It’s a ‘fast forward’ to Seaside
Don’t forget the 2003 Oregon State Bar Annual Meeting is fast approaching — Sept. 18-20 in Seaside.

Events will kick off on Thursday afternoon with a variety of CLE programs provided by the following OSB sections: Constitutional Law, Consumer Law, Environmental & Natural Resources, Health Law, Law Practice Management/Sole & Small Firm Practitioners and Securities Law. Afterward will be a dinner of steamer clams and microbrews at a 'Bonfire and Blues' event on the beach.

Friday’s focus will be on two educational tracks: litigation and legislation, including a keynote address by Gov. Ted Kulongoski in the afternoon. The President’s Awards Dinner will take place Friday evening, followed by a fundraising event to benefit the Oregon Law Foundation.

The 2003 Annual Meeting will conclude on Saturday with the House of Delegates meeting.

Events will take place at the Seaside Civic & Convention Center and Best Western Ocean View Resort. Look for more information on the bar’s website, www.oregonstatebar.org.

Annual food drive begins Sept. 22
Oregon Lawyers Against Hunger will conduct its seventh annual fundraiser, to benefit the Oregon Food Bank, from Sept. 22 through Oct. 3.

Since its founding in 1997, OLAH has raised a nearly $400,000 for the Oregon Food Bank. Last year, Oregon legal professionals raised more than $100,000 for the Oregon Food Bank.

OLAH is a non-profit corporation comprised of legal professionals in Oregon whose contributions enable the food bank to turn every dollar contributed into six pounds of food for hungry people in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

If you are interested in learning more about OLAH or participating in the upcoming fund drive, please contact Megge Van Valkenburg, OLAH president, at (503) 228-6351. Information about the Oregon Food Bank is available at www.oregonfoodbank.org.

The Oregon Food Bank is the central hub of a statewide network of regional food banks that, in turn, provide food to food pantries, shelters and hunger relief sites throughout Oregon and Clark County, Washington. Last year, an estimated 720,000 people received emergency food through the Oregon Food Bank or one of its affiliated food pantries, shelters or hunger relief sites. Over 40 percent of those eating meals from an emergency food box were children. In a recent survey by the USDA, Oregon ranked worst in the nation for prevalence of outright hunger.

JRP dinner to feature ‘Friends’ founder
Juvenile Rights Project will hold its annual awards dinner Oct. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland. Duncan Campbell, founder of the Friends of the Children and an adviser to the Governor’s Children’s Agenda, will be the guest of honor.

Individual tickets, as wells as tickets for supporters‘ and patrons’ tables, are available. Contact Janet Miller, executive director, (503) 232-2540, ext. 231 or by email at janetm@jrplaw.org.

JRP is an Oregon non-profit corporation provides legal services to children and families, through individual representation in juvenile proceedings, and through class-wide advocacy in the courts and legislature. JRP represents about 4,000 abused or neglected children who have removed from their homes by the state and who have been charged with delinquent offenses.

Just getting started in private practice?
The Professional Liability Fund is sponsoring a practical skills seminar, 'Learning the Ropes,' for new admittees and lawyers entering private practice. The workshop includes information on developing a successful practice and avoiding legal malpractice, professionalism/ethics workshop, practical tips from judges and lawyers, and presentations on setting up effective office systems.

Attendance at the full program will satisfy MCLE requirements for new admittees’ first reporting period. The workshop will be held Nov. 5, 6 and 7 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. The $50 registration fee includes the entire workshop and lunch on Nov. 5 and 6. Registration deadline is Oct. 29.

For information contact Karen Neese, Professional Liability Fund, P.O. Box 1600, Lake Oswego, OR 97035; fax: (503) 684-7250; e-mail: karenn@osbplf.org.

Surveillance court is program topic
In 2002 many Americans became aware for the first time that there was a court in Washington D.C. issuing orders allowing surveillance of foreign agents and some American citizens within the United States without the usual showing of probable cause for issuance of a warrant.

This Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court published its first-ever opinion disallowing certain information-sharing practices proposed by Attorney General John Ashcroft. In November 2002 the Surveillance Court was reversed by a Court of Review also in its first-published opinion.

Join the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society and the Federal Bar Association for a unique free program (CLE credit pending) on Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Hatfield Courthouse in Portland from 4 to 5:45 p.m. for a consideration of the decision by the court and the court of review. On the program will be the author of the Surveillance Court decision (Judge Harold Baker), a judge of the three panel court of review (Judge Edward Leavy), the defense attorney who wrote an amicus brief opposing the rule changes and the petition for cert to the U.S. Supreme Court (John Cline) and a U.S. attorney who specializes in dealing with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Charles Gorder).

For additional information, contact William Long at (503) 370-6411 or by e-mail at blong@willamette.edu.

St. Andrew walk raises $45,000
The St. Andrew Legal Clinic’s recent Annual Walk for Justice in Northeast Portland raised $45,000. More than 125 persons walked five miles and raised pledges to benefit the clinic. The 2003 sponsors were: Bullivant Houser Bailey ($5,000); Davis Wright Tremaine ($1,000); Perkins Coie ($1,000); Schmitt & Lehmann Court Reporters ($1,000); Buckley LeChevallier PC ($500); Clackamas County Family Law Group ($500); and Adidas (in-kind).

All of the funds raised benefit family law legal services to low-income families dealing with such issues as domestic violence, custody disputes, adoptions and child support.

— return to top
— return to Table of Contents

Spotlight on
OSB committees

George Stevenson
Unlawful Practice
of Law Committee

Why did you volunteer to serve on the Unlawful Practice of Law Committee? I have a history of volunteering, including as a lawyer on committees and as a presenter for CLE programs. I attribute this to an unknown degree to a small seed planted in me on January 20, 1961. That crisp cadenced little voice inside me remains: 'And so my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.'

What is your role on the UPL Committee? I would characterize myself as a generalist role-player with law enforcement, investigative, prosecution, civil litigation, legislative and government civil law background. I have a strong protective feel for victims and the OSB process and integrity.

I do know that the unanticipated 'hook' that piqued my interest in UPL was its primary enforcement role in consumer protection— an entirely new field for me. UPL committee membership has made a difference to me by taking me out of my everyday practice, forcing me to learn, apply and tweak new problem solving tactics.

Why does it make a difference to serve on this committee? I don’t expect to solve grandiose problems. I do in my every day and committee practice try to keep the perspective that a case or problem seeming to be run-of-the-mill or ‘small red potatoes’ may be huge in a victim’s year or life.

What would you like someone considering whether to apply for a position on the UPL Committee to know? Committee function is problem solving with each case assignment, whether geographically convenient for the investigator or not, unfolding in its own unique way. The committee and skilled OSB staff are great at-hand resources, and volunteer work for OSB UPL 'doesn’t cause cancer or cavities.'

Notice of reinstatement applications
Five persons have filed an application for reinstatement as an active member of the Oregon State Bar pursuant to Ruleof Procedure (BR) 8.1.

Craig B. Cordon of Portland, OSB #82227, transferred to inactive membership status on Dec. 27, 1991. Since 1992, he has been employed as an EEO investigator for a Boston firm. He resigned that position in June and, upon his reinstatement to the bar, Cordon plans to work as a contract attorney specializing in EEO discrimination law.

Daniel Q. Gallagher of Camas, Wash., OSB #94075, is seeking reinstatement following a two-year disciplinary suspension from the practice of law (In re Gallagher, 332 Or 173, 26 P3d 131 (2001)). During his suspension, Gallagher has been employed as a restaurant manager in Washington. Following his reinstatement, he plans to resume the practice of law in Scappoose, Ore.

David B. Smith of Portland, OSB #85084, transferred to inactive status on Jan. 27, 1995. Since 1990, Smith has been employed as a coordinator for the Oregon Judicial Department’s Citizen Review Board. Upon his reinstatement, Smith plans to engage in private practice in juvenile or elder law.

Caroline Wiley-Gonzales of Portland, OSB #93458, transferred to inactive status on Nov. 13, 1996. She then obtained a teaching certificate and has been employed as a middle school math and science teacher. Following her reinstatement to active status, she plans to return to the practice of law.

John Fogerty Winston of Wilsonville, OSB #79451, was suspended from the bar in 1982 for failure to pay his bar dues. At that time, he relocated to Colorado, where he is also licensed to practice law. He recently returned to Oregon and, upon reinstatement, he plans to engage in the private practice of law.

The Rules of Procedure require the Board of Governors to conduct an investigation of BR 8.1 reinstatement applications. Any person with information relevant to this inquiry is asked to contact promptly the Regulatory Services Division at the Oregon State Bar, P.O. Box 1689, Lake Oswego, OR 97035-0889; phone: (503) 620-0222.