Oregon State Bar Bulletin — JANUARY 2014
Bar News
Jan. 31 is Deadline Day at the Oregon State Bar
Many different regulatory deadlines come at the beginning of the new year. Luckily, these deadlines are easy to remember because they all fall on the same day: Friday, Jan. 31. These deadlines include:
Membership Fees for 2014 must be received in the bar office no later than 5 p.m. on Jan. 31 to avoid an increase in fees. Postmarks are not relevant.
Status changes for 2014 are also due Jan. 31. More information on status changes can be found at www.osbar.org/fees/feeFAQ.html.
MCLE compliance reports for members whose reporting period ended Dec. 31, 2013, are due in the MCLE office no later than 5 p.m., on Jan. 31. Reports may be submitted via fax or email.
IOLTA certification must be reported by Jan. 31 to remain in good standing with the bar. Information on why this is required and how to submit your certification can be found at www.osbar.org/IOLTA/faq.html.
You can find more information on which deadlines are relevant to you specifically (as well as information on how to pay dues, file reports, etc.) on the Member Dashboard of the bar’s website. Go to www.osbar.org and click on “Member Login,” and then enter your bar number and password to access up-to-date, member-specific information.
Request for Public Comment: Proposed UTCR Changes
The Uniform Trial Court Rules Committee met in October to review proposals to amend the UTCR and to make preliminary recommendations to the chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. A description of the proposals and action taken by the committee is posted at: http://courts.oregon.gov/OJD/programs/utcr/utcrrules.page.
Proposals of special note address motions to suppress evidence, family law modification proceedings, dissipation of assets by unmarried parents and arbitration judgment documents.
The committee encourages all interested parties to submit comments on the proposals. Comments can be posted at the web address mentioned above, mailed to the UTCR reporter at the Office of the State Court Administrator, Supreme Court Building, 1163 State Street, Salem, OR 97301-2563, or emailed to utcr@ojd.state.or.us.
The committee will make final recommendations on these proposals at the next UTCR meeting on April 4, 9 a.m., Office of the State Court Administrator, Salem.
Those proposals approved by the chief justice will become effective Aug. 1, 2014.
Report Pro Bono Hours
Did you know that having concrete information that shows how much pro bono work Oregon lawyers already are doing increases the chances for stable funding for legal services?
Help make the case for access to justice by reporting your pro bono hours this year. The pro bono reporting data collected shows the number of attorneys performing pro bono service during a given time period, the number of hours served and details about financial contributions made to pro bono and legal services programs. This information facilitates recognition of contributing attorneys, enhancing the public image of the legal profession and improving the coordination of statewide pro bono delivery efforts.
You can help these efforts: Report your hours for 2013 at www.osbar.org/probono/reporting.html.
LRAP Applications for 2014 Are Due April 15
The Oregon State Bar Loan Repayment Assistance Program uses forgivable loans to help lawyers working in public service pay their student debt. Lawyers who have benefitted from the program include public defenders, district attorneys and attorneys working for civil legal services providers. The program offers loans in any amount up to $5,000. Participants selected will receive the forgivable loans for three years, as long as they stay in qualifying employment.
Many attorneys in public service face crushing debt, coupled with meager salaries. The OSB LRAP was created in 2006 to help repay the students loans of attorneys who have dedicated their careers to public service.
For more information visit www.osbar.org/lrap or contact LRAP Coordinator Catherine Petrecca at cpetrecca@osbar.org or at (503) 431-6355.
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