YOU NEED TO KNOW

First of its kind rule on accommodations for those with disabilities

On Jan. 1, the Judicial Council implemented a new California rule of court enabling lawyers, clients and other court users with disabilities to request accommodations. Rule 989.3 is the first of its kind in the nation. An estimated 8,000 attorneys in California have some type of disability. Of the 4.7 million other disabled individuals in the state, some may be assumed to be involved with the courts in some way - as witnesses, parties, jurors, etc.

Under the new rule, any person with a disability who has business with a court may request accommodations directly to a judicial officer in confidence. The rule is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which requires public entities to make reasonable modifications to provide access to people with disabilities.

"Attorneys should not have to beg for accommodations, often no more difficult than switching counsel tables in court so they can better hear or see the proceedings," said U.S. District Judge Dickran Tevrizian, who originally proposed the new rule.

He added that the rule "would be easy to implement and enforce and would eliminate the confrontation and embarrassment that now takes place whenever lawyers with disabilities must ask the court for accommodation."

The rule was developed by a State Bar committee which is developing policies to improve employment opportunities for legal professionals with disabilities.

Member dues past due

Feb. 1 was the deadline for payment of State Bar membership fees. Late payments will result in a 50 percent penalty.

Most active members must pay $478 in dues. Attorneys in practice less than one year owe $379, and those in practice between one and three years pay $410.

Questions about dues payments may be directed to Membership Services Operations at 415/561-8360.

Attorneys who did not receive a membership statement should contact member services immediately.

State Bar committee applications available

The State Bar is seeking attorneys who are interested in serving on various bar committees which focus on issues ranging from mandatory fee arbitration and continuing education to the administration of justice and equal access to the profession.

Applications for appointment to the committees for 1996-97 are now available and must be submitted by March 1.

Each year, the bar Board of Governors appoints approximately 200 attorneys to serve on its 15 standing committees, 11 special committees, boards and commissions, and 17 section executive committees.

The board encourages participation from all bar members and strives to make appointments that will achieve diversity and a broad representation of California's legal community.

Attorneys interested in serving on a committee may request an application from the Appointments Office, State Bar of California, 555 Franklin St., San Francisco 94102; 415/561-8855 or 213/765-1585.

Limited liability partnership forms

State Bar registration forms are now available for California attorneys interested in forming limited liability partnerships - entities that are liable like corporations and taxed like partnerships.

In October, the governor signed legislation - Senate Bill 513 - allowing California attorneys to form such partnerships.

To practice as part of a limited liability partnership (LLP), attorneys are required by law to register with the California Secretary of State and the State Bar. The bar's registration fee for each LLP is $50 per partner, with a maximum $2,500 charge per partnership.

Without LLP certification, a law partner's personal liability for malpractice claims against the partnership is unlimited.

The new law protects the personal assets of those LLP partners not involved in the malpractice claim. But it also requires security for such claims, with a minimum coverage of $100,000 for every practicing attorney in the LLP. The maximum coverage for all claims is $7.5 million for any single calendar year.

Attorneys may continue to form law corporations. The LLP program simply provides an additional option for lawyers.

Registration forms are available by calling 415/241-2100.

Board to meet in San Jose

The State Bar Board of Governors will hold its next meeting March 1-2 in San Jose. Committees will meet March 1 and the full board will meet at 1:45 p.m. March 2. An agenda is available from the bar's secretary at 415/561-8200.

Ethics, trust account info offered on bar voice mail

Attorneys interested in the State Bar Act and Rules of Professional Conduct, the Handbook on Client Trust Accounting and the California Compendium on Professional Responsibility may contact the Office of Professional Competence to receive pricing and ordering information. The number is 415/241-2174.

The telephone number is one of 30 specialized applications that the bar has installed since last January in its San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento offices.

Law office management assistance provided

Solo and small firm practitioners who need help mastering the complexities of running a law office can have their questions answered by calling a new toll-free number sponsored by the State Bar.

By dialing 1-800/YES-LOMA, attorneys will reach Law Office Management Assistance, a program tailored just for lawyers who may not enjoy substantial support services.

To develop and provide LOMA services, the bar hired the Professional Consulting Group Inc. (PCG), a San Francisco-based consulting firm.

The latest in MCLE compliance dates

Now that all MCLE compliance groups have completed their first compliance periods, all compliance periods will be 36-months in length. Thirty-six hours of continuing education must be completed during each three-year period.

Attorneys should be aware of the following information:

[MAIN MENU][PUBLICATIONS][CALBAR JOURNAL]

The California Bar Journal - February, 1996

YOU NEED TO KNOW

First of its kind rule on accommodations for those with disabilities

On Jan. 1, the Judicial Council implemented a new California rule of court enabling lawyers, clients and other court users with disabilities to request accommodations. Rule 989.3 is the first of its kind in the nation. An estimated 8,000 attorneys in California have some type of disability. Of the 4.7 million other disabled individuals in the state, some may be assumed to be involved with the courts in some way - as witnesses, parties, jurors, etc.

Under the new rule, any person with a disability who has business with a court may request accommodations directly to a judicial officer in confidence. The rule is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which requires public entities to make reasonable modifications to provide access to people with disabilities.

"Attorneys should not have to beg for accommodations, often no more difficult than switching counsel tables in court so they can better hear or see the proceedings," said U.S. District Judge Dickran Tevrizian, who originally proposed the new rule.

He added that the rule "would be easy to implement and enforce and would eliminate the confrontation and embarrassment that now takes place whenever lawyers with disabilities must ask the court for accommodation."

The rule was developed by a State Bar committee which is developing policies to improve employment opportunities for legal professionals with disabilities.

Member dues past due

Feb. 1 was the deadline for payment of State Bar membership fees. Late payments will result in a 50 percent penalty.

Most active members must pay $478 in dues. Attorneys in practice less than one year owe $379, and those in practice between one and three years pay $410.

Questions about dues payments may be directed to Membership Services Operations at 415/561-8360.

Attorneys who did not receive a membership statement should contact member services immediately.

State Bar committee applications available

The State Bar is seeking attorneys who are interested in serving on various bar committees which focus on issues ranging from mandatory fee arbitration and continuing education to the administration of justice and equal access to the profession.

Applications for appointment to the committees for 1996-97 are now available and must be submitted by March 1.

Each year, the bar Board of Governors appoints approximately 200 attorneys to serve on its 15 standing committees, 11 special committees, boards and commissions, and 17 section executive committees.

The board encourages participation from all bar members and strives to make appointments that will achieve diversity and a broad representation of California's legal community.

Attorneys interested in serving on a committee may request an application from the Appointments Office, State Bar of California, 555 Franklin St., San Francisco 94102; 415/561-8855 or 213/765-1585.

Limited liability partnership forms

State Bar registration forms are now available for California attorneys interested in forming limited liability partnerships - entities that are liable like corporations and taxed like partnerships.

In October, the governor signed legislation - Senate Bill 513 - allowing California attorneys to form such partnerships.

To practice as part of a limited liability partnership (LLP), attorneys are required by law to register with the California Secretary of State and the State Bar. The bar's registration fee for each LLP is $50 per partner, with a maximum $2,500 charge per partnership.

Without LLP certification, a law partner's personal liability for malpractice claims against the partnership is unlimited.

The new law protects the personal assets of those LLP partners not involved in the malpractice claim. But it also requires security for such claims, with a minimum coverage of $100,000 for every practicing attorney in the LLP. The maximum coverage for all claims is $7.5 million for any single calendar year.

Attorneys may continue to form law corporations. The LLP program simply provides an additional option for lawyers.

Registration forms are available by calling 415/241-2100.

Board to meet in San Jose

The State Bar Board of Governors will hold its next meeting March 1-2 in San Jose. Committees will meet March 1 and the full board will meet at 1:45 p.m. March 2. An agenda is available from the bar's secretary at 415/561-8200.

Ethics, trust account info offered on bar voice mail

Attorneys interested in the State Bar Act and Rules of Professional Conduct, the Handbook on Client Trust Accounting and the California Compendium on Professional Responsibility may contact the Office of Professional Competence to receive pricing and ordering information. The number is 415/241-2174.

The telephone number is one of 30 specialized applications that the bar has installed since last January in its San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento offices.

Law office management assistance provided

Solo and small firm practitioners who need help mastering the complexities of running a law office can have their questions answered by calling a new toll-free number sponsored by the State Bar.

By dialing 1-800/YES-LOMA, attorneys will reach Law Office Management Assistance, a program tailored just for lawyers who may not enjoy substantial support services.

To develop and provide LOMA services, the bar hired the Professional Consulting Group Inc. (PCG), a San Francisco-based consulting firm.

The latest in MCLE compliance dates

Now that all MCLE compliance groups have completed their first compliance periods, all compliance periods will be 36-months in length. Thirty-six hours of continuing education must be completed during each three-year period.

Attorneys should be aware of the following information:

[MAIN MENU][PUBLICATIONS][CALBAR JOURNAL]