Articles

Blomquist – Using Your Powers for Good: Build Your Practice with Pro Bono

October is Pro Bono Awareness Month, so it makes sense for me to focus this column on pro bono work. Before your eyes glaze over and you start looking for pictures of people you know elsewhere in this publication, stick with me for a minute. Sure, there are the obvious warm and fuzzy “volunteer to save the world” arguments for practicing pro bono publico service, and if you know my professional history, you know I believe them all. I think I am as warm and fuzzy and altruistic as I can be while still making my mortgage payments. I believe that doing pro bono work increases your engagement, satisfaction and longevity in this profession and that in turns benefits us in all ways long term.

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IndyBar: Hon. Tanya Walton Pratt Named Recipient of 2013 Antoinette Dakin Leach Award

The Hon. Tanya Walton Pratt, United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, will be recognized as the 2013 Antoinette Dakin Leach Award recipient at the Antoinette Dakin Leach Award Celebration Luncheon on October 25. The luncheon is being held in conjunction with the Women & the Law Division’s Women, Law & Leadership Symposium, which will be held Thursday, October 24 through Friday, October 25.

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IndyBar: Board Approves Model Rule Guidelines for Marion County Judicial Selection

As part of its ongoing efforts to facilitate judicial elections issues reform, the Indianapolis Bar Association Board of Directors approved at its July 2013 meeting a set of Model Rule Guidelines for the Marion County judicial selection system. The Model Rule Guidelines were drafted through the bar’s Attorneys for an Independent Bench Committee, which was also authorized at the July board meeting to seek implementation of these rules. Visit www.indybar.org to view the Model Rule Guidelines.

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IndyBar: Interrogatories — Q & A with Jeffrey J. Graham

He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Valparaiso University School of Law. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable S. Hugh Dillin before joining his current practice in bankruptcy and creditor rights at Taft Stettinius & Hollister. He is Jeffrey J. Graham, and he has been served with interrogatories.

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IndyBar: Let’s Get Ready to Rumble: IndyBar to Host Election Law Debate

Introducing first, in this corner, we have Bill Bock, hailing from Kroger Gardis & Regas, representing such heavy hitters as the United States Anti-Doping Agency. And his opponent, a partner of the Faegre Baker Daniels firm, is Scott Chinn, legal advisor to Indy political stars and public officials alike. These two heavyweights of the Indy legal community will square off in a head-to-head debate on one of the most hotly contested topics of our day: election law. Keeping the fight clean will be Brian Bosma, partner at Kroger Gardis & Regas and Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives.

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IndyBar: Nominations Open for 2014 IndyBar Board of Directors

Service on the IndyBar Board of Directors provides a valuable opportunity to play a crucial role in the success and future of your local bar association. The nomination period for the 2014 Board of Directors of the Indianapolis Bar Association has now begun with Christine Hayes Hickey of Rubin & Levin PC appointed to chair the effort.

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IndyBar: Nominate a Colleague for an IndyBar Recognition Award

Do you know of a deserving IndyBar member who has worked hard for the community? Nominate him or her for an IndyBar award! Nominations are being accepted for the following IndyBar awards: the Dr. John Morton Finney Jr. Award for Excellence in Legal Education and the IndyBar Pro Bono Awards, which are presented in five categories: Practicing Attorney, Aiding Individuals; Practicing Attorney, Aiding Entities; Law Firm; Law Student and Paralegal. Go to www.indybar.org for a nomination form. Nominations are due September 30, 2013.

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Indy Bar: Stock the Schools to Benefit Local Students, Teachers

With over half of the children in Marion County unable to afford school lunch, it shouldn’t be surprising that there are little funds available for these students to purchase the supplies they need to succeed in the classroom. As the school buses head out for a new year, the IndyBar Professionalism Committee urges firms, agencies and legal departments to “Stock the Schools” in the committee’s inaugural school supply drive to benefit local non-profit Teachers’ Treasures.

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Blomquist: In Defense of Hope

I’ve been reading this book about the benefits of positive anticipation. Well actually I’ve owned this book for several years but I put everything aside and pick it back up when I start to believe that cynicism is the great disease of the era, and, frankly, I begin to feel infected.

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