IndyBar: Go From Resolution Failure to Resolution Success with the IndyBar

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Every year on Dec. 31, as the clock ticks to midnight and revelers celebrate the start of a new year, scores of resolutions for better living, happier lives and new beginnings are made. But within even just a couple of weeks, studies show that only a quarter of us have held tightly to these bold proclamations.

This year, let the IndyBar help you succeed in fulfilling your resolutions for a more successful and satisfying career. The bar’s resources, programs and initiatives are standing by to help you see your resolutions through from idle promises to fruitful accomplishments.

1. I want to give back. Yes, pro bono service can take up time that you would otherwise spend billing or clearing out your inbox, but it is an important—and fulfilling—way to give back to the community. Whether you have just an evening to spare or a couple hours a week, the IndyBar has options to fit your schedule—and have you feeling more satisfied after helping neighbors in need. Ready to get going? Volunteers are actively being sought for two programs—Low Asset Wills and the Homeless Project—right now! See articles in this issue for more information and visit indybar.org/volunteer to learn about additional opportunities.

Looking to give back outside of the legal arena? The IndyBar’s Public Outreach Committee is poised to offer members opportunities to volunteer with community organizations throughout Indianapolis. Stay tuned for additional information on events scheduled for 2014.

2. I want to grow my business. The IndyBar’s menu of referral programs have grown to offer something for nearly every practitioner. Indy Lawyer Finder, online at indylawyerfinder.com, instantly boosts your online presence and delivers clients actively searching for representation on the web. The call-in Lawyer Referral Service is an easy and affordable way to gain business, with just one yearly fee (plus 10 percent in fees for cases generating more than $100) and easy electronic reporting. Modest Means—offered for both criminal law and family law—helps the public while you earn a reduced fee (but gain valuable experience). And finally, the Legal Advice Hotline puts an extra $15 in your pocket for just 20 minutes of your time assisting a caller with limited legal advice. Learn more about IndyBar referral programs at indybar.org/referrals.

3. I want to learn something new. With more than 200 educational programs held throughout the year, the IndyBar boasts the largest offering of one-hour CLE programs in Indianapolis, and earning credits is easy for you—attend live sessions at the conveniently located Education Center, or learn from the comfort of your home or office with the online CLE catalog, home to more than 100 programs covering nearly every practice area.

Of course, learning isn’t limited to just educational programming. The bar’s ongoing efforts to expand member communications means that now you can customize your IndyBar communications to receive the news, information and resources you want—from substantive law topics to tech tips—when you want it. Visit indybar.org/account to manage your news subscriptions. Your subscriptions will automatically populate in an all-new IndyBar E-Bulletin every other week, and your member page includes a new “Your News” area, which conveniently displays the latest posts from your subscriptions.

4. I want to expand my network. Connections mean business. They mean a quick and easy answer to a question outside of your practice area. And they mean camaraderie in the profession. IndyBar events—from section/division socials to the annual Bench Bar Conference—have long facilitated networking between practitioners.

Networking was taken a step farther in 2013 with the addition of the Indy Attorneys Network—a section dedicated to generating networking opportunities for IndyBar members. Section members are randomly matched each month, and the match is free to arrange a meet-up that best suits each member—from coffee or happy hour to a lunch or even a sporting event. The section also offers members seminars and larger group socials throughout the year.

5. I want to move up in my career. When climbing the career ladder, the step from rung to rung can seem difficult, if not daunting. The IndyBar offers programs and services to help prime members in all phases of their career for success. Participation in the Bar Leader Series grooms lawyers for future leadership opportunities in the profession and beyond. Leadership on an IndyBar committee or within a section/division can provide the experience that sets one candidate apart from another. The Attorney Apprentice program provides the “how” of practicing law that is absent from most law school curriculum. Plus, IndyBar referral programs can play a major role in helping you build an attractive book of business.•

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