A periodic newsletter providing information about the activities of the Kentucky Bar Association
and other information relevant to attorneys practicing in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

e-News

March 2010

In this issue:

• Annual Convention
• CLE
• Grandparents Conference 
• Guardian Ad Litem Training
• National Judges' Assistance Helpline
• New Lawyers Program
• Robinson - ABA President-Elect Nominee
• YLS Diversity Award
• YLS Outstanding Young Lawyer

CONGRATULATIONS TO WM. T. (BILL) ROBINSON III FOR HIS SELECTION AS ABA PRESIDENT-ELECT NOMINEE Former American Bar Association treasurer and past-president of the Kentucky Bar Association, Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III, was selected by his ABA peers as president-elect nominee on February 7, 2010, at the ABA Midyear meeting in Orlando, Florida. It is expected that in August 2010, Robinson will become the president-elect for one year leading to his term as president, August 2011-2012. Robinson is the member-in-charge of the northern Kentucky offices of Frost Brown Todd LLC, a regional law firm of over 400 lawyers with offices in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Indiana. For more information on the announcement, click here. To access video of Robinson’s remarks during the ABA MidYear Meeting, click here.

FEATURED SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2010 ANNUAL CONVENTION The Annual Convention Committee of the Kentucky Bar Association is pleased to announce its three featured speakers for the June 16-18 event to be held at the Lexington Convention Center. KBA President Charles E. “Buzz” English, Jr., said this year’s theme, Building Blocks of Democracy: Civics, Communities and Access to Justice, "will focus on the multifaceted roles so many attorneys play by participating in civic affairs, strengthening our communities through volunteer activities, and ensuring justice is extended toward all of our citizens." On Wednesday, June 16, Morris Dees, Co-Founder and Chief Trial Attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, will discuss his work within a series of groundbreaking civil rights cases that helped integrate government and public institutions throughout America. With a unique blend of humor and scholarship, Michael H. Rubin, an attorney & authority on legal ethics and professionalism, will address a number of hypothetical situations in his presentation – “The Ethics of Kentucky Negotiations: Are There Any?” – on Thursday, June 18. On Friday, June 19, the KBA will present Frank Abagnale, the real-life subject of the motion picture Catch Me If You Can, and an expert on forgery, embezzlement and secure documents. Abagnale is a former confidence man turned FBI consultant who has assisted thousands of organizations through his fraud prevention programs. Please note that the Rules Hearing for the Supreme Court of Kentucky will be held the morning of Friday, June 18, instead of the first day of the convention as it has been held in years past. Many more details on CLE programs, activities and entertainment are soon to follow. Registration for the convention begins Thursday, April 1. More details will be posted as they become available on the KBA website under the Convention menu. Make plans now to attend!        Morris Dees  Michael H. Rubin  Frank Abagnale (Top of Page)

NOMINATIONS FOR YLS "OUTSTANDING YOUNG LAWYER AWARD" DUE THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 5 Nominations are due this Friday, March 5, for the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award to be presented Thursday, June 17, during the Young Lawyers Section Luncheon at the KBA Annual Convention, June 16-18. A young lawyer is any Kentucky lawyer who is 40 years of age or under, or any Kentucky lawyer who has practiced law 10 years or less regardless of age. Letters should include factors such as civic activities, legal accomplishments and community involvement on the part of the nominees. Letters can be addressed to Nathan Billings at Legal Consulting Group, 219 N. Upper Street, Second Floor, Lexington, Ky., 40507, or sent as an email attachment to nbillings@lcgky.com. For more information on the award process, click here. (Top of Page)

YLS SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR NATHANIEL A. HARPER DIVERSITY AWARD The YLS Diversity Committee is seeking nominees for the 2010 Nathaniel A. Harper Award, which seeks to recognize those individuals or entities who have demonstrated a commitment to changing the face of the Bar in Kentucky by promoting full and equal participation in the legal profession. This includes the encouragement and inclusion of women, minorities, persons with disabilities, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community and/or other underrepresented groups. The Award is named for Nathaniel A. Harper, one of the first African-Americans to be admitted to practice law in Kentucky. Because African-Americans were excluded from Kentucky law schools at the time of his admission, Harper established a law school in his Louisville office, where he trained and helped produce several African-American lawyers. The award seeks to honor those who demonstrate Harper’s pioneering spirit and sense of responsibility to pave the way for others. The award will be presented at the YLS Luncheon, June 17, during the KBA convention. Completed nomination forms must be received no later than April 15, 2010. For more information, contact Stephanie Renner at (859) 367-3741. For more information and a nominating form, click here.  (Top of Page)

AOC AND CHFS TO SPONSOR FREE GUARDIAN AD LITEM TRAINING BEGINNING THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 5 The Administrative Office of the Courts and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services will sponsor six free Guardian ad Litem training sessions as follows: March 5 at the RiverPark Center in Owensboro; March 12 at the Robert F. Stephens Circuit Courthouse in Lexington; April 23 at the Laurel County Public Library-Main Branch in London; April 30 at the UK Cooperative Extension Office in Pikeville; May 7 at the Boone County Public Library in Burlington; and June 4 at the Hilton Garden Inn-Louisville Airport. The curriculum is designed to give a child’s attorney an overview of Kentucky statutory and case law on Guardian ad Litem best practices.  The course also focuses on the federal law that requires reasonable efforts to keep families together and provide children with safe and permanent homes. The training is open to all attorneys and will provide 6.5 credit hours of continuing legal education, including one hour of ethics. There is no cost for the program, but space is limited. To register, contact Susan Miller at 800-928-2350, ext. 50514, or susanmiller@kycourts.net. For a complete agenda, click here.  (Top of Page)

JUDGES NEEDING ASSISTANCE CAN FIND IT ON NATIONAL HELPLINE: 800-219-6474 Judges who need assistance because of alcoholism, substance abuse, addiction or mental health issues may reach other judges who are in recovery or who have gone through treatment by calling a helpline sponsored by the American Bar Association. Judges who have volunteered to be a personal resource to other judges throughout the United States and Canada are uniquely positioned to share their experiences, strengths and hope. Both judges in need of help and those interested in serving as a peer-to-peer volunteer should call 800-219-6474 during business hours, central time. All information is confidential and protected by statute. The National Judges' Assistance Helpline is a service of the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs Judicial Assistance Initiative and is administered by the Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program. (Top of Page)

LAST OFFERING OF NEW LAWYERS PROGRAM FOR 2010 SCHEDULED IN JUNE The KBA's next New Lawyers Program -- scheduled for June 17-18 -- will be held in conjunction with the 2010 KBA Annual Convention (June 16-18) at the Lexington Convention Center. All newly admitted members to the Kentucky Bar Association are required to complete the New Lawyers Program within twelve months of their admission date unless they have practiced in another jurisdiction for a minimum of five years and apply for an exemption. This is the last offering of the program in the 2010 calendar year.  This program is offered free of charge for attorneys seeking to fulfill their New Lawyers Program requirements, pursuant to SCR 3.652. On June 17, program participants will choose from the Annual Convention sessions offered that day. On June 18, participants will attend sessions specifically created for newly admitted lawyers. As a bonus, new lawyers participating in the program are also invited to earn additional CLE credits at no cost by attending any Annual Convention sessions offered on Wednesday, June 16. More details on the June NLP will be posted on the website under CLE - - New Lawyers Program - - as they become available. For answers to questions about the program or to determine a completion deadline, please contact Ben Swartz at 502-564-3795, ext. 270 or bswartz@kybar.org. (Top of Page)

GRANDPARENTS AND RELATIVES AS PARENTS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN LEXINGTON The 8th Annual Grandparents and Relatives as Parents Conference will be held 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Thursday, March 25, at the Holiday Inn North, 1950 Newtown Pike, in Lexington. The event is sponsored by the Access to Justice Foundation, the Fayette County Bar Foundation, the Bluegrass Agency on Aging, the Lexington Senior Citizens Center and the Fayette County Extension Service. For more information, contact Robin Cooke, Attorney, Access to Justice Foundation, 859-255-9913, rcooke@ajfky.org.  (Top of Page)

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION ELDER LAW TRAINING SESSION TO BE SPONSORED The Access To Justice Foundation and the Legal Helpline for Older Kentuckians invite all Kentucky lawyers interested in practicing elder law to participate in an intensive training session on Medicaid and a one-hour ethics presentation on representing clients with limited English proficiency. The program will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, April 9, at the Crowne Plaza Lexington/The Campbell House. Featured speakers are Gene Coffey, staff attorney for the National Senior Citizens Law Center, and Lea Webb, founding member, Webb & Pillich, LLC. The cost is $200, with lunch included. The registration cost, however, will be waived for civil legal aid and pro bono panel attorneys and those lawyers willing to register with their local pro bono panel or the Access to Justice Foundation to accept one elder law case in the next 12 months. The program is pending approval by the Kentucky Bar Association for 5.0 CLE credits including 1.0 of ethics. For more information, contact Robin R. Cooke, staff attorney, Access To Justice Foundation, at (859) 255-9913 ext. 18, or rcooke@ajfky.org.  (Top of Page)

YLS BANKRUPTCY BASICS CLE SEMINAR SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 26 The KBA Young Lawyers Section will present a Bankruptcy Basics CLE seminar on Friday, March 26, at the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. The program will take place from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and is accredited in Kentucky for 3.00 CLE credits. This program is FREE for all KBA Young Lawyers Section members. There is a $20 registration fee for all non-section members. Registration information and a seminar brochure are available on the YLS website. Questions? Contact Lori Alvey at lalvey@kybar.org or (502) 564-3795. (Top of Page)

20th ANNUAL ISSUES FOR CORPORATE HOUSE COUNSEL CLE SEMINAR TO BE HELD APRIL 22 The 20th Annual Issues for Corporate House Counsel CLE seminar will be held Thursday, April 22, at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Louisville. The program is accredited in Kentucky for 7.00 CLE credits including 2.00 Ethics credits. The registration fee is $150 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. A complete seminar agenda and registration form are located on the Corporate House Counsel Section’s website. Questions? Contact Lori Alvey at lalvey@kybar.org or (502) 564-3795. (Top of Page)

TWO PROGRAMS ON EVIDENCE PROBLEMS IN DOMESTIC RELATIONS CASES SCHEDULED FOR APRIL The Access To Justice Foundation and the Kentucky Volunteer Lawyer Program will sponsor two interactive CLEs in April entitled Evidence Problems in Domestic Relations Cases. The first session, moderated by Deputy Chief Justice Will T. Scott of the Supreme Court of Kentucky, will take place Tuesday, April 20, at the Jenny Wiley State Resort Park. The second, moderated by Justice Bill Cunningham of the Supreme Court of Kentucky, will be held Tuesday, April 27, at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park. Hours for both events are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and registration is $30. Moderated by Supreme Court of Kentucky justices with a panel of local judges, this CLE offers multiple vignettes that present a variety of evidentiary issues including joint business, expert testimony, hearsay, privileges, and many more. Participants will use responders to cast their vote on how the court should rule, and then participants will learn from local judges how the court would likely rule based on the Kentucky Rules of Evidence and case law. Judges will share their suggestions for best practices in their courts in this entertaining CLE. The program is pending approval by the Kentucky Bar Association for 6.0 CLE credits. For more information, contact Jacqueline S. Duncan, director of the Kentucky Volunteer Lawyer Program, (859) 255-9913, ext. 12, or jduncan@ajfky.org.  (Top of Page)

March Teleseminars -- The KBA Teleseminar Program will feature several opportunities this month for KBA members to earn live CLE credits from the convenience of your home or office. All you need is a telephone. Featured topics in March include "Bankruptcy Restructuring for Middle Market Businesses," Parts 1 and 2, Tuesday and Wednesday, March 23 and 24. Beginning time for both sessions is 1 p.m. To access these topics, click Part 1 or Part 2. To view other timely topics, click here. (Top of Page)

DATES FOR KENTUCKY LAW UPDATE ANNOUNCED The KBA’s Kentucky Law Update will begin September 2 in Louisville,and will continue through December 1 with sessions in Bowling Green, Owensboro, London, Prestonsburg, Gilbertsville, Covington, Ashland, and Lexington. For a complete list of locations and dates, click here.  Registration for the 2010 KLU will begin in May; additional information will be posted on the website under CLE - Kentucky Law Update. For more information on KLU, contact Dianna Moore at dmoore@kybar.org or call (502) 564-3795, ext. 236. (Top of Page)

NOTICE REGARDING CLE ANNUAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 2009-10 EDUCATIONAL YEAR In an effort to increase efficiency and cut down on costs, the Kentucky Bar Association has discontinued its practice of sending out CLE Annual Statements to the entire membership. Instead, members who are not yet CLE compliant will receive a second courtesy reminder in mid-to-late July 2010, regarding the end of the educational year passing and the August 10, 2010, deadline for reporting credits earned but not reported during the educational year. KBA members are reminded that their complete, official CLE statement is currently available 24/7 via the KBA website and on paper by request through the CLE Department. Members may access their CLE statements online at www.kybar.org ("CLE Transcript" is the first item listed on the CLE menu.) (Top of Page)