Remarks to the Board of Governors: State Bar of Georgia Annual Meeting—june 20, 2015

• Jurisdiction: United States,Federal,Georgia
• Citation: Vol. 21 No. 1 Pg. 0030
• Publication year: 2015
• Pages: 0030
• Year: 2015
• topic: Business of Law,Technology

Remarks to the Board of Governors: State Bar of Georgia Annual Meeting—June 20, 2015 No. Vol. 21 No. 1 Page 30 Georgia Bar Journal August, 2015

Remarks to the Board of Governors

State Bar of Georgia Annual Meeting—June 20, 2015

by Robert J. "Bob" Kauffman

Thank you, Patrise, for that introduction and congratulations to you on completing a most successful year as our president. It is a high honor and privilege to follow you and all of your predecessors on the distinguished list of great Georgia lawyers who have served our profession in this highest office of Bar leadership.

Members of the judiciary, fellow Bar officers, members of the Executive Committee and Board of Governors, Bar members, staff and guests: As I prepare to accept the symbolic gavel from Patrise and receive the oath of office from Chief Justice Thompson as the 53rd president of the State Bar of Georgia this evening, let me take this opportunity to thank you for your confidence in electing me to lead the State Bar, as well as ask for your continued support, your help and your prayers for our profession in the year ahead.

This morning, I am going to ask you to help the Bar look inward during 2015-16 by focusing on three major initiatives:

▪ Developing a strategic plan for the State Bar;

▪ Conducting a thorough review of our disciplinary procedures; and

▪ Developing a wellness program for Georgia lawyers.

In addition, I am going to discuss an issue that transcends all areas of the practice of law: technology.

First, with regard to the strategic plan, the Bar has retained the services of Leadership Strategies, a consulting firm that will facilitate the development of our strategic plan.

For the past 52 years, the State Bar of Georgia has provided excellent service to the public and the justice system in our state. Our world is much different from the way it was in the early 1960s. However, perhaps it is time for those of us in the legal profession to take a 30,000-foot view of where we stand today and how this organization should operate over the next 52 years and beyond.

This is of paramount importance. Our state, our nation and our world will not work unless you have (1) the rule of law and (2) an effective judiciary. Ensuring that is our job. The whole world depends on a court system that protects the public from criminal acts and civil wrongdoing, guarantees our constitutional rights, resolves business disputes, enforces contracts and transactions, and dispenses justice equally.

We have to make that system work effectively.

Management consultant Peter Drucker said, "People in any organization are always attached to the obsolete —the things that should have worked but did not, the things that once were productive and no longer are."

The State Bar has many great programs. If you don't believe me, go to our website, click on the Programs tab and count them.

The unified Bar with the...