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

Stephanie Bibbs, Kendra Key, Paul Sweeney, and Holly Wojcik conducted an outreach session at Merrillville High School in February. Aimed at improving Indiana’s legal pipeline, the presentation provided students with insights into the legal profession and opportunities to get involved. This mirrors work the ISBA Diversity Committee has done to support pathway initiatives—from sponsoring Just the Beginning—A Pipeline Organization’s Middle School Law Camp to presenting to high school students in Evansville.

Thank You SSFC Section Sponsors

Each year, ISBA sections offer to pay the registration and lodging fees for one or more of their members to attend the Solo & Small Firm Conference. These scholarships allow members to invest in their professional growth and access unique networking and learning opportunities. A huge thank you to the following sections for their generosity:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
• Bankruptcy Section
• Business Law Section
• Criminal Justice Section
• Elder Law Section
• Employment Law Section
• Family & Juvenile Law Section
• General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section
• Litigation Section
• Probate, Trust & Real Property Section
• Young Lawyers Section

Selected applicants for scholarships in each section will be notified by May 1.

Launch of the 2024 Associate Empowerment Series

ISBA’s Associate Empowerment Series—a cohort of ~15 midlevel and senior women associates—met for their first session in March. The series offers a platform for women associates to explore success strategies and build a network of support, addressing topics like overcoming imposter syndrome, generating new business, and positioning yourself for success. This year, the group meets through virtual sessions and monthly brown bag discussions, facilitated by speakers with the Indianapolis Women’s Empowerment Network (I-WEN).

Affiliate Membership Committee Hosting Paralegal Symposium

The Affiliate Membership Committee has brought back its award-winning Paralegal Symposium—a six-hour seminar developed exclusively for paralegals by paralegals. The programming occurs virtually across two half-days and offers best practices for topics like Office technology, advanced legal research, and artificial intelligence. Keynote presenter Linda McGrath-Cruz, founder of Perfectly Paralegal, will also speak on leadership. Learn more and register »

And as a reminder, the Affiliate Membership Committee recently updated its requirements for paralegal members of the ISBA. Now, members must be currently employed as a paralegal, have an attorney sponsor who is licensed in Indiana, and either have five years of work experience as a paralegal or meet specific education/credential requirements. Learn more about paralegal membership »

Appellate Section Bringing Together Judges and Attorneys

The Appellate Practice Section is providing a unique opportunity for attorneys to engage with Indiana’s appellate judges in an informal setting and facilitate an ongoing conversation on improving Indiana’s appellate practices. In this CLE and dinner/reception, the section will share feedback from the bench, the bar, clerks, and court reporters on how the Indiana Appellate Rules work in practice as the section begins drafting recommendations to the Indiana Supreme Court Rules Committee.

After the CLE, join members of Indiana’s judiciary for a reception and dinner. Learn more and register »

Elder Law Section Commemorating Judge Haas

The Elder Law Section donated $1,000 to the General Scholarship Fund at IU McKinney School of Law in memory of Judge Warren Haas. Judge Haas was a 1976 graduate of IU McKinney, a former chair of the Elder Law Section, and a very active member within the community who passed away in December 2023. The section has encouraged its members to donate individually to the fund as well.

Employment Law Section Presenting Unique CLE at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Employment, Labor & Benefits Law Section is hosting a full-day CLE program at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Speakers will present on the latest alternative dispute resolution, ethics, and DEI topics within the employment law field. Attendees will then enjoy lunch and the Sonsio Grand Prix qualification races from a climate-controlled suite on pit row. Learn more and register »

Family Law Accepting Nominations for Gale M. Phelps Award

The Family & Juvenile Law Section is seeking nominations for the 2024 Gale M. Phelps Award. The award is given in honor of Gale Phelps—a former chair and active member of the section—and recognizes family law attorneys who contribute substantially to family law practice and who work diligently to elevate the standards of professionalism in family law. Learn more and nominate a practitioner »

Federal Judiciary Committee Names Winner of the 2024 Henry Hurst Award

Sharon L. Macon was presented with the 2024 Henry Hurst Judicial Assistance Award at the Federal Judiciary Committee’s “Conversation with the Federal Judiciary” CLE on April 9. The award is given annually to an outstanding member of court staff who helps the federal bench promote justice and efficiency within Indiana’s legal system.

Sharon currently serves as courtroom deputy clerk in the chambers of U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael G. Gotsch, though she has been a member of the Clerk’s Office staff for 33 years (with plans to retire later this year). As shared in her nominations, “Her extensive experience makes her a fount of knowledge as to court procedures and personnel…She sees the potential in each person and knows just how and when to encourage and empower staff to be their best personally and professionally.”

“Taken together, Sharon’s unique brand of service ensures that the wheels of justice move efficiently with care for the individuals involved in all parts of the judicial system.”

Solo & Small Firm Conference

Registration is still open for the ISBA Solo & Small Firm Conference, presented by the GP, Solo & Small Firm Section. Swap business cards and business solutions with lawyers from across the state at Indiana’s largest gathering of solo and small firm attorneys.

Get all of your required CLE in one place, and hear from keynote speakers Stuart Teicher, Corine Rogers, and Jimmie McMillian as they discuss AI, workflows, and building your personal team respectively. And take a break from the programming by participating in golf, skeet shooting, cornhole, socials, or any of the many informal gatherings unfolding around the French Lick Resort. The early bird deadline is May 13. Learn more and register »

Well-Being Committee Creates Resource for New Admittees

The Well-Being Committee has put together a one-pager of well-being resources to present to new admittees at April’s admission ceremony. The list includes local, state, and national organizations that provide well-being programming for the legal profession, as well as reading and CLE recommendations. The committee also created a list for Indiana law students, with additional tips on handling test anxiety. You can view some of these recommendations on the Well-Being Committee’s webpage: inbar.org/well-being. 

And keep an eye out for additional well-being tips and resources over the next month, as the committee gears up for Well-Being Week in Law. 

Other Connection Activities

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

• Women attorneys and judges from across the state traveled to Sante Fe, New Mexico in March for the 2024 Women’s Bench Bar Retreat, presented by the ISBA Women in the Law Committee.
• The General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section hosted attendees at the ISBA Office for an SSFC teaser CLE and social on maximizing revenue.
• The Tax Section partnered with IU McKinney for a panel discussion on the implications of Moore v. United States.
• The Federal Judiciary Committee hosted members of Indiana’s federal bench for a conversation on the expectations and rules within their courtrooms.
• Nearly 250 judges and attorneys gathered at the Indianapolis Artsgarden to celebrate our judicial officers at the ISBA Judicial Reception.
• The Utility Law Section hosted their annual Spring Seminar, with CLE on employer DEI initiatives following the affirmative action decision, sovereign citizens, and more.