State Bar News

• Publication year: 2024
• Citation: Vol. 37 No. 2 Pg. 58
• Pages: 58

State Bar NewsVol. 37 No. 2 Pg. 58Utah Bar JournalMarch 2024

Utah Supreme Court Approves Adoption of NextGen Bar Exam

The Utah Supreme Court has approved the use of the NextGen Bar Exam beginning with the July 2028, exam. The NextGen Bar Examination, currently in development by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, was developed using data from a three-year evaluation by the Conference.

The Utah Board of Bar Commissioners recommend the adoption of the NextGen exam, noting that the new exam "is the logical and sensible evolution" of the Bar exam. The new exam focuses on an assessment of nine foundational concepts and seven foundational skills that research shows are crucial to the practice of law.

"We are excited to take this step forward," said Emily Lee, the Utah State Bar's Deputy General Counsel for Admissions. "Using the NextGen exam will more fully assess the skills of those seeking to be part of the profession."

Other jurisdictions currently committed to using the NextGen exam include Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon, Vermont, and Wyoming.

Questions for the NextGen exam are being written by teams of law professors, deans, attorneys, and judges from around the country. The first NextGen exam will be administered by Maryland, Missouri, and Oregon in July 2026.

Notice of Petition for Reinstatement to the Utah State Bar

Pursuant to Rule 11-591(d), Rules of Discipline, Disability, and Sanctions, the Office of Professional Conduct hereby publishes notice of the Verified Petition for Reinstatement (Petition) filed by Ryan M. Springer, in In the Matter of the Discipline of Ryan M. Springer, Third Judicial District Court, Civil No. 190907365. Any individuals wishing to oppose or concur with the Petition are requested to do so within twenty-eight days of the date of this publication by filing notice with the District Court.

Mandatory Online Licensing

The annual online licensing renewal process will begin the week of June 3, 2024, at which time you will receive an email outlining renewal instructions. This email will be sent to your email address of record. Utah Supreme Court Rule 14-107 requires lawyers to provide their current email address to the Bar. If you need to update your email address of record, please contact onlineservices@utahbar.org.

License renewal and fees are due July 1 and will be late August 1. If renewal is not complete and payment received by September 1, your license will be suspended.

Notice of Legislative Positions Taken by Bar and Availability of Rebate

Positions taken by the Bar during the 2024 Utah Legislative Session and funds expended on public policy issues related to the regulation of the practice of law and the administration of justice are available at www.utahbar.org/legislative. The Bar is authorized by the Utah Supreme Court to engage in legislative and public policies activities related to the regulation of the practice of law and the administration of justice by Supreme Court Rule 14-106, which may be found at https://www.utcourts. gov/rules/view.php?tvpe=UC|A&rule=14-106. Lawyers and LPPs may receive a rebate of the proportion of their annual Bar license fee expended for such activities during April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024, by notifying Director of Finance, Nathan Severin at NSeverin@utahbar.org.

The proportional amount of fees provided in the rebate include funds spent for lobbyists, staff time spent on legislative matters, and expenses for Bar delegates to travel to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. Prior year rebates have averaged approximately $6.79. The rebate amount will be calculated April 1, 2024, and we expect the amount to be consistent with prior years.

2023 Utah Bar Journal Cover of the Year

The winner of the 2023 Utah Bar Journal Cover of the Year award is Upper Emerald Pools, Zion, taken by Utah State Bar member Michael Steck. Mr. Steck's photo appeared on the cover of the March/April 2023 issue. A prolific photographer, Michael says he finds great solitude in photography and canyoneering in Southern Utah. The Utah Bar Journal is grateful that he is always so willing to allow us to use his incredible photographs for our covers!

Congratulations to Mr. Steck and thank you to all of the contributors who have shared their photographs of Utah on Bar Journal covers over the years!

The Bar Journal editors encourage members of the Utah State Bar or Paralegal Division, who are interested in having photographs they have taken of Utah scenes published on the cover of the Utah Bar Journal, to submit their photographs for consideration. For details and instructions, please see page three of this issue. A tip for prospective photographers: preference is given to high resolution portrait (tall) rather than landscape (wide) photographs.

2024 Summer Convention Awards

The Board of Bar Commissioners is seeking nominations for the 2024 Summer Convention Awards. These awards have a long history of publicly honoring those whose professionalism, public service, and personal dedication have...