Commission Highlights
The Board of Bar Commissioners received the following reports and took the actions indicated during the July 16, 2008 Commission meeting held in conjunction with the 2008 Summer Convention in Sun Valley, Idaho.
1. The Commission approved the minutes of the May 30, 2008 Commission meeting by consent.
2. The amendments to Senior Bar Section By-laws to permit membership at age 55 were approved by consent.
3. The Commission approved the inception of a new Mentoring Program and asked the General Counsel, Katherine Fox, to work with the Mentoring Program Subcommittee to prepare a petition to the Utah Supreme Court. The mentoring plan includes core legal and professional concepts, lawyering skills, activities and experiences designed to bridge the gap between law school and the “real world” of legal practice.\
4. Commissioners postponed action on a request for a new Communications Law Section.
5. The Commission approved the creation of a new staff position to handle Member Benefits and Public Services. This new position will assist in the administration of a Utah State Bar Pro Bono program by placing cases as requested by the court and will provide logistical support for the Young Lawyer service programs such as Tuesday Night Bar and Wills for Heroes. In addition, the new position will provide administrative support to companies that are providing products and services to assist members of the Utah State Bar.
6. Commissioners instructed Bar staff to review and revise the contract with Blomquist Hale.
7. A formal annual evaluation process for the Bar’s Executive Director was approved.
8. The Commission appointed James D. Gilson to fill the remaining year of Nathan Alder’s term as 3rd Division Commissioner pursuant to Mr. Alder’s resignation.
9. The following ex-officio representatives were approved to serve on the Commission: Dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School; Dean of the S. J. Quinney College of Law; Bar’s Representative to the ABA House of Delegates; Utah ABA Members’ Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates; Past Bar President Lowry Snow, Representative from Women Lawyers of Utah; Representative from Paralegal Division; Representative from Utah Minority Bar Association; Representative from Young Lawyers Division.
10. The following members were selected to serve on the Executive Committee: Nathan Alder, Stephen Owens, Lori Nelson, Christian Clinger, Rob Jeffs and John Baldwin. A resolution was also adopted allowing the Executive Committee to sign Bar checks.
The minute text of this and other meetings of the Bar Commission are available at the office of the Executive Director.