Morris: IndyBar leadership something to celebrate
I’ve always been drawn to the law and have thoroughly enjoyed my interactions with those in the legal field. And this is definitely the case working with the folks at IndyBar.
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Federal Bar Update: The 3-business-day provision for seeking extensions of time
Effective Dec. 1, the Southern District of Indiana adopted various Local Rules amendments, specifically to Local Rules 5-2, 5-3 and 5-7 (electronic filing); Local Rule 6-1 (extensions of time); Local Rule 81-2 (removed actions), and; Local Rule 83-5 (admission). The amendments to Local Rule 6-1(a) are significant in that they impact the process of seeking extensions of time for filing deadlines.
Maley book review: Unique litigation treatise gets valuable updates
In reviewing the most recent edition of “Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts,” John Maley writes that no other book gives such practical and integrated treatment to procedural and substantive law in areas frequently encountered by federal commercial litigators.
Dreyer: Seven hopes on a judicial holiday wish list
As we complete a long, complicated year, my great judge journey leads me to a wish list. While wish lists are not uncommon for gift-giving season, or the start of a new year, this one is intended for regular rumination.
Letter to the Editor: Child Advocates: Giving foster parents party status problematic
Foster parents are invaluable assets and partners in child welfare. Foster parents’ input in team meetings and on an ongoing basis provides valuable insight into the child’s needs. However, giving foster parents party status presents many problems.
Rush & Chaudhary: Joining forces to fight the opioid crisis
It is imperative that our legal system work on sustainable solutions to the opioid crisis. This epidemic is not only a major public health crisis — it also creates a variety of civil legal challenges.
Law Student Outlook: Navigating the 2L summer job search
Along with a full course load, leadership positions on the executive boards of student organizations, moot court, journals with endless cite-checking assignments and other time-consuming obligations, one thing is common among top priorities for rising 2Ls: the job search.
Cotterill: Reinforcing corporate culture with personnel policies
Everyone’s talking about corporate culture and employee engagement these days because talent attraction and retention are so critical to the success of every company. So much goes into developing culture, and lawyers can have a positive impact on their company’s culture just by modernizing the old, boring personnel policy manual.
Pappas: Why I don’t sign letters “Very truly yours”
Bill Hutchens taught me this lesson, along with the value of humor — in life and law. We recently lost Bill after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease (a condition with which, coincidentally, my father, also a lawyer, was afflicted).
Hopper: Restraining forces in law practice succession planning, Part 2
The thought of mentoring junior attorneys can be a restraining force in itself. Some of you are probably thinking, “Been there, done that!” having invested in a junior attorney (or more than one) who then opened their own practice, joined another practice or wasn’t a good match after all. But even given what seems like a daunting task, it can be done.
JLAP: Learning to lead with love in interventions
I completed Love First Clinical Intervention Training last May. The five-day intensive training covers every aspect of intervention. Trainees are taught first and foremost on the importance of leading with love.
Stafford: In all seriousness, 2018 Leadership in Law class sets high bar
I’ve gotten to know Indiana Lawyer’s 2018 Leadership in Law honorees a bit in the past few weeks. What I’ve learned is, in addition to being collectively capable of handling just about any legal matter imaginable, our Distinguished Barristers and Up and Coming Lawyers also demonstrate the spirit, dedication, humanity and drive to make their profession and their communities better.
JLAP: What are law firms doing to address well-being issues?
Practicing law is stressful. Stress breeds anxiety, depression, problem drinking and other challenges to being a well-adjusted, successful lawyer. Help can come from many areas, such as friends, family and medical professionals. An American Bar Association-backed task force report recommends law firms should be squarely in this remedial mix.
Jones: Stresses of bar exam sometimes can go beyond the test itself
“It’s only minimal competence.” This well-meaning phrase is meant to reassure bar examinees that, though the exam is difficult, you only need to pass it, not receive a high score. Despite the minimal competence standard, bar examinees still stress about the exam. As a recent examinee, I want to share how three significant changes surrounding the bar exam in the past 20 years have contributed to examinee stress.
Nelson: Planning for the future, transitions and saying goodbye
In this issue, we’re launching a new column from Don Hopper about law firm succession planning. And speaking of the future and succession planning, we’ve got a succession plan in place here at Indiana Lawyer.
Morris: Indianapolis Mayor Hogsett to be in hot seat at ILAS roast
I want to let you know about a fun evening coming up on Oct. 6 at the Crane Bay Event Center. Like last year, when famed Indianapolis attorney Jim Voyles was roasted to benefit Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, Indy Mayor Joe Hogsett is stepping up this year to take the heat for the same great cause.
JLAP: One person’s story of alcohol addiction, recovery
Read a first-person account about one lawyer’s struggle with alcohol addiction and help received through JLAP.
JLAP: Post-holiday blues: Yes, it really is ‘a thing’
You may or may not be aware of it, but at JLAP we are sensitive to the reality that a lot of people feel pretty crummy right after the holidays. We talk to lawyers a lot about how they are feeling and our observations are that despite all the advice on how to avoid feeling stressed during the holidays, more people struggle after the holidays than during the holidays.
Editorial: Modest proposal to state, IBM lawyers: Settle for nothing
Six years have passed since Indiana sued IBM over the failed $1 billion contract for the computer giant to modernize a punch-card-era system for determining welfare eligibility. After the contract was famously canceled, IBM blamed the state, the state blamed IBM, and they’ve been fighting in court since.
Editorial: Rule changes still lack needed transparency
A proposed overhaul of Admission and Discipline Rule 23 contains some good ideas among the 108 pages of side-by-side comparisons of the old and the new. But the proposals would do little to deprogram the Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission’s culture of confidentiality or boost public confidence in the agency that polices Indiana attorneys.