Many Hands Make Light Work
Many Hands Make Light Work
by David R. Bird
'Many hands make light work' was a favorite saying of my grandmother. This has never been truer than it is at the Utah State Bar. I wish to begin my term as President by thanking each of you who give freely of your time and talents to further the Bar and improve our profession. Without you the organization could do little. If each one of us will help where we can, great results will occur.
There are many important things happening in our Bar. As I write, we have just concluded a very successful Annual Meeting at Sun Valley under the direction of Lauren Scholnick and Michael Petrogeorge and their committee. Elaina Maragakis and Christian Clinger and their committee are hard at work planning next yearÕs meeting to be held July 12-15 in Newport Beach. Mark your calendars and plan to attend it as well as the Fall Forum on November 11, 2005 in Salt Lake City and the Spring Convention, March 9-11, 2006 in St. George.
Three hundred and seventeen people recently took the Bar exam; the largest number ever. The admissions process could not work without the Admissions, Character and Fitness, and Bar Examiners Committees and the staff led by Joni Seko. Much of the work of the Bar is done by standing voluntary committees.
We have twenty such committees and over 550 participating members appointed by the Bar Commission:
Admissions; Annual Meeting; Bar Exam Administration; Bar Examiners; Bar Journal; Character and Fitness; CLE Advisory Board; Client Security Fund; Courts And Judges; Ethics Advisory Opinion; Fee Arbitration; Governmental Relations; Law Related Education and Law Day; Law and Technology; Lawyer Benefits; Lawyers Helping Lawyers; Needs of the Elderly; NLCLE; Spring Convention; and Unauthorized Practice of Law.
If you would like to participate in one of these committees please let me know.
In addition there are 32 different Bar Sections covering most areas of practice. Each Section elects its own officers, collects dues and arranges activities for its members. A list of the Sections, their officers and links to their websites can be found on the Bar's web site: www.utahbar.org under 'Utah Bar Directories.' Section participation exceeds 6500 Bar members. There is no better way to interact informally with colleagues in your practice area. Contact the Bar office if you desire information about joining a Section.
Regional and Specialty Bars also provide opportunities for service and personal satisfaction. Please take note of the Utah Minority Bar Association event scheduled for October 15th to honor the first 50 minority members of the Utah Bar. I hope you will plan to attend as the profession honors these trailblazers.
The Bar Commission comprised of 12 elected, 2 Supreme Court appointed, and 10 ex officio members direct the Bar. These men and women spend countless hours in service to the profession. All do so at considerable monetary sacrifice, but great personal satisfaction. I encourage any Bar member to consider running for the Commission.
Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation for our professional staff led by John Baldwin and Richard Dibblee. These 33 people are dedicated individuals who work each day to make sure our Bar functions smoothly.
Please consider my Grandmother's saying. Share your hands. The personal and professional rewards will be incalculable.