It’s a new green world at California law firms
The cornstarch spoons may have melted in the soup, but that didn’t discourage Wendel Rosen Black & Dean LLP from pursuing a firmwide commitment to conservation and sustainability.

Three vie for State Bar presidency
The State Bar will have its third woman president next year after three female third-year members of the board of governors last month announced they will seek the presidency of the 216,000-member organization.

Finally, board approves an insurance disclosure rule
The State Bar Board of Governors finally adopted a proposal last month that will require attorneys to tell their clients if they do not carry malpractice insurance.

Misconduct charges may be posted online
If State Bar prosecutors get their wish, any lawyer who faces formal disciplinary charges will have that information placed on his or her profile on the bar Web site. The board of governors sent out the proposal for public comment last month.

Nearly 40 percent pass the February bar exam
Almost 40 percent of the would-be lawyers who took the February bar exam passed, bringing the pass rate almost to its level of three years ago. The Committee of Bar Examiners reported last month that 1,797 people — 39.6 percent of the test takers — passed the exam.

Bar court openings
The State Bar Court has announced openings for a part-time review judge in either Los Angeles or San Francisco and a full-time hearing judge in Los Angeles. Both positions are for six years.

Bar, LA district attorney shut down illegal immigration firm
In a coordinated effort with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, the State Bar last month shut down operations of RZ Services Inc. in Montebello, which had been providing immigration legal services without a law license.

Bar foundation announces new scholarship support
Two law firms will make multi-year gifts to the California Bar Foundation to support a program designed to offer bar exam-related support to prospective public interest lawyers. The foundation announced last month that Reed Smith LLP and Sidley Austin LLP together committed $30,000 to the program over three years and have established scholarships named for the firms.

Fee bill progresses in Sacramento
The State Bar 2009 fee bill was approved by the Assembly last month. AB 3049 adds a $10 building assessment to the base $315 fee and with other assessments for discipline ($25), technology ($10), the Client Security Fund ($40) and the Lawyer Assistance Program ($10), will bring the dues for most active lawyers to $410.

2007- 08 Exhibitor Directory
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.