Oklahoma Bar Association - Latest News

Discipline Conflict Rules Proposed: Member Comment Requested

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:10:31 -0500

The Rules of Professional Conduct Committee has drafted and approved proposed language to eliminate conflicts of interest for current Professional Responsibility Commission (PRC), Professional Responsibility Tribunal (PRT) and Board of Governors members in addition to former PRC and PRT members. No such rules currently exist.

Law Day Spotlight: Custer County Bar Association

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:10:31 -0500

Looking for innovative ways to celebrate Law Day at the local level? Be inspired by the Custer County Bar Association! This group of western Oklahoma lawyers and judges organized a fun and creative way to get school kids thinking about the law and our legal system.

Ten Improved Fastcase Tools

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:10:31 -0500

How long has it been since you last used Fastcase? Surprisingly, some Oklahoma lawyers still haven’t tried it.

Bar Members Celebrate 50-Year Membership Anniversaries

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:10:31 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association applauds these 88 members who in 2013 reach significant milestone anniversaries. They were admitted to the bar in 1963.

Diversity Awards: Call for Nominations

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:10:31 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association’s Diversity Committee is now accepting nominations for its Second Annual Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Diversity Awards. All nominations must be received by June 14, 2013.

iCivics in Lawton

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 09:10:31 -0500

Saturday, April 6, 2013, twenty-seven Lawton educators met at the Lawton High School Media Center to learn how to navigate the iCivics webpages.

Tulsa Lawyer Wins National Peeps in the Law Contest

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:10:31 -0500

Paula J. Quillin’s legal- themed diorama entitled, “Oh the Peepanity!” earned grand prize honors in the ABA Journal Fifth Annual Peeps in the Law Contest. You know what Peeps are, right?

Hamming it up: Oklahoma Lawyers Donate 1,400 Easter Hams to Oklahoma Families in Need

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:10:31 -0500

Four years ago Noble McIntyre of McIntyre Law, P.C., saw a pamphlet in his church about a program that helped provide disadvantaged families with a Thanksgiving meal. With a desire to help families in need and access to a listserv of like-minded lawyers, he started a chain of events that led to the formation of Lawyers Against Hunger, an Oklahoma-based non-profit organization that has helped give away over 10,000 holiday meals to Oklahomans in need since its 2011 inception.

OBA Members Raise Funds for OETA

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:10:31 -0500

Kicking off our “Year of Stuartship,” OBA members manned the phone banks at OETA Festival on Tuesday to take donations for public television. Members called in and donated nearly $5,000, which was presented to OETA as a check by President Jim Stuart at the end of the evening. More donations are still pouring in.

Clinton High School Wins State Mock Trial Championship

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:10:31 -0500

Clinton High School’s Gold Team defeated Jenks High School’s Purple Cobra Team in the final round of competition to claim the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial Championship for the second year in a row.

Oklahoma Close Up

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:10:31 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association proudly hosted Oklahoma Close Up, February 20 and 21. The four day annual event gives high school students an opportunity to observe and meet representatives from all branches of Oklahoma government.

Lawyers in the Legislature

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:10:31 -0500

One of the most common myths about government and politics is that there is an overabundance of lawyers in the Legislature. However, the facts do not support this myth. Following the November 2012 general election, there are now 22 lawyers in the Oklahoma Legislature, down from 26 at the beginning of the 53rd Legislature. Percentage wise, only 15 percent of the 149-member Legislature is comprised of lawyers. For this reason, I always applaud those in the legal profession who run for office. Whether they win or lose, their decision to place themselves in the arena, as President Theodore Roosevelt wrote, merits our praise and respect and is a positive reflection upon our profession.

Inaugural Remarks 2013 OBA President James T. “Jim” Stuart Swearing-In Ceremony

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 09:10:31 -0500

May it please this Honorable Court: At the end of the day we lawyers are all just "stewards" -- of this bar association, of the Rule of Law, of our system of civil and criminal justice, of the independence of the judiciary, in the way we provide pro bono services to the young and less fortunate, in our own methods for self-discipline, and in the way we serve and give back to our communities.

OBA Creates New Juvenile Law Section

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 09:10:31 -0500

Recognizing that juvenile law hasn’t been “kiddie law” for many years, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children (OLFC) petitioned OBA members at the November OBA Annual Meeting to create an OBA Juvenile Law Section.

Jim Stuart Takes OBA Reins

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:10:31 -0500

Shawnee, Okla., is the birthplace of 2013 OBA President James T. “Jim” Stuart. It is also the place he has called home almost his entire life, with the exception of the years he spent in Edmond, where he attended college at CSU (now UCO), and Tulsa, where he graduated from the TU College of Law. His family has lived in Shawnee since 1900, and his ties to the community are so deep that he lives in a home built by his grandparents in 1928.

New OBA Board Members to Take Oath Jan. 11

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:10:31 -0500

Ten new members of the OBA Board of Governors will be sworn in to their positions Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. in the Supreme Court Ceremonial Courtroom at the State Capitol. Officers and their new positions are James T. “Jim” Stuart, Shawnee, president; Renée DeMoss, Tulsa, president-elect; and Dietmar K. Caudle, Lawton, vice president.

Postjudgment and Prejudgment Interest for 2013 Determined

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:10:31 -0500

POSTJUDGMENT INTEREST: The State Treasurer has certified to the Administrative Director of the Courts that the prime interest rate as listed in the first edition of the Wall Street Journal published for calendar year 2013 is 3.25 percent.

Counting on You - Consider the OBF for Your End-of-Year Donations

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 09:10:31 -0500

It’s that time of year when the Oklahoma Bar Foundation asks you to make a contribution to the OBF as a part of your end-of-year charitable giving. The OBF funds the types of charitable programs and services that only lawyers and law firms care about.

Farris Appointed to Board of Governors

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:10:31 -0500

Tulsa attorney Robert S. Farris has been appointed to the OBA Board of Governors, filling the unexpired term of member-at-large Renée DeMoss, who is vacating the seat after her uncontested election as OBA president-elect. The vacancy will occur Jan. 1, 2013, and the at-large term expires Dec. 31, 2013.

Lawyers Provide Thanksgiving Dinner for Thousands

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:10:31 -0500

More than 4,000 needy Oklahoma families enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal at their own tables this year due to the efforts of a dedicated group of Oklahoma lawyers. Lawyers Against Hunger raised more than $80,000 to buy turkeys and food boxes to be distributed in communities across the state.

2012 MCLE DEADLINES

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:10:31 -0500

There are a lot of things to remember at this time of year. “Did I remember everyone on my gift list?” “Did I send out the cards?” But did you remember that the deadline to earn your remaining CLE credit for 2012 is December 31.

Judge Smith Elected Vice Presiding Judge

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:10:31 -0500

Judge Clancy Smith has been elected by her fellow judges as vice presiding judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Her two-year term will begin Jan. 1, 2013. The announcement follows the election of Judge David B. Lewis as the court’s presiding judge.

New Oklahoma Legislators to Return to ‘School’

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:10:31 -0500

Newly elected Oklahoma legislators will convene in Oklahoma City next week to attend Law School for Legislators, a program primarily designed to familiarize non-lawyer legislators with substantive topics in law and practical issues in legislation. The event, which is sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association, will be held Wednesday, Dec. 12, at the Oklahoma Bar Center from 8:45 am to noon.

Judge Lewis Named Presiding Judge

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 09:10:31 -0500

Judge David B. Lewis has been elected by his fellow judges as the next presiding judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. The term, which begins Jan. 1, 2013, is historic because Judge Lewis is the first African-American to serve as presiding judge. He also holds the distinction of being the first African-American vice presiding judge and also the first African-American on the court.

OBA Annual Meeting Concludes, Bar Business Results Announced

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:10:31 -0500

Action concluded at noon, Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, after the OBA House of Delegates, held at the Sheraton Hotel in Oklahoma City. It was determined during the meeting that Renée DeMoss of Tulsa will serve as OBA president-elect in 2013, assuming the office of OBA president on Jan. 1, 2014. Dietmar Caudle of Lawton will serve as vice president during the upcoming year with James Stuart of Shawnee, who as president-elect becomes president Jan. 1, 2013.

Justice Colbert to Serve as Chief Justice

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 09:10:31 -0500

Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Tom Colbert has been elected by his fellow justices to become the next chief justice of the state’s highest court. Justice John Reif will serve as vice chief justice.

The term, which begins Jan. 1, 2013, will make Oklahoma history because Justice Colbert is the first African-American to become chief justice. He also holds the distinction of being the first African-American vice chief justice and also the first African-American on the court. He was originally appointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. Brad Henry in October 2004. Justice Colbert was appointed by Gov. Frank Keating to serve as a judge on the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals in 2000 and served until 2004.

Sheraton Room Block Closed, Other Hotel Options Available

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 09:10:31 -0500

As we hurtle toward Annual Meeting, hotels are booking up! Rooms at the Sheraton for Wednesday, Nov. 14 are no longer available, but there are several other hotels in the area that still have vacancies. Remember, there is a Thunder game that Wednesday evening, so the rest of the hotels will book up quickly! DO NOT WAIT to make your hotel reservations; we don’t want you to miss out!

Many Thanks to Heroes Volunteers

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:10:31 -0500

In celebrating Pro Bono Week, Oct. 21 – 27, we would like to commend our Heroes program volunteers. Dedicated to serving those who have honorably served our country, these attorneys have spent countless hours providing legal assistance to veterans at no cost.

There’s Still Time to Register for Annual Meeting

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:10:31 -0500

You may have missed the shot on the early bird registration deadline, but there is still time to register for this year’s Annual Meeting! Starting today, registration is still only $85, with slightly increased prices for your CLE and OBA Tech. If excellent networking opportunities aren’t enough to coax you to attend Annual Meeting, perhaps the featured events and guest speakers are.

Oklahoma Mortgage Settlement Fund: OBA Partners with State Attorney General to Assist Victims

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:10:31 -0500

Oklahomans who encounter mortgage-related legal challenges are the focus of a newly announced partnership between the Oklahoma Bar Association and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt. The combined effort is designed to help families navigate mortgage and foreclosure issues, with the goal of keeping more people in their homes.

Diversity Award Winners Announced

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 09:10:31 -0500

The Diversity Committee, with the support of OBA President Cathy Christensen, identified that there was a need for the Oklahoma Bar Association to recognize leaders and statewide diversity efforts and to increase the need for tolerance and diversity awareness.

Lighting the Way: 2012 Mona Salyer Lambird Spotlight Award Recipients

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:10:31 -0500

Since 1996 the Spotlight Awards have been given annually to five women who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession and who have lighted the way for other women. In 1998 the award was named to honor the late Mona Salyer Lambird, the first woman president of the Oklahoma Bar Association, and one of the Award’s first recipients. The Award is sponsored by the OBA Women In Law Committee.

Peer Mediation Training

Fri, 28 Sept 2012 09:10:31 -0500

Peer mediation training was offered for elementary and secondary school students through the Peaceful Resolutions for Oklahoma Students (PROS) program. The PROS program operates through a partnership between the Administrative Office of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and the Oklahoma Bar Association Law-related Education Department.

New Bar Members Sworn in at State Capitol

Tue, 25 Sept 2012 09:10:31 -0500

The State Capitol was flooded with smiling faces this past Wednesday, Sept. 19, as law students and their families gathered for the Oklahoma Bar Association’s swearing-in ceremony. More than 300 students from OCU School of Law, OU College of Law, TU College of law and a few out-of-state law schools were sworn in as new bar members in the House of Representatives chambers.

Retired Justice Hardy Summers 1933-2012

Tue, 11 Sept 2012 09:10:31 -0500

A memorial service has been set for retired Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Hardy Summers, who died Sept. 10. The service will be held Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, at 1 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 600 N.W. 13th St., Oklahoma City. Justice Summers was appointed to the high court in 1985 by Gov. George Nigh, and he served as its chief justice in 1999 and 2000. He retired in 2003.

OBA Program to Offer Legal Services at Yellow Ribbon Event for Soldiers Deploying in October

Fri, 07 Sept 2012 09:10:31 -0500

The Oklahoma National Guard is deploying more soldiers to Afghanistan in October and before they leave, a Yellow Ribbon Pre-Deployment event will be held this Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Embassy Suites in Norman.

Special Rebroadcast of A Conversation with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Oklahoma Chief Justice Steven Taylor

Wed, 05 Sept 2012 09:10:31 -0500

In honor of Justice O’Connor’s dedication toward the advancement of civic education, the Oklahoma Bar Association will rebroadcast, “A Conversation with Justice O’Connor and Oklahoma Chief Justice Taylor”. The webcast will only be offered on September 17, 2012, in commemoration of Constitution Day.

Renowned Sports Commentator To Speak At OBA Annual Meeting

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 09:10:31 -0500

Following the recent excitement of the NBA finals and with Oklahoma’s beloved football season just around the corner, “Homecoming” is a fun and fitting theme for our 108th annual meeting, to be held Nov. 14-16 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. This theme not only represents many Oklahomans’ diehard love for sports, but also encompasses teamwork, skill-building and sportsmanlike conduct, which concern attorneys on a daily basis.

2012 ACLEA Award of Outstanding Achievement in Marketing

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 09:10:31 -0500

The Oklahoma Continuing Legal Education Department (CLE) returned last week from the 48th Annual ACLEA meeting with the 2012 Award of Outstanding Achievement in Marketing. Accepting the award for the Oklahoma Bar Association were Heidi McComb, Assistant Director and Brandon Haynie, Marketing Production Specialist.

Bar Members: Discover MyOKBar

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 09:10:31 -0500

One of the many perks of being an OBA member is the MyOKBar section of our website. MyOKBar is a handy online resource for all OBA members to keep track of their CLE credits, enroll in seminars or find contact information for other OBA members. If you are not yet familiar with the site, log in and take a look around.

Did You Know That There Are 7 Ways To Earn Your Required CLE?

Tue, 31 July 2012 09:10:31 -0500

We all know, it’s midway through the year. Are you midway through your 12 CLE credit hour requirement?

If you are not sure how much credit you have earned for 2012, you can check your CLE credits easily from your myokbar page. When you are logged onto your page, select “View Transcript” to see the course detail for 2012.

Bar Center Welcomes Special Guests

Tue, 17 July 2012 09:10:31 -0500

On Tuesday, July 17, a special group of 21 students and three professors from several university law schools in China came to visit the OBA. This group, welcomed by President Cathy Christensen and several OBA staff members, are attending the Oklahoma City University School of Law Certificate in American Law Program. The program, which consists of four weeks of legal coursework and a mock trial, provides an extensive background on the American legal system for the participating Chinese students.

Legal Guide for Senior Citizens Now Available

Mon, 28 June 2012 10:20:15 -0500

Aging Oklahomans often find themselves in difficult situations. Perhaps a new widow is left to handle the finances for the first time in 60 years; or a grandfather is ready to start writing his will, but has no idea where to begin. Fortunately for seniors who need help during trying times, a comprehensive legal guide is now available to them at no cost. The recently revised guide is distributed by the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Tue, 10 July 2012 10:20:15 -0500 New Feature Makes Online Legal Research Even More Powerful http://www.okbar.org/news/front/2012/06/04-fastcase-research.htm Fastcase, a comprehensive online legal research service that’s a free OBA member benefit, has added a new feature – Mobile Sync. Mobile Sync helps make the Fastcase Legal Research member benefit even more powerful. Members now have the option to link their Fastcase for the iPhone or iPad app with their member benefit desktop account where they are able to print, access enhanced search results and contact Fastcase reference attorneys and technical support.

Hatton W. Sumners Teacher Institute

Mon, 25 June 2012 10:20:15 -0500

June 11-14, 2012, the Hatton W. Sumners Teacher Institute was held in Norman. The institute covered the Foundations of Democracy curriculum authored by the Center for Civic Education. Foundations of Democracy explores the four concepts of democracy Authority, Responsibility, Privacy, and Justice. Professor Emeritus, Dr. John Patrick of Indiana State University, lectured on the topics of Authority and Justice. On Tuesday, University of Oklahoma Professor Dr. Margaret Ellis spoke to the group regarding the responsibility of citizens in a democracy. National trainers Sandy Baker and Melissa Bell conducted classroom application activities for elementary through high school learners.

Diversity Committee Introduces New Awards

Mon, 18 June 2012 10:20:15 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association’s Diversity Committee is seeking nominations for its first Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Diversity Awards. All nominations must be received by June 30, 2012.

2012 OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference, It's Not Too Late!!

Wed, 13 June 2012 10:20:15 -0500

The Early Bird Deadline for the 2012 OBA Solo & Small Firm Conference (June 21-23) has passed, but you can still register to attend this spectacular conference. Do not miss your chance for fun, fellowship and great CLE targeted at solo and small firm lawyers.

OBA Welcomes New Educational Programs Director

Mon, 21 May 2012 10:20:15 -0500

Oklahoma lawyers can expect to see a new face at the bar center this month as former Assistant Attorney General Susan Damron Krug takes the reins of the OBA Continuing Legal Education Department. Ms. Krug, whose name is pronounced “kroog,” brings more than 30 years of professional experience to the position, having become a member of the bar after graduating from OCU School of Law in 1993. In her new role, she will continue the development of high-quality educational opportunities for OBA members.

Bar Members Celebrate Membership Anniversaries

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:20:15 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association applauds these members who in 2012 reach significant milestone anniversaries.

Educators: Register Now for the Free Hatton W. Sumners Teacher Institute

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:20:15 -0500

The fifth annual Hatton W. Sumners Teacher Institute will be held in downtown Oklahoma City June 11–14, 2012. The institute will focus on the Foundations of Democracy curriculum authored by the Center for Civic Education.

This program explores the four concepts of democracy: Authority, Responsibility, Privacy, and Justice. The institute is geared toward 3rd–12th grade teachers.

Law Day Theme Gives Bar Members Opportunity to Advocate

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:20:15 -0500

On May 1, the nation will celebrate Law Day — a celebration that originated in Oklahoma. Law Day was conceived by the late Hicks Epton, a Wewoka attorney and OBA past president. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day nationally by presidential proclamation in 1958. On this occasion, he said:

It is fitting that the American people should remember with pride and vigilantly guard the great heritage of liberty, justice and equality under law. It is our moral and civil obligation as free men and as Americans to preserve and strengthen that great heritage.

This year’s Law Day theme, “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom,” allows us, as attorneys, to showcase what it is that we may do best — advocate! It is our opportunity to advocate in support of adequate funding of the court system and the judiciary. It is our opportunity to advocate for fair and just judicial salaries at all levels of the judiciary to ensure that the best and the brightest legal minds are attracted to judicial service. Most importantly, it is our opportunity to advocate that courthouses remain open for business to all Oklahomans regardless of race, religion, or economic level.

Continue reading the president’s Law Day message…

Young Lawyers Visit Classrooms to Assist Teens Becoming Adults

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:01:38 -0500

It’s an exciting time for high school seniors; most are busy gearing up for graduation, a carefree summer vacation, and plans for college or jobs beyond that. What they may not be prepared for is how their legal rights and responsibilities change upon their 18th birthday, and what they don’t know could cause serious problems in their futures.

That’s why the Oklahoma Bar Association Young Lawyers Division is stepping in. As part of its annual community service project, YLD members are visiting classrooms across the state, delivering presentations aimed at seniors and explaining how their legal obligations change when they turn 18.

The presentations are keyed in to the publication titled “You’re 18 Now: It’s Your Responsibility,” a legal guide for young adults published by the OBA Law-Related Education Department.

Sandra Day O’Connor’s Visit a Hit with Oklahoma Students

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:54:23 -0500

More than 200 middle and high school students were presented with the opportunity this week to meet former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor during her visit to the Oklahoma Bar Center to promote her civics education initiative, “iCivics.” Hundreds of other students across the state listened in via a live webcast of the event.

The event was co-sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association Law-Related Education Department and Oklahoma City University.

Oklahoma Lawyers Offer Free Legal Advice

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:24:31 -0500

For 34 years, Oklahoma lawyers have offered legal advice at no charge as a community service in conjunction with Law Day. Ask A Lawyer day is set for Thursday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The statewide number to call is 800‑456‑8525, in Tulsa 918‑838‑8770. In addition, several county bar associations host Ask A Lawyer call-in events in their own communities, offering callers the opportunity to speak with a local attorney for free.

The list of local numbers to call and the hours those numbers will be staffed on April 26 is available at okbar.org/lawday.

Ask A Lawyer TV Show Explores “Courts” Theme

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:23:00 -0500

This year’s “Ask A Lawyer” television program will air Thursday, April 26, at 7 p.m. on OETA stations across the state. The show provides information about current legal issues facing individuals in this state and how Oklahoma lawyers are making an impact.

This year’s show features segments titled “Families in Transition,” “Dealing with Disaster,” and “Residential Rights.”

The show also features Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Taylor and OBA President Cathy Christensen, and OETA’s Dick Pryor serves as moderator.

Full details about Law Day and the “Ask A Lawyer” show are at okbar.org/lawday.

County Bar Associations Plan Activites to Celebrate Law Day

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:55:58 -0500

Lawyers from across the state have volunteered to coordinate local Law Day events in their counties. Among the ways county bars celebrate Law Day is by hosting luncheons, presenting age-appropriate law-related discussions in classrooms, local art contests and participation in the April 26 Ask A Lawyer statewide effort to answer legal questions over the phone.

Take a look at how Oklahoma lawyers are celebrating Law Day and educating the public about our rights and responsibilities under the law!

Tulsa Lawyer Nominated for Federal Judicial Position

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:58:30 -0500

John E. Dowdell has been nominated by President Barack Obama for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

Mr. Dowdell has been a partner of Norman Wohlgemuth Chandler & Dowdell in Tulsa since 1987. The Tulsa World reports that U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe “is supportive of Mr. Dowdell’s nomination, and he is hopeful that his confirmation process will move swiftly through the Senate.” The newspaper also reports that U.S. Rep. Dan Boren welcomes the nomination.

Read more about the nomination on the White House Briefing Room website.

Law-related Education Department Trains Oklahoma Educators at the 2012 Social Studies Conference

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:57:24 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association welcomed 150 teachers and Administrators to the Spring Social Studies Conference, held March 31 in Oklahoma City. Educators traveled from Ada, Tulsa, Claremore, and other regions to gain resources and information to support social studies education. Twenty sessions were offered covering economics, history, and civics. The hot topic of the day concerned the proposed change in academic standards from the current PASS (Priority Academic Students Skills) to the C3 standard emphasizing college, career, and citizenship.

Read the rest of this article…

And the Winners Are…

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:46:51 -0500

The results of the 2012 OBA Law Day contests have been announced. We have a total of 20 first-place winners, who recently came to the State Capitol for a special ceremony with Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Taylor, OBA President Cathy Christensen and Law Day Committee Chair Tina Izadi.

The grand prize winner is Madison Tryzbiak, a student at Union 6th–7th Grade Center in Tulsa, who created an elaborate diorama that illustrated the theme “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom.”

View the list of all the contest winners and their entries at the Law Day website.

Amendments to Rules of Workers’ Compensation Court Approved

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:41:36 -0500

The Workers’ Compensation Court sitting en banc adopted amendments to the Workers’ Compensation Court Rules, 85 O.S.2011, Ch. 4, App., as authorized in 85 O.S.2011, §303(D). The Workers’ Compensation Court submitted the rules as amended to the Oklahoma Supreme Court for approval or disapproval.

Upon consideration of the rules as required by §303(D), the Supreme Court on March 5, 2012, approved the rules as amended. By approval of these rules as amended, the Supreme Court neither indicates what meaning should be ascribed to them in any given application nor settles their validity against challenges that may be launched on constitutional or statutory grounds, federal or state.

Chief Justice Issues Law Day Directive

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:39:32 -0500

Committee Needs Law Day Information from County Bars

Supreme Court Justice Steven Taylor issued a directive urging each court in Oklahoma to hold Law Day events. The OBA Law Day Committee wants to help county bar presidents and Law Day chairs achieve maximum participation in their Law Day events.

To increase public recognition of your community service projects, please take advantage of the OBA’s Law Day website and media contacts. Email Lori Rasmussen a summary of your activities at lorir@okbar.org.

Oklahoma iCivics Events to Feature Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:37:04 -0500

Increasing knowledge of civic education is something that OBA President Cathy Christensen planned to address once she took the reins of OBA leadership — and due to alarming statistics — the Oklahoma Bar Association and Oklahoma City University have created a partnership to introduce iCivics to Oklahoma educators and students. The partnership effort will kick off with an event Tuesday, April 24, beginning at the Oklahoma Bar Center and ending at the Reed Center in Midwest City.

CLE Seminar: Stolen Innocence: The Faces of Child Exploitation in Schools

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:02:05 -0500

With awareness of child exploitation and abuse in schools increasing from years past, there is still much to be discovered about those who prey and those who are preyed upon in our school systems. Come learn from the experts on what we can do to help those in need.

What happened at ABA TECHSHOW 2012?

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:36:15 -0500

ABA TECHSHOW® 2012 is now over, but a big part of the conference has just started this week as lawyers and their staff return to their law offices with knowledge of new tools, tips, and techniques. I wish them success at creating change.

ABA TECHSHOW 2012 was truly one of my favorite ones ever. I heard many veteran attendees say the same thing. More goes on at this conference than one can possibly report on (or attend) but here are a few highlights.

Work/Life Balance Week Recap

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:57:38 -0500

Last week we brought you stories dedicated to one of the more popular and relevant topics we face in our profession: work/life balance.

We’re topping off the WLB week with a short video by OBA Ethics Counsel Travis Pickens, who offers one more important motivator to attain this balance: doing it for others. Work/life balance isn’t just about you, ~~it affects~~ you affect everyone you come in contact with.

Watch the video, revisit the articles you bookmarked but didn’t read because you were "too busy" at the time, and unwind for a few minutes before you jump back into your daily routine.

Get a Breath of Fresh Air

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:17:57 -0500

Oklahoma City and Tulsa provide hip, spirited environments to help you decompress. Here are few ideas to give you a breath of fresh air.

Oklahoma City

Pick up your favorite book and sit by the Bricktown Canal over your lunch hour.
Visit Rocktown for a few hours of fun, physical activity.
Like museums? Oklahoma City has a bunch!

Tulsa

Take a stroll through River Parks.
Take the family to the Oklahoma Aquarium. Hey, take the office, too!
Spend a day or three touring Tulsa's historic areas. Did you know it has one of the oldest opera companies in North America?

The Rich Advantage of Good Exercise?

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:16:32 -0500

As a follow-up to the Journal Record article “Are You Sitting Down?” Oklahoma City attorney George Wright takes a humorous look at some benefits and methods of exercise.

Don’t think exercise is for you? Mr. Wright would tell you “so long as you are currently alive, you are currently exercising.”

Now exercise your brain and eyeballs, and read “The Rich Advantage of Good Exercise?” from the March issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal.

Are You Sitting Down?

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:14:18 -0500

Despite a wave of evidence that too much sitting on the job triggers life-shortening illnesses, most companies and safety regulators are in no hurry to change employees’ sedentary working conditions.

Among the entities reporting a connection between sitting and cancer, heart disease and other serious health problems are the American Cancer Society, the American Institute for Cancer Research, the Mayo Clinic, the American Heart Association, and publications ranging from The New York Times to Scientific American to Men’s Health.

Read the full article on our website, courtesy of The Journal Record.

Work/Life Balance for the Bivocational Lawyer

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:10:49 -0500

Being a lawyer is a full-time job, one that can easily take up the entire day. How is it possible to have a balanced life between work and personal time?

Greg Pollard has to have a great work/life balance — he has two jobs and a family to juggle! He’s written about his life as an assistant district attorney and as a pastor, and how he has achieved balance in his life. His experience may provide some persective in your own life, and give you some tips on how to help achieve the sometimes elusive work/life balance we all seek.

Read the article “Work/Life Balance for the Bivocational Lawyer” from the March issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal.

Law-related Education Department Brings Teacher Institute to Oklahoma

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:06:57 -0500

Being a lawyer is a full-time job, one that can easily take up the entire day. How is it possible to have a balanced life between work and personal time?

Read the article “Work/Life Balance for the Bivocational Lawyer” from the March issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal.

Balancing Law School, Now Legal Career: A Mother’s Perspective

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:05:29 -0500

Work/life balance was a concept I experienced long before I ever heard it described with an actual name. Entering law school with a son who was not quite two years old at the time, I had no plan for how I was going to balance all the work and studying of being a full-time law student with the heavy responsibility of parenting a toddler, or any idea if I could even do both successfully. It wasn’t until on-campus interviews started in the fall of my second year that I was introduced to the actual term “work/life balance” and began to understand that the juggling routine I did daily was a formal concept that was, at the very least, recognized in the legal profession and actualized in a variety of ways.

Getting Your Company on the Right Work/Life Balance Path

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:15:56 -0500

Corporate work/life balance sounds like an oxymoron, right? After all, corporations do not have lives and it is the demands of the businesses, corporations and other employers that are negatively impacting work/life balance for all of us employees, right? Well, here’s an article on Fast Company by author and former Rutgers professor Dr. Serena Reep on what businesses can do to help with this issue. It is titled Getting Your Company on the Right Work–Life Balance Path.

Also on Fast Company, Craig Chappelow, portfolio manager at the Center for Creative Leadership proposes that work/life balance is not the right goal. He makes the case that we should Strive for Work-Life Integration, Not Balance and provides us with links to some free tools from the Center for Creative leadership, including a WorkLife Indicator to assess “an individual’s approach for managing the boundaries between work and family.”

Work/Life Balance: A Structured but Flexible Approach

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:00:38 -0500

I came to appreciate how the practice of law has the potential to consume your life within my first month of law school. During the years that followed I spent a fair amount of time thinking about how I did not want that to happen to me, and that there were other activities I wanted to do in addition to practicing law. Since I also had a certain level of success I wanted to achieve in my career, I took some time before I started practicing to think about how I could reconcile my personal and professional goals.

5 Tips for Better Work/Life Balance

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:58:47 -0500

Let’s be honest: lawyers typically are driven, task-oriented people so achieving work/life balance is a bit different for us than, say, a landscape artist. When trying to figure out just how to achieve that "balance", remember that we all need to know our limits — indeed, we need to plan so as not to even reach our limits.

Lawyers are good at planning, which is what it takes to make the changes required to avoid burnout. Be intentional about change, and remember that small, simple changes make a big difference.

Check out these five great tips from WebMD’s Jen Uscher for small change ideas to help avoid burnout.

How Changing Corporate Culture Is Good for Business and Employees

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:47:07 -0500

“[A] flexible workplace is a strategic business decision that is good for the business and good for the employee.”

For years there has been talk of flexible work hours, “flex time,” “job sharing,” and any number of work/life balance tools in the corporate sector, but how many of them provide real balance? In this Forbes article, author Geri Stengel argues that being flexible isn’t just a good idea, but it’s vital to any business that wants to remain a going concern.

Read the article on Forbes.com and see how you can apply some of the ideas to your own workplace.

The Golden Idol: How Indiana Jones Taught Me to Attain Work/Life Balance

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:45:45 -0500

How do you balance the important parts of your life? If you’re like Indy, even if you carefully plan you still may end up triggering a boulder!

Daniel Johnson gives some tips on how to help attain a work/life balance that doesn't put your life in danger, but still keeps it interesting. Read the full story from the March issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal to find out more.

Work/Life Balance Week on OKBar.org

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:35:43 -0500

Work/life balance is a challenge for many people these days, particularly busy professionals. The Oklahoma Bar Association wants to provide help in this area.

Work/life balance tips and articles will be featured on the OBA website the week of March 26–30, 2012. The site will be updated daily with articles including features about stress and healthy living, as well as articles directed to those who work as lawyers or in law offices.

Among the topics covered will be one lawyer’s story on how he balanced working full time as a lawyer while being the pastor of a church, an article on exercise from a committed bicyclist, articles on stress reduction, and a piece titled “The Golden Idol: How Indiana Jones Taught me to Attain Work/Life Balance.”

OBA Celebrates Women’s History Month

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:33:14 -0500

Women’s History Month traces its roots to March 8, 1911, when International Women’s Day was celebrated in Europe. However, with the coming of World War II, the celebration of women’s history was lost.

In the 1970s, as calls for including African Americans and Native Americans in the history being taught in school grew louder, women began to realize that they were invisible in most history courses. Then, in 1978, in an effort to recognize women’s contributions to culture, history and society, the Sonoma, Calif., school district organized a week-long celebration. As a result of this celebration, President Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year and passed a bi-partisan resolution recognizing National Women’s History Week. The celebration was expanded to a month in 1987 and each year Congress issues a resolution and the president a proclamation supporting Women’s History Month.

The purpose of Women’s History Month is to take one month out of the year to increase awareness and knowledge of women’s history and the contributions made by notable and ordinary women. Please take a few moments this month to consider the impact women have had on our country’s history.

As one of our country’s greatest presidents was heard to say:

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
Abraham Lincoln — 16th President of the United States

Pet Trusts: You Can’t Let an Old Dog Down!

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:52:44 -0500

Pets — dogs, cats, horses, and many numerous assortment of companion animals — are considered members of the family. Clients worry about who is going to take care of them and who is going to pay for their care. There is a growing trend to setup pet trusts to take care of pets when the owners become incapacitated or pass away.

This webcast will discuss the Oklahoma law covering pet trusts: how to draft the trust, who should be in charge, and how to administer the pet trust in order for the pets to be taken care of for the rest of its life.

2012 Spring Social Studies Conference

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:10:22 -0500

The OBA’s Law-related Education Department, in partnership with the Oklahoma Council for the Social Studies, Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education, Oklahoma Council on Economic Education, Oklahoma Council for History Education, Oklahoma History Center, and the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, will host the Spring Social Studies Conference for Oklahoma educators.

Invite your local teachers to participate in the conference Saturday, March 31, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Oklahoma Bar Center. The conference will feature keynote presentations by Amy Petty, survivor of the Murrah Building bombing and the OSDE Social Studies Director Kelly Curtright. Breakout session will include topics related to civics, economics, financial literacy, geography, and history.

A light breakfast will be served at registration; lunch will be provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City - Oklahoma City Branch.

For conference registration and information visit www.okbar.org/public/lre/calendar.php.

OBA Members Volunteer to Raise Funds for OETA

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:10:00 -0500

That sound you heard last week was OBA members calling in and donating over $6,100 in support of OETA. That number keeps the OBA at the “Underwriting Producers” donor level. Thank you to the 21 OBA members that volunteered their time answering all those phone calls and taking pledges at the OETA Festival 2012!

Melinda Alizadeh-Fard
Cathy Christensen
John Claro
Brad Davenport
Brandi Duden
Jerrod Geiger
Sam Glover
Tina Izadi
Greg James
Mark Koss
Ernest Nalagan
Ed Oliver
Nancy Parrott
Robert Powell
Max Rhodes
Charles “Dick” Rouse
Ricki Sonders
Margaret Travis
Mary Travis
Richard Vreeland
John Morris Williams

Facing the Alternative: How Does a Flat Fee System Really Work?

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:53:58 -0500

Alternative billing was the focus of a recent article in the American Bar Association Journal. This article focused on the mechanics of instituting this type of an arrangement within a law firm and interviewed several attorneys who had been heavily involved in the process.

You can read the complete article, Facing the Alternative: How Does a Flat Fee System Really Work?, online at ABAJournal.com.

Lawyers Helping Lawyers Foundation Banquet March 27

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:12:13 -0500

Great speakers, MCLE ethics credit, dinner and auction items are being combined into one great event to kickoff the revitalized LHL Foundation Inc. The reception and silent auction starts Tuesday, March 27, at 5:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma Bar Center, 1901 N. Lincoln Blvd., in Oklahoma City.

Check out the awesome live auction and silent auction items. Speakers will be Oklahoma City attorney Reggie Whitten and James Blackburn, author of Flame-out: From Prosecuting Jeffrey MacDonald to Serving Time to Serving Tables.

Reserve your seat today! Tickets: $30–50. It’s not too late. Sign up today.

Youthful Crimes, Life Sentences

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:45:01 -0500

Youthful offenders will be the focus of the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 20. The Court will hear two cases, one from Alabama and one from Arkansas, on whether juvenile offenders can be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for murder.

Lyle Denniston, writing on SCOTUSblog, gives a preview of the arguments examining the prior opinions on this issue, the procedural background, the critical issues and has some thoughts about strategy. He identifies Justice Anthony M. Kennedy as the key swing vote and states that “the key question, then, in the Miller and Jackson cases, may well be whether the states will be able to convince Kennedy that the most important consideration now is not the limitations of youth but the gravity of the crime of murder.”

Read his entire post for complete analysis of these cases and a preview of the arguments.

OBA/LRE Presents: A Partnership for Civic Education

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:26:44 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association and Oklahoma City University have created a Partnership for Civic Education to introduce iCivics to Oklahoma educators and students. Used in conjunction with lessons brought to the classroom through the OBA’s Lawyers in the Classroom program, the OBA and OCU hope to ignite a passion for civic education and citizen involvement and renewed respect for the importance of an independent judicial system.

A stronger, more dedicated partnership has never been formed. The opportunities are endless. The benefits to Oklahoma students are undeniable.

Clinton High School Wins State Mock Trial Championship

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:21:51 -0500

Clinton High School’s Gold Team defeated Ada High School’s Maroon Team in the final round of competition to claim the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial Championship.

Oklahoma Bar Association President Cathy Christensen of Oklahoma City said, “The Clinton High School team demonstrated excellent presentation skills, and I am confident it will represent Oklahoma well at the national competition in Albuquerque, N.M. in May. The OBA Young Lawyers Division and Oklahoma Bar Foundation are pleased to sponsor the mock trial program.”

OBA Seeks Director of Educational Programs

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:23:16 -0500

It is with regret that the OBA has accepted the resignation of Educational Programs Director Donita Bourns Douglas, who is leaving to accept a new position with InReach. The OBA is now accepting applications for the position that manages and directs the association's Continuing Legal Education Department and other educational programs. A detailed job description is online. Submission deadline is Friday, March 30, 2012.

Ada and Clinton High School Teams to Compete for State Mock Trial Championship

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:19:57 -0500

Ada High School’s Maroon Team will prosecute and Clinton High School’s Gold Team will represent the defendant to determine the winner of the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial competition on March 6. The final round will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Bell Courtroom at the University of Oklahoma College of Law in Norman.

Black History Month

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:02:38 -0500

Black History Month

By Kara I. Smith, OBA Diversity Committee Co-Chair

Black History Month is a time to honor and reflect on black history, better yet American history. For me Black History Month is a time for me to reflect on the bridges I have been able to cross because of the work of others who have come before me. The great works of civil rights icons Clara Luper, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Fannie Lou Hamer — and many others — help me find credence in quotes like a couple of my favorites by Booker T. Washington and Thurgood Marshall:

[S]uccess is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.
Booker T. Washington

None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody — a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns — bent down and helped us pick up our boots.
Thurgood Marshall

Important 2011 Mandatory CLE Reminders

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:48:39 -0500

There are only a few more days to satisfy any outstanding MCLE obligations that you might have for 2011. If you need to report an exemption for 2011 or if you need to report additional credits for 2011, or if you are unsure whether you need additional credit, please check out the following important information.

If you have questions, please contact the MCLE Department at 405‑416‑7009 or mcle@okbar.org.

Bacharach Nominated to Appeals Court

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:49:21 -0500

Judge Robert E. Bacharach has received a presidential nomination for a position on the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. He had served as a federal magistrate judge for the Western District of Oklahoma since 1999.

The Mississippi native holds a B.A. in history from OU, and earned his law degree in 1985 from Washington University in St. Louis. He began his career in 1985 as a law clerk to Judge William Holloway of the 10th Circuit Court. In 1987, he joined the Oklahoma City law firm Crowe & Dunlevy, where he was named a shareholder and director in 1994. He has been appointed to replace Robert H. Henry on the court.

Read more about Judge Bacharach's nomination at whitehouse.gov.

Nine Attorneys Recently Sworn in to OBA Board of Governors

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:04:41 -0500

Members of the 2012 Board of Governors take the oath of office before the Supreme Court during a January 19, 2012 ceremony.

This past Thursday, nine attorneys took the oath of office to serve on the OBA Board of Governors.

Cathy Christensen of Oklahoma City will lead the OBA in 2012. It will be a tremendous year filled with many events and opportunities. Relive the swearing in ceremony through the photo gallery.

New OBA Board Members Take Oath

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:52:28 -0500

Nine new members of the OBA Board of Governors were sworn in to their positions Jan. 19 at 10:30 a.m. in the Supreme Court Ceremonial Courtroom at the State Capitol. Officers and their new positions are Cathy Christensen, Oklahoma City, president; James Stuart, Shawnee, president-elect; and Peggy Stockwell, Norman, vice president.

Those sworn in to the Board of Governors to represent their judicial districts for three-year terms were Kimberly Hays, Tulsa; Nancy Parrott, at-large, Oklahoma City; Bret Smith, Muskogee; and Linda Thomas, Bartlesville.

Sworn in to one-year terms on the board were Deborah Reheard, Eufaula, immediate past president; and Jennifer Kirkpatrick, Oklahoma City, Young Lawyers Division Chairperson.

OBA’s ADR Section Looks to Identify Oklahoma Mediators

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:51:13 -0500

OBA member attorneys increasingly ask the OBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section to identify OBA attorneys that hold themselves out to be qualified mediators. We are unaware of any statewide list of qualified attorney mediators or any list of Oklahoma attorneys that hold themselves out to the public as being qualified mediators.

This led the section to compile a database of attorneys in each county that hold themselves out to be mediators who are qualified by training, experience, or both. We are simply gathering this information at this time. Accordingly, if you represent yourself to the public to be a qualified attorney mediator, please complete, sign and return this questionnaire via mail or email.

Postjudgment and Prejudgment Interest for 2012 Determined

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:49:18 -0500

POSTJUDGMENT INTEREST: The State Treasurer has certified to the Administrative Director of the Courts that the prime interest rate as listed in the first edition of the Wall Street Journal published for calendar year 2012 is 3.25 percent. In accordance with 12 O.S. §727.1 (I), the postjudgment interest rate shall be the prime interest rate plus two (2%) percentage points, which equals 5.25 percent.

PREJUDGMENT INTEREST: In accordance with 12 O.S. §727.1 (I) and (K), the prejudgment interest rate applicable to actions filed on or after January 1, 2010, shall be "a rate equal to the average United States Treasury Bill rate of the preceding calendar year." The State Treasurer has certified to the Administrative Director of the Courts that the average United States Treasury Bill rate of the preceding calendar year is 0.05 percent.

These interest rates will be in effect from January 1, 2012, until the first regular business day of January 2013.

Interest rates listed below for each year prior to the current year were calculated in accordance with the statute in effect for that year.

Interest Rates since January 1, 2010, are as follows:

Year	Postjudgment Interest Rate	Prejudgment Interest Rate
2010	5.25%	0.14%
2011	5.25%	0.13%
2012	5.25%	0.05%

Interest rates from November 1, 1986, through December 31, 2009, are as follows:

Year	Rate
1986	11.65%
1987	10.03%
1988	9.95%
1989	10.92%
1990	12.35%
1991	11.71%
1992	9.58%
1993	7.42%
1994	6.99%
1995	8.31%
1996	9.55%
1997	9.15%
1998	9.22%
1999	8.87%
2000	8.73%
2001	9.95%
2002	7.48%
2003	5.63%
2004	5.01%
2005	7.25%
2006	9.25%
2007	10.25%
2008	9.25%
2009	5.25%

/s/ Michael D. Evans
Administrative Director of the Courts

Applicant List Released for February 2012 Bar Exam

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:14:33 -0500

The Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct impose on each member of the bar the duty to aid in guarding against the admission of candidates unfit or unqualified because of deficiency in either moral character or education. To aid in that duty, the following is a list of applicants for the bar examination to be given February 28–29, 2012.

Send correspondence to:

Cheryl Beatty
Administrative Director
Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners
P.O. Box 53036
Oklahoma City, OK 73152

Edmond

Ivory Chandler II
Christopher Morgan Dodd
Kari Anne Hoffhines
Stephen Moriarty
Hillary Dawn Raubach
John Christopher Scott
Amanda Leigh Smith
Jayme Kathryn Smith
Brice Adam Taylor
Joshua Allen Walker

Norman

Benjamin Howard Bailey
Courtney Cochran Blau
William Herbert Deveraux Jr.
Amanda Jo Ezell
James Lynn Franks
Amanda Elizabeth Garnand
James Garrison Greenleaf
David Wayne Houck
Kyle Roger Hurst
Steven Lamont Jaussi
Patrick Hayden Lane
Eric Thomas Meyers
Gregory Watson Morgan
Brett Adam Murphy
David Alan Puckett
Ethan Appleton Shaner
Kaben Lynn Smallwood
Nicholas Lee Stafford
Ryan Kevin Swartwood
Kate Cordray Thompson

Oklahoma City

Oreoluwatola Oluwadunsin Adesina
Petra Lois Dashner
Allen Nelson Doyel
Amanda Essaili
Nicholas Alexander Harrison
Kelli Brooke Hilgenfeld
Sharmeisha Jordan
James Michael Kerrigan II
Jared Alan King
Rebecca Jean King
Lisa Leigh Lopez
Joy Renee Maxwell
Jonathon Wilson McCartney
Ross William Miller
Nichole Rachele Moisant
Dustin Richard Murer
Lawrence Earlee Pecan III
John Thomas Poling
Michelle Lynn Roberts
Colby Lee Robertson
Celia Claire Roye
Jason David Sutton
Jill Elizabeth Swank
Andrew Richard Swartzberg
Ian Andrew Tennery
Christa Rochelle Uhland
Sabre Nichole Weathers
Edward Holmes Whalen
Robbi Jill Young

Tulsa

Meredith Leigh Baker
Benjamin Judson Brown
Amber Kay Burton
Kristen Diane Decker
Kimberly Golden Gore
Joshua Kyle Hefner
Martha Lynne Hyde
Annie Elizabeth Kellough
Jeffrey Price Krigel
Melissa Sue Kunz
Susannah Gale Mitchell
Rebecca Lynn Newman
Ryan John Patterson
Elizabeth Kathleen Pence
Erh Kang Perng
Charles Lee Reese V
Eric Lee Reynolds
Ravi Shankar Savitala
Alicia Rene Seyler
Lindsey Rebecca Snedden
Devesh Ramesh Taskar
Eric Richard Thorsen
David Andrew Walk

Other Oklahoma Cities and Towns

Heather Rosana Anderson, Broken Arrow
Jessica Katherine Bean, Ardmore
William Gregory Combs, Bethany
Alan Bruce Davidofsky, Yukon
Kristin Rena’ Edwards, McAlester
Ryan Jean Ellis, Broken Arrow
Ben Huston Ezzell, Enid
Stephanie Kay Fryar, Harrah
Johnathan Miles Gagnon, Yukon
Nicholas Eugene Grant, Spiro
John Thomas Green, Ponca City
Joshua James Holloway, Moore
Richard Joe Hunter, Anadarko
Jerrick Lee Irby, Broken Arrow
Cassandra Mae Kabat, Lawton
Tracian Marie Laignel, Broken Arrow
Lawrence Mitchell Lantz, Grove
Benjamin Michael Lepak, Claremore
Lisa Marie Loader, Enid
Pedro Juan Mari II, Broken Arrow
Kenneth Robert Massey, Shawnee
Angela Dee Mauch, Broken Arrow
Rachel Lynn McAlvain, Tahlequah
Venisa Maria McLaughlin, Stillwater
Jay C. Meyers, Lawton
Phelicia Ann Morton, Okmulgee
Jenna Leigh Newcomer, Howe
James Wesley Scott Pebsworth, Jenks
Melissa Jean Perez, Owasso
Jeremy Francis Plummer, Beggs
Thomas Price Purvis, Guthrie
Dahlia Nadeen Radcliffe-Castillo, Lawton
Claibourne E. Rick III, Yukon
Nicole Danielle Shanks-Cagle, Muskogee
Brittany J. Smith, Midwest City
Tonya Lynn Thurman, Bartlesville
James Edward Watzke, Broken Arrow
Lawrence Michael Wheeler, Chickasha

Out of State

Arya Affeldt Adibi, Fayetteville, AR
Nikki Lynn Baker, Henderson, NV
Denise Lynne Bakewell, Fairbanks, AK
Justin John Barth, Jamestown, ND
Raphael Berger II, Allen, TX
Max Werner Blaser, Lamar, MO
Tyler Robert Christians, Arlington, VA
Charles Newton Clarke, Brooklyn, NY
James Nicholas Crews, Kansas City, MO
Jacqueline Sue Cronkhite, Fort Smith, AR
Robert Scott Denton, Port Hueneme, CA
Melanie Kay Dockins, Arlington, VA
Sarai Geary, Glenpool, KS
Lindsay Erin Grisamer, Fort Worth, TX
Steven Tyler Hardt, Austin, TX
Robert Lee Harmon, Colleyville, TX
Amber Dawn Howard Cornelius, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Jacob Russell Lee Howell, Van Buren, AR
Louis Randy Jagodzinski, St. Joseph, MO
Tanner Bryce Jones, New York, NY
Mark William Keller, Arlington, TX
Jordan Louis Miller, Denver, CO
Coy David Morgan, San Antonio, TX
Richard Prince Jr., Lawrence, KS
Jason Anthony Sansone, Dallas, TX
Gwendolyn McKee Savitz, Philadelphia, PA
Keith Allen Schrodt, Frisco, TX
Patrick Robert Scott, Wichita Falls, TX
David Scott Shelton, Houston, TX
Susana G. Sosa, Katy, TX
Elizabeth Jo Tandy, Frisco, TX
Dustin Gabbard Thomas, Plano, TX
Thomas T. Tran, Fort Worth, TX
Amy Elizabeth White, Washington, DC
Lindsey Nicole Workman, Simi Valley, CA

Waivers Offered to Military Members

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:16:37 -0500

Dues waived for members serving in combat zones

The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently approved an amendment to the Rules Creating and Controlling the OBA allowing the waiver of annual bar dues for deployed military members: Active OBA members who are in an active duty and deployed status serving outside of the United States or one of its territories with the U.S. Armed Forces in a combat zone or receiving “Imminent Danger Pay” (combat pay) or “hardship duty pay” in any given year may request that dues be waived for that year.

A request for a waiver of dues, along with sufficient supporting documentation of service, shall be submitted to the OBA executive director as soon as reasonably practical. Members requesting such dues waiver shall have the right to appeal any administrative decisions made by the executive director to the OBA Board of Governors and ultimately to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. In the event the member is not able to submit the request personally, such request can be made by a family member, law partner or other such person having authority to act on behalf of the member.

Do you need an MCLE waiver, too?

Full-year duty

Members of the armed forces on full-time active duty during the entire calendar year shall be exempt from the educational requirement of the MCLE Rules. Online reporting will be available on MyOKBar after January 5, 2012. Such exemptions for 2011 must be reported prior to February 15, 2012.

Partial-year duty

Members of the armed forces on full-time active duty for a portion of the calendar year may be granted a full or partial waiver by the MCLE Commission upon written application by the attorney.

Applications may be obtained by contacting the MCLE department (405-416-7009 or mcle@okbar.org) or from the MCLE page on the website and should be submitted prior to the February 15 annual reporting deadline. Application for a waiver may be submitted by the OBA member, a family member, law partner or other person having authority to act on behalf of the member.

Law Day Contest Deadline Approaching

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:15:19 -0500

Dec. 31 is the last day to submit entries into this year’s Law Day art and writing contests, with prizes up to $500. “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom” is the theme for this year’s Law Day, and all entries will be based on originality and interpretation of the theme.

Details are at www.okbar.org/lawday.

MCLE Deadlines Approaching as the Year Ends

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:36:13 -0500

We all know that the holidays are coming and that proverbial goose is getting fat, but do you remember that the deadline to earn your remaining CLE credit for 2011 is December 31?

If you’re not sure how much credit you need, just click Check MCLE Credits to get started.

We also have a Frequently Asked Questions Page to help you answer your MCLE questions. If you don’t find the answer to your question, we have a bonus round of FAQs. And if you still don’t find your answer, please call the MCLE department at 405-416-7009 or email mcle@okbar.org.

When you access your MCLE records online you can also pay your dues, sign up for section membership, donate to Lawyers Helping Lawyers and the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, and update your roster information (we need a good email address for you!).

So earn your required credit now and spend that $100 late compliance fee on something else…maybe a gift for me?

Valerie Couch Named OCU Law Dean

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:40:54 -0500

Federal Magistrate Judge Valerie K. Couch has been named the 12th dean of Oklahoma City University School of Law.

She was appointed United States magistrate judge for the Western District of Oklahoma in March 1999. Prior to that she was in private practice with the Oklahoma City firm Hartzog Conger & Cason, P.C., where she was an associate from 1983–88 and a director and shareholder from 1988–99.

She holds a juris doctor and a master’s degree in English literature from OU. She received her bachelor’s degree in English literature from UCLA.

Her official duties will begin July 1.

Read the full story at NewsOK.com.

Tech Toys for the Holidays

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:39:15 -0500

Jim Calloway, Director, Management Assistance Program of the Oklahoma Bar Association, teams with Sharon Nelson as hosts for the American Bar Association’s monthly podcast series called “The Digital Edge: Lawyers and Technology” for the Law Practice Today webzine. One of their most popular annual podcasts is “Tech Toys for the Holidays.” The podcast can be found at http://www.okbar.org/s/0oc1r and showcases everything from a wireless luggage finder and a mouse that scans to the DeLorean time machine and a robomower — and everything in between!

Some of our featured favorites are:

Listen to the podcast for details on these and other favorites. You’ll be glad you did!

State Bar Military Assistance Program Celebrates First-Year Success

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:20:40 -0500

State Bar Military Assistance Program Celebrates First-Year Success

Nearly 800 Oklahoma service members and veterans received no-cost legal help this year through the state bar association’s military assistance initiative. The Oklahoma Lawyers for America’s Heroes program has drawn more than 600 lawyers from across the state as volunteers, and the project is expected to grow even larger in 2012.

Annual Meeting 2011 Photo Gallery Now Online

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:14:05 -0500

If you missed the 2011 OBA Annual Meeting, well, we can’t describe how fun it was. Luckily for you, there are pictures to prove it.

For those of you that did attend, feel free to view the Annual Meeting photo gallery and remind yourself of the good times had!

Annual Meeting Bar Business Completed

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:12:19 -0500

For all those that attended the Annual Meeting Nov. 2-4 know what a great time it was. If you didn't, we certainly hope you participate next year! Either way, we've got business to get down to. On Friday, Nov. 4, your bar association's all-important business got underway.

House of Delegates actions went smoothly with all four resolutions being adopted along with the 2011 Title Examination Standards being approved. Also, the Board of Governors Elections were decided.

Did You Receive Your MCLE 2011 Interim Annual Report of Compliance?

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:11:08 -0500

Are you wondering about your CLE credit for 2011? Check your email inbox. You may have already received your 2011 Interim MCLE Report. You may have received an Interim Report by the regular mail if you do not have an email address in our records. If you are not exempt, you have until December 31, 2011 to earn any remaining credit you need for 2011 without having to pay a late fee.

You can also access your MCLE record at my.okbar.org. While you’re on MyOKBar, please take a minute to make sure that your contact information is correct. We want to continue to provide you with the most current information.

If credit is missing from your report, remember that sponsors have 30 days to report your attendance.

You can also make corrections or additions to your MCLE record for seminars attended from January 1, 2011 to September 15, 2011. Send documentation to the MCLE Department signed by the sponsor that verifies your hours of attendance for Oklahoma approved seminars. If your seminar has not yet been approved by the MCLE Department, applications for accreditation can be obtained at www.okbar.org/members/mcle or by contacting the MCLE department.

If we can help you, contact the MCLE Department at mcle@okbar.org, 405-416-7009, 800-522-8065. The large volume of questions we receive at this time of year could result in some delays. We will do our best to answer everyone as quickly as possible.

LHLAP Orientation - October 21st, 2011 - Noon to 2:30pm

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:09:44 -0500

This free orientation is for new and potential members and a “refresher” for current members. In this efficient two-hour lunch program you will learn the following:

Why LHL is vital to Oklahoma lawyers
How LHL operates and helps lawyers
The confidential referral process, step-by-step
How to support a lawyer in need
(Substance abuse and mental health issues)

Guest Speaker:
Greg Giltner, OKC Police Department, Chaplain and Coordinator for the Peer Support Program

TIME:
12:00 to 12:30 Lunch
12:30 to 2:30 Orientation/Training

PLACE:
OBA
1901 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3036

*Your valuable time will not be wasted. To reserve your box lunch, please RSVP by Wednesday, October 19th, to wandar@okbar.org.

Justice Teaching Program

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:08:25 -0500

Alarmed at people’s lack of knowledge about the American justice system, Florida Supreme Court Justice R. Fred Lewis started a statewide civic education effort in his home state to reach out to public schools. Five years later his Justice Teaching Program now involves 4,500 volunteer lawyers and judges donating at least two hours each month at every school in Florida.

On Thursday Sept. 29 at 9 a.m. at the Oklahoma Justice Center, 2100 N. Lincoln Blvd. in Oklahoma City, Justice Lewis shared details about his successful program with Oklahoma education leaders and legal professionals.

Justice Lewis came to Oklahoma at the invitation of the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Sharing concern about the decline of civic engagement and political apathy, OBA President-Elect Cathy Christensen of Oklahoma City has decided to place special emphasis on law-related education during her upcoming presidential year, with particular attention paid to the role of the courts.

“Each student in Oklahoma is entitled to understand the third branch of government,” Christensen said. “We owe our students the opportunity to understand their rights and responsibilities in a nation governed by the rule of law. Unfortunately, in the quest to leave no child behind, civic education may have been left at the bus stop. Students do not understand civic education, the three branches of government and the rule of law in a civilized society.”

Justice Lewis began his program with monthly visits to four schools. At the completion of his first semester, he realized success when students organized to improve the quality of cafeteria food at their school.

Christensen, along with the OBA Law-related Education Committee, chaired by OBA Vice President Reta Strubhar of Piedmont, and the Special Committee on Public Education, chaired by Suzanne Heggy of Yukon, share Justice Lewis’ vision for justice teaching and are coordinating the justice’s presentation with the belief that a similar program could work well here in Oklahoma.

Christensen said, “I know Oklahoma attorneys and judges have long been committed to donating their time in Oklahoma schools. OBA-LRE would like to increase participation of lawyers and judges in the classroom and ensure that each school in Oklahoma, public or private, large or small, receives the benefit of an attorney or judge in their classroom.”

She said the OBA envisions duplicating the Florida model to provide a service to Oklahoma students.

The OBA and our membership are dedicated to creating successful students today who become citizen leaders tomorrow,” Christensen said. “An understanding of civics is a gift that every student deserves.”

Welcome New Members!

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:05:48 -0500

Welcome New Members!

This past Thursday, 300-plus new lawyers were welcomed to the Oklahoma Bar Association! New members were sworn in by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the House of Representatives Chambers. The ceremony was followed by a reception in the rotunda courtesy of the OBA Young Lawyers Division.

OBA Annual Meeting — A Tradition of Pride

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:42:59 -0500

As I write this message, I am beginning my ninth month as president of this association. While I am proud of the work our organization has accomplished this year, the biggest challenge of my presidency may lie ahead.

On Nov. 2-4, our association will meet in Tulsa for its 107th Annual Meeting. So why is that so challenging? The challenge is to bring back the tradition of attending the Annual Meeting.

Read the full article at http://am.okbar.org/2011/presidents-message/

Constitution Day Celebrated in Oklahoma

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 16:40:54 -0500

Independence Day, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day observations remind us of the value and cost of our freedom. Activist Louise Leigh saw the need to venerate the document that expressed and guaranteed these ideals of freedom. Leigh began her crusade to promote Constitution Day in 1997; seven years later the federal government passed legislation requiring federally funded schools to use Constitution Day as a time to teach students about the Constitution.

The need to educate our children and community about the Constitution, representative democracy, and the legal system is essential in developing a responsible citizenry and preserving our freedoms. Commemorating Constitution Day allows an opportunity to share with the next generation respect for and understanding of the Constitution and their responsibility to continue this legacy of liberty.

The members of the Oklahoma Bar Association are committed to the support of educational programs that further the understanding of the democratic system. To further this cause, free Pocket Constitutions are available for distribution to students and community organizations through the Law-related Education Department. Attorneys are encouraged to contact local schools to assist with Constitution Day and Freedom Week activities.

July 2011 Oklahoma Bar Exam Results Released

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:17:40 -0500

The Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners has released the results of the July 2011 Bar Exam. A total of 381 took the exam, with 317 passing (an 83% pass rate).

The complete list and swearing-in info can be found at okbar.org.

2011 Mona Salyer Lambird Spotlight Award Recipients Announced

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:15:39 -0500

The award is sponsored by the OBA Women in Law Committee. Each year all previous winners nominate and select the current year’s recipients. A plaque bearing the names of all recipients hangs at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City.

The 2011 recipients are...

Governor Fallin Selects Judge Tom Thornbrugh to Fill Vacancy on Oklahoma Civil Appeals Court

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:14:21 -0500

Governor Mary Fallin announced Friday she has selected Judge Tom Thornbrugh of Tulsa to fill the vacancy on the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals District Three.

Since 1997, Thornbrugh has served as district court judge for the 14th Judicial District and currently serves as presiding judge. He has presided over more than 200 jury trials involving civil and criminal felony matters.

Read the rest of this article here…

Muskogee County Bar Hosts Free Legal Clinic for Veterans

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:12:21 -0500

The Muskogee County Bar Association held the first legal advice clinic for area military service members and veterans on Aug. 13. The clinic was staffed by volunteer attorneys from the county bar, including OBA President Deborah Reheard, District 7 Gov. Lou Ann Moudy and OBA Executive Director John Morris Williams.

As part of the Oklahoma Lawyers for America’s Heroes program, similar free legal clinics will take place across the state on Nov. 11, 2011.

Legal advice and a listening ear

Through the course of the clinic, members assisted some 30 veterans with legal questions covering estate planning, veteran’s benefits, contracts and real estate. Any veteran with a question warranting further action was either referred to the Oklahoma Lawyers for America’s Heroes volunteer attorney bank or was self-referred to the volunteer attorney at intake.

The number of “thank-yous” received was incredible and was, as described by one volunteer, humbling to have the opportunity to give back to these men and women who have served our country admirably in the wars and conflicts of history.

More than one veteran broke down in tears at simply having the opportunity to have someone listen to his legal issue and advise him of his options. One 83-year-old veteran admitted to having been taken advantage of financially when he loaned money to someone close to him who had long since stopped returning his calls. Many others reported that they’ve been unable to recover benefits to which they were entitled.

Fast resolution for legal issues

A week after his clinic visit, the elderly veteran has been fully paid back the money he was due, and volunteer attorneys also assisted him in drafting an estate plan to further protect it. Those who had been denied benefits are now on the path to receive them, and those with questions now have answers and more importantly, options.

You can help our veterans!

These free legal clinics are available because Oklahoma attorneys are active in their communities and support America’s service members. There are several clinics scheduled state-wide for Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2011. If you are an OBA member, sign up to volunteer for one. If you are or know of a veteran who needs legal assistance, visit www.okbar.org/heroes and sign up to meet with a volunteer attorney.

Opening Your Law Practice — 2011 Edition

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:29:29 -0500

Opening Your Law Practice is a free seminar for new lawyers, those returning to private practice or venturing out on their own. The program will address the nuts and bolts of setting up a law practice, including marketing, available resources, law office technology, client relations, professionalism, financial management, ethics and trust accounting, malpractice insurance, accounting and tax for law firms, and risk management.

This informative seminar is free with pre-registration and lunch is provided by Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Company. Speakers are:

Gina Hendryx, Oklahoma Bar Association General Counsel
Jim Calloway, Director, OBA Management Assistance Program
Judge David B. Lewis, Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
Ted Blodgett, CPA, CVA, JD, Gray, Blodgett and Company, CPA's
Phil Fraim, President, Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Company

Get complete details and registration information here.

Military Assistance Program Thrives

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:14:08 -0500

Military Assistance Program Thrives

by OBA President Deb Reheard

Free CLE for New Volunteers

We are more than halfway through the inaugural year of our Oklahoma Lawyers for America’s Heroes project, what we believe will be the first of many years for this important community service program for our association. So far, more than 300 military service members and veterans have requested our assistance with their legal challenges, and we stand ready for action. Hundreds of Oklahoma lawyers have stepped up and are volunteering pro bono representation of American heroes.

We continue to encourage bar members to sign up for the project, because as news of the program spreads, we anticipate the demand for our services will increase dramatically. With that in mind, the OBA Continuing Legal Education Department is offering a free CLE this month for lawyers who volunteer to provide 20 hours of pro bono assistance to service members in need.

The free CLE is set for 8:30 a.m., Aug. 19 at the Northwestern Oklahoma State University — Enid Campus, 2929 E. Randolph. Participating attorneys will receive seven hours of MCLE including one hour of ethics. The CLE will touch on the practice areas in which service members are most likely to encounter issues, such as family law, consumer or credit issues, estate planning and disability law.

The program is being co-sponsored by the Garfield County Bar Association. Our partner organization, Pros4Vets, is also sponsoring the event and will provide lunch for attendees. To sign up, visit www.okbar.org/s/7sdpi or call 405-416-7006.

Why Should You Volunteer?

We have found that younger reservists who are paid the least are often the most at-risk for legal problems. They are in stressful situations and are separated from their families. This stress can lead to trauma, substance abuse and suicide. As an association, our goal is to step in and prevent these problems from spiraling out of control. As attorneys, this program gives us the opportunity to serve those who have served us in defending our freedom. As your president, I encourage you to repay the debt we owe these American heroes for the sacrifices they make on the battlefield and back home.

The Aug. 19 CLE in Enid mirrors a similar program that took place in Oklahoma City in February. That “OBA Boot Camp: Oklahoma Lawyers Representing America’s Heroes,” was an amazing event that made me proud to lead this association. In addition to becoming better educated in the best practices for representing our service members, we had a lot of fun. A surprise visitor included NFL standout and former Sooner Roy Williams. While we can’t guarantee football legends at every CLE, we can guarantee that this will be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for lawyers who sign up.

We already anticipate more than $1 million worth of legal services will be donated to our military members as a result of this program. While that’s a great number, it’s only a start. We hope that OBA members who could not attend the CLE in Oklahoma City will make the trip to Enid and join us in our efforts. Please ask yourself this question: “For those who serve, will you serve?”

Chinese Students Visit Bar Center

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 09:19:15 -0500

The OBA recently hosted a luncheon for law students from four universities in China. The students were in Oklahoma City to attend the Certificate in American Law Course at the OCU School of Law. Among those attending were (from left) OCU Law Dean Emeritus Lawrence Hellman, Andrew Chen, Roxannie Zhang and OBA President Deborah Reheard.

Reward with an Award!

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:18:16 -0500

Do you know a lawyer or nonlawyer who has positively impacted the community or an individual? Feel that this person needs to be recognized? The OBA Annual Meeting Awards nominations are exactly what you need! From ethics to judicial excellence, public service to professionalism, there are several categories that might fit your need.

Read more about the 2011 OBA Annual Meeting Awards and nominate someone today!

Educators Attend Founding Documents Institute

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:15:41 -0500

Oklahoma and Texas educators attended the Hatton W. Sumners Founding Documents Institute in Norman July 11–15. Teachers participated in sessions with scholars providing content and background on the Declaration of Independence, Federalist/Anti-Federalist writings, the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment. Law-Related Education-trained teacher/consultants Kathy Aldridge and Dodie Kasper provided practical lessons and strategies to utilize the content in classrooms.

This opportunity was offered through the Texas Law-Related Education Department and made possible by a grant from the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation.

Video Highlights Good Times at SSF 2011

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:16:30 -0500

WARNING: If you watch this video, you won’t be able to resist registering for the 2012 OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference.

As you can see, fun was had by all at this year’s conference. Watch for a 2012 "Save the date" soon.

Tucker Wins JNC District 1 Runoff Election

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:08:13 -0500

Tulsa attorney John Tucker has been elected to serve on the state’s Judicial Nominating Commission. Tucker will serve as one of six lawyers on the 15-member commission, which plays a key role in the selection of Oklahoma judges.

Get the details here.

Supreme Court Approves Rules Change

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:06:13 -0500

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has approved a proposed amendment to the Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association. The amendment provides that the budget shall be approved by the Board of Governors prior to being submitted to the Supreme Court.

The order and amendment can be downloaded as a PDF on the OBA website; the amended rule will be available on OSCN.net.

Judicial Nominating Commission Runoff Ballots Due

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:00:27 -0500

Election ballots must be turned in by 5 p.m. Friday, July 15 in the runoff election to determine the JNC District One (Creek and Tulsa counties) winner. Attorneys Guy Fortney and John Tucker were the top two finishers in the initial race, but neither candidate garnered more than 40 percent of the vote. Ballots were distributed to lawyers residing in District One last month.

More information about the 2011 JNC elections is available at www.okbar.org/jnc.

Educators Study Foundations of Democracy at Annual Institute

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:15:20 -0500

The fourth annual Hatton W. Sumners Foundations of Democracy Institute was held June 13-17, 2011, at the National Center for Employee Development in Norman. The 19 Oklahoma teachers in attendance were joined by three Slovakian educators. The institute highlighted the four essential concepts essential for establishing and maintaining a democracy: Responsibility, Privacy, Authority, and Justice.

Read the full story at www.okbar.org.

Education, Social Activities Make 2011 Solo & Small Firm Conference a Success

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:56:58 -0500

What Oklahoma event featured football legends Barry Switzer and Billy Sims, along with rock stars Tina Turner and Mick Jagger? The surprising answer is the 2011 OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference. The football legends both attended in person, while the rock stars were there via homages from our outstanding musical entertainment, New Odyssey.

Solo and small firm lawyers wear many hats. They are management and labor. They are professional service providers who also have all of the roles of any small business owner. On any given day, they may serve as chief marketing officer, chief information officer, budget director and custodian.

Juggling all of these various roles while serving clients can be challenging. The OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference is designed to help these lawyers with information about managing their practices and updates on substantive law. Many lawyers take their families with them for an early summer break in a pleasant location. The conference combines fun and networking opportunities with a packed schedule of programming that includes 12 hours of CLE presentations.

John Brewer, an Oklahoma City lawyer, was at the very first OBA SSF at Shangri La and estimates he has been to 10 conferences. "Educational programming is always at the top of the scale," Brewer says. "This year’s breakouts were particularly good. My advice for those who attended is to find time to read the materials. There is a lot there that the speakers couldn’t cover and for the breakout sessions you didn’t attend.”

Before the educational sessions started, we were pleased to welcome special guests and football legends Barry Switzer and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims. Barry Switzer showed that he still knows how to work a room, even if the “room” was poolside at the Downstream Resort. Billy Sims made a surprise appearance after he learned from one of the conference attendees that Barry was going to be there. Everyone who wanted their picture taken with one or both of them had an opportunity to do so.

The 2011 SSF Conference programming opened with the ever-popular 50 Tips in 50 Minutes and included sessions on improving client communication, handling expungements, advising clients on Medicaid and nursing home eligibility issues, and how lawyers can use an iPad in their practice.

New Odyssey was much more than just three guys playing 30 instruments. They put on a great show and those who left early for the casino or hospitality suites missed a treat. Some well-known OBA members were dancing on the dance floor and even on stage.

Ponca City lawyer Carolyn Smith has only missed two or three conferences. She has wound down her practice now, but spent her career as a true solo lawyer with no support staff, always in the same office space. Among the reasons she cited for attending the OBA SSF included “The materials, especially law office management/tech stuff aimed at the solo, socializing with OBA-Netters, and feeling like I really belong.” Carolyn was a big winner at this year’s conference, taking home a top of the line iPad 2. “I'm still giddy. This is too cool for words. I well remember when flash drives were coveted prizes,” she said.

Nominate Someone for an OBA Award Today

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:28:00 -0500

The time is now! If you know a lawyer who deserves to be recognized for an OBA Award, you need to nominate them soon.

Awards will be presented at the Annual Meeting to be held Nov. 2–4 in Tulsa. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 17. Anyone can submit an award nomination, and anyone nominated can win. Nominations don’t have to be long; they can be as short as a one-page letter or as long as five, single-sided pages. Want to keep it really simple? More information and forms are available at www.okbar.org/awards.

Leadership Academy Deadline Approaches

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:29:18 -0500

The 2011-12 Leadership Academy is accepting applications through Wednesday, June 15, 2011.

Participants will learn communications, networking, and service through a series of sessions taught by leaders in the legal community.

Visit www.okbar.org/leadership to get details about the Academy and how to apply.

Annual Solo & Small Firm Conference Kicks Off

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:26:56 -0500

The 2011 OBA Solo & Small Firm kicked off Thursday evening at the Downstream Resort and Casino in Quapaw, Okla. Over 150 lawyers and their families will attend the annual conference, which runs through Saturday, June 11.

You can keep track of what’s happening at the event by following @oklahomabar on Twitter, and using the official hashtag #OKBarSSF. Event details are at www.okbar.org/solo.

State Bar Offers Free Legal Advice to Tornado Victims

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:18:10 -0500

Attorneys are gearing up to offer no-cost legal services to recent tornado disaster victims through a special program coordinated by the Oklahoma Bar Association. People needing legal advice on issues related directly to the recent tornadoes should go to www.okbar.org/DisasterRelief or call (800) 522-8065 on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This free service begins immediately; complete details are available on www.okbar.org.

Candidates for Judicial Nominating Commission Announced

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:17:00 -0500

Elections for Districts 1 and 2 of the Judicial Nominating Commission will take place June 3-17, 2011. Ballots will be mailed to members June 3.

This year, 5 candidates are running in District 1; 2 candidates face off in District 2.

For a complete list of candidates and their bios, visit www.okbar.org/jnc.

Bar Exam Candidate List Released

Wed, 25 May 2011 14:03:20 -0500

The Board of Bar Examiners has released the candidate list for the July 2011 bar exam and requests that members examine this list and bring to the board’s attention in a signed letter any information which might influence the board in considering the moral character and fitness to practice of any applicant for admission.

View the list of candidates here.

Celebrity to Attend Reception at Solo & Small Firm Conference

Mon, 23 May 2011 10:32:37 -0500

Celebrity to Attend Reception at Solo & Small Firm Conference

Barry Switzer, the former Oklahoma Sooners’ head coach who led his team to three national championships, 12 Big 8 Conference championships and eight bowl wins (as well as a Super Bowl Championship as the head coach for the Dallas Cowboys), will attend the opening reception. He’ll be available for photos and autographs.

OSU Cowboy fans will also find many activities to enjoy at the conference to be held June 9–11, 2011 at the Downstream Resort in Quapaw (in the far northeastern corner of the state).

For more information about the conference, including a complete schedule of presentations, please visit www.okbar.org/solo. You can also register online on the site while you’re there.

Leadership Academy Accepting Applications for 2011-12

Fri, 13 May 2011 15:38:46 -0500

The OBA is now accepting applications for the 2011-12 OBA Leadership Academy starting Oct. 2011. Sessions generally run two days during select months.

Any OBA member is eligible to apply, and there is no cost to participate (besides travel). Application deadline is June 15.

Find out more about this program at www.okbar.org/leadership.

Project Citizen State Showcase Held in Oklahoma City

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:36:54 -0500

The We the People: Project Citizen State Showcase was held at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 4, 2011.

We the People: Project Citizen is a curricular program that promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government. The program helps young people learn how to monitor and influence public policy. In the process, they develop support for democratic values and principles, tolerance, and feelings of political efficacy.

Entire classes of students or members of youth organizations work cooperatively to identify a public policy problem in their community. They research the problem, evaluate alternative solutions, develop their own solution in the form of a public policy, and create a political action plan to enlist local or state authorities to adopt their proposed policy. Participants develop a portfolio of their work and present their project in a hearing showcase before a panel of civic-minded community members.

The Project Citizen program is administered with the assistance of a national network of state and congressional district coordinators in every state. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Education by act of Congress.

Congratulations to the following classes:

First Place: Diane Reece - 5^th/6^th Grade Classes, Bokoshe Elementary, Bokoshe
Danger Fly Ash is in the Air We Breathe

Second Place: Shelley Zevnik Breece - Union 8th Grade Center, Broken Arrow
Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Third Place: Janet Cook - 5^th Grade Girls, Laverne Elementary, Laverne
Climbing to Safety

The National Project Citizen Showcase competition will be held in San Antonio, Texas August 8–10. Representing the state of Oklahoma will be Diane Reece's 5^th and 6^th grade portfolio Danger Fly Ash is in the Air We Breathe from Bokoshe, Oklahoma.

In Oklahoma, this program is administered by the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Law‑related Education Department.

Christian Heritage Academy Places 13th in National Competition

Mon, 09 May 2011 16:26:50 -0500

Nine students from Christian Heritage Academy in Del City competed in the National High School Mock Trial Competition, held May 4–8 in Phoenix, and placed 13^th in the final standings.

The Christian Heritage Academy team earned the right to advance to nationals by defeating Clinton High School in the state championship. The national competition featured 48 championship-winning teams, including teams from Guam, Australia and South Korea and first place teams from across the country. Indiana’s team took home first place honors.

“The mock trial program is such a tremendously beneficial program,” said Christian Heritage Academy’s attorney coach Jennifer Miller. “It not only teaches the students about the law and courtroom procedure, but also develops skills which will benefit each student throughout their life. The program helps the students become more confident in public speaking as students, whether portraying an attorney or a witness, gain the ability to think and reason quickly. The students gain self-esteem, poise and confidence.”

Jerrid Eischen is the teacher coach for the team. Team members are John Campbell, Katie Ceyler, Walker Clay, Kristen Copeland, Stone Hendrickson, Jared Miller, Ryan Morrisett, Taylor Palmer and Susie Wilson.

Mock Trial Coordinator Judy Spencer said, “Attorneys and mock trial committee members Nicole Longwell, Jennifer Bruner and Christine Cave joined 28 other observers in supporting our team during the fierce competition. I feel honored to be a part of this incredible program and the support it receives from Oklahoma’s legal community. I express my heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to all on a job well done throughout the 2010–2011 mock trial season.”

The state and national competitions involve teams of students taking on the roles of attorneys and defendants. During the “trials,” which are heard by judges and attorneys in a courtroom setting, individual and team performances are evaluated. In national competition, all teams begin with a new case.

The judges scored the students based on their familiarity of the case and the formulation of their arguments. The competition encourages the development of oral advocacy, critical thinking and communication skills. The quality of preparation, level of teamwork and adherence to the rules are also important factors in the competition.

The annual state competition is sponsored by the OBA Young Lawyers Division and the Oklahoma Bar Foundation.

Sovereignty Symposium 2011 Details Announced

Tue, 03 May 2011 09:44:08 -0500

The 2011 Sovereignty Symposium will be held in Oklahoma City June 1–2.

Sponsored in part by the OBA Indian Law Section, the symposium is an annual event established to provide a forum in which ideas concerning common legal issues can be exchanged in a scholarly, non-adversarial environment.

This year’s theme is Seeds of Sovereignty, with featured speaker Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne.

For a complete schedule of events, visit the OSCN Sovereignty Symposium website.

Local Court Rules for Western District Court Updated

Mon, 02 May 2011 14:55:58 -0500

The United States District Court, Western District of Oklahoma has updated the local court rules effective May 1, 2011.

There are several changes reflected in the 101–page document (pdf) which can be found on the Western District Court website.

TV Show to Discuss Oklahomans’ Legal Rights

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:38:43 -0500

Oklahomans will get a glimpse into the legal system when the annual, award-winning Ask A Lawyer call-in show airs Thursday, April 28, at 7 p.m.

This is the 33^rd year OETA and the Oklahoma Bar Association have co-produced the show, designed to share information about legal issues in easy‑to‑understand language.

Read more…

Welcome New Members!

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:13:51 -0500

Welcome to all the new members of the Oklahoma Bar Association! It’s exciting to have you join the ranks of those who are serving Oklahomans. Here’s some information to help get you started:

Senior Citizens to Receive Free Legal Advice

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:12:37 -0500

Members of the OBA Young Lawyers Division will be offering free legal advice to senior citizens in Muskogee on Saturday, April 23, 2011. These services will be provided from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Muskogee Public Library, 801 West Okmulgee.

Serving our Seniors (S.O.S.) is a project in which lawyers will be counseling low-income seniors with their estate planning needs at no cost. Volunteer lawyers will work with individuals by counseling them and drawing the proper documents to fulfill their needs. Documents provided will be a last will and testament, durable power of attorney and living will.

Law Day Contest Winners Announced

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:10:29 -0500

Twenty students from across the state were recently recognized at the State Capitol for their winning Law Day art and writing contest entries. Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Taylor met with the first-place winners and spoke to them about this year’s Law Day theme, “The Legacy of John Adams: Defending the Rights of the Accused.”

Bar Exam Results Announced

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:39:41 -0500

The Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners has announced the results of the Feb. 2011 Bar Exam. This cycle boasts an 84% pass rate for the 115 test-takers.

The swearing-in ceremony for new members will take place April 21, 2011 at the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Get the full details and complete results list here.

Opening Your Law Practice

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:38:22 -0500

The Opening Your Law Practice seminar (formerly the New Lawyers Experience) is designed for both starting and transitioning lawyers.

The OBA Opening Your Law Practice will be held Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at the Oklahoma Bar Center. The program covers the basics of law office operations in the areas of marketing, management, finance and technology. It’s free, and you do not need to be a new lawyer to attend.

A free lunch will be provided by Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Co. You do need to preregister by calling Mark Schneidewent at (405) 416-7026 or emailing him at marks@okbar.org.

More details and the program schedule are available online.

MCLE Compliance: Orders to Show Cause

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:36:23 -0500

Are you compliant with your MCLE requirements for 2010? If you are not and you are able to comply by April 8, 2011, you may avoid receiving the late notice we plan to send by certified mail.

To comply you must:

earn the required credit
file the 2010 Final Annual Report of Compliance
pay $200 for late compliance and late reporting

If you are eligible to report an exemption that you did not report or was not recorded for you by our office, you must:

mark the appropriate exemption on the 2010 Final Annual Report of Compliance
pay $100 for late filing

If you are unsure about your compliance for 2010, you can check your MCLE record online at my.okbar.org and log in using your bar number and your PIN. You can also download a blank 2010 Final Annual Report of Compliance. If you feel that our records are in error or if you have questions, please contact the MCLE office at (405) 416-7009 or mcle@okbar.org.

Members sometimes miss notices from the OBA due to an incorrect address. All members of the Association are required to provide the Association with a current address and shall promptly inform the Association of any changes in address in accordance with Article 11, Section 1 of the Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association and Rule 13.1 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings. You can update your address at my.okbar.org or contact Tracy Sanders at (405) 416-7068 or tracys@obkar.org.

Bar Members Celebrate Membership Anniversaries

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:26:51 -0500

New members will be sworn in to the bar in a few weeks, full of ambition to serve others through the practice of law. Many of our members took that same oath what may to them seem a lifetime ago, and are still proudly serving as officers of the court.

The Oklahoma Bar Association applauds those members who in 2011 will reach significant milestone anniversaries - 50, 60 and 70 years of membership in the association.

View the list here, then take a moment to write, call, or email one of them today to thank them for serving our profession.

Justice Gurich to Formally Swear In as Supreme Court Justice

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:38:11 -0500

All OBA members are invited to the formal swearing-in ceremony of Justice Noma Gurich, which will take place March 31 at 2p.m. in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the State Capitol.

A reception hosted by the OBA Women in Law Committee will follow immediately after the ceremony.

Bar Member Changing Lives as a Cub Scout Leader

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:36:49 -0500

Legal service is the business side of what lawyers do, and community service is another way they show the public their compassionate side—working together to make a difference in the lives of others in our society.

A recent story in The Oklahoman shares one OBA member’s contribution to his community.

Criminal defense lawyer David Slane helps teach important lessons to one particular Cub Scout Pack that combines homeless boys from the Positive Tomorrows program with Villa Teresa School in inner Oklahoma City. The merger is providing to be a success with one Scout saying that this is the best thing that he has ever had in his life.

Read the entire story…

Supreme Court Recognizes School/Teacher of the Year

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:35:29 -0500

The 2011 Oklahoma Supreme Court Teacher of the Year is Julie Valsaint who teaches second grade at Broken Arrow’s Westwood Elementary School, and the 2011 Oklahoma Supreme Court School of the Year is Cherokee Elementary School in Muskogee.

Awards were presented to the winners in a ceremony at the Oklahoma Supreme Court on March 7.

Read the full story here…

Register Now for the 2011 OBA Solo & Small Firm Conference and YLD Mid-year Meeting

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:31:15 -0500

Boot Camp: Back to Basic Training is our theme for this year’s Solo and Small Firm Conference. This year we will feature numerous “how to” sessions. This format gives lawyers who are familiar with a certain area of practice a chance to brush up on their skills and gives lawyers who may want to expand their practice into a certain area the basics on how to start serving those clients.

So whether it’s learning how to handle expungement cases, how to advise clients who are planning a needy relative’s admission into a nursing facility or how to obtain records from government agencies, we want you to leave this year’s conference with new skills to handle new and different matters.

Visit okbar.org/solo for complete details and registration.

New Photo Galleries Available

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:29:50 -0500

Photos from recent OBA related events are now available at http://albums.okbar.org, the OBA's official online photo gallery.

Recent updates include the 45th Brigade send-off as part of Oklahoma Lawyers for America's Heroes, OBA/LRE's Supreme Court School/Teacher of the Year awards, and the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial finals.

View and download pictures from these events and more…

State Mock Trial Championship Decided

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:41:46 -0500

Christian Heritage Academy in Del City defeated Clinton High School (Gold team) in the final round of competition to claim the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial Championship. Christian Heritage Academy will represent Oklahoma in the national competition, to be held in Phoenix in May.

Oklahoma Bar Association President Deborah Reheard of Eufaula said, "All of the teams have shown an understanding of the law and are getting a valuable lesson in how legal issues impact both individuals and businesses."

The final round of competition was held Tuesday evening in the Bell Courtroom at the OU Law Center in Norman. The two teams argued a case centered around a high school senior who filed a lawsuit against his school and its principal for violating two provisions of the First Amendment. The student was banned from running for office based on the religious content of his platform and campaign speech. The court granted a temporary restraining order stating that the elections cannot take place until the conclusion of a full evidentiary hearing and a ruling on the merits of a permanent injunction.

This year's winners of the best attorney awards were Ryan Morrisett of Christian Heritage Academy and Chase Maxwell of Clinton. Katie Ceyler of Christian Heritage Academy and Donticia Banks of Clinton were chosen as the best witnesses.

The annual competition is sponsored by the OBA Young Lawyers Division and the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. Teams are paired with volunteer attorney coaches.

The judges evaluated the students based on their familiarity of the case and the formulation of their arguments. Students received points for each phase of the trial, opening, direct and cross examination, closing argument and how well their witnesses responded.

Out of the 36 teams across the state that began competing in January, the top finishers are, in second place, Clinton High School (Gold team); third, Ada High School (Maroon team); fourth, Ada High School (White team); fifth, Okarche High School; sixth, Jenks High School (Athena team); seventh, Owasso High School (Red team); and eighth, Owasso High School (Rams team).

Retired Judge Edward Cunningham served as presiding judge during the contest finals. Scoring judges were Judge Kenneth Dickerson, Judge David B. Lewis, Judge Jequita Napoli, Judge Dana L. Rasure and Judge Millie Otey.

Nicole Longwell, a Tulsa attorney with McDaniel, Longwell, Acord & Kroll PLLC, chaired the Young Lawyers Division Mock Trial Committee.

Nearly 400 judges and attorneys volunteered their time to work with mock trial teams as coaches and to conduct the competitions.

State Mock Trial Finals Set for This Week

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:39:48 -0500

The Oklahoma High School Mock Trial Championship is set for Tuesday, March 1 in the Bell Courtroom at the OU Law Center in Norman. The competition will begin at 5:30 p.m

Clinton High School will compete against reigning champion Del City's Christian Heritage Academy. The winner will represent Oklahoma at the national finals in Phoenix, May 5 – 7.

OBA Committee Offers List of Proposed State Legislative Bills

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:38:34 -0500

As a result of its “Bill Reading Day,” the Legislative Monitoring Committee has compiled a list of bills that may be of interest to OBA members. The list is not reflective of any OBA position and does not signify opposition or support of any measure. The list of bills of interest is lengthy at this time, and it will shorten as the session progresses when bills begin to be eliminated. Making it easier to review, the list is an abbreviated summary of the legislation. To read a complete version of any bill, go to the Oklahoma Legislature home page. OBA members can do quick searches on the front page or sign into the system to do extensive bill tracking.

The following bills are part of the OBA Legislative Agenda: SB940, SB941, SB 942 and SB943. OBA members who are attending OBA Day at the Capitol on March 8, 2011, are encouraged to bring copies of any bills of interest with them to share with legislators in discussing the particular bill(s). Legislators see hundreds of bills this early in the session and having an actual copy of the legislation may make the conversation more meaningful.

Legislative Monitoring Committee Begins Efforts to Review Bills

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:36:46 -0500

By Duchess Bartmess

It is that time of year again. By the time this issue of the bar journal went to press, the first Session of the 53rd Oklahoma Legislature will have convened. That means the Legislative Monitoring Committee has begun its work. Because this is the first session of a new Legislature and, as always, there are a number of new members, traditionally a lot of bills and joint resolutions are introduced. This year, 1,213 bills and joint resolutions have been introduced in the House and 1,015 bills and joint resolutions have been introduced in the Senate. The LMC does not review simple resolutions and concurrent resolutions as they do not have the force and effect of law.

Read full article here...

Gurich Sworn in to High Court

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:34:58 -0500

Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Noma Gurich has reported for duty at the State Capitol. District Judge Jerry Bass administered the oath of office to Justice Gurich Feb. 15 during a small ceremony at her church.

Justice Gurich, who was appointed to the post in January by then-Gov. Brad Henry, postponed taking the oath until the Supreme Court resolved a lawsuit involving the Judicial Nominating Commission. The court decided Tuesday the commission was comprised constitutionally and the decision to appoint Gurich was ruled valid.

A formal swearing in ceremony will be held in the Supreme Court chambers within the next few weeks.

Justice Gurich is only the third woman in state history to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Justice Gurich replaces Justice Marian Opala, who died late last year.

Don't be Late! Pay Your Dues Today and Avoid Late Fees

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:33:29 -0500

The deadline to avoid late charges is Tuesday, February 15, 2011, and the OBA offers several easy ways to pay.

Online:

MyOKBar lets you pay securely with your credit card. All you need to get started is your bar number and PIN/password. Visit my.okbar.org to get started.

Phone:

Our Membership Department is ready to help! You can pay with your credit card by calling (800) 522-8065 during regular business hours.
(M-F, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

Paper:

If you prefer to pay by mail, please use the statement that was mailed to you. Your envelope must be US Postal Service postmarked by no later than Tuesday, February 15, 2011.

In Person:

We love to have our members visit the Bar Center! If you wish to pay in person, our office address is 1901 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City (corner of 18^th & Lincoln - one block south of the Capitol).

Our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. , Monday through Friday.

If you have any questions about your payment, please contact Membership at (405) 416-7080.

Law Day 2011 Contest Winners Announced

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:32:15 -0500

Law Day 2011 contest winners have been announced. Students from pre–kindergarten to 12th grade submitted entries on the subject of "The Legacy of John Adams: Defending the Rights of the Accused." Students learned about John Adams and did a great job submitting artwork in categories of coloring, drawing, collage, creative writing, visual arts, creative free for all and YouTube categories.

See the list of winners here…

We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution State Finals

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:30:33 -0500

January 22, 2011, schools representing two Congressional Districts arrived at the Oklahoma Bar Center to participate in the We the People: Citizen and the Constitution State Finals. The competing schools included Enid High School and district finalists from Norman High School.

The competition allows students to exhibit their knowledge of the foundations and philosophies of the US Constitution through participation in a simulated congressional hearing. The hearing is a cumulating activity for the WTP: Citizen and the Constitution curriculum developed by the Center for Civic Education. A panel of judges interview students assigned to a specific textbook unit.

See the 2011 State Finalists and Unit Award Winners…

Edmondson to Chair Justice Commission

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:28:15 -0500

Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson has been appointed to chair the newly formed Oklahoma Justice Commission. The commission is dedicated to preventing wrongful convictions in light of a growing number of individuals across the United States who were convicted of crimes and later exonerated through DNA evidence.

Oklahoma Bar Association President Deborah Reheard of Eufaula appointed Edmondson to the post this week. She said Edmondson, now an attorney with the law firm of GableGotwals, was chosen because a person of his reputation as a fair and honest public servant is exactly what the commission was looking for.

Read the full story here…

Important 2010 Mandatory CLE Reminders

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:26:13 -0500

2010 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Final Annual Reports of Compliance

- WHEN WILL THE PAPER VERSION 2010 FINAL ANNUAL REPORT OF COMPLIANCE BE MAILED?
Around 1,000 OBA members recently received a 2010 Final Annual Report of Compliance. Only those members who appear to be non-compliant according to MCLE records, or who need to report an exception were sent a paper version. If you believe you should have received one and haven’t yet, please contact the MCLE department directly (contact details below).

- THE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT COULD BE OUT OF DATE
The data for this report was prepared on January 10, 2011. We are adding credit information to your records on a daily basis. Please check your MCLE record at MyOKBar for your most current information. If your online record shows that you are compliant, please disregard the paper version of the Annual Report.

- IF COURSES ARE MISSING FROM YOUR ONLINE RECORD AND/OR THE PAPER VERSION OF YOUR ANNUAL REPORT please add the missing seminar information to the paper version of your 2010 Final Annual Report of Compliance and return it to the MCLE office. If you are reporting credit you earned in 2011, you must also include a $100 late compliance fee. You will also be asked to provide something in writing from the sponsor that verifies your attendance.

Important information for members who are exempt from the MCLE educational requirement for 2010

The Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education allow certain exemptions from the educational requirements. If you are unsure whether you are entitled to report an exemption, please review MCLE Rule 2.

- IF YOU DETERMINE THAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO REPORT AN EXEMPTION FOR 2010, you can report your exemption online at MyOKBar. Sign in and look for the link that says "If you need to report an MCLE exemption for 2010, click here." You can also mark the appropriate exemption on the paper version of your report and return it to our office.

- THE MCLE REPORTING DEADLINE to report exemptions or credits is February 15, 2011 . If you are reporting credit you earned in 2011 to complete your 2010 educational requirement, the late compliance fee is $100. If you send the paper version of your report by the regular mail, please make sure that your documents have a post office postmark no later than February 15, 2011.

After February 15, 2011, the fee for reporting exemptions or credits is $100.

What should you do if you have attended seminars that have not been approved by the MCLE department?

If the seminars you attended have not be approved by the MCLE department, you will need to complete and submit a Uniform Application for Accreditation of a CLE Activity to the MCLE department along with the required attachments and a $15 application fee.

If you have other questions, please contact the MCLE department at (405) 416-7009, (800) 522-8065 or mcle@okbar.org. We are receiving a large number phone calls and emails during this time; we appreciate your patience as we work to assist everyone.

Constitution Competition to Showcase Local Students

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:04:21 -0500

(Oklahoma City – Jan. 19, 2011) – Students from Enid High School and Norman High School will head to Oklahoma City Saturday to participate in the “We the People…The Citizen and the Constitution” competition. The annual competition involves simulated congressional hearings that give the students the opportunity to evaluate, take and defend positions on historical and contemporary issues. The competition kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at the Oklahoma Bar Center.

Three teams totaling 76 students from Enid High School and Norman High School are competing in the program. To prepare, the students have studied a curriculum that focuses on the history and principles of the U.S. Constitution. For competition, each team will form six small groups with each group making remarks on a different topic in the hearing format. Following prepared presentations, students must answer questions, and judges score the team on its efforts in both segments.

“The We the People instructional program curriculum enhances students’ understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy,” said Oklahoma Bar Association Law-related Education Coordinator Jane McConnell. “Our simulated congressional hearings provide an avenue for high school students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles. The results of a nationwide research study affirm that students utilizing the We the People curriculum display significantly greater ‘political tolerance’ and commitment to principles and values of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.”

We the People is sponsored by the California-based Center for Civic Education and the U.S. Department of Education. The OBA administers the We the People program locally through its Law-related Education Program.

OBA members as judges are Judge David Lewis, Judge Jerry Bass, Judge Daman Cantrell, Breea Bacon, Jack G. Clark Jr., Brian Hermanson, Kelly File, Richard Goralewicz, John Thomas Hall, Judge Lisa Hammond, David Hopper, Barbara Kinney, Jan Meadows, Jane Pennington, Jeri Towler and Mike Wofford. Other volunteer judges are Rep. Gary Banz, Jill Daughtery, Eugene Earsom, Margaret Ellis and Jim Sheffield.

State Alumni Representative and OBA member Brady Henderson will serve as a district coordinator along with Miguel Portillo, Rep. Ed Cannaday, Cheri Franklin, Dianna Morgan and Becky Walderbach. Other event volunteers are Karina Henderson and OBA member Adam Wilson, both program alumni.

The 16,000-member Oklahoma Bar Association, headquartered in Oklahoma City, was created by the Oklahoma Supreme Court to advance the administration of justice and to foster and maintain learning, integrity, competence, public service and high standards of conduct among Oklahoma’s legal community.

Meet 2011 OBA President Deb Reheard

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:02:35 -0500

"Hardworking" has been a defining characteristic of new OBA President Deborah Reheard since her childhood in Vinita, where she grew up on a dairy farm just outside the Northeastern Oklahoma community. She credits her small-town upbringing, along with her parents, for instilling her with good common sense and the strong work ethic she applies in her law practice and personal life today.

"Dad milked cows everyday at 6 a.m., working a herd of 100 head and farming 2,000 acres,” the Eufaula attorney said. “My parents worked very hard so we would have it better than they did."

From childhood in a two-room schoolhouse she moved on to Vinita High School, where she was a member of the first ever Blue Pride Drill Team. "We thought we were the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders," she said. It was winning an essay contest and a trip to Washington, D.C., that convinced Ms. Reheard to put pompoms aside and instead pick up a pen to pursue a career in journalism.

Her lifelong love for animals initially sent her to Oklahoma State University where she planned to focus her studies on veterinary medicine and agricultural journalism. Ultimately she completed her studies at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, working all the while for her small-town newspaper. She wrote and served as editor for a number of community newspapers after graduating, reporting on crime and courts. That was where her interest in the law began to take shape. President Reheard said, "I thought to myself 'I can do that,' and realized I would like it. When I was 27 years old, the opportunity came along to go to the TU College of Law full time, so I took it."

While in school, she interned at the city attorney’s office in Tulsa, eventually landing a full-time job there after graduating and passing the bar exam in 1987. Later she worked as an assistant district attorney in Craig, Mayes, Rogers, Ottawa and Delaware counties. "My mentor, Rockey Boydston, gave me the opportunity to take over his solo practice in Eufaula in 1991," she said. "I've been there ever since."

President Reheard says the majority of her practice is focused on family law and criminal defense, but she takes on a wide variety of cases. "In a small town you draw a bit of everything. What draws me to the law is the advocacy work, and what I enjoy most is trial work. What I love about being a lawyer in a small community is that it’s about problem solving and helping people."

She believes her nearly two decades in private practice are strong qualifications for her leadership of the Oklahoma Bar Association this year. "The law is a tough business to be in, so we need to be able to provide our members with the services they need to be effective in their practices," she said. "I travel around the state to work on cases, I don't practice in one county, and I am out of my office a lot in court. I think I've got a good handle on what the vast majority of the attorneys want, need and think about our association."

President Reheard is a self-described "bar junkie," having served on the OBA Board of Governors since 2006. She also served a six-year term on the Judicial Nominating Commission, including serving as its chairperson, and is a frequent CLE presenter on the topic of bar disciplinary proceedings. In fact, she estimates for the last 10 years, almost all of her spare time has been spent on bar activities. "When I am doing trial work, there are clients, there is opposing counsel, people are not always on their best behavior and there are interactions that lead to problems," she said. "There are just a lot of people who are mad at each other. When I am doing bar work, I am around other attorneys who love the profession and the association. It's a way to interact with other attorneys advocating toward a common goal rather than butting heads in a courtroom."

President Reheard says taking a leadership role was important to her personally because she had specific projects she wanted to work on as bar president. Providing legal assistance for military service members and veterans is her top priority.

"I was thinking about things I need to do and my term happened to coincide with a year our state will be sending 4,000 troops to Afghanistan," she said. “So we created Oklahoma Lawyers for America's Heroes, working with the Pros 4 Vets organization to provide legal services. I had limited exposure to the military growing up, but I was seeing so many people come through my office that we could trace a lot of their problems to their military service. Service members have made sacrifices for us. We need to do a better job of helping them when they come back.

We have also started a special committee to deal with the unauthorized practice of law. Oklahomans are being taken in by unscrupulous people pretending to be attorneys, and we are going to put a stop to it. It's about protecting the public."

With a busy legal practice of her own to maintain in Eufaula, it’s natural to wonder whether there are enough hours in day to accomplish all the goals President Reheard has laid out for her term.

"I have great staff and family support," she responds. "I have planned for this. I have a longtime assistant, Kim Wegner, and another very competent attorney in my office, Steve Barnes, plus a part-time secretary, Cindy Bacon. We will adjust and it will all work out."

President Reheard has been married 22 years to Dale Gill, who is originally from Texas. Together they own a working ranch in Checotah, where they breed, train, and show reining and working cow horses. Their work recently extended from the equine to the canine, when they began breeding Fell terriers, hunting dogs originating in England and Ireland. The couple occasionally travels across the Atlantic together to import the dogs to Oklahoma. In addition, President Reheard has four pet dogs of her own. Bruiser is a Fell terrier who was abandoned by his mother. Maxie and Zeb are Jack Russell terriers the couple rescued from owners who were unprepared for the challenges of the rambunctious breed. Then there is the alpha dog, Tater, a rat terrier who came to the couple through a case of mistaken identity.

"I was doing an adoption for a family who raised rat terriers," she explained. "I told the mother that my husband always wanted one of those, even though what he really wanted was a completely different kind of dog. But then this little girl comes into my office with a box of puppies about eight weeks old, so small you could hold them in the palm of your hand. The little girl tells me she'd like me to have one, because I was the one making her ‘daddy’ her real father for the rest of her life. And that's how I got Tater, who is the meanest damn dog you’ve ever seen in your life."

President Reheard believes her competence as an attorney along with her desire to work exceptionally hard is what best qualifies her to lead the OBA. She notes that 2011 is a historic year for the association; for the first time in its 106 years a woman is serving in the three top spots on the Board of Governors: herself as president along with Cathy Christensen serving as president-elect and retired Judge Reta Strubhar serving as vice president.

"I watched Melissa (DeLacerda, 2003 OBA president) and Mona (Salyer Lambird, 1996 OBA president) and saw what they did to promote not just women but promote all attorneys, and I thought we had come a long way. I’ve never wanted to be the first ‘woman’ anything. I just go out and do what I need to do. Sometimes because I didn't know any better," President Reheard laughs. "I think we've come to the point where we are taking leadership roles not because we are women, but because we are great attorneys who just happen to be women."

New Bar Leaders Take Oath, Women in Top Three Offices

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:00:58 -0500

Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Taylor will swear in nine attorneys to the Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors at 10:30 a.m. Friday [Jan. 14] in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the state Capitol.

For the first time in the association's 107-year history, women will occupy the top three offices on its Board of Governors. Eufaula attorney Deborah Reheard will be sworn in as president, Oklahoma City attorney Cathy Christensen will serve as president-elect, and retired Judge Reta Strubhar of Piedmont will take the oath of office as vice president.

Reheard has been a solo practitioner since 1991 and was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar Association in 1987. Her law practice focuses on family law as well as criminal defense and bar disciplinary defense. She earned her J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1987, after receiving a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University. She worked as a journalist before entering law school, covering general news assignments is several communities in northeastern Oklahoma. She will continue to operate her law practice while serving as president of the bar association.

Reheard's top goal for the OBA is launching a program that will provide free legal assistance to military service members in need.

Christensen will become OBA president on Jan. 1, 2012. She has practiced in Oklahoma City since 1986, focusing on family law and general civil litigation. In addition to a term as a board member on the OBA Board of Governors, she previously served as the association’s vice president in 1994.

Strubhar was the first woman to serve on the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. She served on that court from 1993 to 2005 and was its presiding judge from 1999-2000. As vice president, she will serve a one-year term along with Tulsa attorney Allen Smallwood, who is the bar association’s immediate past president.

Other OBA Board of Governors members being sworn in for three-year terms are Gerald Dennis, Antlers; Renée DeMoss, Tulsa; Christopher Meyers, Lawton; and Scott Pappas, Stillwater. Young Lawyers Division Chairperson Roy Tucker of Muskogee will take the oath of office to serve on the board for one year.

Gov. Henry names Judge Noma Gurich to Supreme Court

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:58:20 -0500

On Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, Governor Brad Henry announced the appointment of Judge Noma Gurich to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Judge Gurich, who has served as a district judge in Oklahoma County since 1998, will succeed Justice Marian Opala, who passed away late last year.

She is only the third woman in state history to be appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

“This was an extremely difficult decision because all of the candidates are well respected and highly qualified,” said Gov. Henry. “I could not go wrong selecting any one of the nominees, but I could only choose one, and in the final analysis, I felt Noma Gurich had the best qualifications and experience to serve on the state’s highest court.

“During her distinguished legal career, Judge Gurich has compiled an exemplary record of service on the bench and has consistently demonstrated the judicial temperament and intellect necessary to be an outstanding Supreme Court Justice. I know she will perform her new duties with great professionalism and integrity, and I greatly appreciate her willingness to serve.”

Gov. Henry selected Judge Gurich from a list of three candidates compiled by the Judicial Nominating Commission.

Judge Gurich has been a district judge in Oklahoma County since 1998 and acted as presiding judge from 2003-2004. She has also overseen the multi-county grand jury. Additionally, she served on the Oklahoma Workers Compensation Court for 10 years and worked in private practice.

Judge Gurich holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. She resides in Oklahoma City with her husband.

Applicant List Released for February 2011 Bar Exam

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:32:40 -0500

Get the full list online at okbar.org.

New Chief Justice a Man with a Mission

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:47:32 -0500

Chief Justice Steven W. Taylor was sworn in to his new position Monday during a short ceremony at the state Capitol. Afterwards, he commented that “It is not a job—it is a mission,” and that the court “had work to do.”

Justice Taylor will serve a two-year term, succeeding Justice James Edmondson. Serving as Vice-Chief Justice is Tom Colbert.

Kick off 2011 with OBA/CLE Webcast Replays

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:42:34 -0500

Miss one of last year’s programs or still need a little credit? Then check out our listing of webcast replays on the calendar, and make sure to visit OBA/CLE’s online archive for a full listing of programs.

Military Members Allowed MCLE Waiver

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:08:45 -0500

OBA members who were called to active duty during 2010 may request that the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission grant a waiver of any remaining CLE credit for 2010.

Members need to complete and submit a copy of the Application to Request a Waiver just as soon as possible.

OBA members who were active duty for the entire year do not need to request a special waiver, but do need to report their exemption.

Affected members are eligible to report an exemption from earning and reporting CLE. Online reporting of exemptions for 2010 takes place in January and early February 2011. The reporting deadline is February 15, 2011. Please don't miss this deadline because there is a $100 charge for late reporting.

Thank you for your service and please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you. Contact the MCLE department by e-mail at mcle@okbar.org or by phone at (405) 416-7009.

MCLE Deadlines Approaching as the Year Ends

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:56:33 -0500

We all know that the holidays are coming and that proverbial goose is getting fat, but did you remember that the deadline to earn your remaining CLE credit for 2010 is December 31?

If you’re not sure how much credit you need, go to Check MCLE Credits on MyOKBar to get started.

We also have a Frequently Asked Questions Page to help you answer your MCLE questions. If you don’t find the answer to your question, read the full article online for a bonus round of FAQs. And if you still don’t find your answer, please call the MCLE department at (405) 416-7009 or email mcle@okbar.org.

When you access your MCLE records online, you can also pay your dues, sign up for section membership, donate to Lawyers Helping Lawyers and the Oklahoma Bar Foundation.

The Burnout Pandemic: Accommodating Workaholism in the Practice of Law

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:13:25 -0500

This month's Oklahoma Bar Journal features an article from a former Oklahoma lawyer who struggled with depression until it took everything he held dear.

Take time to read this personal description of the downward spiral of depression that caused a laywer to lose his license, and how reaching out to LHL could have helped.

Read one former lawyer’s story: Don’t let this happen to you.

Find out more about Lawyers Helping Lawyers at okbar.org/LHL.

Committee Signup Deadline Extended

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:10:40 -0500

Looking for a way to get more involved in your association? The OBA has several committees looking for members.

Committees are an essential part of the OBA; membership is a way to be involved in a meanful way, and to be on the "leading edge" of the practice of law today.

The deadline for the committee nomination process has been extended to Dec. 17.

~~It takes only a few moments to sign up online, so don't delay - sign up today!~~

Lawyers Helping Lawyers Support Group Meeting

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:37:32 -0500

To help support a healthy work/life balance, Lawyers Helping Lawyers hosts monthly support group meetings for OBA members. This month, Men Helping Men will meet Thursday, Dec. 9 @ 5:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City.

For more information about Lawyers Helping Lawyers, visit okbar.org/LHL.

OBA/CLE Presents: Writing to Win

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 11:30:35 -0500

Featuring award-winning author William Bernhardt, this OBA/CLE seminar will be presented in Oklahoma City (12/10) and Tulsa (12/17).

Free Legal Advice: Wills and Trusts

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:52:37 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association provides several free brochures covering a variety of legal topics. They are available in many libraries and courthouses, and online at the OBA website.

One of the more popular online brochure is theDo You Need a Will or Trust?, which provides some information about the differences between the two, and who can benefit from having one of these documents.

Read more about this brochure at www.okbar.org/s/wills.

OBA House of Delegates Elects 2011 Board of Governors

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:15:28 -0500

Eufaula lawyer Deborah A. Reheard will serve as president of the Oklahoma Bar Association for 2011. Members of the OBA Board of Governors elected to serve with her were announced at the OBA’s 106^th Annual Meeting Friday in Tulsa.

Cathy Christensen of Oklahoma City will serve as president-elect during 2011, and Judge Reta M. Strubhar of Piedmont will fill the office of vice president.

This marks the first time in the OBA’s 106-year history that women will hold its top three leadership positions.

Governor Receives Award of Appreciation at OBA Annual Meeting

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:13:23 -0500

Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry was recognized by the Oklahoma Bar Association at its 106th Annual Meeting, held in Tulsa this week.

OBA President Allen Smallwood presented Gov. Henry with the Award of Appreciation for his hard work on behalf of all the people of Oklahoma, compassion for low-income Oklahomans and dedication to the rule of law.

106th Annual Meeting Kicks Off

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 10:59:16 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association will hold its 106th Annual Meeting Nov. 17-19 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tulsa.

Approximately 500 lawyers are expected to attend the meeting, which returns to Green Country after a four-year run in Oklahoma City.

For complete details, visit okbar.org/annualmeeting10.

Preparing for a Spring Deployment

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:31:41 -0500

Each year, we take time to celebrate and honor those who have served in our nation’s military. Parades and ceremonies, frivolity and solemnity—these are the hallmarks of Veterans Day. We honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

This year, we also want to do a bit more.

The OBA is proud to announce Oklahoma Lawyers for America’s Heroes, an initiative to provide legal services to service members, veterans, and their families.

Find out more about this great program, including how to get involved, at www.okbar.org/heroes.

Free Legal Information: Rights and Duties of a Tenant

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 10:57:39 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association provides several free brochures covering a variety of legal topics. They are available in many libraries and courthouses, and online at the OBA website.

The most popular online brochure is the Rights and Duties of a Tenant, with over 14,000 views in the past 12 months.

Read more about this brochure at www.okbar.org/s/tenant.

Governor Appoints Judge to State Supreme Court

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:17:04 -0500

Gov. Brad Henry has appointed Pottawatomie County Presiding District Judge Douglas L. Combs to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

He will replace Justice Rudolph Hargrave, who will retire Dec. 31.

Judge Combs is a Shawnee native who earned his juris doctorate from Oklahoma City University in 1976. He has served as district judge for Pottawatomie County since 2003. He previously served as a special judge in Pottawatomie County from 1995 through 2003 and was in private practice prior to that.

“Judge Combs has the temperament, intellect and experience to be an outstanding Supreme Court justice,” Gov. Henry said. “He has a long history of public service and I know he will perform his new duties with the greatest professionalism, integrity and sense of duty to the citizens of our state.”

Free Legal Information Available Online

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:13:13 -0500

Did you know the OBA provides free legal guides for both the public and for attorneys?

The OBA produces print versions of several brochures covering topics such as landlord/tenant relationships and agreements, living wills, and divorce; they are found in most libraries and courthouses throughout the state. We also have the text of these brochures available online for free.

In the coming weeks, we will be highlighting some of these brochures and some innovative ways to use them.

In the meantime, visit okbar.org/public/brochures for more information.

Celebrating Pro Bono Week

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 09:22:02 -0500

October 24-30 marks Pro Bono Week, a nationwide recognition of helping those in need of legal aid who might not be able to afford it.

In celebration of this special week, the OBA is highlighting the efforts of some of our members in this area.

Read the first installment: Pro Bono Service Gives People Hope

Update: The second article is now online. Read Making Time to Do It — Pro Bono Publico online now.

Courthouse Book to Benefit Bar Foundation

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:58:24 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Foundation will receive part of the proceeds from the sales of a book about Oklahoma's courthouses, which is slated for a November 1, 2010 release. The book titled, Oklahoma Courthouse Legends is the work of photographer David Fitzgerald and author and attorney Kent F. Frates.

In words and pictures, Oklahoma Courthouse Legends tells stories that are handed down and sometimes even embellished around Oklahoma’s courthouses. The book features a rich historical cast of fearless lawmen, ferocious prosecutors, noted judges, evil criminals and noteworthy lawyers. Marshall Bill Tighlman, “Machine Gun” Kelly, “Pretty Boy Floyd”, Temple Houston and Belle Starr are just some of the people chronicled in the book. You will also get a glimpse of the trial of Governor David Hall, the integration of Oklahoma University Law School, the capture of Timothy McVeigh and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall’s court appearances in the Sooner State.

Each courthouse’s appearance and character is captured by Fitzgerald’s photographs of Oklahoma’s 77 county courthouses and 4 United States District Courthouses.

For more information, and to order the book, visit CourthouseLegends.com.

OBA Members “Make a Difference”

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:07:49 -0500

Each year, the Oklahoma City-based Journal Record's "50 Making a Difference" program has honored women serving their communities and beyond. Each year, OBA members are proudly part of those nominated and selected, and 2010 is no exception.

Out of the 50 selectees, 9 of them are members of the Oklahoma Bar Association, including a judge and members of the OBA's Board of Governors.

The OBA salutes these women, and all those who serve the people of Oklahoma.

OBA members "Making a Difference" in 2010

Renée DeMoss, GableGotwals, Tulsa
Sarah Hansel, Hall Estill, Tulsa
Karen Keith, Tulsa County Courthouse, Tulsa
Jacqueline Miller, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma City
Susan Shields, McAfee & Taft, Oklahoma City
Natalie Shirley, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Oklahoma City
Michelle Skeens, Holden & Carr, Tulsa
G. Gail Stricklin, private practice attorney, Oklahoma City
Molly Tolbert, Crowe & Dunlevy, Oklahoma City

OBA Sponsors Peer Mediation for Students

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:51:50 -0500

The OBA's Law-related Education Department hosted a day of Peer Mediation Training provided for elementary and secondary school students through the Peaceful Resolutions for Oklahoma Students program. The PROS program operates through a partnership between the Administrative Office of the Supreme Court and the OBA's Law-related Education Department.

Interim MCLE Reports Sent to Members

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:50:07 -0500

Are you wondering about your CLE credit for 2010? Check your email inbox. You may have already received your 2010 Interim MCLE Report. If you are not exempt, you have until December 31, 2010 to earn any remaining credit you need for 2010 without having to pay a late fee.

Death of Supreme Court Justice Marian Opala Mourned

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:41:12 -0500

Justice Marian P. Opala passed away on Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, after suffering a massive stroke. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 18, at All Souls’ Episcopal Church, 6400 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Oklahoma City.

Update: Tributes to the late Justice.

He was born in 1921 in Lodz, Poland and became a United States citizen in 1953, the same year he graduated from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. In 1957, he earned a BSB degree in economics from OCU and in 1968 his master of law degree from New York University School of Law. Justice Opala began his legal career as assistant county attorney in Oklahoma County and held this position until 1956 when he entered private practice. He first served the Supreme Court of Oklahoma as a referee from 1960 to 1965. Later he was staff lawyer for Justice Rooney McInerney. For nine years (from 1969 to 1977) he directed the state's court system as its first administrative director. He served as judge on the State Industrial Court when it was renamed (in 1977-1978) the Workers’ Compensation Court.

On Nov. 21, 1978, the then-governor, now OU President David Boren appointed him to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. Voters retained him in 1980 for the unexpired term of his predecessor. In 1982, 1988 and 1994 he was retained for six-year terms. He served as the court's chief justice from Jan. 1, 1991 to Dec. 31, 1992. The author of numerous legal papers, Justice Opala was an adjunct professor in three law schools—at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University and the University of Tulsa—and a frequent lecturer at various national judicial and legal education programs. Since 1982, he had been an Oklahoma commissioner in the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. A member of the Order of the Coif and the American Law Institute, he was appointed in December 1993 as a public member of the Administrative Conference of the United States.

OBA President Allen Smallwood of Tulsa said, “Justice Opala was a well respected legal scholar, a true intellect and a giant in developing the jurisprudence in this state. In addition to his work on the bench, he was very generous in the giving of his time to teaching and lecturing on the law, which was his true passion. Justice Opala was a classic American immigrant success story. As a teenager he fought the Germans in the Second World War for his native Poland, immigrated to the United States and ended up as a justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court. We will all miss him, and he leaves tremendously large shoes to fill.”

View a recent 60-minute television interview with Justice Opala, conducted by OBA member and OETA news anchor Dick Pryor. You can also read Mr. Pryor's review of that interview on his blog.

OBA Announces 2010 Award Winners

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:02:55 -0500

There are many things to be proud of when it comes to the legal profession, and the OBA wants to recognize the people and groups whose work is a shining example to others. OBA award winners are being recognized for their achievements that distinguish them as role models within the legal community.

The 2010 OBA award winners are…

Five Honored with 2010 Lambird Spotlight Awards

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:01:45 -0500

Each year 5 women are honored with the Spotlight Award, which is presented at the annual Women in Law Conference.

The award is named for the first female OBA President and early award winner Mona Salyer Lambird. Nominees are selected by previous award winners; winners names appear on a plaque in the Oklahoma Bar Center.

And the winners are…

OBA Creates Justice Commission

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 09:37:46 -0500

At its Sept. 24 meeting, the OBA Board of Governors approved a resolution creating the Oklahoma Justice Commission, which will be dedicated to enhancing the reliability and accuracy of convictions.

Committee members will represent a wide range of people from the criminal justice community including district attorneys from urban and rural areas, defense attorneys, judges, law enforcement officers, legal scholars, legislators, public defenders, forensic science experts and victim advocates.

Read the full resolution…

LRE Hosts Citizenship Training

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 09:36:29 -0500

Workshops for Representative Democracy in America and Project Citizen were held for Oklahoma teachers at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City on Sept. 25.

Welcome New Members

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:05:55 -0500

We want to welcome all the new members of the Oklahoma Bar Association. It's exciting to have you join the ranks of those who are serving Oklahomans. Here's some information to help get you started:

Bar Exam Results Announced

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:20:02 -0500

The Board of Bar Examiners has released the results of the July 2010 exam. A total of 317 passed the test - an 85% pass rate.

Get the complete list here, with details about the swearing-in ceremonies scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 23.

Opening Your Law Practice

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:20:22 -0500

New lawyer? Rejoining private practice? Hanging up your own shingle? Join us for a special free program: Opening Your Law Practice!

Get more info here…

OBA 106th Annual Meeting

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:35:58 -0500

Registration is open for the Oklahoma Bar Association's Annual Meeting, held Nov. 17-19 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tulsa.

Find out more about the event, including the multi-track CLE offerings, meetings, and entertainment at okbar.org/annualmeeting10.

Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:34:04 -0500

The OBA's Women in Law Conference 2010 is just around the corner! Join your fellow attorneys for this annual celebration featuring Dr. Arin Reeves as the guest speaker.

Get all the details and register online at okbar.org/women.

Citizenship Training Provided to State Educators

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:31:47 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association Law-related Education Department held the annual state workshop for the We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution program on August 21, 2010.

CIVITAS World Congress on Civic Education

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:32:58 -0500

The Center for Civic Education’s fourteenth annual World Congress on Civic Education was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from July 23 – July 27, 2010. The theme was “Embracing Diversity and Building Unity through Civic Education”.

Blaine County Bar President Elects New President

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:29:36 -0500

Blaine County Attorney Veva Daugherty was recently elected as the Blaine County Bar President. Ms. Daugherty is a sole practitioner with emphasis in the areas of real estate and probate.

Ms. Daugherty plans to work with other lawyers in the community in order to plan meetings and law day activities that will be interesting and informative.

She graduated in May of 1977 from Oklahoma City University and has practiced continuously since that time in Watonga, with emphasis in the area of real estate and probate. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Land Title Association, and is the Past President of the Watonga Chamber of Commerce. Her hobbies are her grandchildren.

Find out more about all 77 of the Oklahoma County Bar Presidents at okbar.org/members/countybars.

OBA Welcomes Delegation from China

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:46:56 -0500

In July the OBA hosted a reception and dinner for Chinese law students from Nankai University and lawyers from the Tianjin Bar Association who were in Oklahoma City to attend the Certificate in American Law Course at the OCU School of Law.

You can view some of the photos taken at the reception online at okbar.org/albums.

Unlicensed Practice of Law Special Committee Formed

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:45:33 -0500

President-Elect Deborah Reheard has identified as one of her initiatives for 2011 a study of the unauthorized practice of law. The initial meeting of the UPL Special Committee was held recently comprised of members of the Professional Responsibility Commission and other attorneys and judges from across the state who have expressed an interest in dealing with UPL issues.

“It has been about 20 years since the Association has taken a real good look at this issue. The Oklahoma Supreme Court has charged the OBA through the Professional Responsibility Commission and the General Counsel’s office with the regulatation and prosecution of the unauthorized practice of law. During the time I was running for President, many attorneys and members of the public expressed concern that this was an area which needed to be addressed by OBA leadership. Our General Counsel’s office is currently seeking civil remedies in several of these cases. Greater awareness of the scope and extent of the problem can only result in us doing a better job protecting the public from unscrupulous unlicensed persons preying on the unsuspecting,” Reheard said.

The special committee works closely with the PRC which has the responsibility to review complaints and authorize litigation when protecting the public becomes necessary. PRC members and past OBA Presidents Melissa Delacerda and Bill Grimm are co-chairing the UPL Special Committee.

Committee members are:

Deborah Reheard
Cathy Christensen
Doug Stump
Julie Bays
Judge Mary Fitzgerald
Judge James Croy
Judge Rick Bozarth
Chad Locke
Bill Nunn
Michelle Nelson
David Tracy
Julie Strong
Mark Hixson
David Poarch
Stephen Beam
Tony Blasier
Gina Hendryx
Katie Ogden
John Williams

Look for further stories and details as the special committee continues its work.

E-mail Lists Enhance Section Communications

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:07:17 -0500

OBA sections cover many substantive areas of law from the Family Law Section to the Intellectual Property Law Section. Some of you may not be aware of how the Oklahoma Bar Association's sections can communicate and share information with their members through e-mail lists.

OBA's Management Assistance Program Director Jim Calloway takes a look at how these e-mail lists are enhancing quick communication between members.

Chief Justice Edmondson to Appear on The Verdict

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:44:09 -0500

Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice James E. Edmondson will appear on The Verdict this Sunday, July 18^th at 9:00 a.m. The Verdict is a television show hosted by OBA member Kent Meyers and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett where guests discuss legal or social issues of general interest to the viewers.

This week’s topic is “Hail to the Chief!”; several items are slated for discussion, including selection of the justices and the status of the new building for the Court.

For a complete listing of topics and show times, visit The Verdict’s website.

Update: re-broadcasts are scheduled for Monday, July 19 at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 20 at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday, July, 21 at 10:00 a.m.

Several Oklahoma Attorneys Seeking Election in 2010

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:04:19 -0500

The summer heat is here, and with it, the hotly contested seats in Oklahoma government.

Oklahoma Lawyers Association Executive Director Thad Balkman gives a rundown on the over 40 OBA members who are looking to fill the role of elected official.

Officer Nominations Being Accepted

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:03:11 -0500

Nominations are now being accepted for positions on the OBA Board of Governors.

Elections for contested positions will be held at the House of Delegates meeting Nov. 19, during the OBA Annual Meeting.

View the nominees and download nomination packets at okbar.org/bog.

Awards Nominations Deadline Set

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:55:15 -0500

Each year the OBA presents awards to deserving people who have served the legal community in a special way during the year. These awards are presented during the Annual Meeting in November, and are the direct result of nominations by OBA members.

You can nominate someone today by filling out a nomination form and sending it in before August 11, 2010.

Find out more about the awards process at okbar.org/awards.

Local Court Rules Revised

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:19:30 -0500

Some of the Local Court Rules for the 7^th and 26^th Administrative Judicial Districts have recently been revised. As a courtesy to the public, the Oklahoma County Law Library has printed a booklet containing the Local Rules including the revisions, which is available at the Law Library located on the second floor of the Oklahoma County Courthouse. Booklets are $3.00 each.

The Local Court Rules as revised are also available on line at the Oklahoma County Law Library website.

For more information contact the Law Library at (405) 713-1353.

I Wonder What Happened to 'You'?

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:20:37 -0500

OBA president Allen Smallwood has served in many capacities in his career—including as a Marine serving in Vietnam. It was there that Mr. Smallwood encountered 'You'.

As America prepares to celebrate another year of independence, take a look into the life of a man whose service helped promote independence throughout the globe.

Tulsa Veterans Treatment Court a National Model

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:58:19 -0500

Oklahoma is home to over 329,000 veterans; over 47,000 of them reside in Tulsa County alone. With such a concentrated population, the courts were seeing an increase in arrests of veterans—an average now of 300 a month, up from 150 in 2008.

That's one of the reasons Tulsa District Court Judge Sarah Day Smith worked with Veterans Affairs to start a court for nonviolent felons in December 2008 with 38 eligible offenders. Now less than two years later, the court is a model throughout the nation.

Read the rest of the story on okbar.org.

Tahlequah Attorney Cooks it Up on Local TV Show

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:01:52 -0500

OBA member and Assistant Attorney General of the Cherokee Nation, Chrissi Nimmo, is hosting a cooking show on INTV Channel 25 on Tahlequah Cable. The first two episodes have already aired, and future episodes will air every other week.

INVT is only available on television in Tahlequah, but you can watch all the episodes on YouTube. The first segment is here, along with links to the others.

Special Judge Appointed in Cleveland County

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:54:16 -0500

Attorney Steven L. Stice was recently appointed to the bench in Cleveland County. Expected to be sworn in July 1, Mr. Stice will replace the recently vacated seat of Judge Rod Ring, who most recently held the position before taking over as district judge.

Mr. Stice has been a member of the Oklahoma Bar since 1996 and currently practices in Norman.

Law-related Education Continues with Foundations of Democracy Program

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:54:56 -0500

Twenty educators representing eighteen Oklahoma schools and two representatives from the Center for Civic Education attended the third annual Hatton W. Sumners Foundations of Democracy Institute.

The Institute was held June 14-18, 2010, at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Tulsa. The institute highlighted the four essential concepts essential for establishing and maintaining a democracy; Responsibility, Privacy, Authority, and Justice.

2008 and 2009 MCLE Compliance

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:54:07 -0500

There are only a few more days to satisfy any outstanding MCLE obligations that you might have for 2008 and 2009.

If you are suspended for noncompliance with the MCLE requirements for 2008 or have yet to complete your 2009 MCLE obligations, you have until Tuesday, June 29. All credit must be earned and reported, all the required documents filed and all fees paid by the close of business on that day.

If you have questions, please contact the MCLE Department at (405) 416-7009 or e-mail mcle@okbar.org.

Mobile Computing for Attorneys

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:14:44 -0500

With the launch of Apple's iOS 4 software for the iPhone on June 21^st and the new iPhone hardware shipping July 14, many more attorneys are looking to mobile devices to assist them in their practice.

OBA’s Management Assistant Program director Jim Calloway takes a look at some of the features of the iPhone platform, and how mobile computing is helping shape the future of business.

The OBA is Hiring!

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:49:02 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association is hiring a Publications Specialist for the Continuing Legal Education department. This person is primarily responsible for compiling and preparing for dissemination, hard copy and electronically, all materials for seminars given by OBA/CLE.

For more information about this position, and to find out how to apply, visit okbar.org/jobs.

Bar Foundation Grant Benefits Oklahoma Juvenile Bureau

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:41:29 -0500

The Oklahoma County Juvenile Bureau recently received the Oklahoma Bar Foundation (OBF) Court Grant Award for Physical Court Improvements. The funds from the grant were used to build a new waiting area for persons attending juvenile court hearings.

A dedication ceremony took place May 11 at the Oklahoma County Juvenile Bureau to officially open the new waiting area. A plaque presented by the OBF was unveiled to commemorate the new waiting room.

Facebook: Fired Up or Just Fired?

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:38:59 -0500

There’s no doubt that Facebook participation can be an asset to any business. The question is, how can you use it to promote your practice and firm and still maintain caution in the way you use it? What should the partners and office manager post? Where is the line between personal and professional?

Knowing the good, the bad and the ugly of Facebook for business can help you take full advantage of this tool and watch your practice grow.

Read the rest of this article, and remember to check out the OBA/CLE Webinar on social media.

Cleveland County Gets New District Judge

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:00:52 -0500

Judge Rod Ring was recently sworn in as the district judge for Cleveland county. He had served as special district judge for the county for the past 19 years.

Judge Ring was one of three people nominated by the Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the unexpired term of William Hetherington, Jr. following his appointment to the Court of Civil Appeals.

Attorney General Candidates to Participate in Election Forum

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:59:23 -0500

Wednesday, June 9
7 p.m.
OCU School of Law (get directions)

The three candidates in this year’s race for Oklahoma attorney general will discuss their platforms at a forum to be held Wednesday, June 9 at Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Ryan Leonard and Jim Priest, both of Oklahoma City, and Scott Pruitt of Broken Arrow will participate in the discussion, which will be moderated by OETA deputy director and managing editor Dick Pryor.

The event begins at 7 p.m. in the Homsey Family Moot Courtroom at Sarkeys Law Center on the OCU campus. A post-forum reception will be held at 8:30 p.m. in the law center’s outdoor courtyard.

Wednesday’s forum is sponsored by OCU Law, the Journal Record and the Oklahoma Lawyers Association.

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Visit the Oklahoma Lawyers Association website at www.oklawyers.org to reserve a seat.

Lawyers Helping Lawyers Sponsors “Women Helping Women” Program for OBA Members

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:55:45 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association’s Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program Committee (LHL) is hosting a series of monthly meetings entitled “Women Helping Women” for all female attorneys in the OKC Metro and beyond, at whatever stage of life or practice.

These meetings will be led by women on the LHL Committee and are intended to provide an intimate setting for the group leaders and participants to ask questions, provide support, and share information with fellow women of the Bar.

Meeting details and registration information is available at the Women Helping Women page.

Oklahoma Lawyers Offer Free Online Legal Advice to Storm Victims

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:59:03 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Association Disaster Relief and Recovery Committee and the Young Lawyers Division of the Oklahoma Bar Association are offering free legal advice to persons affected by the recent storms.

For more details and to submit your legal questions, visit okbar.org/disasterrelief.

OBA Announces Two New Member Benefits

Fri, 28 May 2010 09:27:36 -0500

Do you know about the extra benefits of being a member of the Oklahoma Bar (besides the sheer joy of working with over 16,000 likeminded professionals!)?

There are several, and the OBA has added two more to that list: special discounts on FedEx services and discounted rates at the Colcord Hotel in Oklahoma City.

Find out more about these and other benefits on the OBA member benefits page.

Applicants for July 2010 Oklahoma Bar Exam

Fri, 28 May 2010 09:26:22 -0500

Get more info and view the applicant list here…

Deadline for 2009 MCLE Compliance Approaches

Fri, 14 May 2010 17:26:31 -0500

Are you compliant with your MCLE requirements for 2009? If not, you should have received a notice of noncompliance by certified mail in April 2010. This notice established June 15, 2010 as the final deadline to comply before suspension.

To comply you must:

earn the required credit
file the 2009 Final Annual Report of Compliance
complete and file an affidavit of compliance
pay $200 for late compliance and late reporting

If you are eligible to report an exemption that you did not report or was not recorded for you by our office, you must:

file the 2009 Final Annual Report of Compliance after marking the appropriate exemption
complete and file an affidavit of compliance
pay $100 for late filing

If you are unsure about your compliance for 2009, you can check your MCLE record online at myOKbar and log in using your bar number and your PIN. You can also download a blank 2009 Final Annual Report of Compliance. If you feel that our records are in error or if you have questions, please contact the MCLE office at (405) 416-7009 or mcle@okbar.org.

Free Legal Advice for Storm Victims

Fri, 14 May 2010 17:25:24 -0500

Cleveland County Bar Association members will be providing free legal advice to the May 10 storm victims, including their family members, who have suffered property damage or personal injury due to the storms.

Free legal advice will be provided by Cleveland County Bar Association members May 17–19, from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at the Norman Public Library, 225 North Webster. Storm victims may receive legal advice in person only. No appointments are necessary, and victims do not need to bring anything with them unless they have a particular document they need to discuss.

The Cleveland County Bar Association is committed to serving our community in a number of ways. The damage from the May 10 tornado outbreak has left numerous Cleveland County residents in immediate need of legal advice in such matters as insurance claims, home or business repairs and landlord-tenant issues. In keeping with the bar's tradition of helping our community, bar members want to do what we can to provide free legal advice at a time when that advice is critical to help storm victims return their lives to normal as soon as possible, said Cleveland County Bar Association President Craig Sutter.

A training session for the Cleveland County Bar Association volunteer lawyers will be held at Norman Public Library Sunday [May 16], from 4–5 p.m. Jim Calloway, Director, Oklahoma Bar Association Management Assistance Program will be the presenter at the training seminar.

The purpose of the training will be to familiarize volunteers with unique issues arising from natural disasters and how these issues impact legal advice regarding life, medical and property insurance claims, landlord-tenant problems, home/business repair contracts, consumer protection and replacement of vital legal documents destroyed by the storms.

While our disaster response is prompted by our concern for residents in our community, we will be glad to provide legal advice to any victim of the May 10 tornado outbreak who appears, regardless of where they may live, Sutter said.

The Cleveland County Bar Association has 321 members and is working with the Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Co. and the Norman Public Library in providing this free service.

Children's Events Featured at Solo & Small Firm Conference

Fri, 14 May 2010 17:23:21 -0500

It’s not just babysitting! Children attending the 2010 Solo and Small Firm Conference will have the opportunity to learn about Native culture, including the culture of the Quapaw people. Art, storytelling, dance and much more will be the focus of the children’s activities scheduled for Friday and Saturday of the conference.

Find out more at okbar.org/solo.

State Project Citizen Winners Announced

Fri, 14 May 2010 17:21:09 -0500

Click for larger view

Students participating in the Project Citizen Program learn how to address problems within their school or community. The four panels illustrate the steps for developing public policy: 1) identify and explain the problem, 2) examine alternative policies, 3) propose a public policy, and 4) form an action plan. Each board is accompanied by a documentation binder containing support information for each panel.

This year a panel of judges, consisting of LRE Committee Members and LRE community volunteers, reviewed five portfolios submitted from across the state. Janet Cook’s 5th grade boys from Laverne Elementary took first place for their portfolio, "Don’t Speed It’s a Bad Deed". The portfolio addressed the problem of speeding in school zones and presented strategies for eliminating the problem. Second place winners, Janet Cook’s 5th grade girls from Lavern Elementary addressed the issue of replacing the community rocket slide which had become unsafe for children. The fifth grade girls titled the portfolio, "Houston We Have a Problem". Union 8th Grade received third place honors for "Proceed with Caution", addressing traffic flow dangers in three local elementary schools.

The first place portfolio will advance to the National Competition to be held July 25-29, at the National Conference of Legislatures in Louisville, KY.

Oklahoma School Competes in National Mock Trial

Fri, 07 May 2010 11:05:21 -0500

Christian Heritage Academy of Del City is in the City of Brotherly Love. CHA students, who claimed the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial Championship are representing our state in Philadelphia at the national competition.

This year’s case, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Maddox Hale, focuses on a high school student charged with a number of crimes including aggravated assault and solicitation to commit aggravated assault when he led a protest rally at a local mall. He was widely suspected as the leader behind the gang Children of Liberty, who were organized through social networking that directed their resentment toward new Principal Carter G. Braxton for his new school policies.

This year’s winning mock trial team was coached by teacher Jerrid Eischen and attorney coach Jennifer Miller. Returning for a third year on the “Crusaders” team are Jarred Miller and Ryan Morrisett. Second-year team members are Katie Ceyler, Karis Cherry, Kristin Copeland and Maddison Williams. This is Stone Hendrickson’s first year on the team.

The tournament runs through Saturday, May 8, with the championship trophy being awarded at an evening banquet. Good luck to Christian Heritage Academy!

For more on the National High School Mock Trial Championship 2010, visit http://www.2010nationalmocktrial.com.

The OBA Mock Trial Program homepage is www.okbar.org/mocktrial.

Statewide Community Service Project Benefits Libraries

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:18:49 -0500

OBA Young Lawyers Division celebrates Law Day with day of service

One of the purposes of the YLD is to provide its members with a more effective means to participate in activities promoting involvement in public service activities. Along these lines, the YLD is often referred to as the “public service arm of the bar.” In order to effectuate this purpose, the YLD created a Community Service Committee and is planning and organizing a Statewide Community Service Project Day benefiting public libraries to be held on Saturday, May 1, in conjunction with Law Day.

The YLD Board of Directors consists of directors elected from each of Oklahoma’s nine judicial districts and at-large. Each of this year’s directors has taken responsibility for a project in their area. Thus, on May 1, the YLD is hosting its first ever Statewide Community Service Project Day at 13 public libraries across the state. We would like to encourage all members of the YLD, as well as any other attorneys who would like to be involved, to select a library to help on May 1. Each of these projects are "done-in-a-day" projects and will most likely last, at most, a few hours. This event provides an avenue for lawyers across the state to network with each other while giving back to their local communities. We hope to have a good turnout at each of these libraries to show Oklahoma how attorneys care about the public and our communities. The libraries and contact information for each project are:

Guthrie Public Library

Project Coordinator: LeAnne McGill (405) 285-8048

The Guthrie Public Library has requested our assistance cleaning the Oklahoma history section and helping to rebind some books. Please meet at the Guthrie Public Library at 9 a.m. to help with this project.

Mary Kimberly Library (Kiowa)

Project Coordinator: Hannah Cable (918) 426-6765

The Mary Kimberly Public Library has a particular tie to the OBA, as it was started a few years ago by a local attorney, Kimberly Adams, who saw a need for a library in the rural community. The Mary Kimberly Library sits on a large double lot and needs some landscaping help. Please meet at 10 a.m. on May 1 to help us plant 10 Bradford pear trees along one side of the lot and plant five maple trees in front. We also plan to make the library a flower bed to add some color.

Lawton Public Library

Project Coordinator: Nathan Johnson (580) 581-3266

In honor of Law Day, the lawyers of Comanche County will be helping to beautify the Lawton Public Library. We will be washing windows and picking up trash around the library grounds. Please plan to join us at the Lawton Public Library on May 1 at 8 a.m.

Library of Enid and Garfield County

Project Coordinators: Kaleb Hennigh (580) 234-8447 & Robert Faulk (580) 249-9100

The Library of Enid and Garfield County has requested our assistance rearranging several areas of the library and moving books from one area to another. Please skip your weight lifting regimen and join us on May 1 at 10 a.m. We will have lunch following this workout, so please be sure to let us know if you plan to volunteer.

Muskogee Public Library

Project Coordinators: Roy Tucker (918) 684-6276 & Doris Gruntmeir (918) 577-3983

The Muskogee Public Library has requested our assistance in a redesign of the rest area outside the front entrance to the facility, which will include the preparation for expanding the existing sidewalk area and general cleanup of the surrounding grounds. Those interested in participating should meet at the front entrance of the library by 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 1.

Norman Public Library

Project Coordinator: Breea McCorkle (405) 473-5974

We will be hosting a two-part service project at the Norman Public Library. From noon to 2 p.m., we will be assisting in organizing, re-shelving and alphabetizing the library’s ever-growing collection of DVDs. Then at 2 p.m. we will be setting up for the Law Day Celebration, a program to be held in the Children’s Department. This program will involve crafts, games and guest speakers like Mayor Cindy Rosenthal, Rep. Martin, Rep. Collins, Officer Flores of the Norman Police Department, other elected city officials and many more! Come for either part of the project or participate in both!

Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library System

Project Coordinators:

Jennifer Kirkpatrick (405) 232-3722
Lane Rudder Neal (405) 713-1600
Karolina Roberts (405) 232-3722
Jeff Trevillion (405) 297-3844
Collin Walke (405) 752-6000

The Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library System has requested our assistance cleaning up the outdoor area and landscaping around the Belle Isle Library located at 5501 N. Villa (just north of Northwest Expressway between May & Penn) in Oklahoma City. Please meet at 9 a.m. with your gloves and gardening tools ready.

Perry Carnegie Public Library

Project Coordinator: Bryon Jay Will (405) 308-4272

We will be meeting at the Perry Carnegie Library at 9 a.m. on May 1 to do a project inside the library since the city will be celebrating Mayfest with festivities around the town square that day.

Ponca City Library

Project Coordinator: Jacob Biby (580) 765-9967

The Ponca City Library has requested our assistance cleaning out flower beds and planting new flowers, as well as replacing some glass on coffee tables. Please meet at the Ponca City Library at 9 a.m. on May 1 to help with this project.

Shawnee Public Library

Project Coordinator: Joe Vorndran (405) 833-2005

Please meet at the Shawnee Public Library at 10 a.m. with your gardening tools in hand! We will be removing some old plants and planting many new ones and well as general upkeep and mulching.

Tulsa City-County Library System

Project Coordinators:

Molly Aspan (918) 594-0595
Kimberly Moore-Waite (918) 295-9433
Amber Peckio Garrett (918) 895-7216
Briana Ross (918) 894-4150

The Tulsa City-County Library System has identified three branches in Tulsa for volunteers to help spruce up the landscaping outside by cleaning out flower beds and planting new flowers and plants. The branches and their addresses are:

Brookside Library - 1207 E. 45th Place (near 45th & Peoria)
Schusterman-Benson Library - 3333 E. 32nd Place (near 32nd & Harvard)
Nathan Hale Library - 6038 E. 23rd Street (near 21st & Sheridan)

Please join us at one of the three branches to help at 10 a.m. on May 1. Also, don’t forget to bring your gardening gloves and any gardening tools you may have!

Four books on legal topics are also being donated to each library - the American Bar Association Complete Personal Legal Guide – The Essential Reference for Every Household, ABA Guide to Wills and Estates, ABA Guide to Resolving Legal Disputes Inside and Outside the Courtroom and ABA Guide to Credit and Bankruptcy.

The YLD will purchase plants where landscaping is being performed and has budgeted $500 for each location.

Oklahoma Celebrates Law Day With Special Events

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:23:17 -0500

Ask A Lawyer Free Legal Advice
Thursday, April 29

Oklahoma residents on Thursday can call (800) 456-8525 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for free legal advice on any topic at no cost. The hotline will be staffed on that day only by volunteer lawyers in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Spanish-speaking lawyers and translators will be available. Other counties are also part of the project and provide another local option for residents in those areas.

This is the 32^nd year for lawyers to provide this service as part of a national Law Day celebration. About 300 attorneys will be volunteering. Last year 2,600 people called in to receive help.

Ask A Lawyer TV Show on OETA
Thursday, April 29 * 7 – 8 p.m.

Tune into OETA, Oklahoma’s PBS station, at 7 p.m. on Thursday to watch Ask A Lawyer, a TV show that will provide information about child support, children and the law and consumer protection – in easy to understand language. Check out the show preview for a sneak peek.

Learn about an alternative sentencing program for a parent behind on child support, the experience of a former foster child, a youth conference for foster children and tips to protect yourself when making a large purchase. Plus, find out Oklahoma’s special connection to Law Day and see the winning entries in the OBA’s Law Day art and writing contests.

Job Opening: Management Assistance Program Assistant

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:42:51 -0500

The OBA seeks a staff assistant for the Management Assistance Program. The OBA Management Assistance Program has been nationally recognized for delivery of management and technology assistance to OBA members. The program oversees a variety of member service programs and focuses on cutting–edge trends in office management and technology.

The MAP assistant assists the department director with many projects. Organization and proofreading skills are important, as well as a friendly customer service-oriented attitude. For more information about the department, visit okbar.org/map.

Requirements:

Three or more years experience working in a law firm or legal department.
Fast, accurate keyboarding skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
Familiarity with other software applications and Internet tools.

Competitive benefit package. EOE.

Deadline April 30, 2010

Submit resume and cover letter to:

OBA-MAP Assistant Search
Oklahoma Bar Association
P.O. Box 53036
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3036

Bar Examiners Announce Pass List from February 2010 Exam

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:49:56 -0500

A total of 95 took the exam; 67 passed; pass rate 71%.

The following list includes EVERYONE who passed the February 2010 exam.

No applicants are eligible for re-testing on the subject of professional responsibility.

INCLUSION ON THIS LIST DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS COMPLETED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION. A letter with the test results and admission status has been mailed to each applicant who took the exam.

The Admission Ceremony will be Thursday, April 22, at 9:00 a.m.; in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the State Capitol. Attendance is required. If there are circumstances that prevent an applicant from being present, please advise the office of the Board of Bar Examiners.

REMINDER: Successful applicants who have met character and fitness approval and have passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam are not eligible to practice law UNTIL the Oklahoma Supreme Court enters an Order for admission, AND the applicants take the Oath of Attorney and sign the Roll of Attorneys on April 22, 2010.

The following list includes EVERYONE who PASSED the exam.

Suma Ananthaswamy
Jennifer Hope Barrett
Jessica Noel Battson
Rebecca Davis Bauer
Amy Charlat Blom
Shanna Dee Bokoff
Bradley Edward Bowlby
Mosemarie Dora Boyd
Saundra Ann Burrus
Gregory Pierre Chansolme
Wesley James Cherry
Brett Alan Claar
Nicholas Olsen Codding
Dustin Lane Compton
Scott Lee Cravens
Malori Riah Dahmen
Christin Murphy Donovan
Adam Lawrence Finfrock
Michele Ann Freeman
Matthew Ryan Gile
Kendra Daishon Gill
Adam Don Green
Elijah Jacob Lancaster Haahr
Marcus Lorrell Haberichter
David Kelso Hale
Nathan Hugh Harper
Andrew Ashby Cornell Harrell
Andrew Ralph Harroz
Heath Robert Hasenbeck
Nathan Drew Hendrickson
Barbara Ellen Hill
Amanda Vernell Hopson
Roger Cliffton Johns
Sean Vincent Johnson
Melody Joan Jones
Kristina Nicole Kirkpatrick
Richard Lamont Koller
Christine Marie Larson
James Eric Lemon
Andrew Joseph Maloney
Robert Granville Martin
Lori Christine Barker McInnes
Laura Elizabeth Miller
Andrea Nicole Monachella
Austin Tyler Murrey
Ryan Curtis Mushrush
Audrey Jean Myers
John Richard Olson
Julie Kathryn Owen
Shiny Rachel Pappy
Christopher Eugene Phillips
Stephanie Marie Powers
Stacy Suby Ramdas
Craig Marshall Regens
Peary Livingston Robertson
Mark Andrew Schantz
Chase Harrison Schnebel
Heidi Leigh Shadid
Elizabeth Cynita Thomas
Christopher David Tyler
Gigit Tranae Underwood
Samuel Ryan Vanover
Seth Grant Von Tungeln
Kathleen Wendlocher Wallace
Benjamin David Waters
Christina Louise Whitehurst
Glen L Work

Supreme Court Rules on Foreign Nationals and Deportation

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:48:27 -0500

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
PADILLA v. KENTUCKY

certiorari to the supreme court of kentucky

No. 08–651. Argued October 13, 2009 — Decided March 31, 2010

The Supreme Court issued a decision on March 31, 2010, protecting the right to counsel for noncitizens charged with committing a crime. The Court held that criminal defense lawyers must inform noncitizen clients of any deportation consequences for a particular crime if they enter a guilty plea. The case, Padilla v. Kentucky, involved a Vietnam War veteran who was a lawful permanent resident of the United States. LPRs may still face deportation in certain circumstances, including convictions for certain crimes. The Court recognized that current immigration laws impose harsh and mandatory deportation consequences onto criminal convictions.

Padilla alleged his criminal defense lawyer told him not to worry about the immigration consequences of pleading guilty to a crime, but advice was wrong. In fact, the guilty plea made Mr. Padilla subject to mandatory deportation from the United States. The state of Kentucky said that Mr. Padilla had no right to withdraw his plea when he learned of the deportation consequence. The landmark decision reversed the Kentucky court, but more importantly rejected the position adopted by several courts that a noncitizen is protected only from "affirmative misadvice" and not from a lawyer's failure to provide any advice about the immigration consequences of a plea.

Get the pdf version of the decision here.

New York Law Journal article about the decision.

Are You in Compliance?

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:19:02 -0500

Are you compliant with your MCLE requirements for 2009? If you are not and you are able to comply by April 15, 2010, you may avoid receiving the late notice we plan to send by certified mail.

Compliance

To comply you must:

earn the required credit
file the 2009 Final Annual Report of Compliance (login required)
pay $200 for late compliance and late reporting

Exemptions

If you are eligible to report an exemption that you did not report or was not recorded for you by our office, you must:

mark the appropriate exemption on the 2009 Final Annual Report of Compliance
pay $100 for late filing

If you are unsure about your compliance for 2009, you can check your MCLE record online at my.okbar.org and log in using your bar number and your PIN. You can also download the 2009 Final Annual Report of Compliance and mail it in with the appropriate late fees. If you feel that our records are in error or if you have questions, please contact the MCLE office at (405) 416-7009 or mcle@okbar.org.

Address Updates

Pirate Day at the OBA

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:33:00 -0500

Last week, future OBA leaders met for two days of learning and networking at the Oklahoma Bar Center. Visit www.okbar.org/albums to view the photos of this and other events.

Internet for Lawyers

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:42:39 -0500

Do lawyers have a duty to Google?

Join us as we help you learn how the Internet is changing the way to research in order to competently represent your clients - and to avoid ethical or malpractice issues!

Quickly learn to be your own cybersleuth by using specific Web sites to unearth factual and investigative information FREE (or at low cost) on the net.

This program will also be webcast. Register here.

What Can You do With a Law Degree?

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:49:30 -0500

It's a tough job market for everyone these days, but here's an extra boost for lawyers. Anthony Balderrama writes for CareerBuilder.com and has an article featuring 6 career options for folks holding a law degree who are looking at areas outside of traditional practice.

Read the article online here.

Check Scams That Target Lawyers

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:55:00 -0500

By Robert T. Luttrell III

Numbers of lawyers, and the general public, are being targeted with a scam that goes something like this: A message, usually e-mail, arrives requesting services or wanting to buy goods. The sender usually checks out in an Internet search. (Web sites aren’t that hard to set up.) At some point a check arrives in what appears to be a legitimate business trans-action. The check may be in response to a demand letter from a lawyer in the payment of a claim or as a retainer to pay for services in advance or for the purchase price of a car. You get the picture. The check looks and feels like a real check, maybe even a cashier’s check. Usually, it purports to be issued by (or drawn on) a bank at a remote location with no local branches.

Almost immediately after the check arrives, there is a request to send part of the funds by wire transfer. The client may want the amount collected less fees. The client may have overpaid the retainer and want a refund. The car buyer may have paid for shipment and now says they have taken care of this expense directly and would like a refund. There are an infinite number of variations on the basic theme: 1) apparently legitimate transaction, 2) arrival of check and 3) request to wire out funds.

Once the funds are wired, they are almost impossible to recover. UCC §4A-211. The wire is usually to an account in another country. And, in any event, the funds are typically again wired to another institution out of reach as soon as they hit the designated bank. So, the victim is left to hope that the check is “good.” It never is.

These scams work because of a basic misunderstanding of how checks are collected and when the funds represented by those checks are “good,” i.e. they cannot be reclaimed. Because of complaints that deposits were not available for use in a timely manner, Congress adopted the Expedited Funds Availability Act (12 USC §4001-4010). The Federal Reserve Board adopted Regulation CC (12 CFR §229.1 et seq.) to implement it. Among other things, they mandate the latest time when funds of various types of deposits must be “made available” to the depositors. Funds from cashier’s checks must be “made available” within two business days. Many banks have adopted shorter “availability schedules.” These schedules do not bear any relationship to how long it may take to discover that a check will not be paid.

Checks that are “sent through clearing” (all deposited checks) do not have positive confirmation of payment. The funds become “available” for withdrawal based on the bank’s availability schedule (with the maximum limit governed by FRB Reg CC). “Available” funds do not equal collected funds. A check can be returned after the funds have been “made available.” Having the funds “available” is not the same as knowing that the check has paid. If a check is sent through clearing, you get a negative confirmation that the check is not paid when it is returned. This will generally take three to four days at best. The check is handled electronically. Scammers gain additional time by using a fake bank routing number. Then, the counterfeit check bounces around in the clearing system until it kicks out to get human attention. In those cases, the check can take a week or more to find its way back to your account.

Numerous time frames are thrown out about when it is safe to “assume” that a check is “good:” “midnight deadline,” 11 days or a week. There really is no time after which it is safe to assume that the check has paid. (Obviously the longer the time, the more likely it has paid. But that is a rule of probability, not a rule of law.)

The best practice to be safe is to go to your bank and ask to send the check for “collection.” Ninety percent of the tellers may not know what you mean. This is done all the time with oil and gas lease drafts. UCC 4-501. When you finally find someone who does, the check will go out of the bank under a “collection letter,” not “through clearing” under a “cash letter.” Then you will receive positive confirmation some days later that the check has been paid. As you would expect, there is a fee for this special handling.

Some people want to talk to the bank and rely on what the bank “said.” What the bank “says” may not be what the customer “hears.” When talking to the bank, either the depositary or the payor, the customer must listen carefully to the “bank speak.” All the payor bank will generally say is that “a check in that amount will clear at this time,” not that “we will pay your check when presented.” Or the depositary bank will say that the “funds will be available on,” not that “these funds are good.” Any commitment that a particular check represents “good” funds and will be paid according to its terms should be in writing. That will clear up the ambiguity. I have never seen a bank give such an assurance.

To recap, the standard check collection process contains no positive feedback that a check is “good.” If a depositor wants to know that a check has paid, the check should be sent by the bank “for collection.” Then the collection is outside the normal system and a positive response “up or down,” as they say in government, is received. There are lots of ways for the bad guys to trick the regular check collection system so that a check may bounce around for days or weeks before it finds its way back. If the money is gone, the depositor is liable. See UCC §3-415 and the bank’s deposit account agreement.

As a further aside and to keep you up at night, the way some of these scams work is to alter a legitimate check. In such a case, a claim against the depositor for breach of warranty can exist for as long as three years. UCC §§4-111 & 4-207(a)(3). Altered checks are usually, but not always, caught within about 60 days. But that is well outside the time that lawyers would be required to forward client funds. MRPC Rule 1.15(d). This warranty liability cannot be disclaimed by a non-recourse indorsement. UCC §4-207(b). It may be possible to disclaim this warranty in the collection letter by sending the check “without recourse and disclaiming any warranties created by the contract of indorsement,” but that is an open question.

In the days of a flat world it may be increasingly difficult, but the way for lawyers to keep out of trouble is to know their client.

Read more about scams targeting attorneys at okbar.org/scams.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert T. Luttrell III is an attorney with McAfee & Taft. He has more than 35 years experience representing banks, savings associations and other financial institutions and lenders in all areas of banking, including commercial lending, real estate and consumer finance, regulatory compliance and deposit-taking activities.

Legislative Program Updates

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:44:26 -0500

Each session of the Oklahoma Legislature brings bills to the table that directly affect our state's attorneys and the practice of law. To assist in getting this information out to our members, the OBA has the Legislative Monitoring Committee, which monitors legislation that affects the practice of law and coordinates with county bar associations and individual lawyers in an attempt to favorably affect the creation of suitable legislation.

This session, the committee is bringing legislative news to our members through a special portion of okbar.org, which will be updated reguarly with news, bill summaries and contact info for legislators.

Learn more at okbar.org/legislative.

Family Law Section Premieres New Journal

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:07:04 -0500

The Family Law Section is partnering with the OBA to publish their section journal online, and that means new features for everyone!

A few months back, we ran a trial on "flip book"-style online publications to find a way to give our members the same "feel" of a magazine that they could view on their computers. With the premier issue of the FLS Journal, we're rolling out this new feature for all our publications online using the Issuu.com publishing service.

You can read the Family Law Section's Journal online at www.okbar.org/family/newsletter and give the new flip book a try. We'll be converting all our online documents to this new feature in the coming months so you can read them on your computer and mobile devices.

As with any new feature, there's bound to be some hiccups, so please be sure to let us know so we can work on them. Of course, you can still right-click on a publication's link to download it directly to your computer.

Gambling Concerns? Lawyers Helping Lawyers Can Help

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:04:38 -0500

By Rebecca Williams, LPC CEAP, Director of Caba Employee Assistance Services

The holidays are over, the Super Bowl and the Olympics, and we are back to the end-of-winter doldrums of the daily grind, with few events on the calendar to anticipate and feeling beaten down by what has been a relentless cold season. Studies show that it is often during these times of fewer distractions, that we are more vulnerable to creating distractions or escapes, some good, some not so good.

During these slow times, we are not our own best counsel, and many of us need perspective to preserve ourselves and protect our relationships. Knowing this before a tragedy, loss or crisis is preferable but not always the case. Regardless of where you are with an issue, Lawyers Helping Lawyers is a program through the OBA designed to provide a short-term counseling intervention to help you get perspective and make a plan. It can help with a broad range of emotional and addiction issues, not simply drugs and alcohol. It’s confidential and is provided at no cost to the member.

Here are some identifiers for a gambling addiction.

About Problem & Compulsive Gambling

10 Indications of Problem or Compulsive Gambling Behavior

You have often gambled longer than you had planned.
You have often gambled until your last dollar was gone.
Thoughts of gambling have caused you to lose sleep.
You have used your income or savings to gamble while letting bills go unpaid.
You have made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling.
You have broken the law or considered breaking the law to finance your gambling.
You have borrowed money to finance your gambling.
You have felt depressed or suicidal because of your gambling losses.
You have been remorseful after gambling.
You have gambled to get money to meet your financial obligations.

If you or someone you know answers "Yes" to any of these questions, consider seeking assistance from LHL (800.364.7886), or by calling the National Problem Gambling HelpLine Network (800.522.4700) toll free and confidential throughout the U.S.

Tax Planning at the Beginning of the Year

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:37:28 -0500

By Kenneth W. Klingenberg
Klingenberg & Associates, P.C.

I generally receive a number of telephone calls from my clients and attorneys (who are not my clients) during the last two weeks of each calendar year. These calls typically request end of the year tax planning ideas which I am happy to provide. However, I have always believed that tax planning starts on the first day of the year and continues throughout the year. The following beginning of the year tax planning ideas are ones that I believe are important and helpful to all my clients, including those who are attorneys.

Although this suggestion may seem out of place, complete and file your prior year’s tax return as soon as is reasonably possible. We find our clients may have some feel for their prior year tax results and burdens, but there are also many times when the client is surprised by the amount of his end of the year tax liability. An overpayment or underpayment may change your cash flow requirements for the current year. It is best not to be surprised in the current year by a prior year’s tax liability.
Keep organized and accurate records starting with the first check you write and the first deposit you make in the year. Good record keeping reduces tax return preparation costs and will help you keep track of your net income long before December arrives. A good bookkeeping system does not have to be complex nor sophisticated, but it should provide an accurate net income number at any point during the year.
Do a better job of keeping track of your cash expenses. Our office often receives receipts for cash expenses from clients with no description and no way of knowing if they are ordinary and necessary business expenses. In addition, clients often tell us that they have deductible cash expenses, but they do not know the amount spent and are unable to substantiate those expenses. This is a problem both for the tax preparer and the taxpayer if an audit occurs. The Internal Revenue Code plainly states it is the taxpayers obligation to substantiate all expenses whether paid by check or cash. Whenever cash is spent at an office supply store, a restaurant or anywhere else, you should always retain the receipt. I put the receipt in my pocket and later mark it appropriately. I then put it in a folder and from time to time go through that folder to organize and classify those expenses. On the receipt, you should include the date, amount, place, business purpose and, if it is a meal or entertainment expense, the name of the clients who were with you.
Never make an expenditure merely because it is “tax deductible”. It is vitally important that money is not spent solely on tax-deductibility. The needs and cash flow requirements of the business should always factor into your spending decisions. I am not saying that you should not obtain a special piece of electronic equipment or something that would make your life easier in the work you perform. However, I am saying do not invest in any program and do not purchase any equipment that you truly do not need and will not use. Do not forget that one dollar spent does not equal one dollar in tax savings.
If you do not have a financial and tax background, telephone your tax preparer prior to entering into any business relationship, agreement, or purchase that is of an unusual nature for you. I am not saying call your tax preparer before you make any expenditure. However, if the expenditure or investment is unusual, there may be better ways to structure the arrangement that would be more beneficial to you. It is our experience that when we receive that quick telephone call from our clients, many times the client gets the same economic result with better tax results.
Do not treat your bookkeeping process and tax preparation process like a step child. We have found that many attorneys with whom we work ask a legal secretary or legal assistant within their firms to accumulate the bookkeeping information and prepare the bookkeeping records for tax preparation purposes. Too many times the legal secretary or legal assistant has case matters that are put in front of maintaining and creating the appropriate tax records. This is certainly understandable as attorneys are often facing strict deadlines. However, you should create an atmosphere where the bookkeeping is processed in a timely manner and by a knowledgeable person.
Be certain to pay your estimated tax payments and payroll tax payments timely. Also file your payroll tax returns timely. Filing and paying estimated taxes and payroll taxes will save you the costs of late filing and payment penalties along with additional interest. These penalties are not tax deductible and can be substantial. The interest expense may also not be deductible.
Tax advice is often given by family and friends who have absolutely no tax background or knowledge. Many times this information is not correct. Frequently this information is given out during a cocktail party and it has been our experience that cocktail party tax advice is never as good as the bubbly you are sipping at the time you get the advice.

There are many other beginning of the year tax planning ideas that could have been included. However, in our experience those that I have included are useful and will be helpful to you as you conduct your business throughout the year.

Kenneth W. Klingenberg is an attorney and Certified Public Accountant. His practice focuses on business litigation, tax preparation, tax planning, tax litigation, probate, business planning, estate planning, and litigation support. He is with the firm of Klingenberg & Associates, P.C., 330 N.W. 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73103, (405) 236-1985.

Acknowledging our Leaders

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:23:04 -0500

In honor of Black History Month, the OBA wishes to recognize prominent African-American members of Oklahoma’s legal profession with outstanding career accomplishments. Each unique story is the culmination of years of hard work invested in the study and practice of law. The landmark achievements of the following people reflect their dedication to justice and ability to influence change in our state and beyond.

John Green, Civil Rights Advocate

Nine years after Brown v. Topeka Board of Education, Oklahoma City’s public school district remained segregated. John Green took on the school district as a client and served as the lead attorney in Dowell v. School Board of Oklahoma City Public Schools, the case that forced the Oklahoma City school system to integrate all public schools and make education in Oklahoma equal for all races. Throughout his legal career, Mr. Green has made a name for himself as a pioneer in the pursuit of racial equality. Soon after he was admitted to the OBA in 1957, Mr. Green started a private practice that focused on Oklahoma City segregation issues. Mr. Green was instrumental in a state lawsuit resulting in African-Americans obtaining access to all restaurants.

Mr. Green is accustomed to risk taking. After graduating from high school in Idabel, he attended Morehouse College in Georgia, where he became a close friend and confidant of fellow fraternity brother, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mr. Green earned a distinguished combat record in the Korean War, where he was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and Bronze Star Medal in a newly integrated army. Following his military service, Mr. Green became the second African-American to graduate from the OU College of Law.

During his career, Mr. Green broke still other racial barriers. He was the first African-American to serve in the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor, as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma and on the OBA Board of Governors. Outside the legal profession, he created the Southwestern Urban Foundation, which has raised more than $2 million during the past four years. Its mission targets financial support for the struggles within the African-American and other ethnic communities in Oklahoma. Even in retirement, Mr. Green continues to mentor young attorneys and advises the governor and other state leaders on the selection of judicial appointments.

Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma

Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange was the first African-American Chief U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma. She was also the first woman U.S. attorney in Oklahoma and among the first in the nation. She was appointed by President Bill Clinton, who also honored her with the lifetime appointment as federal judge. In 1986, Judge Miles-LaGrange was also the first African-American female elected to the Oklahoma State Senate, during which time she chaired the Judiciary Committee, the Legislative Black Caucus and the Law and Justice Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators.

A cum laude graduate of Vassar College in New York and a J.D. graduate of Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC, Judge Miles-LaGrange has many notable accomplishments. She is a member of the International Judicial Relations Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States, to which she was appointed by U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist. In 2000, she was part of the American/China Civil Trial Procedure Workshop Delegation to the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong, sponsored by the National Committee on U.S./China Relations. She had previously served as a professor of graduate business at Tianjin University of Finance and Economics and lectured at Tsinghua University School of Law, both in China. In her early career, Judge Miles-LaGrange served as an assistant district attorney in Oklahoma County, a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Woodrow Seals and a congressional aide for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Carl Albert.

Judge Miles-LaGrange is an Oklahoma fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a member of the American Bar Association, National Bar Association, American Inns of Court, Oklahoma Bar Association and Oklahoma City Association of Black Lawyers. She is an emerita master of the William J. Holloway, Jr. Inn of Court. She has received numerous civic and professional honors and awards including induction into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma African-American Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Woman Trailblazer Award, Honorary Distinguished Alumnus Award from Langston University, Oklahoma District Attorney’s Association Legislative Leadership Award; Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Founders’ Award and Ebony Tribune’s Keeper of the Dream Award, to name a few. She also co-authored a book titled “A Passion for Equality…The Life of Jimmy Stewart,” which was a 2000 Oklahoma Book Award Finalist. In 2006, Judge Miles-LaGrange received the OBA Fern Holland Courageous Lawyer Award for her courageous work to improve the legal systems of Rwanda, Liberia and Ghana.

Judge Jerome Holmes, 10^thCircuit U.S. Court of Appeals

The first ever African-American to serve as an OBA officer was Judge Jerome A. Holmes, who held the position of vice president in 2006. He also served on the OBA’s Board of Governors for several years. Judge Holmes has been an active leader of his profession since he graduated law school in 1988 from Georgetown University, in Washington D.C., where he was the editor in chief of the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. Before earning his J.D., Judge Holmes received a bachelor’s degree in history, cum laude, from Wake Forest University in North Carolina. He went on to get a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he was a John B. Pickett Fellow in criminal justice policy and management.

Judge Holmes served as a law clerk for James E. Alley of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma and then for Judge William J. Holloway, Jr. of the 10^thCircuit. After his clerkships, Judge Holmes worked for the D.C. firm of Steptoe & Johnson before moving back to Oklahoma, where he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma from 1994–2005. During that time, he focused on the investigation and prosecution of white collar and public corruption crime.

While at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Judge Holmes served as deputy chief of the criminal division and anti-terrorism coordinator, during which time he worked for almost one year on the prosecution team for the Oklahoma City bombing. He also worked as a director at the Oklahoma City firm of Crowe & Dunlevy, where he focused on litigation of complex civil disputes and continued his work on white collar crime. Judge Holmes encouraged the establishment of a diversity committee at the firm and served as its first chair.

Judge Holmes was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10^thCircuit on May 4, 2006, by Senators James Inhofe and Tom Coburn and the Senate confirmed his nomination on July 25, 2006. When he took the oath of office on Aug. 10, 2006, Judge Holmes became the first African-American to ever serve on the 10^thCircuit. Judge Holmes is currently a master of the Judge William J. Holloway, Jr. American Inn of Court and also serves on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Homelessness and Poverty.

Judge David Lewis, Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals

In 1980, Judge David B. Lewis received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics, with high honors. He then went on to earn his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1983. After graduating law school, Judge Lewis worked as an attorney at the Clark Law Offices in Lawton until he moved on to serve as Comanche County Assistant District Attorney until 1991. He also began his judicial career in Comanche County, where he was later appointed by Gov. Frank Keating as district judge of Comanche, Stephens, Cotton and Jefferson Counties on April 2, 1999. From 2002–2005, Judge Lewis served as chief judge of the Comanche County Courthouse, until Gov. Brad Henry appointed him to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals for the Fifth Judicial District on Aug. 5, 2005.

Some of Judge Lewis’ honors include serving as president of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference in 2004. He previously served on the Oklahoma Access to Justice Commission, the board of directors of Goodwill Industries in Lawton, the Lawton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Black Achievers Program Board of Directors, the OBA Professionalism Committee and the OBA National Mock Trial Task Force. In Lawton, he was also a member of the Kiwanis Club, served on the board of directors of the Christian Family Counseling Center and mentored in the public schools system. Judge Lewis has received a number of awards for his dedicated service to the law community and other state organizations.

Justice Tom Colbert, Oklahoma Supreme Court

Justice Tom Colbert, the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, was born in Oklahoma City. He graduated from Sapulpa High School, earned an associate’s degree from Eastern Oklahoma State College in 1970 and a bachelor’s degree from Kentucky State University in 1973. While at Kentucky State, Justice Colbert was named an All-American in track and field. Justice Colbert served in the United States Army and received an honorable discharge in 1975. He then earned a master of education degree from Eastern Kentucky University in 1976 and taught in the public schools in Chicago.

Justice Colbert received his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 1982. He was an assistant dean at Marquette University Law School from 1982–1984 and an Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney from 1984-1986, before entering private law practice at Miles-LaGrange & Colbert from 1986–1989. Justice Colbert continued his practice under the name Colbert and Associates from 1989–2000. He also served as an attorney for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services from 1988–89 and in 1999.

In March of 2000, Justice Colbert became the first African-American appointed to the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals, serving as chief judge in 2004. On Oct. 7, 2004, Gov. Brad Henry appointed Justice Colbert to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma.

Justice Colbert is a member of the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the OBA and the Tulsa County Bar Association. He also participates in many civic programs such as the Track & Field Masters Level, a mentoring program for young men; a summer reading program for children; and speaks at schools frequently.

Join the OBA for a Day at the Capitol

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:07:36 -0500

In 2009, nearly 400 attorneys responded to the call and marched to the Capitol to let their position be known on pending legislation. It certainly was one successful day. The OBA is once again calling upon you for your help and attendance this year on March 2^nd.

Allow 2010 OBA President Allen M. Smallwood to welcome you and listen to comments from Chief Justice James Edmondson of the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

After briefing sessions, enjoy a buffet lunch provided by the OBA and gear up to head to the Capitol to meet with your legislators. Can’t come for the entire day? Attend whatever you have time for, and remember the reception begins at 5 p.m.

Don’t miss this year’s opportunity to visit with members of your Oklahoma Legislature as part of the OBA Day at the Capitol to get up-to-speed on the OBA legislative agenda!

Get the agenda and other details online at okbar.org/capitol.

MCLE Reporting Deadline Reminder

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:05:08 -0500

Around 1,000 OBA members will receive a 2009 Final Annual Report of Compliance this week. If you are one of those members, please keep reading.

THE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT COULD BE OUT OF DATE: The data for this report was prepared on January 10, 2010. We are adding credit information to your records on a daily basis. Please check your MCLE record at my.okbar.org for your most current information. If your online record shows that you are compliant, please disregard the paper version of the Annual Report.
IF COURSES ARE MISSING FROM YOUR ONLINE RECORD AND/OR THE PAPER VERSION OF YOUR ANNUAL REPORT: Please add the missing seminar information to the paper version of your 2009 Final Annual Report of Compliance and return it to the MCLE office. If you are reporting credit you earned in 2010, you must also include a $100 late compliance fee. You may also be asked to provide something in writing from the sponsor that verifies your attendance.
IF YOU ARE EXEMPT FOR 2009: You can report your exemption online at my.okbar.org or you can mark the appropriate exemption on the paper version of your report and return it to our office.
IF THE SEMINARS YOU ATTENDED HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE OBA/MCLE DEPARTMENT: You will need to complete and submit a Uniform Application for Accreditation of a CLE Activity to the OBA/MCLE office along with the required attachments and a $15 application fee. Download the form here.
WHEN IS THE DEADLINE?: The deadline to report credit and pay late compliance fees is February 15. Because that day is a holiday this year, you have until February 16, 2010. The late fee is $200 after that deadline. If you use the regular mail, please make sure that your documents have a post office postmark no later the February 16, 2010.

If you have other questions, please contact the MCLE Department at (405) 416-7009, (800) 522-8065 or mcle@okbar.org. We are receiving a large number phone calls and emails. We appreciate your patience as we try to assist everyone.

Register Now for the ABA TECHSHOW®

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:51:23 -0500

ABA TECHSHOW^® is the premiere law office technology conference, with sessions for lawyers in small or medium-sized law firms as well as those for larger firm lawyers. The Oklahoma Bar Association is an event promoter for ABA TECHSHOW 2010^®, which means our members can save by using the OBA EP code, which is EP920. Save more by registering on or before the Early Bird Deadline of February 19, 2010. ABA TECHSHOW^® is scheduled for March 25-27, 2010 at the Chicago Hilton. Register selecting the Event Promoter Registration form. On that form, there is a space to reference the EP code.

More information and online registration is available at www.techshow.com . You can see the full line-up of educational sessions here. Some of the cutting-edge programming includes: PowerPoint Storyboarding in the Courtroom, The Lone Mac in a Windows Law Firm, 60 iPhone Apps in 60 Minutes, Document Management on a Dime and The Inbox Ninjas: Helping You Chop Through Your Email Inbox.

Conference attendees will also have a chance to see the ever-popular programs 60 Tips in 60 Minutes and 60 Sites in 60 Minutes.

“We the People” State Finals Winners Announced

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:20:53 -0500

Schools representing four Congressional Districts met to participate in the We the People: Citizen and the Constitution State Finals held in Oklahoma City January 23, 2010. The competing schools included Enid High School, Norman High School, Rock Creek High School – Bokchito, and Southeast High School – Oklahoma City.

The WTP competition allows students to exhibit their knowledge of the foundations and philosophies of the US Constitution through participation in a simulated congressional hearing. The competition is a cumulating activity for the WTP: Citizen and the Constitution curriculum developed by the Center for Civic Education. A panel of judges interview students assigned to a specific textbook unit and evaluate each group’s performance.

The 2010 winners are:

State Champions: Enid High School
2nd Place: Rock Creek High School – Bokchito
3rd Place: Norman High School

Unit Award Winners:

Unit 1: Southeast High School – Oklahoma City
Unit 2: Enid High School
Unit 3: Rock Creek High School – Bokchito
Unit 4: Rock Creek High School – Bokchito
Unit 5: Enid High School
Unit 6: Norman High School

The State Champions advance to the National Finals held April 23–27, 2010 in Washington, DC.

Snow Days Ahead

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:54:25 -0500

Members who are planning to attend events at the Oklahoma Bar Center Thursday or Friday should check okbar.org or call (405) 416-7000 to ensure the Bar Center is not closed due to inclement weather.

As a reminder, the OBA follows state offices for weather-related closures.

*Update: We will be closed Thursday, Jan. 28.

Are You in "Good Hands"?

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:04:36 -0500

You are with OBA/CLE and the free* Mortgage Forclosure CLE presented Feb. 19, 2010.

This is a chance to earn some free CLE and give back to your community.

*Find out how, and register online.

A Look Back at 2009

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:44:46 -0500

Has it really been over 10 years since we were all concerned about Y2K and the number of computer network crashes that the new year would bring? Now we’ve got 10 years of writing 2000-something as the date under our belts. 2010 seems like a new decade even though some debate whether we’ve got another year left in the first decade of the 21st Century.

So many things happened in 2009 in technology that a “year in review” piece seemed like a good idea. But looking toward the future is much more interesting and many of the developments of 2009 seem to be setting the stage for even more major changes. So, I will cover some new products and developments that are potential “game-changers” in the way we all use technology.

BUSINESS KEEPS GOING DIGITAL

Smart businesses have been converting to digital operations for several years. In some cases, the poor economy has accelerated that trend rather than impeded it. Computers are pervasive in most types of businesses. A business without a Web page is now an anachronism. Improvements in speech and handwriting recognition technology are becoming more prevalent and will aid the non-keyboarding crowd.

My message to lawyers is that, with rare exceptions, the so-called paperless office is no longer optional. If you missed my article on the paperless office last fall I would encourage you to read it: “The Paperless Office as a Risk Management Enterprise,” Oklahoma Bar Journal, Sept. 5, 2009 - Vol. 80; No. 23.

As business operations become more digital, they will expect to be furnished digital copies of pleadings and attorney bills. Lawyers do not want to be the final remaining business contact insisting on sending paper and forcing the client to scan documents into their digital business records.

Law firms hosting online repositories of client documents for clients to download will become a standard tool for law firms within the next few years. (Remember that you heard that here first when it happens.) I know the idea of posting client documents, particularly those containing sensitive or confidential information, online sounds dangerous and irresponsible to many of you reading this. I applaud your valid concern for protecting your client confidences. You should be very concerned about this issue.

But sending documents that are not password protected or encrypted to clients as e-mail attachments represents a greater potential breach of confidentiality than even the most basic password-protected online document repository. The Arizona Bar’s Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct recently issued Ethics Opinion 09-04: “Confidentiality; Maintaining Client Files; Electronic Storage; Internet” discussing online client document repositories.

To avoid misunderstanding, I am not saying that you have to do this or that many law firms are doing it now. My point is that at some point you need to be ready to respond when a business client informs you that they are tired of scanning all of the paper you send them and requests you start sending them digitally. There are many possible responses, but “No” will not be a smart one.

SOCIAL NETWORKING HITS THE MAINSTREAM

It would be impossible to do a review of 2009 without mentioning social networking. For most lawyers, this was the year they first heard of Twitter and first heard the idea that something like Facebook might be used for business. The use of online social media, which had been growing steadily, literally exploded in use and popularity. You no longer had to be a techno-geek to admit you had a Facebook page or posted to Twitter. In the short term, this generated many discussions about how lawyers could use social media to their advantage in marketing and communication with clients. This, of course, caused me to write “Can a Lawyer Really Use Twitter to Market a Law Practice?” Oklahoma Bar Journal, Oct. 10, 2009 - Vol. 80; No. 26.

The long-term implications of people posting all sorts of personal information online brings a significant impact for our society and the legal profession. (In fact, some of us have noted a “generation gap” between those who are concerned about this and younger people who cannot figure out why their elders are worried about personal information being online and freely available). People are hearing from all sorts of long-lost college and high school friends via social networks, which could be a good thing or bad thing depending on the friends.

Already family lawyers are reviewing online postings where child custody is an issue. Breaking up may still be hard to do, but announcing it by changing one’s status on Facebook gets the word out to everyone quickly, perhaps more quickly than one intended.

See this recent blog post on Social Networking and Cross Examination from a North Carolina lawyer. The increasing use of social networking sites has resulted in “unfriend” being chosen as Oxford Dictionary’s 2009 Word of the Year. (Unfriend – verb – To remove someone as a “friend” on a social networking site such as Facebook).

As I have noted in this space before, the most valuable aspect of Twitter to me personally is the fact that my colleagues collectively read many more articles than I possibly could and post the links to the best ones for me to read.

And, of course, let’s not forget our very own private social network, Oklahoma Bar Circle. It should see greater participation this coming year.

MOBILE PHONES KEEP GETTING SMARTER

Remember when you could never lose your phone as it was connected to a wall? Now many are predicting the eventual death of the land line, for homes at least.

Every year or so we change the label for the phones we carry. First they were cell phones. When they became digital, they were called mobile phones. Soon, they synchronized with our computers and were called smart phones. 2009 saw the rise of a new label, the “app phone.” Thinking of the phone as a small portable computer that is enhanced by the installation of many additional software packages is a different way of viewing phones for all of us.

Apple’s iPhone has been a trailblazer in the app phone market with many lawyers switching to the iPhone. The iPhone is great. One of the real drivers for its sales has been the hundreds of thousands of downloadable apps. Apple recently announced more than 3 billion apps have been downloaded from its App Store.

But the iPhone is far from the only app phone. Several phones based on the Android operating system have been released, including the popular Droid phone from Verizon and the just-released Nexus One from Google. Since many are complaining about the iPhone being handcuffed to AT&T, the Nexus One will be available in a version that can be used with more than one carrier, if you are willing to pay a premium purchase price.

Some colleagues of mine, Sharon Nelson and John Simek, made a bit of a splash this year with their recent assertion that iPhones are too insecure for law firm use. See “Parting the Curtains on the iPhone’s Security Problems,” Law Practice magazine, online. This article prompted one law firm to ban iPhones, according to an article in the ABA Journal.

While I cannot argue with Sharon and John’s expertise, I also cannot jump on the “Ban the iPhone” bandwagon either. Nor would committed iPhone users listen to me if I did! Be aware that these security flaws involve someone with technical expertise finding or stealing your iPhone with the goal of stealing the information it contains. So, one needs to make certain that one is knowledgeable on the emergency feature that can remotely erase the data on an iPhone if it is lost or stolen and the “Find My iPhone” feature that enables users to view the location of their lost or stolen iPhone on a map. Of course, a professional criminal knows to pop out the SIM card to defeat these measures, so take action quickly if it is lost or stolen.

And surely every lawyer with an iPhone has set a PIN, so that anyone who finds it cannot have instant access to all the information on it.

I cannot argue with the assertion that a properly-configured Blackberry is generally more secure than an iPhone if lost or stolen. So try hard not to lose yours if you have one.

CLOUD COMPUTING FOR LAWYERS

Cloud computing for the legal profession was another hot topic with some legal professionals turning to online case management software to run their practices. Two contenders in this new market, Clio and RocketMatter, are battling for market share while legal ethics authorities and technologists are still debating this approach.

Generally speaking, cloud computing refers to storing both data and the applications used to work with the data offsite on someone else’s server. Users typically use a Web browser to do their daily work. To learn more about cloud computing, read the two pieces linked below.

Forbes magazine noted this trend in its article, “Cloud Computing Grows Up.”

Putting all confidential client data in the cloud is an even more startling idea to lawyers than a simple password-protected document repository. On our Digital Edge podcast, Sharon Nelson and I interviewed two experts, with Erik Mazzone playing the role of the cloud champion and Ben Schorr taking the role of the cloud curmudgeon. Read my blog post on the topic with a link to the podcast.

TABLETS AND E-BOOK READERS

This may not be an obvious game-changer to many, but tablet computers and e-book readers represent one of the technology trends with far-reaching implications. One of the information recording tools long associated with our profession is the legal pad. Despite the increasing use of computers in law offices, the humble legal pad is still used daily in many law practices.

The idea of carrying something about the size of a legal pad but a bit thicker, with full computing capability and Internet access may be appealing to many lawyers. You can write on the tablets with a stylus just like you would on a legal pad and save your hand-written notes.

I know many lawyers love to read. When I mention e-book readers, I prepare myself for the inevitable response that reading something on screen would not be as pleasurable and satisfying as holding a “real” book. But in the same way that iPods and other mp3 players allow you to carry your entire music collection with you, the e-book readers allow you to carry dozens of books as well as current magazines and newspapers.

REMOTE ACCESS/TELECOMMUTING

Remote access to the office network from the road or the homestead is becoming a staple of modern business environment. This is a powerful concept and since most lawyers and law firm staff have home computers, the possibility exists to grant many remote access privileges. But many offices have not yet considered all of the implications of these tools.

Suppose your trusted legal assistant calls in from home in the morning and tells you she is deathly ill. You both recognize that this is a serious problem as you were up late revising the brief that is due today. Your technical skills do not include formatting a federal brief correctly within a tight time frame and you have a fully-scheduled day as well.

The assistant performs above and beyond the call of duty, spending the day at home hacking, coughing and revising the brief. You return to the office at 3:15 p.m. to print and review the perfect brief, make copies and send the runner off to file it with the court clerk.

You are pleased and tell the legal assistant it would be unfair to charge her with a day of sick leave given the fact that she worked all day. All is well. Then next week your partner walks in with a perplexed look. His secretary has just informed him that she is home with a sick child, but will be working from home under the firm’s new policy for telecommuting and that he can ask you about that.

MISCELLANEOUS

2009 was obviously not a good year for many major law firms. Law Shucks reported that 12,196 people were laid off by major firms in 2009, of which 4,633 were lawyers and 7,563 were staff, while noting that due to underreporting the true number was likely even higher.

Windows 7 was launched, with the unofficial marketing slogan of “Hey, it’s gotta be better than Vista.” It looks like lawyers who have stuck with Windows XP may not be moving as long as Microsoft continues to support XP, but many Vista users are upgrading now.

PC vs. Mac wars moved into heavy-duty prime time television commercial space. The Mac vs. PC TV commercials have become iconic.

Let me conclude this month with a list of podcasts and articles that are generally related to this month’s topic.

Kennedy-Mighell Report Podcast Looking Back: Legal Technology in 2009. I have to agree with Tom Mighell that 2009 seemed to be the year that judges recognized that electronic discovery was just too expensive and lawyers had to cooperate more on these issues, whether they wanted to or not.

My favorite personal technology columnist is New York Times columnist David Pogue. This year I strongly recommend you read his 5th Annual Pogie Awards for the Year’s Best Tech Ideas. We both see 2009 as a year of big ideas.

One of my favorite end-of-the-year resources is the Lifehacker Best of 2009. Lifehacker is one of the most valuable resources that is online. The large number of posts each day makes it difficult for busy people to read all of Lifehacker during the year, making their end-of-the year review required reading to catch up.

As new things emerge, they replace old things. At the end of the year, I ran across a surprising number of articles about products that were deemed on the way out. Here are links to a few of them:

10 things Not to Buy from Smart Money
12 Things That Became Obsolete This Decade
And finally, from MSNBC, 12 things computer users should fear in 2010

About the Author

Jim Calloway is the director of the OBA Management Assistance Program. He can be reached at jimc(at)okbar.org.

Tech Tips for 2010

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:37:50 -0500

Got some new tech toys (ahem, "business tools") and not sure what to do with them? We've got a few ideas for you.

Whether it's a new iPhone, Blackberry, WinMo or Android, mobile devices are only getting more powerful and useful. Here are some useful (and cool) things you can do with them.

1. Wired’s 20 Favorite iPhone Apps of 2009

2. From the upcoming January OBJ article on iPhone security:

Apple’s iPhone has been a trailblazer in the app phone market with many lawyers switching to the iPhone. The iPhone is great. One of the real drivers for its sales has been the hundreds of thousands of downloadable apps. Apple recently announced more than three billion apps have been downloaded from its App Store.

Some colleagues of mine, Sharon Nelson and John Simek, made a bit of a splash this year with their recent assertion that iPhones are too insecure for law firm use. See “Parting the Curtains on the iPhone’s Security Problems,” Law Practice magazine, online at http://tinyurl.com/yj76q74 . This article prompted one law firm to ban iPhones, according to an article in the ABA Journal.

While I cannot argue with Sharon and John’s expertise, I also cannot jump on the “Ban the iPhone” bandwagon either. Nor would committed iPhone users listen to me if I did! Be aware that these security flaws involve someone with technical expertise finding or stealing your iPhone with the goal of stealing the information it contains. So, one needs to make certain that one is knowledgeable on the emergency feature that can remotely erase the data on an iPhone if it is lost or stolen and the “Find My iPhone” feature that enables users to view the location of their lost or stolen iPhone on a map. Of course, a professional criminal knows to pop out the SIM card to defeat these measures, so take action quickly if it is lost or stolen.

And surely every lawyer with an iPhone has set a PIN, so that anyone who finds it cannot have instant access to all the information on it.

I cannot argue with the assertion that a properly-configured Blackberry is generally more secure than an iPhone if lost or stolen. So try hard not to lose yours if you have one.

3. Save the OBA Web site to your iPhone Home screen:

Open www.okbar.org in your Safari browser and click the "+" button at the bottom of the screen. Follow the prompts to add to the Home screen and you'll see a new icon with the OBA logo added to the program list.

4. See latest cases, news and the OBA calendar at OKNewsBar on the OBA Web site.

5. Electronic research made easy: visit www.okbar.org/research for links to the best legal research tools available.

Lawyerly Blessings

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:59:30 -0500

Activist and writer Anne Lamott says there are two prayers: Help me! Help me! Help me! and Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We lawyers (religious or not) know that prayer, don’t we, when looking for a missing trial exhibit or trying to get that extension of time?

We should be giving thanks, instead, for things perhaps less immediately consequential and more profoundly significant. We should give thanks for the things that still make America the best place to live in the world and being a lawyer in America the best career in the world. We should give thanks for courts that work, where, almost all of the time, the judge or jury makes a logical decision that is supported by the evidence. We should pause to admire the operation of our judicial system. For all the rules and requirements imposed upon its participants, it is in fact largely self-regulated, guided by the simple inherent honesty and honor of its participants. Likewise, we should be thankful for a system that honors the truth above all and is designed to find it even when it may be hidden or distorted.

We should be thankful for the role that lawyers play in everyday life. An entire section of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct are devoted to public service (ORPC 6.1 through 6.5). An attorney sits on almost every governing board there is, business, charitable or religious, and usually without compensation.

People think we know all the laws. We don’t, of course, but we know most or how to find them, and a non-lawyer never will. We are professional problem-solvers, and most of us have outstanding communication and social skills. Can you imagine a world where non-lawyers populated every board? (Help me! Help me! Help me!). Lawyers make society work. To put it more bluntly, without lawyers, society does not work at all.

We should be grateful for the pleasures of our company. When I list my close friends, almost all are lawyers. I would bet yours are, too. We are the most interesting of people, at least to ourselves. We read and follow the news. Most of us are fluent in sports, religion, finance and politics. Some of us love the law and will sit in fascination discussing what may or may not be its proper interpretation, or better yet, what the opposing counsel or a judge may do with it.

Because we deal with the top decision makers and serve our communities, we know what goes on in town. Importantly, many of us tell great jokes. Almost all of us get the jokes. For a moment, think of your life without your attorney friends. Aren’t they perhaps the greatest blessing?

We should acknowledge and thank the women and men that work with us as part of our staffs. They are our captive audiences all the year long. I once read a book on some of the world’s great geniuses. Almost all of them were insufferable in some way. Some lawyers share that characteristic, but strangely, we don’t seem to mind. No other group enjoys stating their opinions more, about everyone and everything. What other group routinely challenges the thinking of each other like lawyers?

We are under almost constant stress, financial or time pressure and can be difficult managers. Our clients, with whom many of our staffs work, are often scared or angry. These are not the seeds of a harmonious working environment. Thankfully, our staffs are wired for the law just as we, else they would never last a week.

We should consider our clients a blessing. Whether they are rich or broke, honest or dishonest, an individual or a huge bureaucracy, they are our raison d’être, and we ought never to forget that. Without them, there would be no holiday bounty for you and me.

Finally, we should be grateful for the thought and spirit behind our Rules of Professional Conduct. No other profession devotes the care and attention to ethical behavior as lawyers. No other profession takes its ethics more seriously or strives for honorable behavior more earnestly. We lawyers prefer to bear the increasing burden of regulation as opposed to the increased risk of harm to our clients. Not every profession does that.

After you contemplate the greater blessings of creation and family this holiday season, remember and appreciate as well our judges, staffs, fellow lawyers and clients. Say Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For them, for us, we should be grateful indeed.

About the Author

Have an ethics question? It’s a member benefit, and all inquiries are confidential. Contact Mr. Pickens at travisp@okbar.org or (405) 416-7055; (800) 522-8065.

New Calendar Featured on okbar.org

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:08:37 -0500

The OBA serves over 16,000 busy members who are a part of 32 committees, 23 sections, various boards and divisions, and who participate in several events and seminars each year.

And that's just the bar events. We're not even counting the dockets!

We're working hard for our members and are always looking to make your lives less complicated. That's why we've added a new calendar application on the OBA Web site where you will find meeting schedules, CLE seminars, holiday closings, and annual events like the Solo & Small Firm Conference and Annual Meeting.

If you're part of a section, committe, or county bar association and don't see your information on the calendar, let us know so we can get them on there. If you need to schedule a meeting, contact Wanda in our Administration Department at (405) 416-7042. Once the details are approved, it'll get added to the calendar.

For more details on the new calendar, visit www.okbar.org/calendar/docs/ to watch a short video demonstration.

Social Ethics

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:14:03 -0500

By Travis Pickens

You are at the party and you see him coming, the guy across the room you barely know, but he knows you are a lawyer. He fixes his stare on you like a laser-guided missile on a Taliban safe house. If you break for the buffet table, he breaks with you. If you turn for the bar, he swivels like a point guard and is still with you. He’s walking faster and closing fast.

You know what’s about to happen is inevitable. You hopelessly shrug your shoulders and turn to face your pursuer. He grabs your arm and gets close, in your face, violating traditional customs of personal space. His breath stinks of nacho cheese and scotch. He has a question, a legal question, and he wants you, the lawyer, to stop mid-party, mid-fun away from work, and give him a specific legal opinion on his “unique” fact situation that takes him a full 10 minutes to relate – because he doesn’t know how to get to the point and thinks no point can be made without “a little background,” which of course includes encyclopedic detail, meaningless asides, a host of rationalizations, and most important of all, hints by inflection and curled lips as to how he wants you to come down.

He finishes a diatribe that makes Fidel Castro look meek, leans in even closer, and waits for you to say the words some clients prize above all others, “Gee, I can see why you did that! You are as right as you can be! I agree with you!” or the corollary, “Gee, I cannot believe that happened! That’s blatantly illegal and they can’t do that!”

Then, of course, if you do agree (a compelling option because you know it’s the only way to break free from this smothering bore in time to get another drink before the bar closes), this guy will tell everyone he sees and knows that “my lawyer agrees with me completely” and that whatever was “clearly legal” or “highly illegal,” the meaningless modifiers thrown in for effect. He will quote you in conversations and letters, each time making your advice more pointed, more urgent and more outraged.

And as quick as he came, he will back away from you, the lawyer, with a satisfied smile, followed by a couple of knowing nods, and then turn and leave without a “thank you,” any offer to make an appointment at your office, or even buy your lunch. You’ve just been a victim of lawyer abuse.

How do you avoid this personal tragedy? First, leave work at the office. Physicians and accountants do, we can, too. Second, when you are ensnared by this abuser, grab him by the arm, interrupt him and say something like, “Whoa, I can see this situation is upsetting to you, but I really can’t discuss this right now. This kind of [big deal] requires my absolute full attention. I will need to run a conflict check and visit with you at length in my office before I can discuss even the possibility of representing you. Why don’t you call my office Monday morning to make an appointment?”

You do not want the abuser to arguably become a client or potential client now, and you don’t want to learn any confidential information, triggering restrictions and duties, for several reasons. One, it’s a party, not an office conference. There will never be a fee. Two, whatever you utter will be frozen in the abuser’s memory as “The Truth” for ever more. You will never be able to modify, much less retract it. Three, you will open yourself up to a nuisance malpractice claim or bar complaint if the abuser acts on incomplete advice and it turns out there is more to the story (there will be) that would have changed whatever you said. Four, you will have to maintain the abuser’s confidences, which is something else you will be doing for nothing. Fifth, you might get to the office Monday and find out your damning opinion related to a client of another lawyer in your office.

Rule of Professional Conduct 1.18 (a) states that “[a] person who discusses with a lawyer the possibility of forming a client-lawyer relationship with respect to a matter is a prospective client.” RPC 1.18 (b) says “[e]ven when no client-lawyer relationship ensues, a lawyer who has had discussions with a prospective client shall not use or reveal information learned in the consultation, except as Rule 1.9 would permit with respect to information of a former client.”

Therefore, you do not want to discuss representation or learn anything at the party. There is absolutely nothing to gain, and perhaps a lot to lose. But, you really don’t want to lose a potential client. The abuser may in fact have a legitimate issue and be willing to pay your full fee for the help. So, you are polite and invite him to set up a time at your office. If he is serious, he will. If not, you’ve wasted no time.

Then, you can go back to the party and have some fun.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Travis Pickens serves as OBA Ethics Counsel. He is responsible for addressing ethics questions from OBA members, working with the Legal Ethics Advisory Panel, monitoring diversion program participants, teaching classes and writing articles. A former litigator in private practice, he has served as co-chair of the Work/Life Balance Committee and as vice-chair of the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program Committee.

Save the Dates for OBA 2010

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:42:31 -0500

Getting involved with the Oklahoma Bar Association is a great resolution for 2010. Your first step in keeping that resolution is saving the dates for just a few of the great events planned by the OBA.

February 19	“Mortgage Foreclosures in Oklahoma”-a free CLE for those willing to commit to 20 hours of service for Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma
March 2	OBA Day at the Capitol-Oklahoma City
April 29 (tentative)	Law Day
June 14-18	Hatton W. Sumners Teacher Institute-Tulsa
June 24-26	OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference-Quapaw
September TBD	OBA Women in Law Conference
November 17-19	OBA Annual Meeting-Tulsa

Top Ten for 2010 - Ethics Edition

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:40:40 -0500

This time of year, most people are looking to make (or re-make) their resolutions for the upcoming year. To help you out, Ethics Counsel Travis Pickens presents his top ten ethics tips you can use to plan your year.

1. Know that the Office of Ethics Counsel is for you.: The Office of Ethics Counsel was created to provide all Oklahoma lawyers a resource for specific and confidential guidance as to ethics questions and to encourage the proactive consideration and handling of ethics issues. It is for you, no one else.
2. Discover the resources that are available to attorneys on ethics issues through this web site.: The “Ethics & Professionalism” tab is your door to all the applicable rules, and a world of ethics materials, opinions, tips and articles. It is the best place to start.
3. Submit requests for written ethics opinions to the Legal Ethics Advisory Panel.: The OBA Legal Ethics Advisory Panel will provide written opinions on ethics issues of general interest and prospective application. You can find the guidelines for submission here.
4. Re-read “the book” (the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct), and the comments.: Occasionally, you need to “read the book” again, as opposed to reading “about the book”. It will only take an hour or two, and the comments are well done and helpful.
5. Conflicts can kill — control them.: Review, tighten and maintain your conflict controls. Most questions this office gets relate to whether a conflict exists or not. Be careful!
6. Help your associates and staff measure up.: Lawyers who supervise other lawyers or non-attorney assistants must put measures in place to ensure compliance with the ORPC. The measures should be clear and concrete.
7. Write and use a comprehensive fee agreement.: Nothing alone is a more important tool in creating healthy client relationships, avoiding bar complaints and malpractice claims. You work to make your clients’ contracts perfect — does it make sense to do something less for yourself, or nothing at all?
8. Plan time off. You will take it regardless.: You can either plan breaks and vacations, or go to work all the time and take them anyway, at your desk. You will enjoy other places more.
9. Learn from the mistakes of others.: One of the best places to learn what to do and what not to do is a reported case involving a disciplinary violation. It focuses the mind. Very few lawyers intentionally hurt a client, but many get sloppy. Remain vigilant.
10. Embrace technological advances.: Ignoring technological advances may soon take you out of the “eccentric” category and place you firmly in the “incompetent” category. Clients expect you to be up to speed electronically, and increasingly, so do courts. Any questions?

Travis can be reached at travisp@okbar.org or (405) 416-7055.

Outreach Opportunites Abound for Attorneys

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:21:21 -0500

The winter holiday season is the time that most people think about how to serve in their communities, but Oklahoma attorneys are involved year-round. In fact, over 50% of Oklahoma attorneys spend three or more hours a week on professional legal volunteer work and 70% of state attorneys spend three or more hours a week on civic, community, and charitable work.

If you're an attorney interested in finding out more about how to get involved, check out the list of outreach projects on the OBA Web site. It's a great place to get started. If you're already involved, let us know; we'd be glad to hear from you.

Applicants for February 2010 Oklahoma Bar Exam

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:01:55 -0500

The Board of Bar Examiners requests that members examine this list and bring to the board’s attention in a signed letter any information which might influence the board in considering the moral character and fitness to practice of any applicant for admission. Send correspondence to Cheryl Beatty, Administrative Director, Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners, PO Box 53036, Oklahoma City, OK 73152.

Read the full list online at okbar.org.

Practice Pitfalls

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:47:11 -0500

The December issue of the ABA Journal features a litany of pitfalls any attorney may find themselves in. In fact, 60% of malpractice claims come in one of four areas.

Find out which ones, and see how you can guard yourself against them and other problem areas by reading the full article online.

Continue reading Practice Pitfalls...

Professional Conduct Resolutions for the New Year

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:43:21 -0500

Start the new year right and make some New Year’s resolutions. Diet and exercise almost always make the list, but Ethics Counsel Travis Pickens has some ethics resolutions to add to your list.

It starts at noon on Dec. 22^nd, so register online for the CLE Webcast today!

Attorney Recognized for Pro Bono Work

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:37:19 -0500

As a long-time volunteer for Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, John E. Miley of Oklahoma City has proven his compassion for the plight of those living in poverty. His commitment to Legal Aid and other causes earned him the 2009 OBA Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award, which he received at the OBA Annual Meeting last month.

Mr. Miley has chaired the Oklahoma County Bar Association’s Legal Aid Committee for the past three years and has consistently volunteered at Legal Aid’s Third Saturday Legal Clinic at Epworth United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, a program that provides both a legal clinic and a medical clinic at the church where low-income individuals and families can come for assistance. His dedication to the clinic is so strong that he even recruited his twin brother David to volunteer at the clinic with him. Legal Aid and their clients have clearly benefited from Mr. Miley’s work in the field and will continue to benefit from his commitment to volunteer work.

Mr. Miley is the deputy general counsel of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. He is president of the general counsels’ forum and chairman of the Oklahoma County Bar Pro Bono Committee.

Read about all the OBA award winners here.

Movie Magic: How the Masters Try Cases

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:27:26 -0500

The drama of the courtroom is often compared to the drama of film...with its suspense, comedy, starts, and bit players.

This unique program effectively combines legal education with Hollywood entertainment as it examines litigation strategies and tactics by using scenes from some of Hollywood’s most famous legal dramas and comedies.

Join us in Oklahoma City on the 17^th and Tulsa on the 18^th for a great time with the masters.

Learn to Fight Fraud: a Free Webinar

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:26:21 -0500

Thousands of attempts are now being made to defraud lawyers by e-mail from individuals pretending to be potential clients. A surprising number are successful.

The problem is the lawyers receive six-figure checks purporting to be settlements that are forged cashier’s checks. Many lawyers are not aware of how long it takes the banking system to recognize and notify depositors of the forged checks. Scammers attempt to have money wired to them before discovery.

Learn how to protect yourself from these situations and to recognize the “badges of fraud” in these e-mails. This free 30-minute webinar, set for noon on Tuesday, Dec. 15 is presented as a member service features OBA General Counsel Gina Hendryx and OBA Management Assistance Program Director Jim Calloway. Access this event from anywhere with an established Internet connection.

Advanced Trial Techniques: From Theory to Verdict

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:24:26 -0500

Co-sponsored by the OBA Litigation Section

Roger J. Dodd and Larry Pozner, both nationally acclaimed attorneys, join us to catch you up on all you need to know about winning in the courtroom.

Includes 7 hours MCLE/0 hours ethics. Save $10 when you register online (Tulsa | OKC).

LRE Presents the Hatton W. Sumners Teacher Institute

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:01:05 -0500

June 14-18, 2010, the third annual Hatton W. Sumners Teacher Institute will be held in Tulsa. The institute will focus on the Foundations of Democracy curriculum authored by the Center for Civic Education. This program explores the four concepts of democracy Authority, Responsibility, Privacy, and Justice. Morning sessions consist of lectures given by scholars in the field of civics education. In the afternoon participants take part in classroom applications conducted by program mentors.

On the final day educators learn about the Representative Democracy in America project. The project mission is “to reinvigorate and educate Americans on the critical relationship between government and the people it serves”. A wealth of supplemental resources for teaching civics education will be made available to teachers in attendance.

Due to generous funding from the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation, the conference is offered at no charge with all expenses paid for attendees. In addition educators receive a free classroom set of Foundations of Democracy textbooks.

The application deadline is April 15, 2010.

Law Day Contest Deadline Approaching

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:39:05 -0500

Oklahoma students in pre-kindergarten through 12^th grade are invited to enter the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Law Day contests with the opportunity of winning cash prizes up to $500. Entries must be received at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City by Dec. 18. The theme for this year’s contest is "Our History: Milestones in the Law." Students may explore key individuals, ideas or historical events that have helped shape American laws.

Full contest details and an entry form are available online.

Tee Hee! Another Funny CLE!

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:28:48 -0500

It’s time to laugh, as we welcome back Sean Carter, dubbed as "America’s Funniest Lawyer." In 2002, after nearly a decade of law practice after graduating from Harvard Law School, Sean Carter left the practice of law to pursue a career as the country’s foremost Humorist at Law. This program is a can’t miss.

Includes 6 hours MCLE/2 hours ethics for all day registration(OKC, Tulsa), 3 hours MCLE/1 hour ethics for morning (OKC, Tulsa) or afternoon registrations (OKC, Tulsa).

The New Child Support Guidelines

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:25:06 -0500

What You Need to Know about Changes to the Guidelines Statute

Few issues are as heavily litigated in family law courts as child support, and lawyers across Oklahoma should be aware that new child support guidelines enacted in June of 2008 became effective July 1, 2009.

This article by Amy E. Wilson serves as a guide to the changes for practitioners, as well as providing background on why such changes were necessary.

Read the full article online, or download the pdf version here.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Teacher and School of the Year Nominations Being Accepted

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:48:54 -0500

Nominations are now being accepted for the Oklahoma Supreme Court School and Teacher of the Year. Each year one teacher and one school are honored by the Oklahoma Supreme Court for innovative educational programs in civics education. The honorees receive a trophy and $1000 award during a special session of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The 2010 year will mark the 20^th anniversary of this long standing tradition.

Nomination packets are due January 13, 2010.

Get program details and nomination forms online now.

Grandparental Visitation in Oklahoma: An Overview

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:46:49 -0500

At one time or another, those of us practicing law have had to say, “I’m sorry, under the Oklahoma statute you are not entitled to court-ordered grandparental visitation.”

One would hope that grandparents would be welcomed into the family unit. However, on some occasions they may need to use the judicial system to establish time with their grandchildren.

Edmond attorney Allison A. Hart takes a look at this pressing subject in the November issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal.

Read the full article online, or download the pdf version here.

2009 MCLE Deadlines Are Approaching

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:34:29 -0500

We all know that the holidays are coming and that proverbial goose is getting fat, but did you remember that the deadline to earn your remaining CLE credit for 2009 is December 31?

If you’re not sure how much credit you need, just go to okbar.org and click the "Check MCLE Credits" button at the top of the page to get started.

We also have a Frequently Asked Questions Page to help you answer your MCLE questions. If you don’t find the answer to your question, look below for a bonus round of FAQs. And if you still don’t find your answer, please call the MCLE department at (405) 416-7009 or email mcle@okbar.org.

When you access your MCLE records online, you can also pay your dues, sign up for section membership, donate to Lawyers Helping Lawyers and the Oklahoma Bar Foundation.

So earn your required credit now and spend that $100 late compliance fee on something else...maybe a gift for me?

MCLE "Mini-FAQs"

What is the minimum educational requirement?: Unless exempt, every active member aged 64 and younger must complete a minimum of 12 hours of Oklahoma MCLE approved continuing legal education credits each calendar year. At least one of the 12 credits must also be approved for legal ethics.
It is difficult to get away from the office for live CLE seminars. What options are available to me?: OBA/MCLE approved live webcasts have no limit and may be used to complete your entire MCLE educational requirement.; OBA/MCLE approved online on demand (archived) seminars may be used to complete half (6 CLE credits, including one legal ethics credit) of your annual MCLE educational requirement.
Who is exempt from the minimum educational requirement?: Read Rule 2 for a list of exemptions.
Will I be required to file a report at the end of the year?: The MCLE Rules no longer require that a Final Annual Report of Compliance be filed by members whose OBA/MCLE record reflects that he or she has the required hours. However, this report must be filed by members who do not have sufficient credit according to OBA/MCLE records or by members who need to report an exemption. No Report is required from members who were admitted in 2009, members who have reached the age of 65 or members who reported one of the other exemptions in 2008.
How do I add credit to my OBA/MCLE record?: Please contact the MCLE department by phone (405) 416-7009, fax (405) 416-7089 or email mcle(at)okbar.org if you need to add credit to your reports. The seminar you want to add must be approved by the OBA/MCLE department and you must be able to provide something in writing from the sponsor that verifies your attendance.

The Magical, Ethical Mystery Tour

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:28:22 -0500

Do You Want to Know a Secret? The cold temperatures made me think of ... the OBA/CLE ethics musical, an OBA holiday tradition.

This year’s theme is the Beatles, and the show (I mean CLE!) should be the best ever: December 8 in Tulsa at the Renaissance; December 9 in Oklahoma City at the Will Rogers Theatre.

"Yesterday" will be too late. Don’t make me "Hold Your Hand" on this!

Attorneys register here and your guests can register here. Enjoy the show!

Bonus: View the promo video online now.

Lawyers Targeted For Fraud - Don’t be a Victim!

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:21:47 -0500

Many Oklahoma lawyers recently received e-mails from a “new client” asking them to collect alimony or back child support. These were followed almost immediately by delivery of a Citibank “Official Check” in excess of $300,000 payable to the lawyer. These checks are forged checks, but the banking system may not reverse the charges on a forged check for over ten days. If funds have been wired out before then, the lawyer bears the loss.

Holiday Gift Guides

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:56:03 -0500

High Tech Toys for the Holidays is the latest Digital Edge podcast from Jim Calloway and Sharon Nelson. This one covers all sorts of fun and interesting tech gadgets, Listen to the podcast (about 20 minutes) and then click on the links in the show notes section to visit the product websites. http://tinyurl.com/yfm2wy3.

Reid Trautz has also posted his 2009 Holiday Gift Guide for Lawyers with lots of interesting gift ideas. This is his fifth year for his Holiday Gift Guide. http://tinyurl.com/yz925y8 As you will see, his collection is not limited to technology products. Surely between these two gift guides, you will find some great gifts to buy or maybe to request for yourself.

Time to Give Thanks - For CLE!

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:53:31 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Center is closed for Thanksgiving, but OBA/CLE continues to work for you over this holiday. Take some time between food, family, and football earn up to six hours archived online CLE.

Over 575 programs are available online, so pick one or pick a few and get caught up during the holiday break.

Recent Developments in OK Law

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:49:45 -0500

Need CLE? We have plenty packed into this year’s Recent Developments program. From Bankruptcy Law to Criminal Law, this program has you covered. Click here to register for the Tulsa program and here for the Oklahoma City program. This program will be webcast.

Details and registration links for the Tulsa program.

Details and registration links for the OKC program.

Attorney Honored for Serving Oklahoma's Children

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:46:09 -0500

Throughout her career, Annette Jacobi has demonstrated her desire to provide legal needs to abused and deprived children. Her service to children earned her the 2009 OBA Trailblazer Award, which she received at the association’s Annual Meeting.

Through her involvement with the OBA Young Lawyers Division Children and the Law Committee, which she chaired at one time, Ms. Jacobi has spear-headed the effort to accomplish certain goals, including generating public interest in juvenile representation, educating lawyers in juvenile issues and increasing the number of lawyers serving as child advocates in and out of the courtroom.

As a result of these efforts, 35 lawyers and judges toured three of Oklahoma City’s juvenile facilities to promote programs such as Positive Tomorrows, the Oklahoma County Juvenile Detention Center and the Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Center (CARE). Ms. Jacobi led the way for tours to be organized in Tulsa and Stillwater, and within weeks she began working with the OBA/CLE department to provide free all-day seminars in Oklahoma City and Tulsa to lawyers and judges on issues involving effective legal representation of abused and deprived children.

With her encouragement and inspiration, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children was founded to team qualified pro bono lawyers with children in the juvenile division of the Oklahoma County District Court.

She currently serves as chief of the Family Support & Prevention Service at the Oklahoma State Department of Health, vice president on the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds Board of Directors, president of the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of the Oklahoma City Diocese and a Master of the William J. Holloway American Inn of Court and is the past chair of the Oklahoma Child Death Review Board.

Paying Dues Made Easier Online

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:22:22 -0500

Dues statements were sent to all OBA members this week, and the OBA is making it even easier and faster to pay online. Just go to okbar.org and click the "Pay Dues Online Now" button at the top of the page to start the process.

We've also added a new Frequently Asked Questions page to the site to help answer any questions you may have, such as Senior Member Status and getting your myOKBar PIN.

When you pay online, you can also sign up for membership in one of many sections, and donate to the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program and the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. These are great ways to get involved in helping others and honing your skills; just click the button to get started.

Bar Foundation Recognizes First Roger Scott Award Recipient

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:17:04 -0500

The Oklahoma Bar Foundation is proud to present the first annual Roger Scott Memorial Award to Brett D. Cable, an attorney with the firm of Steidley and Neal in McAlester, Oklahoma. Brett is a graduate of Southern Methodist University (BBA 1993) and the University of Tulsa (JD 2002) and currently serves as a Trustee of the OBF.

Roger Scott, a name synonymous with outstanding professionalism, congeniality and the highest regard for ethics, served as Trustee of the OBF from 2003 to 2009. During his entire tenure on the board Roger chaired, in exemplary fashion, the Development Committee, charged with seeking donations through the OBF Fellows program.

His unqualified dedication to the Foundation and the good work it does in the name of Oklahoma lawyers serves as an inspiration to all individuals connected to the legal profession. Roger labored mightily to fulfill OBF’s purpose—Lawyers Transforming Lives!

The OBF Roger Scott Memorial Award is presented by the Foundation at the annual meeting of the OBA to that individual or organization who best exemplifies Roger’s dedication to the OBF. The recipient’s name will be permanently placed in a position of honor in the Bar Center alongside all honored recipients.

Brett Cable is an outstanding member of the Board of Trustees of the OBF, who, through active recruitment of new Fellows from the ranks of membership in the Oklahoma Bar Association and other significant efforts on behalf of the Fellows program, has best demonstrated the voluntary commitment and dedication required to sustain the vitality of the Fellows program.

Over the last ten years 950 Oklahoma lawyers have become OBF Fellows, most of whom were recruited to the program by OBF Trustees. Excluding OBF officers and past presidents, one name stands out in recruitment efforts, and that name is Brett Cable, who has personally recruited over 50 new Fellows to the program.

Brett Cable is very modest, but undeniably he has had a profound effect on the young lawyers group. Brett has sent letters, written YLD articles in the Bar Journal and spoken on behalf of the OBF at various YLD functions and events. Brett will tell you that he has not done much, but what he is doing works and he serves as an example for all of us.

Don't Get Caught Sleeping

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:14:18 -0500

If you snooze you’ll lose — on great OBA/CLE programming and getting your MCLE for 2009. OBA/CLE makes it easy with lots of great choices in December.

OBA/CLE Presents: Forming LLCs

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:58:22 -0500

John Cunningham, author of Drafting Limited Liability Company Operating Agreements, the leading LLC form book and practice manual in the United States, will present an all day OBA/CLE seminar in Tulsa on November 20, 2009.

For more information and to register visit OBA/CLE online.

Community Volunteer Honored by Association

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:56:23 -0500

Affectionately known as “Mother Theresa” or “Mother T” for short, Theresa Hansen is dedicated to volunteering within the legal system. Her service to the profession earned her the 2009 OBA Liberty Bell Award, which she received during the association’s Annual Meeting.

Ms. Hansen’s desire to alleviate anxiety and provide support for families during difficult times motivated her to begin volunteering at the Tulsa County courthouse. What has kept her volunteering for so many years is her aspiration to help people feel comfortable in the courthouse.

Today, “Mother T” can still be found at the courthouse on Mondays and Tuesdays, tending to the needs of the staff and recruiting other community members to volunteer. Other days she volunteers at a local hospital assisting the on-duty nurse with victims of violent assault and rape. But she is not only an instrumental volunteer, she is also a community activist. She has lobbied for stronger laws at the State Capitol, including making first-time strangulation a felony. She is currently working with her representative to sponsor a new law that would make first-time domestic assault and battery a felony if the act took place in the presence of a minor.

For all her work, Ms. Hansen received the 50 People over 50 Years Award at the Oklahoma State Capitol in 2008 and the Call to Service Award from President George W. Bush in 2007.

Read about all OBA award winners here.

OBA Communications Team Honored for Public Relations Campaign

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:09:40 -0500

The OBA Communications Department recently added more hardware to its trophy case; this time it was to recognize the team’s public relations work for Law Day.

Communications Director Carol Manning and Communications Specialists Melissa Brown and Jeff Kelton work closely with the OBA Law Day Committee in supporting the annual statewide student contests, Ask A Lawyer free legal advice and one-hour TV show on OETA.

For its efforts, the department won a Luminary Award for Excellence in Public Relations from the National Association of Bar Executives Communications Section. This national award is given for a public relations effort that exemplifies effectiveness of communications in getting the bar’s message across to its members and the public. The OBA’s communications team was up against larger bar associations, such as California and Texas, who have more staff and a bigger budget to back up their campaigns.

One judge said, “This entry is excellent. The project itself is a huge undertaking – with only three people on the communications staff! – and it looks like it helped a lot of Oklahomans. The use of new technology is impressive… this is a fabulous project, well carried out. Good job!”

Additionally, the Communications Department received an honorable mention award in the special event category from the Public Relations Society of America, Oklahoma City Chapter.

One judge remarked that the entry was strong in that it stated a clear purpose with measurable outcomes, and the event reached out to Oklahoma’s Hispanic population.

Project Details

For the contests, the department recruited student participants by reaching out to more than 25,000 teachers statewide through a postcard mailing, teacher conventions and pinpointing teachers who have participated in the past. Once the judging was completed, the department created a personalized packet for each teacher who entered. The department also coordinated the ceremony for the first place winners with the chief justice.

The department’s responsibilities on the Ask A Lawyer TV show served primarily in a producer’s role. It was the department’s job to make sure that the Law Day Committee stayed on its production schedule and within its budget. The department coordinated and conducted the on-camera interviews, wrote the script and co-edited the raw footage into the final product.

Promotion for the free legal advice call-in also rested on the department’s shoulders. It wrote, coordinated and distributed all promotional efforts, resulting in more than 2,600 calls for legal advice.

The Communications Department was also tasked with helping the county bar associations plan their local Law Day activities by providing resources such as project and promotional ideas, a list of frequently asked questions, and sending them tools to use during Ask A Lawyer, which included phone answering guidelines, tally sheets, helpful phone numbers to refer callers and a reference guide for commonly asked questions.

Law Day 2010

Planning for Law Day 2010 is already in full swing. The contests for students are back, and the deadline is Dec. 18. If you have any questions about Law Day or would like to start planning your county’s activities, e-mail LawDay@okbar.org.

A Night at the Movies with CLE

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:54:31 -0500

Dinner, a movie, and CLE credit! View the movie Maxims, Monarchy and Sir Thomas More and hear a stellar panel discuss issues raised by the movie:

the making of a conflict between private conscience and one’s duties as a public professional
resolution of conflict between private conscience and public loyalties.

Visit the seminar page or more information and to register. Want to bring a guest? We have specials for them.….CLE can be fun!

2009 Art Contest Winners Announced

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:48:31 -0500

One of the anticipated events each year at the Annual Meeting is the Art Contest/Art Show. Artful attorneys are encouraged to submit recent works (within the past five years) in any of the 10 categories.

After judging, the pieces are put on display at the convention. The overall winning entry earns the right to be displayed prominently at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City. That honor this year went to Edmond attorney Cam Cherry for his 3-dimensional work Hope, a carved bowl made from reclaimed wood with embedded turquoise.

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2009 Art Show Contest Winners
Oil Painting	2nd Place: Study of Santa Fe Dept	Judge John Gardner, Shawnee
Acrylic	2nd Place: Portrait of Terry West	Judge John Garnder, Shawnee
B&W Photograph	1st Place: Backcountry	Kenni B. Merritt, Oklahoma City
	2nd Place: Lake Overholser Bridge	Judge Mike Stano, Stillwater
	3rd Place: Got Wood?	Judge Mike Stano, Stillwater
Color Photograph	1st Place: Fort El Morro	Judge Mike Stano, Stillwater
	2nd Place: Chuckanut Sandstone	Kenni B. Merritt, Oklahoma City
	3rd Place: The Protector	Reginald Smith, Oklahoma City
Three-dimensional	1st Place: Hope	Cam Cherry, Edmond
	2nd Place: Retirement: Golden?	Judge James H. Paddleford, Oklahoma City
	3rd Place: Reclaimed	Cam Cherry, Edmond

Best of Show/Artist of the Year	Hope	Cam Cherry, Edmond
See more photos of the contest at the OBA photo gallery, and our Flickr photostream.

Honoring Veterans, Celebrating Freedom

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:46:40 -0500

In honor of Veterans Day, the Oklahoma Bar Center will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11. This day is set aside to recognize all veterans, and the service they provide to our country.

Throughout the country, schools will be celebrating Freedom Week, and there will be several events planned throughout the state to honor the men and women who have served in the military.

Annual Meeting Photo Galleries Online

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:45:23 -0500

Did you make it to the 2009 Annual Meeting? Did you take lots of pictures? Well, we did, and we're willing to share.

This week, we'll be adding more photo galleries highlighting parts of the convention. You can take a look at them on the okbar.org photo gallery page, and through the OBA's new Flickr photostream, where you can tag your friends and make comments on the photos (keep it nice!).

If you have any photos you would like added to the site, contact webeditor@okbar.org and we'll see what we can do.

Changes in Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:37:23 -0500

Unless Congress takes contrary action, a number of important changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure will take effect on December 1, 2009. These include changes to Rule 6 governing the computation of deadlines, changes to Rule 15 governing amendments to pleadings, and changes to various deadlines for seeking post-judgment relief. This webcast will explain those changes and their likely impact on federal court practice.

In related news, comments are being sought on the Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy and Criminal Procedure and the Proposed Style Revision of the Federal Rules of Evidence, and are due by Feb. 16, 2010, to Peter G. McCabe, Secretary, Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Judicial Conference of the United States Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, Washington, D.C. 20544 or electronically to rules_comments@ao.uscourts.gov .

OBA House of Delegates Elects 2010 Board of Governors

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:48:53 -0500

Tulsa attorney Allen M. Smallwood will serve as president of the Oklahoma Bar Association for 2010. Members of the OBA Board of Governors elected to serve with him were announced at the OBA’s 105^th Annual Meeting today in Oklahoma City.

Smallwood served as OBA president-elect for 2009, a position that automatically elevates him to become president following his one-year president-elect term. He will officially be sworn into office on Jan. 15, 2010, at the Oklahoma Supreme Court courtroom in the State Capitol Building.

Smallwood is a solo criminal defense practitioner in Tulsa. He was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar Association in 1975. He is a two-time past president of the Tulsa County Bar Association and a former director of the Tulsa County Bar Foundation. His role as association president is a voluntary position in which he will serve while continuing his law practice.

The 2009 presidential term of Guymon resident Jon Parsley will come to an end on Dec. 31, and Parsley will remain on the OBA Board of Governors for one year as immediate past president.

Deborah Reheard of Eufaula will serve as president-elect during 2010, and Oklahoma City attorney Mack K. Martin will fill the office of vice president.

Also elected to the OBA Board of Governors to represent their judicial districts are Susan B. Shields, Oklahoma City; Glenn A. Devoll, Enid; and Ryland Louis Rivas, Chickasha. David A. Poarch of Norman will serve as an OBA member-at-large. They will serve three-year terms. Tulsa attorney Molly A. Aspan, who will chair the Young Lawyers Division next year, will serve a one-term on the board.

Counseling the Counselors

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:32:59 -0500

Oklahoma has 3 suicides committed every 48 hours. If treated, depression can be resolved in 80% cases. Oklahoma is 49^th in the nation in mental health program funding.

These are sad facts, but there is hope. The Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program supports Oklahoma attorneys who are struggling with depression, addiction, and substance abuse problems. While 80% of attorneys who contact Lawyers Helping Lawyers report depression or symptoms of depression, a recent study shows that many professionals are unwilling to get the help they need because of the stigma associated with this disease.

To combat this growing problem, LHL has partnered with professional counselors throughout the state to provide up to 6 visits free of charge. There is also a peer support network in place to help attorneys though specific issues they may be struggling with. Now, there's even more help available.

The Oklahoma Bar Association is pleased to announce that Reggie Whitten of the Whitten-Newman Foundation has presented Lawyers Helping Lawyers with a gift of $25,000 to support the treatment of lawyers struggling with addictions and mental health issues. The check was presented during this year's annual meeting, at the free mental health CLE provided by the OBA. The money is used to directly support the program, and is managed through the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program.

Reggie shared the story of his son Brandon, who became addicted to Valium at an early age, and who died in a drug-related motorcycle crash in 2002. He was 25. To honor the memory of Brandon, Mr. Whitten now speaks about prevention and treatment of addiction, and through the foundation, provides scholarships to "underdogs" looking to further their education.

The OBA is proud to support this program as a vital part of membership. If you are interested in helping to support the program, you can donate directly to the fund at the same time you pay dues. Member's dues statements will have an area where you can designate your gift to the program. All money given to Lawyers Helping Lawyers goes directly to that fund, and is not a part of the general fund.

If you are attorney seeking help, call (800) 364-7886. Your call is strictly confidential.

For more information on the Web:
Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program
Work/Life Balance Committee
News item: LHL Partners with CABA, Inc. to Provide Assistance to Lawyers
Whitten-Newman Foundation

Annual Meeting Photo Gallery Updated

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:40:24 -0500

Wednesday morning kicked off with several CLE sessions in the Multi-track format, and Thursday will bring the plenary session and luncheon featuring guest speaker Gene Kranz. Several events will be photographed and featured on the OBA site, but you can also follow on our Flickr photostream.

Join us at the OKC Sheraton for today’s luncheon, section meetings, and Friday’s General Assembly, and to check out our hall of exhibitors and vendors. You’ll be glad you did.

It's Annual Meeting Time!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:39:25 -0500

The 2009 Annual Meeting is underway! We're expecting over 500 members to join us over the next 3 days for good CLE, good art, and good visits with friends and fellow attorneys.

Throughout the convention, we'll be posting pictures and stories featuring different aspects of the events. Keep checking back for updates! If you're on Twitter, follow the event with #OKBar2009.

Walk-in Registrations Welcome at Annual Meeting

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:38:05 -0500

It's not too late to register for this year's Annual Meeting, which is being held this week (Nov. 4-6) in Oklahoma City's Sheraton Hotel. Registration opens Tuesday evening from 4-7 p.m.

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, registration is in the hotel lobby from 4 – 7 p.m. On Wednesday & Thursday, Nov. 4 & 5, registration is in the Mall Pavillion.

Come on down and join your fellow bar members for a great time!

New Mayes County Bar President Elected

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:19:30 -0500

Mayes County Attorney David F. DuVall has been recently elected as the County Bar President. Mr. DuVall is an associate at The Ritchie Law Firm in Pryor where his primary practice areas include Bankruptcy, Condemnation, Appellate, and General Civil law. Mr. DuVall joined the Ritchie Law Firm in December, 2008, and practices with firm founder, K. Ellis Ritchie, and associates Ryan M. Roberts and Bryan A. Rock. Mr. DuVall Graduated from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2008.

David plans to work with his fellow officers and members of the Mayes County Bar in conducting meetings, planning various CLE opportunities, and preparing for the Bar Association's annual Law Day activities. David also plans on working to increase the presence of the bar association within the Mayes County community over the next year.

One of David's passions is community involvement and volunteer work. While in law school, David was a volunteer mentor at the Tulsa Boys' Home in Sand Springs. He worked with at risk teen boys as a mentor throughout his three years in law school. As part of his service he was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award in 2007 and 2008. While not at the office, David enjoys spending time with his wife, Kassie, and their friends and family. David also enjoys playing the game of golf every chance he can. He embraces the opportunity that his fellow members of the Bar Association have given him and looks forward to serving as the President of the Mayes County Bar Association.

Annual Meeting Highlight: Free Mental Health Seminar

webeditor@okbar.org — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:21:39 -0500

The OBA is committed to the well being of its members and for the third year is offering 1½ hours of free CLE at the 2009 OBA Annual Meeting on Thursday afternoon from 3 – 4:15 p.m. The session will focus on depression. To register, fill out the Annual Meeting registration form online or in print.

Annual Meeting Highlight: Registration Benefits

webeditor@okbar.org — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:19:43 -0500

If you're coming to Annual Meeting, you may be wondering just what comes with your registration fee. It's not just all meetings and seminars (although you don't want to miss those). There's a whole lot more!

President's Reception
Art Show
Comedy Club featuring Henry Cho
Casino Night hosted by the YLD

You'll also get access to OBA/CLE's free mental health seminar, and the General Assembly.

So if you've already registered, then check out the Annual Meeting site to see what's in store for you. If you haven't, it's not too late. Register now!

Be It Resolved...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:38:59 -0500

Did you know that each year at Annual Meeting, the House of Delegates meets to vote on resolutions proposed by the OBA membership?

This year, there are six new resolutions that, if passed, will affect how you practice law. You can review the proposed resolutions by visiting the Annual Meeting 2009 Web site and reading the full text, including the recommendations made by the Board of Governors.

Deadline Nears for Annual Meeting Online Registration

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:36:31 -0500

Planning on coming to Annual Meeting, but just haven't registered yet? Take a couple of minutes to register online. It's easy, fast, and secure!

The deadline for online registrations is ~~Tuesday, Nov 3^rd~~ Monday, Nov. 2^nd at 5:00 p.m. It’s not too late to register for the OBA Annual Meeting; however, online and fax options are no longer available.

To register in person, come to the Sheraton Hotel. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, registration is in the hotel lobby from 4 – 7 p.m. On Wednesday & Thursday, Nov. 4 & 5, registration is in the Mall Pavillion.

Don't miss out, there's lots to see and do this year. Visit the special Annual Meeting 2009 Web site for more information.

Annual Meeting Highlight: CLE Multi-Track

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:03:19 -0500

The Wednesday CLE multi-track format will be used again at this year’s meeting. Members will have an opportunity to select from in excess of 30 different sessions. Five tracks of simultaneous CLE programming will be offered: Family Law, Criminal Law, Nuts and Bolts, Real Property Law and Recent Developments. Get the full details on the Annual Meeting 2009 site.

Failure is Not an Option

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:03:27 -0500

Where were you on April 13, 1970, when the Apollo 13 liquid oxygen tank ruptured? The loud bang heard when the fuel cell tank exploded, was at first believed to be a prank pulled by prankster Crewman Haise. However, it was discovered that the explosion which took out the whole side of the service module, crippling both the command and service modules, resulted in the loss of most of the power and life sustaining oxygen. An immediate abort of the mission was necessary, but how do they get the crew back safely from this life and death drama?

Gene Kranz, Annual Luncheon Guest Speaker, Author of Failure is Not an Option and past NASA Flight Control Director, is credited with returning the lunar module and the crew safely back to earth, for which he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom award. We invite you to join us for the Annual Luncheon, followed by a book signing, beginning at Noon on Thursday, November 5, 2009, to hear the rest of the story.

What caused the rupture? The thermostat inside the liquid oxygen tanks, used to run the fuel cells providing electricity as well as oxygen, were supposed to be redesigned to operate at 65 volts as well as the 28 volt standard. The manufacturer did not get word of the change, which alone would not have been a problem. However in 1968 the tank was dropped by technicians during manufacturing. Tests were performed and a determination was made that there was no detectable damage. In March, 1970, after a practice session, the ground crew tried to empty the tank, but couldn’t. The small tube used to fill and empty the tank of its supercold contents had been damaged when it was dropped. In order to empty the tank, the technicians turned on the heaters to warm the liquid oxygen, turning it to a gas that could then be vented to the outside. The thermostat inside the tank was supposed to prevent the temperature from exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit. As the temperature inside the tank rose, the thermostat was activated, resulting in a surge of electricity at 65 volts, causing the 28 volt thermostat to weld shut, and the temperature inside the tank to rise to 1000 degrees. The intense heat damaged some of the insulation on the wiring inside the tank. No one knew, but Apollo 13 carried the makings of a small bomb inside its service module.

When the fans were turned on inside the No. 2 tank, the damaged wire caused a spark, starting a fire inside the tank. The pure oxygen fed the fire and caused the pressure inside to grow to the point of rupturing the tank and subsequently crippling the spacecraft.

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Come to the 2009 Annual Meeting luncheon for the rest of this exciting story.

Annual Meeting Highlight: CLE Plenary Session

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:00:21 -0500

If you love history, you love Abraham Lincoln. This year is the 200^th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. In honor of that occasion, the OBA/CLE Annual Meeting plenary session, scheduled for Thursday morning, will focus on the life of Lincoln and what we can learn, as lawyers, from his life.