73 The Alabama Lawyer 144 (2012). Legislative Wrap-Up - A True Team Effort.

• Author: Othni J. Lathram

Alabama Bar Journal

2012.

73 The Alabama Lawyer 144 (2012).

Legislative Wrap-Up - A True Team Effort

Legislative Wrap-Up - A True Team EffortOthni J. LathramOn January 1, 2012, I became the first new director of the Alabama Law Institute since 1975. It is an honor and a privilege which I do not take lightly. During the past 37 years, the Institute has operated under the direction of Bob McCurley. The story is that Bob came to the Institute with the understanding he would work here for one year, and never got away. As lawyers and citizens of Alabama, we are all better off because of his service.

Since 1975, the Institute has spearheaded 88 major code revision projects, published more than 225 books and conducted 93 conferences, orientations and training sessions for public officials. That is quite a legacy and one which we will strive to uphold as we move forward.

This work was accomplished through the tireless efforts of the Institute's legal staff, including Associate Director Penny Davis, who I am extremely fortunate to retain the counsel of in her 33rd year with the Institute, and Assistant Director Teresa Norman, who is in her sixth year. We also have had the great fortune to have a tremendously competent and loyal staff, including Linda Wilson, who retired this past October after 38 years of service; Nancy Foster, who retired in December after 14 years of service; and Jill Colburn, who is in her fifth year.

While it is easy to point to the excellent work of the Institute staff, it is important to realize that none of what I have stated above would have been possible without the great support the Institute receives from the Alabama Legislature and practicing attorneys from every corner of the state.

In fiscal year 2011 alone, members of our great bar donated more than 4,000 hours of their time serving on Institute committees, studying and drafting proposed updates to the Code of Alabama. These lawyers took time away from their practices to work on these projects to make the laws of Alabama better. When they do this work, they do it not solely on behalf of their clients, themselves or their firms, but, rather, for the benefit of all Alabamians.

Over the years, the work product of these committees has been overwhelmingly embraced by the Alabama Legislature who passes Institute bills with the understanding that...