MAY 31-JUNE 13, 2017
The final stop for a last will and testament in the e-filing era depends on where in Indiana an estate is opened and what the local probate court demands, at least for now. The Indiana Court of Appeals is deciding whether agency immunity covers a lawyer's failure to file a lawsuit. The closing of Indiana Tech Law School leaves a lot of unanswered questions.
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Legal malpractice arguments focus on whether crime victim lost settlement chance
Can agency immunity cover a lawyer's failure to file a tort claim notice and lawsuit?
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Appeal: Commercial court, without notice, put worker out of job
A glass industry engineer’s challenge alleges the Indiana commercial court pilot project dockets’ specialized rules violated his due process rights.
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Indiana Tech’s closing of law school leaves unanswered questions
As the law school’s last class graduates, its website has been taken down andstudents begin to transfer to other programs.
Read MoreABA urges ‘reasonable efforts’ to avoid cyberattacks
The ABA's Formal Ethics Opinion 477 is an updated version of a previous one handed down in 1999, when email was the primary method of electronic communication. Now, attorneys communicate with their clients in a variety of ways and with various devices, necessitating new guidance to legal professionals on how to protect their work on all platforms, the opinion said.
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Retired attorney creates course to teach lawyers how to be leaders
Retired attorney Greg Utken has helped develop a program focused on preparing attorneys to step into lead positions within a firm, legal department or company. The course, Lawyer to Leader, was developed in conjunction with Butler University’s Executive Education initiative.
Read MoreLawyers of summer return to the baseball diamond
Attorneys say playing the sport relieves stress and helps with the practice of law.
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IU Maurer professor’s new blog studies market effect on legal field
Through his new blog, Legal Evolution, IU Maurer’s Bill Henderson wants to “provide lawyers, legal educators, and allied professionals with high-quality information to solve very difficult industry-specific problems.” Henderson’s website, legalevolution.org, was launched earlier this month in place of his former blog, The Legal Whiteboard.
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Portage attorney juggles legal practice with life on the red carpet
It wasn’t until about 20 years ago that Mark Roscoe taught himself to design and sew to help his mother. He then began doing smaller fashion jobs for his friends and neighbors, and his reputation continued to grow. About five years ago, he took the plunge and began pursuing his design business aggressively.
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Lack of statewide will procedures leaves unanswered questions about official documents
The final stop for a last will and testament in the e-filing era depends on where in Indiana an estate is opened and what the local probate court demands, at least for now.
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Student loans cause confusion, affect career choices for new lawyers
It was shortly after his 2012 graduation from George Washington University Law School when the realization hit Michael Lux hard: He had a ton of student loan debt to begin paying back to the federal government.
Read MoreRetzner: Estate planning second step is more important than first
Most clients, and indeed more than a few attorneys, believe that once step one is completed, so is the client’s estate planning. The file is closed and, maybe a reminder to check back with the client in a few years for any updates. Maybe there is correspondence discussing “step two,” but in too many cases nothing is done. Step two, however, is by far the most important part of the estate planning process.
Read MoreBoldt: Estate planning essentials for newlyweds and new parents
Amid all of the anticipation and excitement surrounding new unions and new babies, estate planning often falls by the wayside. Nevertheless, newlyweds and new parents are wise to make their estate planning goals a priority.
Read MorePotential death of Affordable Care Act likely to cut taxes
The American Health Care Act, which seeks to repeal and replace the ACA, passed the House on a party-line vote but has not gained much traction in the Senate. In fact, the upper chamber is crafting its own repeal-and-replace legislation that could differ widely from the House proposal.
Read MoreHage: Pros and cons of a decade of experience prior to entering law
I graduated from law school in December 2015 and sat for the bar exam in February 2016, then continued to work in state government until joining Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP in January of this year. In many ways, I am starting a second career and this has both pros and cons.
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137 successful on February Indiana Bar Exam
Indiana’s newest attorneys received advice from judges and took several oaths during an admission ceremony held May 17 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.
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Quick: Get noticed by being the expert in your practice area
The secret to being a lawyer that’s a “go-to” source for legal commentary in the media is simple.
Read MoreHammerle On… ‘The Dinner,’ ‘The Lost City of Z,’ ‘Colossal’ and ‘The Circle’
Bob Hammerle shares his thoughts on four forgettable films in theaters.
Read MorePlugged In: WannaCry ransomware – You would cry too if it happened to you
While there is no way to completely prevent malware attacks, this strain is a great example of why it is important to ensure your computer is always kept updated. These updates include things such as patches and fixes to the computer’s operating system, security software updates, and anti-virus definition updates as they become available.
Read MoreFederal Bar Update: Northern District order changes judicial assignments
The Northern District of Indiana has implemented new protocols for assignment of cases to judges, both for certain pending cases and for newly filed cases.
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Bloomington files lawsuit over last-minute annexation amendment
The city of Bloomington has filed a lawsuit against Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, claiming an amendment dropped into the state’s biennial budget at 2 a.m. April 21 and approved less than 24 hours later is specifically targeting the municipality to prevent it from annexing seven unincorporated areas near the city limits.
Read MoreFormer Indiana justices reunite for event saluting Rucker
Members of Indiana’s legal community who have worked with now-retired Indiana Supreme Court Justice Robert Rucker gathered in Indianapolis Wednesday to celebrate the impact the long-time jurist had on the practice of law in Indiana during his quarter-century career on the appellate bench.
Read MoreState agrees to pay family $25M to settle DCS case
Indiana will pay $25 million to conclude a northern Indiana family’s decade-long legal fight to clear their names after the Department of Child Services falsely prosecuted them for their daughter’s death.
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Disciplinary Actions – 5/31/17
Read who’s recently been disciplined by the Indiana Supreme Court.
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DTCI: Do As I Say, Not As I Do
A recent Court of Appeals ruling permits a medical expert’s personal practice testimony for impeachment.
Read MoreIndyBar: Nissa’s News 5/31/17
Please forgive me for taking the opportunity to get a little personal this week, but I felt compelled to share this message.
Read MoreIndyBar: Don’t Miss the Boat – Keep an Eye on These IndyBar Deadlines
Along with summer come several opportunities with the Indianapolis Bar Association and Foundation. Check out details and mark these deadlines on your calendar today!
Read MoreIndyBar: Members Get Healthy, Earn CLE at Unique Education Event
CLE and cycling, ethics and endorphins…whatever you call it, one thing was for sure—it was fun!
Read MoreIndyBar Introduces New Pro Bono Opportunity
Sometimes, all it takes to change a life is a helping hand. Be that helping hand at a new IndyBar volunteer opportunity with Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana.
Read MoreIndyBar: New Volunteers Needed for Expansion of Homeless Shelter
The Indianapolis Bar Association Homeless Shelter Project and its attorney volunteers have been serving the residents of five local homeless shelters over the past 26 years.
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