Signing up quickly for the New Lawyer Mentoring Program will ensure that you have guidance and support as you begin your practice. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6367.
The Oregon New Lawyers Division (ONLD) encourages new licensees to participate in bar activities and creates programs of value to new licensees and law students. In addition, the new lawyers division promotes public awareness and access to the legal system. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6385.
The Lawyer to Lawyer Program can connect new legal professionals with experienced licensees willing to offer informal advice at no charge. Resource lawyers are listed according to areas of expertise and geographic location. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6408.
OSB Sections provide their members with opportunities to develop and improve skills alongside other Section members who practice in the same area, from Administrative Law to Workers’ Compensation. The bar also has numerous committees, task forces and other volunteer opportunities. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6384.
New licensees can meet their MCLE requirements through the many CLE events sponsored by the CLE Seminars Department. Credits are available in a variety of formats live, online, audio, or video and cover a wide range of topics and practice areas. For more information, visit the CLE Seminars page online or call the OSB CLE Service Center at (503) 431-6413 or toll-free in Oregon at (800) 452-8260, ext. 413.
New licensees with ethics questions, or seeking ethics opinions, may contact us online or call the Ethics Helpline at (503) 431-6475.
OSB Legal Publications are award-winning legal resources written by and for Oregon licensees and are a great way to start research. The Legal Publications library contains about 50 titles that are available as a licensee benefit on the BarBooks™ online library, or they are available for purchase in print or as PDF downloads. The books focus on Oregon cases, statutes, and administrative rules, and include forms, practice tips, legal tradition, caveats, queries, and much more. MS Word forms are also available for purchase on the Legal Publications bookstore. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6345.
The Licensee Directory of the OSB is available as a fast online resource, available online.
The Bulletin is the bar’s monthly magazine with content from working licensees who serve as contributing writers. In addition to opinion pieces, profiles of Oregon legal practitioners and practice-oriented articles, the Bulletin also includes announcements, classified ads and bar news. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6436.
Working with sections and committees of the bar, the Public Affairs program advises government officials, responds to issues affecting the justice system, proposes legislation for law improvement and advocates on the matters that affect the legal profession and the public it serves. For more information, visit online, contact pubaff@osbar.org or call (503) 431-6380.
The Oregon Attorney Assistance Program provides a wide range of free and confidential personal assistance to all Oregon licensees. For more information, visit online or call (503) 226-1057.
The Professional Liability Fund (PLF) provides malpractice coverage, at a discount, to newly admitted licensees in private practice. In addition, the PLF offers many free services to help you with your law practice. These services include confidential assistance setting up and improving your law office systems, a CLE specifically designed to meet new admittees’ first MCLE reporting requirements (Learning the Ropes), over 500 free forms and CLE programs, a practice management blog, inPractice, and inBrief, a malpractice prevention publication. For more information about practice assistance, malpractice coverage, CLEs, or other services, visit online or call (503) 639-6911.
Members of the Board of Bar Examiners administer and grade the bar exam. The Board recommends admission policy and rule changes to the Oregon Supreme Court. In addition, the board recommends candidates to the Oregon Supreme Court for admission to the bar and coordinates character and fitness reviews of all applicants. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6310.
The Intake and Client Assistance Office reviews all inquiries and complaints from the public about OSB licensees. Inquiries and complaints are screened by the office so that only matters supported by sufficient evidence of misconduct are forwarded to Oregon State Bar Disciplinary Counsel for potential regulatory action. The office also helps answer public questions about licensees’ ethical obligations and assists licensees and clients to address a client’s concerns that might avoid a complaint. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6332.
The bar aims to provide fair and efficient disposition in all disciplinary matters while protecting the public and the integrity of the legal profession. Screening of complaints and inquiries by the Intake and Client Assistance Office enables Disciplinary Counsel and the Regulatory Services department to focus resources on those matters where investigation and prosecution may be warranted. For more information, visit online or call (503) 620-0222.
The Client Security Fund reimburses clients who have suffered a loss of money or property through the dishonest conduct of licensees. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6383.
The Fee Dispute Program offers an inexpensive and informal mechanism to resolve fee disputes between Oregon licensees and their clients, or between Oregon bar licensees. Participation is voluntary. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6334.
The Referral and Information department fields thousands of requests for legal professionals each year. The Lawyer Referral Service, Modest Means, Military Assistance Panel and Problem Solvers programs are all part of the bar's legal information outreach initiative. Approximately 2,000 OSB licensees participate in the different referral programs. For more information, call (503) 431-6418.
The Oregon Law Foundation is an independent nonprofit that uses IOLTA interest to fund organizations in Oregon that provide legal services to people of lesser means, promote diversity in the legal profession, and educate the public about the law. Through a partnership between the OLF and banks, when licensees use OLF Leadership Banks and Credit Unions for their IOLTA accounts, significantly more interest is generated to fund the OLF. Tips and information on opening an IOLTA is also available from the OLF website. For more information, visit online or call (503) 447-3353.
The Legal Service Program funds and oversees Oregon’s statewide system of free civil legal help for people with low income. Funds for the program come from state budgetary appropriations, pro hac vice fees, unclaimed lawyer trust account funds, and residual class action awards.
The bar also collaborates with other organizations to improve access to justice in Oregon, Oregon Law Help, a collaboration with Oregon Judicial Department, Legal Aid Services of Oregon, Oregon Law Center, and Oregon Consumer Justice Department provides Oregonians with the articles and tools to help them understand laws, lawyers, paralegals and the legal system, and find available low-cost and free legal help in their communities.
The bar's website features tools to assist you with the practice of law, including the Career Center, the Attorney’s Marketplace, online resources, current Rules, Regulations and Policies, downloadable forms, and voting in online elections. For more information, call (503) 431-6414.
Decisis® is an online legal research tool featuring Oregon case law, state and federal statutes, select administrative agency orders, local and federal rules, and more. Decisis® is available to every active licensee of the OSB and is included in annual licensing fees. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6345.
Coming to an inbox near you, Bar News Emails and BOG Updates Emails are regular e-newsletters providing bar-related news and information. The Bar News features OSB election results, notice of upcoming events, information on new benefits for licensees, and important announcements. BOG Updates discuss actions the bar’s Board of Governors took at their most recent meeting..
BarBooks™ online library is a collection of reference books published by the Oregon State Bar Legal Publications Department. With over 50 titles and updates throughout the year, it is the easiest way to access information written by Oregon lawyers about Oregon law. Over 8,000 lawyers in Oregon are using this online research tool. BarBooks is available to every active licensee of the OSB and is included in annual licensing fees. For more information, visit online or call (503) 431-6345.
Smokeball™ is cloud-based software with easy-to-use trust accounting and billing services. The Oregon State Bar offers access to Smokeball Bill at no cost to bar licensees in good standing as a licensee benefit. Smokeball has features that enhance efficiency across various functions, from client intake to matter management and billing. With Smokeball, you can streamline organization, boost revenue, and ensure exceptional client and team experience at your law firm.