Message from the Chair
| Publication year | 2017 |
| Author | David Lederman |
David Lederman
Happy New Year!!!
For this message, we need to set the mood. Download the following songs and play them while you read: "The Times They are A-Changin" by Bob Dylan and "It's the End of the World as We Know It" by REM.
When I wrote my last message, the fate of the unified bar was murky. The legislature was gridlocked on the State Bar dues bill and various factions were discussing the concept of de-unification—which, from our perspective, means the separation of the sections from the State Bar. The unified State Bar was established in November of 1927. Now, 89 years later, it is marked for termination. The time of attorney "self-regulation" is gone. The objectives of early State Bar leaders were to "''kick the rascals out of the profession,' raise admission standards and work collectively to improve the administration of justice."1 The sections of the unified State Bar have worked tirelessly, through our live educational programs, scholarly journals such as the Family Law News, Enews, webinars, and legislative work to protect the profession from the "rascals" and improve the administration of justice in this great state. Due to State Bar political gyrations beyond our control, however, our ability to continue this work as part of the bar will end. According to State Bar leadership, de-unification is fait accompli.
NB: This is a decision by the State Bar itself, not the Legislature. As I write this message, the legislature is on winter break. They will have significant input in how this process proceeds and just what shape the State Bar will take.
The truth is, I do not know. Vanessa Kirker-Wright, the section's immediate past chair and my friend and mentor, has taken the helm in monitoring our evolving relationship with the State Bar and trying to influence the fate of our section. At this stage, we are exploring a variety of structures in which the section will operate in relation to the State Bar.
The Family Law Section functions well and will continue to do so until the State Bar leadership pulls our plug. Until now, the sections, have been self-funding and self-sustaining. If the section used State Bar resources, it paid for those resources through an allocation. In simple terms, roughly 3/4 of the money the section raised went to the bar to pay for our share of resources. However, we have had no input into what the State Bar charges us for our use of its...
To continue reading
Request your trial