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Lee C. Christie, 2024 IndyBar President-Elect, Christie Farrell Lee & Bell
Are you a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association and have been practicing for 25 years or more? If so, you are also a member of the prestigious Masters Division — at no cost to you! The Masters Division was created in 2022 by IndyBar to provide programming and social opportunities for lawyers who have practiced for 25 years or more.
When I served as chair of the Masters Division in 2022, we formed a very accomplished executive committee to reach out to our experienced members and help keep them informed and connected. If you were a member back in 2022, you probably remember our “email listserve debacle” that autogenerated replies to everyone. Well … good news! We have solved the “email debacle” and can now reach out directly to our members without burdening everyone with all replies.
The current executive committee of The Masters Division includes:
- John Kautzman, Ruckelshaus Kautzman Blackwell, 2024 chair and past IndyBar president
- Judie Conley, Jackson Legal Services PC, 2024 president-elect of the Marion County Bar Association
- Scott Chinn, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, past IndyBar president
- Eric Buetens, Attorney at Law
- Andy Fogle, Marion County Prosecutor’s Office
- Marc Matheny, Marc Matheny Law Office
- Magistrate Judge Tricia McMath, Marion Superior Court, Civil Division
- Christine Douglas, Douglas Family Law LLC
- Lee C. Christie, Christie Farrell Lee & Bell, 2024 IndyBar president-elect
- Phil Isenbarger, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP, past IndyBar president
The executive committee is excited to offer our members mentoring opportunities to young lawyers, programming targeted to experienced practitioners, and social events to network and engage with other experienced lawyers. Here is what we have on the agenda for 2024.
Educational Programming
A Discussion on The Lawyer Millionaire: The Complete Guide for Attorneys on Maximizing Wealth, Minimizing Taxes, and Retiring with Confidence: 4-6 p.m. on Feb. 20. This program features national author and financial guru, Darren Wurz, and is jointly sponsored by the MCBA, Douglas Family Law LLC and Christie Farrell Lee & Bell. This event will take place at Paganelli Law Offices. 1.0 NLS credit and a social.
Best Practices in the Courtroom and Tour of the Community Justice Center: 4-6 p.m. April 16. Hosted by Magistrate Judge Tricia McMath, this two-hour CLE will consist of a panel of judges including Judges Alicia Gooden, Jeffrey Marchal, Kurt Eisgruber and Amber Collins-Gebrehiwet to discuss best practices in the civil, criminal, family and juvenile courts in Marion County including handling evidentiary issues. Judge Tim Oakes will provide a tour of the Community Justice Center following the panel discussion. All lawyers, from newly admitted to very seasoned, will benefit from this presentation and tour.
Election Year and the Rule of Law: Coming in March, this CLE hosted by Scott Chinn, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, takes a look at the elections process amid an election year.
Disability Legal Issues and Your Practice: This June, Scott Chinn will host this CLE focused on how to manage disability issues within your practice. More details to come.
Zoom, Technology, and AI Tips for Your Practice: In December, the Masters Division partners with IndyBar’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section for this crowd-favorite CLE featuring presenters Seth Wilson and Kate Franke. All lawyers and their paralegals will want to attend this riveting CLE presented by two of the most informed lawyers in our legal community on technology issues in the law discussing what apps and programs can assist you and your office in your practice and the use of artificial intelligence.
Social Events
The social events subcommittee is actively planning several social opportunities for members of the Masters Division in 2024. Currently there will be a social following the CLE on Feb. 20. In April, July and October, Magistrate Tricia McMath will host panels of lawyers in the areas of Family/Juvenile, Criminal Defense/Prosecutors and Probate/Estate to allow members of IndyBar to ask questions about these areas of practice to the highly skilled panelists. These events provide our experienced lawyers an opportunity to give guidance and information to young lawyers who have questions about procedure, hearings, trials and other issues on their cases. In September, the committee is planning a social event at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law for members to connect with each other and provide a relaxed setting to connect with incoming law students.
Celebration Of Law And Career
The Masters Division also sponsors the annual Recognition Breakfast, which recognizes those lawyers achieving their 50th and 25th years in the practice of law. This event will take place in late October.
Luminary Award Selection
Finally, the Masters Division serves as the annual convener of the Indianapolis Bar Association & Foundation leaders for consideration of a worthy recipient of The Luminary Award. This prestigious award is meant to recognize an exemplary individual who has made significant contributions to the legal profession and who has achieved a level of excellence that has advanced the profession as a whole in the Indianapolis Community. Past award winners include the Hon. Tanya Walton-Pratt (2021); the Hon. Jane Magnus-Stinson (2012); James H. Voyles Jr. (2011); Thomas Davis (2009); Neil Shook (dec., 2002); and Honorable Sarah Evans Barker (1998), among others.
The Masters Division is here to serve our members who continue to offer so much to our legal community. Watch for more details on CLE programs, social events and mentoring opportunities to attend in 2024!•
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