Popular legislative CLE set for Sept. 30
"From the Steps of the Capitol," a multi-part CLE seminar that includes a review of new laws enacted by the 2005 Oregon legislature, will be held Friday, Sept. 30, at the Salem Conference Center.

The first part will be "Bias in the Legal Profession: Fact or Fiction?" from 9 a.m. to noon (3 elimination of bias CLE credits). Judge Cynthia Carlson, Lane County Circuit Court, Eugene, is the featured speaker. From 1 to 5 p.m. will follow "2005 Legislative Session Review"(4 general CLE credits).

Most 2005 legislation takes effect Jan. 1, 2006, so don’t be caught off guard. Find out which new laws will affect your practice and clients. There will be updates for civil procedure, business law, debtor/creditor, estate planning/elder law, and real estate and land use.

Also planned is a session "2005 Legislature: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Headed."

Registration is $75, which includes both seminars and a copy of the "2005 Oregon Legislation Highlights." Register by noon, Monday, Sept. 26 to guarantee your seat. (Registrations received after that time are welcome and will be seated on a space-available basis.) Call the OSB CLE Service Desk at (503) 684-7413 or toll-free in Oregon (800) 452-8260, ext. 413.

The conference center is located at 200 Commercial St. S.E. Free parking is available at the Grand Phoenix Hotel, 201 Liberty St. S.E.


OLAH fundraiser begins Sept. 26
Oregon Lawyers Against Hunger (OLAH) will launch its ninth annual fundraiser to benefit Oregon Food Bank Monday, Sept. 26.

Since 1997, OLAH, a nonprofit organization of legal professionals in Oregon, has raised more than $620,000 for Oregon Food Bank, enabling OFB to collect and distribute more than six million pounds of food. OLAH’s 2004 drive raised $120,000 from more than 40 law firms and hundreds of individual attorneys.

During OLAH’s annual fund-raiser, firms will compete for the Golden Can Award (highest contribution per capita) and the Silver Barrel Award (highest total contribution). Last year, Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe won the Golden Can with a per capita donation of $267. Lane Powell continued its eight-year dominance of the Silver Barrel award last year by raising more than $17,000.

Firms raise funds using traditional and non-traditional methods including: matching employee contributions, holding silent auctions, selling food and used books and raffling tickets for staff paid time off days.

Each dollar contributed allows Oregon Food Bank to collect and distribute about $8 worth of food and fund programs that address the root causes of hunger. Oregon remains among the top states in the nation in hunger.

Oregon Food Bank is a non-profit, charitable organization. It is the hub of a statewide network of more than 870 hunger-relief agencies serving Oregon and Clark County, Washington. Oregon Food Bank recovers food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals and government sources for redistribution through 20 regional food banks across Oregon.

OLAH’s two-week drive begins Monday, Sept. 26, and ends Friday, Oct. 7. For more information, contact Kathy Dent at (503) 778-5338. For information about Oregon Food Bank, visit www.oregonfood bank.org.


Hispanic bar plans ‘heritage month’
The Oregon Hispanic Bar Association (OHBA) will host an event in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, entitled "Latino Public Officials in the Law," to be held at Willamette University School of Law , Room 201, on Friday, Sept. 30. It begins at 4 p.m., reception to follow at 5:30 p.m.

This event will feature a panel discussion by Hispanic public officials. Confirmed panelists include: Justice Paul DeMuniz, Oregon Supreme Court; Judge Joseph Ochoa, Circuit Court for County of Marion; state Rep. Billy Dalto; and Danny Santos, special assistant to the governor (formerly chief legal counsel).

Thanks to the sponsorship of Willamette University, Safeco and Puentes Bros. Inc., this event will be held free of charge. Diversity CLE credits will be applied for.

To RSVP or for more information, contact Susan Felstiner, president, at sfelstin@chbh.com.


Immigration lawyers to honor pair
The Oregon chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has announced Salem attorney Michael Muñiz as this year’s recipient of the Gerald H. Robinson Excellence in Advocacy Award. This award is given annually to an Oregon AILA member in recognition of outstanding advocacy of immigrant rights.

The award will be presented at a special dinner and program on Friday, Oct. 28, 6-9 p.m., at the Governor Hotel in Portland. Proceeds from the dinner and program will benefit Oregon non-profit legal service providers serving Oregon’s immigrant communities.

At the dinner, Portland criminal defense attorney Christine Dahl of the Federal Public Defender’s office will be recognized for her successful litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the indefinite detention of immigrants.

For dinner ticket information contact either Teresa Statler at (503) 220-4185 or Bradley Maier at (503) 796-2440.


Notice of reinstatement applications
The following attorneys have filed applications for reinstatement as active members of the Oregon State Bar pursuant to Rule of Procedure (BR) 8.1.

Audrey J. Broyles of Salem, OSB #88165, transferred to inactive status in 1993 because she had moved to Olympia, Wash. She was admitted to practice law in Washington that same year. Upon reinstatement, Broyles hopes to obtain employment with Oregon’s Judicial Department in Salem.

Kristen Chapin of Portland, OSB #92254, was suspended in 1998 for nonpayment of bar dues. Since that time, she has done contract legal research and writing, and until recently she worked as an investigator and analyst for AT&T Wireless.

Stephen Mensing of Scottsdale, Ariz., OSB #93363, transferred to inactive status in 1997 because he had moved to Arizona, where he was admitted to the bar in 1996. Mensing plans on returning to Oregon next month, and after reinstatement will join the Edwards, Widmer law firm in Bend.

The Rules of Procedure require the Board of Governors to conduct an investigation of BR 8.1 reinstatement applications to determine whether applicants possess the good moral character and general fitness to practice law, and that the resumption of the practice of law in this state by these applicants will not be detrimental to the administration of justice or the public interest.

Any person with information relevant to these applications is asked to contact promptly the OSB Regulatory Services Division, P.O. Box 1689, Lake Oswego, OR 97035; phone: (503) 620-0222, toll-free in Oregon at (800) 452-8260, ext. 343.

Mark your calendars
Two events of note a coming in October: On Oct 20 and 22, the Lewis and Clark School of Law and Oregon Historical Society are sponsoring a mock court trial arising out of the theft by Captain Lewis of a Clatsop Indian canoe and of the killing of two Blackfoot Indians in Louisiana Territory. See www.lclark.edu and www.ohs.org.

On Oct. 27-30, the National Lawyers Guild will hold its annul convention in Portland To learn more, see
www.nlg.org/ members/convention2005.

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The Professional Liability Fund is sponsoring a practical skills seminar, "Learning the Ropes," for new admittees to the Oregon State Bar and lawyers entering private practice in Oregon. The seminar includes information on developing a successful practice and avoiding legal malpractice, a professionalism/ethics workshop, practical tips from judges and lawyers, as well presentations on setting up effective office systems.

Attendance at the full program will satisfy MCLE requirements for new admittees’ first reporting period.

The seminar will be held Nov. 2-4 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. The $60 registration fee includes the entire seminar and lunch on Nov. 2 and 3. Registration deadline is Oct. 25.

Registration flyers were sent to all new admittees and to lawyers in private practice who were admitted to the bar from 2000 through October 2005. If you were admitted to the Oregon Bar before 2000 and would like a registration flyer, you may print one from the PLF website, www.osbplf.org. Click on Seminars under Loss Prevention, Seminars, and then Learning the Ropes. If you do not have Internet access, please write, fax or e-mail Karen Sunseri, Professional Liability Fund, P.O. Box 1600, Lake Oswego, OR 97035; fax: (503) 684-7250, e-mail: karens@osbplf.org.

Labor section plans CLE,
annual meeting at Sunriver

The OSB Labor & Employment Law Section will hold its 2005 annual meeting and CLE conference on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Sunriver.

The half-day event includes an update on labor and employment cases, roundtable discussions on current issues and cases, a legislative update and a presentation on "Sexual Orientation-Its Impact on Your Practice." A section annual meeting will also be held.

The event is approved for four general MCLE credits and one elimination-of-bias credit. To register, contact the OSB Service Desk at (503) 684-7413.

Construction section schedules CLE for Sept. 15

"Practice Tips for Construction Industry Outside Counsel" is the title of an upcoming CLE presentation sponsored by the OSB Construction Law Section. The seminar will be Sept. 15, 4 p.m. at Pazzo Ristorante in downtown Portland. The section’s annual meeting will follow at 5:30.

In-house counsel and risk managers from prominent construction and design firms will present on their expectations of outside counsel in terms of case management, budgeting, and communications on files. The speakers will provide candid do’s and don’ts — information which will help outside counsel maximize the relationship with their construction industry clients. The program will be informative, but it will also serve as a social mixer for practitioners in the field.

The section will apply for 1.5 CLE credits. Cost is $20 for the program and hors d’oeuvres. There will also be a no-host bar.

Civil rights section to host free CLE for lawyers, public

The OSB Civil Rights Section invites bar members and the public totimely, and free, CLE program on Thursday, Sept. 15, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. "The Right to Die? Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act" will be held at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. It has been accredited for 1.75 general MCLE credits.

This program features a presentation by William Colby, the attorney who represented the family of Nancy Cruzan in the first right-to-die case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as a panel that will focus on Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act and the current litigation pending in the U.S. Supreme Court. The panel will be moderated by Colin Fogarty of Oregon Public Broadcasting. Scheduled panelists include Steve Bushong, Oregon Department of Justice; Barbara Coombs Lee, Compassion and Choices; and Kelly Clark, O’Donnell & Clark.

The free presentation is open to the public, so invite your colleagues, friends and family to come along. Pre-registration is not required but seating will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.