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Fee arbitration

Four amendments to the State Bar’s rules of procedure for fee arbitrations would (1) increase the upper cap on filing fees to $5,000; (2) increase the dollar threshold for arbitration by a three-member panel to $15,000; (3) modify some required award language; and (4) add language to prohibit disclosure by the program to non-parties absent a court order. Proposed amendments to the enforcement of award rules would clarify procedures governing the bar’s authority to enforce unpaid arbitration awards requiring a refund by the attorney of attorney’s fees/costs.

SOURCE: Board Committee on Regulation, Admissions & Discipline
DEADLINE: April 7, 2009 05:00 PM
CONTACT: Jill Sperber
180 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
415/538-2023
415/538-2335 fax
jill.sperber@calbar.ca.gov

Proposed Public Comment


Limited legal services

Proposed new Rule of Professional Conduct 1-650 offers some protection from imputed conflicts of interest for attorneys who provide short-term limited legal services through a sponsored program.

SOURCE: Board Committee on Planning, Program Development & Budget
DEADLINE: April 17, 2009 05:00 PM
CONTACT: Audrey Hollins
180 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
415/538-2167
415/538-2171 fax
audrey.hollins@calbar.ca.gov

Proposed Public Comment


Disqualifying judges

Modify the State Bar’s Rules of Procedure to be more consistent with the California Code of Civil Procedure to include a personal service requirement for motions to disqualify a State Bar Court judge.

SOURCE: Board Committee on Regulation, Admissions & Discipline
DEADLINE: April 19, 2009 05:00 PM
CONTACT: Dolores Kuzniar
180 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
415/538-2029
415/538-2040 fax
dolores.kuzniar@calbar.ca.gov

Proposed Public Comment


Bar committee meetings

Under the proposed revision, three State Bar rules that govern meetings of the board if governors and its committees also would apply to State Bar committee meetings with some exceptions. The rules govern open and closed meeting policies.

SOURCE: Board Committee on Operations
DEADLINE: April 23, 2009 05:00 PM
CONTACT: Pat Bermudez
180 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
415/538-2270
415/538-2321 fax
pat.bermudez@calbar.ca.gov

Proposed Public Comment


Limited scope

A statement in support of limited scope legal assistance would encourage lawyers, law schools, insurance carriers, courts and lawyer referral services to determine ways to serve clients in limited scope or discrete tasks.

SOURCE: Board Committee on Volunteer Involvement
DEADLINE: April 23, 2009 05:00 PM
CONTACT: Rodney Low
180 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
415/538-2219
rodney.low@calbar.ca.gov

Proposed Public Comment


Early neutral evaluations

Would amend Rule of Procedure 75 to permit an early neutral evaluation conference only if both the State Bar Office of Chief Trial Counsel and the respondent attorney have requested it.

SOURCE: Board Committee on Regulation, Admissions & Discipline
DEADLINE: May 19, 2009 05:00 PM
CONTACT: Itzel D. Berrío
180 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
415/538-2541
415/538-2214 fax
itzel.berrio@calbar.ca.gov

Proposed Public Comment


JNE rules

Proposed rules for the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation clarify and simplify existing rules and make substantial changes that strengthen the integrity of investigations, eliminate redundant provisions, conform procedures to current practice and give the commission greater flexibility in responding to circumstantial constraints.

SOURCE: Board Committee on Operations
DEADLINE: June 8, 2009 05:00 PM
CONTACT: Heidi Schwab-Wilhelmi
180 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
415/538-2274
415/538-2255 fax
heidi.schwab-wilhelmi@calbar.ca.gov

Proposed Public Comment


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