MESSAGE FROM PAST PRESIDENT NATHAN D. ALDER The Need for a Licensing Fee Increase
The Bar Commission has taken up the issue of a licensing fee increase that would take effect next year in the 2010-2011 renewal cycle. It would not affect the current 2009-2010 renewals that are now being processed. It was twenty years ago when licensing fees were last increased. Three years ago the Utah Supreme Court directed the Bar to undertake an outside review of its governance and operations. Grant Thornton conducted that review and recommended that the Bar do a follow-up and in-depth review of its operations. Accordingly, last year reviewers studied five areas (management and technology, communications, admissions, access to justice, and benefits/services) and issued reports. By next month an additional five areas (professional conduct, continuing legal education, building/property, client security fund, and fee dispute resolution) will be completed. This three-year review effort has indicated several areas where investment in future operations, planning, development and offerings are necessary. The Bar has created a page on our website for information related to the eventual petition for a licensing fee increase, including an extended article that I have recently written.(Below) More information will be posted upon receipt. At the site you will find the Grant Thornton review, the completed operational reviews from last year, the Utah Supreme Court’s Rules for Integration and Management of the Utah State Bar, Bar By-Laws, the 2008-2009 Audit, as well as the budget for 2009-2010. The Bar Commission will next study the petition issue on July 15th and thereafter again at its August 28th and October 2nd Commission meetings. The Commission anticipates filing the petition by the end of December 2009.
MESSAGE FROM PAST PRESIDENT NATHAN D. ALDER