President's Message
| Publication year | 2014 |
| Pages | 8 |
| Citation | Vol. 27 No. 4 Pg. 8 |
July, 2014
A Final Report and a Farewell
Curtis M Jensen
Lawyers: Telling Our Story
At this time last year, the Salt Lake airwaves were filled with the cry to "kill all the lawyers," followed by Lori Nelson describing the ways lawyers benefit society - and why Shakespeare's ruffians needed lawyers out of the way - problem solving, building businesses, conflict resolution, advocacy, pro bono representation, and volunteering.
This year, billboards throughout the State caution people about do-it-yourself law and advise them to "call a lawyer first." Anyone responding to the website learned about the pitfalls of
DIY law and was referred to a recent Utah Business interview of Jim Gilson, Tom Seller, and me on this issue.
Responders were also directed to the Modest Means Lawyer
Referral registration page, with the anticipation that many would meet the program criteria.
Both of these campaigns are part of the Bar's efforts to meet the Utah Supreme Court's mandate to "educate the public about the rule of law and their responsibilities under the law." Utah R. Judicial Admin. Rule 14-202.
The Bar's public education and communications efforts fall into four categories:
1. General knowledge about how the legal system was created and operates:
a. Law Day
b. Constitution Day
c. Various story ideas submitted to the media
2. Core functions of lawyers:
a. Problem solving
b. Conflict resolution
c. Advocacy
d. Creating businesses and opportunities
3. Lawyers giving back:
a. Pro bono work
b. Mentoring
c. Serving on nonprofit and planning and zoning boards, government committees, community councils, etc.
d. Community awards
e. Volunteering in the community
f. Volunteering at the Bar
4. Bar activities:
a. Discipline
b. Bar exam
c. CLE, including conventions
d. Bar awards
Our communications strategies include countering misconceptions that people may have about attorneys. This can be accomplished in two ways. First, directly confront the negative: killing all the attorneys was not something Shakespeare advocated! Second, emphasize the positive: get legal help at discounted rates with a Modest Means Lawyer Referral.
The Bar also looks for cost-effective ways of communicating. This spring, there were six quarter-page ads in The Salt Lake Tribune and DeseretNews featuring Janise Macanas as the winner of he...
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