Leadership and Volunteer Opportunities
The Oregon State Bar is currently looking for bar members to serve on more than 35 boards, committees and councils. A description of each volunteer opportunity is available in the Leadership and Volunteer Opportunities brochure, available on the OSB website. Application forms are due July 30.

Most appointments are for terms of three years, but if you are unable to make this lengthy commitment the bar also offers episodic volunteering, where you may determine the number of hours you give while continuing to enjoy the benefits of volunteering.

When submitting applications, attach a resume and a letter of interest describing why you would like to serve. The Board of Governors is committed to ensuring that bar groups reflect the diversity of the membership, and they make every attempt to place each applicant in a volunteer position.

Candidates must be active bar members in good standing to be considered for appointment. For more information and to download an application form, go to www.osbar.org, or contact Danielle Edwards, (503) 431-6246, or toll-free in Oregon at (800) 452-8260, ext. 426, or dedwards@osbar.org. Apply by July 30.

Sustainability Awards Announced
The Sustainable Future Section announces its new Sustainable Leadership Award Program.

The program will recognize leadership in two categories. The awards will recognize demonstrated leadership by law offices and individual lawyers in moving the legal profession and law office practices along the path of sustainability.

The section is currently accepting nominations. If you know of a bar member or law office deserving of recognition, consider nominating them for an award. Award descriptions, nomination criteria and forms are available at the Sustainable Future Section website, http://osbsustainablefuture.org/home/leadership-awards.

The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m., Friday, July 23. The first honorees of these annual awards will be recognized at the section’s annual meeting this fall.

PLF Seeks Applicants for Board Positions
The Board of Directors of the Professional Liability Fund is looking for one lawyer member and one public member to serve a five-year term on the PLF Board of Directors, beginning Jan. 1, 2011.

Directors attend approximately six board meetings a year, three of which are held in Tigard and three in various locations throughout the state. Between the scheduled meetings, directors participate in telephone conference calls as well as various committee meetings. Board members are also expected to spend a considerable amount of time reading claim reports and other materials.

PLF policies prohibit directors and their firms from prosecuting or defending claims against lawyers.

Interested persons should send a brief resume by July 15 to Ira R. Zarov, Professional Liability Fund, P.O. Box 231600, Tigard, OR 97281.

Appellate Briefs Requirements Have Changed
Effective July 1, Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure 5.05, 9.05, 9.10 and 12.10 are amended. For cases in the Oregon Supreme Court in which the petition for review (or other initiating document) is filed on or after July 1:

• Briefs must use 14-point type (for proportionally spaced type).
• Opening or answering briefs may not exceed 14,000 words, while reply briefs may not exceed 4,000 words. On automatic and direct review of a death sentence, briefs may not exceed 28,000 words. (The limits for opening and answering briefs and briefs on direct review of a death sentence are roughly equivalent to the prior page limits under the previously acceptable 13-point type size.)
• Briefs must include a certificate of compliance with brief length and type size requirements.

(Note: Proposed permanent amendments to the ORAP would impose similar requirements on petitions for review and responses to petitions for review beginning Jan. 1, 2011.)

For cases in the Court of Appeals in which the notice of appeal (or other initiating document) is filed on or after July 1, 2010:

• Briefs must use 14-point type (for proportionally spaced type).
• Opening, answering, or combined briefs shall not exceed 10,000 words and reply briefs shall not exceed 3,300 words. (These limits are intended to be roughly equivalent to 35 and 10 pages respectively, using the permissible type styles and previously acceptable 13-point type size.)
• Briefs must include a certificate of compliance with brief length and type size requirements.

For more information, including alternative brief length limits for those without access to word processing systems and a sample of the required certificate, see “Temporary Amendments to ORAP 5.05 et. al.,” at http://www.tinyurl.com/ORAPpage

Permanent Changes to ORAPs Also Proposed
The Oregon Supreme Court and Court of Appeals also propose to permanently amend the Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure effective Jan. 1, 2011. The ORAP Committee has met throughout the year and approved the proposed changes; the courts now seek the comments of any other interested persons before taking final rulemaking action.

The notice of proposed rulemaking and proposed amendments are posted online at http:tinyurl.com/ORAPpage. They will also be published in volume 14 of the Oregon Advance Sheets.

Submit written comments on the proposed amendments to the Hon. Thomas A. Balmer, chair of the ORAP Committee, no later than July 26, 2010.

Tort Liability Limits Changed July 1
Limitations on liability of public bodies for personal injury, death and property damage were increased effective July 1, pursuant to Senate Bill 311 (2009). The new limitations apply to all causes of action arising on or after July 1, 2010, and before July 1, 2011. More detailed information is available online at http://courts.oregon.gov/OJD/courts/circuit/tort_claims_act.page?/.

Last Call for OSB Awards Nominations
The deadline for the 2010 OSB Annual Awards nominations is 5 p.m. on Friday, July 23, for the following awards: OSB Award of Merit; Wallace P. Carson, Jr. Award for Judicial Excellence; Edwin J. Peterson Professionalism Award; President’s Affirmative Action Award; President’s Membership Service Award; President’s Public Service Award; and the President’s Public Leadership Award.

Find nomination criteria and forms online at http://www.osbar.org/events For additional information, call Kay Pulju at (503) 620-0222, ext. 402, toll-free in Oregon at (800) 452-8260, ext. 402, or e-mail kpulju@osbar.org.

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