Abrams: The IndyBar – More Than Just A Pretty Name

Last weekend, your executive officers and executive director attended the Conference of Metropolitan Bar Associations (COMBA) meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. We met with bar associations from 20 cities and towns of comparable size to engage in a rigorous discussion of the challenges for bar associations as well as the programs, projects and services that have worked well in our respective communities. We were fortunate to provide our bar association friends with details on several of the programs, project and services that have worked successfully in Indianapolis, but more importantly, we were enriched with other programs, projects and services that other communities had successfully established. We all agreed that one challenge with our membership and with those attorneys who are not members is trying to effectively communicate all of the different projects, programs and services that our respective bar associations engage in.

Nearly one year ago, at our board retreat, we asked all of the board members to write down as many programs, projects and services that the IndyBar provided. Admittedly, many of us, yours truly included, were only able to name from some to substantially less than all of the amazing good deeds in which we participate. It was amazing to most people to learn that we have more than 100 projects, programs and services offered to our members, lawyers and the community.

I thought it would be beneficial to include a list of just some of these since I know that each of you have some interest in helping somebody. We do it every day with our clients, but we also have the opportunity to help other less privileged people.

20 Sections
4 Divisions
100+ Live CLE Programs Each Year
50+ Social/Networking Events Each Year
Amicus Curiae Committee
Applied Professionalism Course
Ask a Lawyer
Attorneys for an Independent Bench Standing Committee
Bankruptcy Help Line
Bench Bar Conference
Bill Watch Legislative Reports
Destination CLE
Election Inspector Training
Go Green Committee
Government Practice Section Debate Series
Green Legal Initiative
Grievance Committee
HEAL (Helping Enrich Attorneys Lives)
Homeless Project
Hospice Program
Indiana Appellate Institute
Indiana Judicial Biographies Project
Indy Lawyer Finder
IndyBar Bar Leader Series
IndyBar Diversity Job Fair
IndyBar Job Bank
IndyBar Review Course
IndyBar Social Media: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
Judicial and Attorney Criticism Response Committees
Judicial Excellence Standing Committee
Justice Center Task Force
Lawyer Referral Service
Lawyers Helping Lawyers Task Force
Legal Line
Legal Services Task Force
Legislative Committee
Leonard H. Opperman Bankruptcy Roundtable
Low Asset Will Program
Marion County Superior Court Pro Bono Program
Mediation Day
Mentor/Job Shadow Project
Modest Means Referrals: Criminal and Family Law
Navigating the Legal System Video Series
Online CLE Catalog
Online Forms Library
Online Legal Directory
Paralegal Committee
Professionalism Task Force
Project Counsel Posting Board
Public Outreach Committee
Resume Postings
Safe Ask Program
Surviving & Thriving: Essentials for Starting or Improving Your Solo/Small Practice
Women & the Law Division Mentoring Program
Women & the Law Division Symposium
Young Lawyers Division Intro to Indy Series

Please take two minutes to review this list and when you find one or more things that pique your interest, please call the office at 269-2000 and ask who is in charge of the program(s), project(s) or service(s) that is of interest to you. Follow up and get engaged. I am confident that once you talk with a staff member or a fellow member of our bar, you will be emotionally charged to figure out how to participate and enrich the life of somebody, including your own.

If you don’t find something to engage in, then I would ask that you call me at 632-3232 and let me know what else we can do in our community. In advance, thank you for your interest in getting involved. You will not regret the call.•