Your ISBA sections and committees provide CLE and resources, plan events, and help push the profession forward. Check out what they’ve been up to! If you have any section and/or committee updates you would like to share, email Abigail Hopf at ahopf@inbar.org.

ISBA Members in the Wild

ISBA members make their mark locally and nationally. Over 2,100 attendees—including a strong Hoosier contingent—attended the 2023 NAPABA Convention in Indianapolis to discuss cutting-edge legal developments, celebrate shared achievements, and emphasize the power of showing up.

Twelve state bar members also traveled to Washington, D.C. to be sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court. The group watched a three-hour oral argument with all nine justices, toured various parts of the capital, and took their oath in front of Chief Justice Roberts. It’s an emotional ceremony that everyone has their own personal connections to. As attendee Amanda Owens Blackketter shared:

My father G. Douglass “Doug” Owens passed away January 13, 2023. Dad practiced law in Pendleton for 50+ years until his health prevented him from doing so in his 80s. Mom and Dad raised five children on a four-acre “mini farm.” My oldest brother, Bryce Owens, is also an attorney in Pendleton, and they maintained an office together for decades. Both my dad and brother were admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court many years ago. In fact, my dad made the oral motion to admit my brother before the Court.

Being admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court had always been something I intended to do, but life is busy, isn’t it? Getting married after law school, establishing a practice, raising children…the list goes on.

This year, when I saw that the admission ceremony would be November 29, I knew it was time. You see, that is my dad’s birthday. I applied right away but was wait-listed. Imagine my joy when I received the email a few months later that a spot had opened up! My husband and I traveled to Washington D.C. for the swearing-in ceremony. It was everything I hoped it would be, and I highly recommend it. Thank you to the ISBA for this opportunity!

Congratulations to the 2023 inductees: Amanda Owens Blackketter, James Carlberg, Daniel Cueller, Hon. Thomas Felts, Jaclyn Flint, Hon. John Hanley, April Keaton, Brian McDermott, Dorothy McDermott, William Niemier, Jacqueline Ponder, and Terry Tolliver.

Diversity Committee: Helping Shape Future Legal Minds

The Diversity Committee has been instrumental in pathway initiatives. In November, Rob Love, Patricia Kinney, and Raymond Dudlo discussed opportunities present in the legal profession with high school students at Bosse High School.

The committee also sponsored the full-day Middle School Law Camp at IU McKinney. The camp, hosted by Just the Beginning—A Pipeline Organization, brought approximately 70 students from South Bend and Indianapolis together with judges and attorneys to learn about various pathways into the profession.

Family Law: Empowering Members Through Education

The Family & Juvenile Law Section awarded three scholarships to the Family Law Institute—each named in honor of an influential figure in the field: Andrew Mallor, Andrew Soshnick, and Debra Dubovitch. The three scholarships were granted to Aimbrell Holmes, Catlin Kid, and Aarti Wolenski.

The section also hosted two town hall meetings within the past few months to share their comments and learn more about changes to the Child Support Rules and Guidelines and the proposed GAL Guidelines for Civil Family Law Cases.

Military & Veterans’ Affairs: Bridging Law and Service

The Military & Veterans’ Affairs Committee provided content for the annual Battlemind to Home Summit, hosted by the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University. Topics included VA accreditation, the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), and a mock veterans treatment court.

Litigation Section: Updating Legal Rules

Last year, the Litigation Section proposed amendments to a few rules, including Trial Rule 30(C), striking the rule’s reference to Rule 43(B). That amendment was enacted on October 4 with the Order Amending Rules of Trial Procedure.

Pro Bono Committee: Supporting the Hoosier Community

The Pro Bono Committee has made sharing your legal knowledge and participating in pro bono service easier. Get a refresher on commonly raised topics in pro bono cases—from paternity and divorce actions to eviction sealings—with the 6.0 hr. CLE/1.0 hr. Ethics Pro Bono Prep – CLE Bundle.

Then, use the bundle to prepare for your own pro bono cases or join the ISBA for “Talk to a Lawyer Today: Clearing the Queue.” ISBA members will be working to clear out the more than 300 unanswered questions on Indiana Legal Answers. Volunteers who sign up for a two-hour shift in person on MLK Day or who agree to answer five questions on their own time will receive the CLE bundle at a reduced price. Learn more »

Women in the Law: Bringing Holiday Cheer

Since 2014, the Women in the Law Committee has been donating Christmas gifts or other requested needs to the St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center Christmas Program. The program sponsors approximately 350 at-need children each year. This year, the committee will be buying and sending games to be added to each child’s gift.

Young Lawyers Section: Connecting Generations

The Young Lawyers Section hosted the 2023 Dinner with the Judiciary in early November. The event brought together 18 judges and justices with young lawyers for an intimate dinner and networking experience.

Other Connection Activities

We’ve loved seeing members at these learning and networking events!

• The Affiliate Membership Committee brought together paralegals for a Wine & Canvas event.
• Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights discussed recent updates in bankruptcy law and held a roundtable discussion with practice tips and pointers from federal bankruptcy judges.
• The Construction & Surety Law Section hosted their holiday party at Westfork Whiskey—reviewing the latest updates in case law while getting a behind-the-scenes look at the distillery.
• Environmental Law celebrated Hon. Mary Davidsen and rang in the holiday season with their CLE and Holiday Party.
• Intellectual Property covered emerging issues in patent practice with a Germen patent attorney.
• The Tax Section brought together attorneys from private practice and government agencies for their annual State Tax Reception and CLE.

Let Me Pick Your Brain: End-of-Term Messages

As the end of the year approaches and groups transition leadership roles, pause to reflect on the year, share success stories and future visions, and introduce your group’s new leaders. Take Probate Chair Eric Slotegraaf’s note to section members as an example:

It has been my honor and privilege to have served as your PTRP chair for 2023. 

The success of our section is a group effort. There are many individuals who pitch in and make our section an amazing resource. However, I would also like to extend a special “thank you” to the upcoming officers and district representatives for agreeing to serve your section and for their assistance during the year. Your elected officers for next year include Elizabeth Wyson Berg as your Chair; Elizabeth Homes as your Chair Elect; Paige Freitag as Vice Chair; and Erin Bantz as your Secretary and Treasurer….

This year, our section was honored to sponsor law school etiquette dinners at the IU Maurer School of Law, IU McKinney School of Law, and the Notre Dame School of Law, as well as four scholarships for the 2023 Solo and Small Firm Conference. We were also pleased to sponsor We the People.

We presented Navigating the New Guardianship Code at the end of July. We have another CLE titled “Navigating the Future: A Festive Fusion of Law, Tech, and Ethics.” Immediately following the CLE, there will be some time to network and socialize with drinks and light appetizers. This even is planned for December 14 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Indiana Historical Society. I hope to see you there.

Our committees and newsletter leaders need your support to deliver valuable services. I urge you to volunteer for your section, as it is an excellent way to gain knowledge and build connections….

On-Demand CLE Added to the ISBA Library

The following CLE programs were added to ISBA’s on-demand library. Missed them in action? Check them out now—virtually and at your convenience!

• End-of-Year CLE Bundles
  • Procrastinator’s Special On-Demand CLE Bundle: 6 Hours. View CLE »
  • Procrastinator’s Special On-Demand CLE Bundle: 3 Hours. View CLE »
  • Ohio-Approved On-Demand CLE Bundle. View CLE »
• Together Stronger: The Ethics of Sharing Administrative Burdens and Succession Planning in Solo/Small Firms. View CLE »
• Unleashing New Horizons in Human-AI Interaction: Navigating the Evolution of ChatGPT. View CLE »
• Mediation in Employment Law Cases (Presented by the Employment, Labor & Benefits Law Section). View CLE »
• When Bankruptcy and Personal Injury Law Intersect (Presented by the Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Section). View CLE »
• Introducing the Proposed GAL Guidelines for Civil Family Law Cases (Presented by Family & Juvenile Law Section). View CLE »
• Lessons from Guantanamo Bay, Part 2 (Presented by Military & Veterans’ Affairs Committee). View CLE »
• Understanding and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome. View CLE »
• Legislative Update: Criminal Code (Presented by Criminal Justice Section). View CLE »
• Choice of Law in Business Agreements (Presented by Business Law Section). View CLE »
• New Statutory Procedures & Forms for Obtaining Confidential Health Disclosure Orders for Guardians (Presented by the PTRP and Elder Law Sections). View CLE »