Using Our Voice to Make a Difference – Animal Law Section

Animal Law took an active role in this year’s General Assembly by providing testimony and getting a bill passed. HB1248 prohibited direct public contact with big cats and bears, a huge step forward in conservation efforts and in preventing attractions like Tim Stark’s Wildlife in Need. To ensure the bill would pass, the members of the section came together to provide testimony to the House Committee on Natural Resources. “We believe that this bill will go a long way in protecting public safety and enhancing animal welfare in Indiana,” they wrote. “As the bill moves forward, we hope that you will see the Animal Law Section as a resource for information on the laws and regulations affecting animals.” The bill moved through the House and to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, where the section once again submitted testimony in favor of the bill. Their hard work paid off. The bill passed through both committees, and, on March 11, was signed into law. It takes effect July 1 of this year.

The section has been busy in other areas, as well. Members completed their newsletter, full of legislative updates and a look at “ag-gag” laws. They partnered with APABA to put on a CLE for the association’s Annual Lunar New Year CLE. And they are working with a student member to start a chapter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund at IUPUI (to further animal law and to provide support to local law students).

An Evening with Appellate Judges – Appellate Practice Section

A full house, a full day, and stellar presenters – that was Appellate’s Evening with the Appellate Judges and CLE. The section typically puts together the event – where Indiana litigators can meet and connect with members of Indiana’s Court of Appeals – every year, but this was the first year since the pandemic that members could get together. The event started with a full day of programming on state constitutional law led by seasoned experts like Chief Justice Rush and Judge Jeffrey Sutton of the U.S. Court of Appeals. Then, that evening, attorneys met for a reception and dinner at Indy’s Skyline Club with judges and justices. It was a return full of connections, reconnections, and community-building – perfect after a couple years of isolation.  View photos from the event >>

Updating the ISBA’s Goals – Diversity Committee

The Diversity Committee researched, wrote, and proposed an updated diversity position statement for the ISBA at the April Board of Governors meeting. The board tasked the committee with writing a new position as one of the goals under ISBA’s strategic plan. A subcommittee of members met to analyze the previous statement, consider other associations’ statements, and draft one that matched the ISBA’s goals. They proposed their drafted statement at the April meeting, and, after a round of revision, the following was adopted:

The Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA) will integrate diverse perspectives into all aspects of its activities and into the fabric of the legal profession of this state. ISBA, engaging with lawyers and others within the legal profession from all backgrounds, strives to build a diverse pipeline to the legal profession, and to inform the broader legal community about issues surrounding diversity and inclusion. The ISBA takes affirmative steps to eliminate bias and enhance diversity to ensure that members of all backgrounds, identities, and circumstances are included in every level of the organization. This commitment is not only essential to the pursuit of our mission “to improve the administration of justice and promote public understanding of the legal system,” but it also strengthens our ability to address all of our members’ needs and the needs of those the ISBA's members serve and represent in our respective communities.

Helping Where We Can – Elder Law Section

This month, as part of its mission to disseminate information and promote the health, welfare, and financial security of elder citizens in Indiana, the Elder Law Section will be volunteering at various Area Agencies on Aging across the state. The section reached out these AAAs to see if there was any interest in attorneys giving presentations to their members. They more than met the AAAs’ need and throughout the entire month of May will have members presenting in all corners of the state – from northwest in Crown Point to down in New Albany, with several stops in-between. A perfect way to both honor Older Americans Month and provide important information to an underserviced population.

Summer Socials and Member Connections – Family & Juvenile Law Section

Joining Appellate in a return to pre-COVID events is Family Law’s summer social. The section invites members for a chance to connect with new members, visit old friends, and take a break from the hustle and bustle of a quickly approaching summer. There will be wine, live music, and several opportunities to socialize with the section. Both current and prospective members who want to learn more about the section are invited to attend.  Register on the ISBA website >>

SSFC: The Biggest Solo & Small Firm Conference in the State – General Practice, Solo & Small Firm

The 20th annual Solo & Small Firm Conference is quickly approaching. But more than just providing CLE, the conference brings attorneys together. It provides statewide connections, opportunities to further develop your craft, and a chance to make friends, find mentors, and really become a member of the state’s collection of solo and small firm attorneys. As such, we want to give a huge thank you to the ISBA sections who sponsored a scholarship for this year’s conference, giving attorneys a chance to become part of this community:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights
• Criminal Justice
• Elder Law
• Employment, Labor & Benefits Law
• Family & Juvenile Law
• General Practice, Solo & Small Firm
• Litigation
• Probate, Trust & Real Property
• Young Lawyers

And if you haven’t registered already, be sure to save your seat. The planning committee has brought in three keynote speakers: Justice Steven David (who will be reflecting on his past and providing hints for attorneys as they race into the future), Lisa Mitchell (who will discuss how to have winning conversations with clients), and Samuel R. Ardery (who will share his story of alcoholism, the price it exacted, and the recovery that saved his life, family, and career).  Register for the conference >>

Encouraging the Next Generation – Taxation Section

The Tax Section will be awarding a $1,000 scholarship this year to an Indiana law student intending to practice tax law in the state. The section typically sponsors the award annually in the hopes of encouraging students to practice tax law and to stay in the state (with an added bonus of encouraging active participation in the section). Last year’s scholarship winner, Andrew Philip Nguyen, held an interest in business law and transactional dealings. He used the scholarship to fund tuition and books at Maurer School of Law, and he will be completing a work opportunity at Barnes & Thornburg this summer. This year’s winner will be selected shortly. This is an excellent opportunity for an ISBA section to showcase support for Indiana law students, foster relationships and mentorships within a section, and encourage law students to continue working in Indiana’s legal profession after graduation.

A Deep Dive into Practice Specific Programming – Utility Law Section

ULS held its annual Spring Seminar in April, providing practical advice and takeaways for the electric, communications, consumer, water, and natural gas industries. Each year, the section offers two seminars – one in the spring and one in the fall – that provide practice-specific CLE and update members on the direction the industry is heading. Over 100 ULS members attended this year’s Spring Seminar. And the event, on top of offering 7 hrs. CLE/2 hrs. Ethics and pragmatic practice tips, was a great opportunity to meet and network with other seasoned regulatory law professionals in the state.  View photos from the event >>

Re-Evaluating Our Mission – Well-Being Committee

The Wellness Committee has undergone a name change! ISBA’s Board of Governors accepted the committee’s proposed name and purpose statement change at their April meeting, changing “Wellness” Committee to “Well-Being” Committee. Their new purpose statement now reads: “The Well-Being Committee believes healthy and positive lifestyles are vital to the practice of law. This committee supports and inspires a culture shift by advocating for the importance of physical and mental well-being, personal growth, career satisfaction, and community involvement.” The change follows a shift in the field and a movement to supporting both physical and mental health. “Wellness” as it is now perceived defines physical health. “Well-being,” on the other hand, is more encompassing; it refers to mental health, career satisfaction, community engagement, etc., on top of a healthy lifestyle. This shift better reflects the work the committee wants to do moving forward.

And one of the first steps in pursuit of their new purpose statement was the committee’s prep for Well-Being Week in Law. The national celebration of all dimensions of well-being is held the first week of May every year, with each day honoring a different subset of well-being (e.g., physical, social, emotional, etc.). The committee put together resources from partner programs, ISBA, and the Institute for Well-Being in Law for each day of the week, and correlated resources for ISBA’s social media channels.  Access well-being resources >>

How to Make Connections When We’re Stretched Across the State and Coming Out of a Pandemic – Young Lawyers Section

The Young Lawyers Section has put together their second cohort for the Young Lawyers Networking and Mentorship Initiative. The program was developed in the middle of the pandemic to provide a way for “developing lawyers” (whether that be a newly admitted lawyer, someone experiencing a mid-life career change, or a more experienced attorney who’s entering a new practice area) to connect with each other and with a seasoned professional who serves as a mentor. Each cohort is broken down into several small groups, each with four or five young lawyers and one group leader to serve as a mentor. Throughout the program, the groups meet monthly – both in a small group and in an assembly-wide meeting – for resources and themed presentations by expert speakers. The group then gets a built-in support network to discuss challenges they are facing, brainstorm solutions, make connections across the state, and get advice from an established mentor. Over 40 people have signed up for this year’s program, with a variety of practice fields and interests. They’ll be meeting over the next few months and making connections with each other.