November 30, 2012

Missouri Bar Efforts to Address Indigent Criminal Defense Issues Impacting Lawyers
An Open Letter to Members of The Missouri Bar from President Patrick B. Starke
The Missouri Bar is continuing its efforts to deal with the indigent criminal defense issue. A month ago, I asked four members of the Board of Governors to meet and make recommendations about what the Board could do to help lawyers deal with criminal defense appointments. The Board group made four recommendations:

1. The Bar should offer free or reduced CLE to deal specifically with criminal appointments
2. The Bar should recommend a rule to the Missouri Supreme Court to deal with the complexities of appointments.
3. The Bar should facilitate malpractice insurance issues for lawyers appointed but who are uninsured.
4. The Bar should appoint a special committee of lawyers to make legislative recommendations to deal with the chronic issues facing the criminal justice system.

Here is my report on the status of those four recommendations.

This week's cases and Supreme Court orders

Each week, The Missouri Bar provides links to all hand downs published on the Internet during the past seven days by the Supreme Court of Missouri and the Missouri Court of Appeals. The Missouri Bar has created pertinent headings and summaries for each case. This week includes 11 hand downs pertaining to:  

(All Cases)

News for Missouri Lawyers
Commission Seeks Applicants for Jackson County Circuit Judge Vacancy
The 16th Circuit Judicial Commission is accepting applications for a circuit judge vacancy in Division 10 of the Jackson County Circuit Court. The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Charles Atwell. Applications are due by December 28. (Full Details)

AG’s Reminder, Dec. 6 Deadline to File Claims in LCD Price-Fixing Settlement
Attorney General Chris Koster is reminding Missouri consumers and businesses that they are entitled to a cash refund from a billion dollar settlement fund involving an illegal conspiracy to raise the price of LCD flat panel screens used in televisions, computer monitors, and laptop computers purchased from 1999-2006. The deadline to file a claim is December 6. (More)

News at the Bar
6th Annual ABA Journal Blawg 100 and First Set of Hall of Famers
Along with this year’s list of the top 100 blogs, the ABA Journal has selected its “cream of the law-blogging crop” with the inaugural Blawg 100 Hall of Fame, featuring law blogs they can’t imagine not making the favorites list each year. (2012 Blawg 100)

OSCA Accepting RFPs to Present Ethics in Juvenile Justice Programs
The Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the services of a vendor to present an Ethics in Juvenile Justice course at various locations across the state. Potential bidders can attend a pre-proposal conference on December 20. The RFP submission deadline is January 10. (Details and Form)

Great Value on MoBarCLE is Even Better for the Holidays
15% Off 2013 Season Passes if Purchased by December 19th
Thinking about a gift for a lawyer on your holiday list? MoBarCLE is offering a 15% discount on 2013 Season Passes. And if you already have a pass that expires in 2013 – that pass is still good and your renewal will not start until the current pass expires. (Details)

Applicants Sought for Panel of Chapter 7 Trustees
The Office of the United States Trustee seeks resumes from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to the panel of trustees who administer cases filed under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11, United States Code). This is not a salaried position. Trustees do receive compensation and reimbursement for expenses in each case. The deadline is December 21. (Details)

Equal Access
Help Someone Who Can’t Afford Counsel Get Meaningful Access to Justice
Assisting those who cannot afford legal counsel gain access to justice is arguably one of the noble contributions a lawyer can make to society. If you are looking for such an opportunity, visit the Missouri Bar Pro Bono website to find organizations/entities that need you. (Missouri Bar Pro Bono Website)

40-Plus Hours of Pro Bono Lands a Missouri Lawyer on the Wall of Fame
Missouri lawyers who voluntarily reported at least 40 pro bono hours helping low-income individuals in 2012 not only uphold the highest ideals of the profession, they now have a special place on the Wall of Fame. To be eligible, you must report your 2012 hours by March 15, 2013.
(Report Your Pro Bono Hours) (Wall of Fame Details) (View 2011 Inductees) (View 2010 Inductees)

Tax help links

dor.mo.gov

IRS Practitioner Tax Center IRS Tax Information for Tax Professionals

Newsmakers & Movemakers
Who's making news and moving where
Submit your news and moves

News from Law Schools
Preliminary Report Shows Drop in 1L Enrollment at ABA-Approved Law Schools
Early review of data on first-year enrollments at ABA-approved law schools reveals that 44,481 full-time and part-time students began their law school studies in the fall of 2012. This represents a 9 percent decrease from the fall of 2011. (Details)

MU: Univ. of MO School of Law
UMKC: Univ. of MO - Kansas City School of Law
Wash U.: Washington University School of Law
SLU: Saint Louis University School of Law

The Big Picture – issues and trends affecting the profession
A Tradition of Leadership and Service
Source: Fall 2012 Edition of Precedent Magazine
In this special issue, bid farewell to Missouri Bar Executive Director Keith A. Birkes and greet his successor, Sebrina A. Barrett. Then read about the myriad of services provided by your Missouri Bar and how they have been enhanced throughout the past 25 years.
(Fall 2012 Issue of Precedent)

The Missouri Bar Jobs for Missouri Lawyers
Search full or part-time employment listings
Search contract opportunities
Search office space/office sharing
Pro bono opportunities available throughout Missouri

Submit Openings

Non-Partisan Court Plan Judicial Vacancy News & Information

• Current Vacancies
  

(Latest Details)

Letters to the Editor

Cost of CLE

Submit Letters to the Editor

Resource Reminder – available only through The Missouri Bar
Add “Update My Membership Profile” to Your End of the Year To Do List
Did You Change Firms, Get a New Email Address, Phone Number?
Updating the information in your official member record helps The Missouri Bar serve Missouri lawyers better and more efficiently. And the recent addition to the profiles – adding fields to include your practice area(s) and practice setting information – will help the Bar better understand and respond to the needs of individual lawyers and all members. (Review and Update Your Profile Online Now)

‘Tis the Season for Shipping and Missouri Bar Lawyers Can Save Up To 30% on UPS
Missouri Bar members can save on shipping costs with discounted rates of 17% to 30% off an expanded portfolio of UPS air and international Express shipping. And a 10% discount is available on a wide array of business services at any UPS store. (Details) (Sign Up Today)

Spotlight on an Upcoming MoBarCLE Program
Annual Government Practice Institute Set for December 7 in Jefferson City
Designed by Government Attorneys for Government Attorneys
Join an outstanding faculty for a thorough focus on timely topics – including proposed changes to Missouri’s criminal code, updates on the Sunshine Law, Rules of Professional Conduct and a repeat of the popular “Hot Topics” session – and take advantage of great networking opportunities at this must-attend Institute. (Details)

Next week's MoBarCLE programs

CLE Calendar

Best of CLE Course Notes
Delinquent Tax Collections
Prepared by Michael S. Kisling, General Counsel, Missouri Department of Revenue (8 pages).  Originally presented at the Annual Real Estate Institute on May 4, 2012.

For more information and tips you can use in your real estate practice, register now for:

            Next Step Series: Handling Property Tax Appeals in Missouri
            Interactive Webinar
            Wednesday, December 13, 2012
            2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. CT

            2.4 MCLE Hours

            Special Pricing:  $135
            Season Pass Holders:  Free

Free MoBarCLE course materials are available at the Lawyer Resources for a Changing Economy page of our website.

MoBarCLE publications for your library
Guidebook—Military Issues in Family Law (2011)
Affordable, focused, available in a choice of formats: softbound print, download, CD-ROM.
Take advantage of the affordable pricing: $39 each; $59 for print plus either electronic format!
Purchase this MoBarCLE Publication Online

Deskbook—Criminal Practice (4th ed. 2005)
View 2012 C. Supplement to Chapter 1 - "Arrest and Custodial Detention" (PDF Format - 13 pages)
Purchase this MoBarCLE Publication Online

MoBarCLE Deskbooks Are Available Electronically through Fastcase, LexisNexis and Loislaw

www.fastcase.com

www.lexisnexis.com

www.loislaw.com

In Memoriam
October, 2012