Meet your new Kentucky Bar Association Board of Governors' officers and bar governors!
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The new officers include President Matthew P. Cook, Bowling Green; President-Elect J. Tanner Watkins, Louisville; Vice President Amelia M. Adams, Lexington; Immediate Past President Todd V. McMurtry, Fort Mitchell; and Young Lawyers Division Chair Christine L. Stanley, Lexington. These officers will serve from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Your new Bar Governors include James R. (Jason) Coltharp, Jr., Paducah, 1st district bar governor; Ryan C. Reed, Bowling Green, 2nd district bar governor; Hailey Scoville Bonham, London, 3rd district bar governor; Ronald E. Johnson, Louisville, 4th district bar governor; Erritt H. Griggs, Frankfort, 5th district bar governor; Jennifer L. Lawrence, Covington, 6th district bar governor and R. Stephen McGinnis, Greenup, 7th district bar governor. These bar governors will serve from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
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Matthew P. Cook
KBA President
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KBA Dues to be Paid Online
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Kentucky Bar Association Membership Dues for 2026-2027 will be required to be paid online. Notifications by email will be sent in July. Members can pay quickly and conveniently, with a debit or credit card and by ACH. A username and password will be required to access the payment system. The ACH/E-check payment option is being offered to members at no additional charge. An administrative fee will be assessed on credit and debit cards. The KBA membership cycle runs July 1 - June 30 of each year. Payments are due on or before September 1, 2026. After that date, an additional late fee payment of $50 will be assessed. A notice of delinquency will be mailed after October 15th with an additional cost of $50 if dues are still unpaid. Members should also review the SCR 3.023 Disclosure of Professional Liability Insurance prior to paying their dues online. Please note that members who fail to certify compliance with this rule by October 1 will be assessed an additional $50 late fee.
For more information, please contact the KBA Membership Department via email at membership@kybar.org.
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Joint Local Rules Public Notice
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Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071, Rule 83 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Rule 57 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky hereby give public notice of the following:
The Joint Local Rules Commission for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky has recommended, and the District Court has authorized for release for a period of public comment through July 31, 2026, the adoption and revision of certain Joint Local Rules of Civil Practice and Joint Local Rules of Criminal Practice. Unless otherwise indicated, as seen in this Notice, underlined text is added and struck text is deleted in rules to be amended. The proposed new rules and revisions can be reviewed, here.
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The KBA Knowledge Hub is a free, online library with downloadable content including white papers, webinars, product guides, case studies, industry analysis and more.
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KBF Executive Director Receives State and National Recognition
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Kentucky Bar Foundation Executive Director Susan Duncan recently received the Kentucky Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Service to Young Lawyers Award for her dedication to mentoring and supporting young attorneys. Duncan was also selected by the Legal Services Corporation to receive its 2026 Champion of Justice Award, recognizing her extraordinary leadership and longstanding commitment to expanding access to justice in Kentucky.
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Gwen Smallenburg to Retire After Nearly 25 Years of Service
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The Kentucky Bar Foundation recently celebrated the upcoming retirement of Gwen Smallenburg following nearly 25 years of dedicated service to the Foundation and Kentucky's legal community. During the Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention, Smallenburg was recognized as a Kentucky Bar Foundation Life Fellow in honor of her longstanding commitment and contributions. A special feature recognizing Gwen's remarkable career and impact will appear in the July/August issue of Bench & Bar magazine.
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The deadline to complete your annual CLE requirement for the 2025-2026 educational year was June 30, 2026. The deadline to report your CLE credits is August 10, 2026 for the 2025-2026 educational year.
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How to get Law Firms Found on AI Engines
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Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m., ET
Location: Live Zoom Webinar
Cost: $25
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As search technology rapidly evolves, attorneys must adapt to a landscape shaped not only by traditional search engines but also by AI-driven answer platforms. This program explores how law firms can strengthen their online presence in an environment where tools like Google and generative AI systems increasingly determine which firms are surfaced to prospective clients.
Dave Hendricks, Legal Internet Marketing Consultant and Owner of Attorney Marketing Network, will break down the relationship between Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and the emerging discipline of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). He will explain how these strategies work together and what firms must do to ensure their websites, content, authority signals, and reputation are recognized and recommended by modern search platforms. Attendees will gain specific, implementable guidance on improving rankings, building credibility, generating meaningful reviews, and enhancing the off-site factors that influence visibility in today's AI-influenced discovery process. The program is designed to equip participants with a clear and practical framework for staying competitive in a rapidly changing digital marketplace.
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August 27
Owensboro
Owensboro Convention Center
September 10
Paducah
Paducah McCracken County Convention & Expo Center
October 22
Bowling Green
Sloan Convention Center
November 5
Pikeville
Overlook Events Center
December 3
London
London Community Center
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September 3
Covington
Northern Kentucky Convention Center
September 24
Ashland
Delta Marriott Downtown
October 29
Lexington
Central Bank Center
November 19
Louisville
Kentucky International Convention Center
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Kentucky Law Update On-Demand
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Tuesday, September 1 - Thursday, December 31, 2026
Registration Opens September 1, 2026!
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Renew Your Section Memberships While Paying Dues for 2026-27
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All KBA members are encouraged to renew their section memberships or join new sections while paying annual dues online for the 2026-27 bar year. Information regarding KBA sections is available on the KBA website. Take advantage of this opportunity to network with colleagues in your practice areas and become more involved with the Kentucky Bar Association.
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Below is a listing of jobs that are currently featured on the Kentucky Bar Association's Career Center page.
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Director of Risk Management Fayette County Public Schools
Lexington, KY
Real Estate Attorney - Transactions/Finance
Bricker Graydon Wyatt LLP Cincinnati, OH | Louisville, KY
Real Estate Finance Attorney
Bricker Graydon Wyatt LLP Cincinnati, OH | Louisville, KY
Associate Attorney Ward Hocker Thornton & Brown, PLLC
Lexington, KY | Louisville, KY
Senior Claims Counsel TransEleven Claims Managers, Inc.
Remote, Texas
Senior Vice President, Litigation and Risk
Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc. Lexington, KY
Explore additional job postings
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The Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) does not endorse or recommend employers, and a posting does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. The KBA explicitly makes no representations or guarantees about job listings or the accuracy of the information provided by the employer.
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Kentucky Bar Association
514 W. Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40601
SCR 3.035 requires that all active members of the Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) maintain a valid email address with the director. This email address may be the sole means of communication of certain notices from the KBA to its members. If you wish to stop receiving emails from the KBA, you can unsubscribe at your own risk by clicking here.
The information contained in this email is intended to provide current and accurate information to readers. No representation or warranty is made concerning the application of legal or other principles discussed in the email to any specific fact situation, nor is any prediction made concerning how any particular judge or jury will interpret or apply such principles. Opinions expressed in content contained in this email do not reflect the opinions of the Kentucky Bar Association, its Board of Governors, Sections, Divisions, Committees or members. The Kentucky Bar Association disclaims liability therefor.
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