Arizona Attorney - March 2014

ARIZONA ATTORNEY Editorial Board

The Board advises the Editor on substantive and other articles in ARIZONA ATTORNEY.

Board of Legal Specialization and Advisory Commissions

The Arizona Board of Legal Specialization (BLS) awards certificates of specialization to attorneys in various areas of law. Each area of certification has an advisory commission. The Bar certifies specialists in Bankruptcy Law, Criminal Law, Estate and Trust Law, Family Law, Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation, Real Estate Law, Tax Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.

Instructions

Updates the Revised Arizona Jury Instructions (civil). Keeps the Civil RAJIs current, correct and concise.

Civil Practice and Procedure

Studies and makes recommendations on proposals and/or issues involving the various rules impacting civil practice as submitted by the Bar or third parties; prepares petitions seeking rule amendments and comments on third-party petitions as deemed necessary.

Class Action and Derivative Suits

Provides practice strategies and notices of recent
Arizona decisions and nationwide trends to
attorneys who practice in the areas of class
actions, shareholder derivative suits, mass torts,
and other complex representative litigation.

Communications Advisory

Works toward improving the image of attorneys and coordinating Bar-wide organizational communication efforts. Sponsors projects to improve lawyer/client relations, lawyer/media relations and public understanding of the law.

Continuing Legal Education Provides advice and recommendations regarding seminar developments, the annual program curriculum, publications and alternative methods of delivering affordable, statewide CLE.

Convention

Works with the Convention Coordinator and State Bar staff to organize educational and social events for the annual State Bar Convention. Members are expected to take on leadership roles at Convention events.

Criminal Jury Instructions

Updates the Revised Arizona Jury Instructions (criminal). Keeps the Criminal RAJIs current, correct and concise.

Criminal Practice and Procedure

Proposes, reviews and makes recommendations
on rule-change proposals and/or issues affecting
litigation of criminal cases. The committee
includes two divisions: defense and prosecution.

Family Law Practice and Procedure Studies and makes recommendations on legislation, proposals or issues raised by judges, lawyers and the public, including rules amendments in other areas of practice that directly or indirectly implicate the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure; initiates new family law rules proposals when necessary or appropriate.

Fee Arbitration

Oversees the State Bar’s free, voluntary fee arbitration program, which is staffed by a State Bar employee; reviews and appoints arbitrators to hear cases; members often serve as arbitrators; arbitrators hold hearings and issue binding awards in assigned matters. The committee especially needs members and arbitrators who practice criminal law and/or speak Spanish.

In-House Counsel

Advises on matters relating to the registration of in-house counsel and the education and representation of State Bar members who practice law as in-house counsel.

Legal Services

Studies and recommends ways to meet the legal needs of the poor and near-poor in Arizona.

Appointments

The State Bar’s Appointments Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Governors regarding the appointment of members to fill openings on statewide boards, committees and commissions (listed at the end of the standing committees). It aims to achieve a balance in all appointments as they relate to each voluntary professional activity, i.e., age, gender, geography, ethnicity, area of practice. Notice of openings for these special appointments will be featured in ARIZONA ATTORNEY, eLegal and on the Bar’s website as they become available. To obtain a separate application for these appointments only, contact Nina Benham at 602-340-7329 or access it online: http://www.azbar.org/media/182160/attyvlntrapp.pdf.

Service on a State Bar committee exhibits leadership and a commitment to the highest values of the profession—and it allows you to interact with colleagues you might never meet otherwise. President-Elect Richard Platt will make committee assignments for July 2014 through June 2015. Please become involved and sign up now. Complete the form online ( www.azbar.org) no later than April 16, 2014. A list of the Bar’s committees is printed below. The terms of and vacancies on these committees vary.