New Disciplinary Counsel Appointed
Dawn Miller Evans has joined the Oregon State Bar as Director of Regulatory Services and Disciplinary Counsel. She replaces John Gleason, who served in the position from February 2013 through March 2014.
Evans brings a wealth of experience in lawyer regulation and professional responsibility. From June 2005 through March 2014, she was the director of professional standards for the Michigan State Bar. In that position, she was responsible for the Michigan State Bar’s Client Protection Fund, ethics program, unlawful practice of law enforcement, the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program, the Lawyer Referral and Information Service, and character and fitness inquiries. Before her tenure in Michigan, she spent 18 years working in attorney discipline with the Texas State Bar, the last five as chief disciplinary counsel. She is also a past president of the National Association of Bar Counsel.
As time and opportunities permit, Evans is looking forward to meeting Oregon’s lawyers and sharing ideas about lawyer regulation. In the meantime, take a moment the next time you are at the OSB Center to introduce yourself.
Filing Deadline for OSB Board of Governors Candidates May 13
This is the final reminder that the filing deadline for candidates for the OSB Board of Governors is May 13. Four board positions are open to active bar members in regions 4, 5, 6 and 7. The board consists of 18 members, 14 active bar members and four members of the public. Board terms are for four years and begin on Jan. 1, 2015.
For more information or to print a copy of the candidate statement, go to www.osbar.org/leadership/bog. You can also contact Danielle Edwards, dedwards@osbar.org, or 503-620-0222 or toll-free in Oregon at 800-452-8260, ext. 426.
Professional Liability Fund CEO Position Available
The Professional Liability Fund is seeking a new chief executive officer with a desired start date of Aug. 1, 2014. As an independently managed subdivision of the Oregon State Bar, the PLF has a staff of 50 and annual budget of $28 million. Reporting to the PLF’s board, the CEO provides strategic leadership and management for the PLF. Primary responsibilities include policy development, staffing, claims management, budgeting, investments and cultivating relationships with the PLF’s stakeholders. Preference will be given to Oregon lawyers with management and litigation experience. Familiarity with the PLF and knowledge of casualty insurance is desirable, as is claims management and private practice experience.
The Professional Liability Fund offers excellent benefits, including participation in Oregon PERS. For a complete position profile and instructions on applying, visit the PLF website at www.osbplf.org/CEOsearch.
Public Members Sought for Board of Governors, Other Groups
The Oregon State Bar is recruiting non-lawyers — members of the public — to serve on various committees and boards. Public member opportunities for 2014 include one OSB Board of Governors position and several openings on committees, disciplinary process boards and the bar’s House of Delegates.
If you know someone who may be interested in serving as a public member on one of these groups, please encourage them to apply. Applications are due on Thursday, July 3, and are available on the bar’s website at www.tinyurl.com/OSB2014PublicMemberApp.
Annual Awards Nominations Due July 15
The bar is currently accepting nominations for the annual awards to honor our most outstanding lawyers, judges and citizens. The Oregon Bench & Bar Commission on Professionalism is also accepting nominations for its Edwin J. Peterson Professionalism Award. The deadline for all nominations is 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 15.
The individual awards and their nomination criteria, forms and other information can be found at www.osbar.org. For additional information please contact Kay Pulju, OSB Communications Department, at (503) 620-0222 ext. 402, (800) 452-8260 ext. 402, or e-mail kpulju@osbar.org.
Solomon Inn of Court Offers New Blackman Scholarship
In memory of the late Marc Blackman, long-time member and former president of the Gus J. Solomon Inn of Court, the organization has created a scholarship for a free year’s membership, available to bar members who have demonstrated commitment to public service in the practice of law and whose means are such that paying regular dues would be difficult. An application form with more information can be downloaded from www.gusj solomoninnofcourt.org/.
The Gus J. Solomon Inn of Court promotes excellence and professionalism in legal advocacy. Comprised of judges, lawyers, legal educators, and law students, the organization seeks, through discussion, analysis, and education, to improve both the understanding and execution of American law.
Fastcase Tip: Browse Statutes in Outline View
With electronic sources, sometimes the fastest way to find the statute section that you are looking for is to browse the statute in Outline View.
For example, if you wanted to browse the U.S. Code to find 42 U.S.C. § 1983, you would follow these steps: 1) Select Search Statutes from the Search menu. 2) Above the text box, there are two tabs, a Search tab and a Browse tab. Click on the Browse tab. 3) A list of searchable jurisdictions will appear. Select U.S. Code from the list of statutes and jurisdictions by clicking on the plus sign next to “United States Code.” This will bring you to an expandable outline of the U.S. Code. Choose which edition of the U.S. Code you want to search by clicking on the plus sign next to the applicable edition. 4) Click on the plus sign next to each Title to view the Chapters within each Title. Then click on the plus sign next to Chapter to view each Section.