1. Applicants may be attorneys, judges or 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; or who are knowledgeable about charitable fundraising.

Board members serve two-year terms and are expected to attend approximately five board meetings per year in San Francisco or Los Angeles and participate on at least two committees, whose meetings usually are conducted by conference call. Membership may also require attendance at the State Bar Annual Meeting, meetings of the bar board of governors and other foundation events.

Board members are expected to participate in fundraising and to make a personally significant financial contribution to the foundation annually.

Applicants must submit a resume and a statement of qualifications to: Leslie Hatamiya, Executive Director, California Bar Foundation, 180 Howard St., San Francisco CA 94105; 415/856-0788 (fax); lhatamiya@calbar foundation.org.

The application deadline is Aug. 17 and the bar board of governors will make the appointments in November.

Information about the foundation and its programs can be found at calbarfoundation.org.

Fee arb training scheduled

An advanced training session for current volunteer attorneys who arbitrate attorney-client fee disputes for mandatory fee arbitration programs through the Santa Clara County Bar Association and the State Bar will be held in San Jose July 19. The free training offers two hours of MCLE credit, including a half hour of ethics. Non-lawyers also are encouraged to attend.

The training will provide a focused and more advanced training for those who already serve as arbitrators with an emphasis on writing an arbitration award. Other topics will cover conflicts of interest and professional negligence, reasonable versus unconscionable fees and the role of mediator versus arbitrator.

To reserve a space, contact the Santa Clara bar at 408/975-2114 or e-mail irenec@sccba.org. For additional information (not RSVP), contact Jill Sperber at 415-538-2023.

• Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program

Display your artistic talent

All members of the bench and bar who draw, sculpt, or work in ceramics or photography are invited to participate in the 55th Annual Meeting Bench and Bar Art Exhibit. The artwork will be showcased at the bar’s Annual Meeting in September in Anaheim.

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 at the Web site, or obtained by calling 415-538-2210. All entries must be submitted by Aug. 27.

Thriving in a sometimes challenging profession

Are you an attorney who has found ways to enjoy your career despite the stress and challenges of balancing work and family obligations? If so, the Lawyer Assistance Program would like to hear from you.

LAP invites you to share personal strategies and suggestions for coping successfully with a legal practice. Please send an e-mail to lap@calbar.ca.gov or fax to 415-538-2356.

The names of members who respond to this request will be kept confidential.

Create an online profile

California attorneys have the opportunity to handle membership matters with the State Bar electronically by creating My State Bar Profile on the bar’s home page.

Doing so will allow lawyers to pay their bar dues and submit MCLE compliance online, as well as access important forms such as change of address or change of status, obtain a duplicate bar card and keep abreast of the latest developments in professional responsibility.

To create a profile, you will need the eight-digit access code printed on the front of the 2007 annual fee statement. Go to the bar’s home page, cal bar.ca.gov, and click on the link in the left-hand menu to register as a first-time user.

If you have lost your access code, call the Member Services Center at 888-800-3400.

Revised form approved for client’s right to arbitration

The State Bar Board of Governors has approved a revised Client’s Right to Arbitration notice form that took effect April 1. Lawyers are required by statute to forward this version of the form to the client before or at the time of filing a lawsuit against a client to collect unpaid attorney’s fees and/or costs.

The form advises clients of their right to request mandatory fee arbitration to resolve a pending attorney fee dispute.

It is available at calbar.ca.gov.

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.