President's Message

• Publication year: 2024
• Citation: Vol. 37 No. 2 Pg. 13
• Pages: 13

President's MessageVol. 37 No. 2 Pg. 13Utah Bar JournalMarch 2024

Utah's Dedicated Legal Community Makes all the Difference

by Erik A. Christiansen

One of the greatest gifts of serving as President of the Utah State Bar is the opportunity it affords to work with lawyers in the community and the great staff of the Utah State Bar. As I am writing this message in January for the March/April issue of the Utah Bar Journal, the Utah Legislature is in session. I want to thank the members of the Utah State Bar Government Relations Committee (GRC), and especially the GRC's cochairs Jaqualin Peterson and Sara Bouley for their hard work and dedicated service. Every day during the legislative session, the GRC reviews proposed bills and then meets on a weekly basis to make a recommendation to the Bar Commission about whether to oppose, support, or remain neutral on proposed legislation. The GRC reviews a myriad of legislation and makes recommendations within the strict confines of the limits the United States Constitution places on mandatory Bar organizations, and the GRC does not wade into political I also wanted to thank the Utah State Bar Access to Justice Office, and its new director, Megan Connelly. Megan is a 2009 graduate of SUNY Buffalo Law School and has thirteen years of public service legal and policy work. Megan will continue the important work of the Bar in connecting lawyer, LPP, and law student volunteers with pro bono opportunities throughout the State of Utah issues. Based on the diligent work of the GRC, the Bar Commission also meets each week and votes to support, oppose, or remain neutral on legislation which might impact the administration of justice, the rule of law, and/or the...