State Bar News

• Jurisdiction: Utah,United States
• Pages: 48
• Citation: Vol. 36 No. 6 Pg. 48
• Publication year: 2023

State Bar NewsVol. 36 No. 6 Pg. 48Utah Bar JournalDecember 2023

November 2023

Commission Highlights

The Utah State Bar Board of Commissioners received the following reports and took the actions indicated during the September 22, 2023 Meeting and Retreat held at the Snowpine Lodge in Alta, Utah.

• The August 17, 2023 meeting minutes were approved by consent.

• The Commission approved the purchase of a table at the UMBA Scholarship and Awards Banquet for $1,000.

• The Commission approved the Fall Forum Awards:

o Professionalism Award: Hon. George Harmon

o Mentoring Awards:

James Lee Award: Hon. Augustus Chin

Paul Moxley Award: Philip Lear

Charlotte Miller Award: Rebecca Ryon

o Community Member Award: Kaitlyn Pieper

o Award for Special/Distinguished Service: Heather Tanana

• During the Strategic Planning Retreat, the Commission voted to conduct the 2024 Summer Convention as a virtual event, and then begin alternating between in-person and virtual events, with the next in-person event to be held in 2025.

The minute text of this and other meetings of the Bar Commission are available on the Bar's website at: www.utahbar.org.

Notice of Bar Commission Election

Third and Fourth Divisions

Nominations to the office of Bar Commissioner are hereby solicited for:

• three members from the Third Division (Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele Counties), and

• one member from the Fourth Division (Wasatch, Utah, Juab and Millard Counties).

Bar Commissioners serve a three-year term. Terms will begin in July 2024.

To be eligible for the office of Commissioner from a division, the nominee's business mailing address must be in that division as shown by the records of the Bar. Applicants must be nominated by a written petition of ten or more members of the Bar in good standing whose business mailing addresses are in the division from which the election is to be held.

Nominating petitions are available at https://www.utahbar.org/ bar-operations/election-information/. Completed petitions must be submitted to Christy Abad (cabad@utahbar.org), Executive Assistant, no later than February 1, 2024, by 5:00 p.m.

2024 Spring Convention Awards

The Board of Bar Commissioners is seeking applications for two Bar awards to be given at the 2024 Spring Convention. These awards honor publicly those whose professionalism, public service, and public dedication have significantly enhanced the administration of justice, the delivery

of legal services, and the improvement of the profession.

Please submit your nomination for a 2024 Spring Convention Award no later than Friday, January 22, 2024. Use the Award Form located at https://www.utahbar.org/awards/ to propose your candidate in the following categories:

1. Dorathy Merrill Brothers Award - For the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession.

2. Raymond S. Uno Award - For the Advancement of Minorities in the Legal Profession.

The Utah State Bar strives to recognize those who have had singular impact on the profession and the public. We appreciate your thoughtful nominations.

Celebrating Pro Bono

October is "Celebrate Pro Bono Month," an opportunity to provide free legal services to those in need and honor the good work performed by lawyers every day. This is also meant to inspire others to consider volunteering. Utah lawyers are joining their colleagues across the country to honor the work being done to increase meaningful access to justice through their commitment to pro bono work.

The American Bar Association launched the National Celebration of Pro Bono in 2009 because of the increasing need for pro bono services during harsh economic times and the unprecedented need for attorneys to meet this demand. Every October since 2009, legal organizations across America participate in the National Celebration of Pro Bono to draw attention to the need for pro bono participation, and to thank those who give their time year-round.

2023 Pro Bono Challenge

This year Utah's statewide Celebrate Pro Bono initiative returned after a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative brings together legal services providers with law schools, law firms, local bar associations, and individual volunteers to offer free services to those unable to afford a lawyer. Volunteers participated in a number of events and activities that offered assistance to Utahns in need. Activities included legal advice clinics, educational programs, recognition celebrations, and other events.

This year the Access to Justice Office launched the inaugural Pro Bono Challenge in partnership with the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University and S.J. Quinney College of Law at...