Join us as we gather at our Annual Summit to discuss the future of the profession,

and how ISBA members will play a role in shaping it.

October 9-10, 2024
Marriott Indianapolis North Hotel
Registration ends October 4.

At this year’s Annual Summit, we’re calling on you to contribute to a critical conversation about Indiana’s attorney shortage. The ISBA has been extensively studying this issue and now needs your input to examine, and potentially reshape, the delivery of legal services in our state. There is a nationwide lack of attorneys in the areas that need them most, and as a member of the state’s largest legal association, your voice is crucial in influencing how Indiana tackles this issue.

Following an Opening Session focused on the attorney shortage crisis at the state and national level, you’ll dive deeper into potential solutions through breakout sessions concentrating on three primary topics:

1. Broadening pathways to licensure to expand the number of qualified individuals entering the profession. This includes concepts such as apprenticeship models in place of a bar exam. 
2. Exploring alternative forms of licensure and/or practice models that could make legal services more affordable. This includes conversations about Allied Legal Professionals and expanding the roles of paralegals. 
3. Increasing opportunities for practitioners and legal services in rural Indiana.

Led by professional facilitators, these breakout sessions will offer you a chance to ask questions, share concerns, and have meaningful discussions about the future of Indiana’s legal system. National experts (Jessica Bednarz, IAALS; Deborah Jones Merritt, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law; and Jason Roberts, The Colorado Access to Justice Commission) will participate in the sessions alongside you to offer insight and foster a robust discussion. 

Following the breakouts, members will gather for a Closing Session to discuss tangible next steps for the ISBA. Insights from the Summit will guide the ISBA in developing a plan to address Indiana’s attorney shortage over the next several years.

We urge you to come prepared to critically evaluate the attorney shortage issue, think creatively about solution opportunities, and engage in spirited discourse with your fellow members. Your participation will help shape the future of the legal landscape and is crucial to the development of ISBA’s plan to confront this pressing need, so that all Hoosiers can have equitable access to legal help—and Indiana’s practitioners can have the tools and resources they need to provide such vital services. 

To help familiarize yourself with the issues we’ll be discussing, here are a few resources we encourage you to review prior to the Annual Summit:

• WRTV Investigation: Attorney Shortage
• Growing Trend: Alternative Paths to Licensure
• Allied Legal Professionals Background
• Paving the Road to Rural Justice
  
  

Note: All Annual Summit events are in-person only.

Wednesday, October 9

• 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET | ISBA Board of Governors Meeting & Lunch (current/incoming Board only)
• 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET | House of Delegates Meeting
• 3:15 - 4:45 p.m. ET | Opening Session (1.5 CLE)
• 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. ET | Reception
• 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. ET | Happy Hour at Bistro 33 Restaurant, hosted by the Young Lawyers Section (Bistro 33 is located next to the hotel lobby bar)

Thursday, October 10

• 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. ET | Continental Breakfast
• 9:00 a.m. - Noon ET | Morning Breakouts (qualifies for 1.0 CLE)
  
• Noon - 1:30 p.m. ET | Lunch with Assembly Meeting
  
• 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. ET | Afternoon Breakouts (qualifies for 1.0 CLE)
• 4:15 - 5:00 p.m. ET | Closing Session
• 6:00 p.m. ET | ISBA Past Presidents Dinner (invite only)

Day 1: Wednesday, Oct. 9
The ISBA House of Delegates Meeting (1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET) aims to bring as many perspectives as possible together to discuss and vote on issues important to ISBA and the Hoosier legal community. All attorney members are eligible and encouraged to attend the meeting and serve as a representative/delegate for their county.  Each of Indiana's 92 counties is allotted a certain number of representatives, and our goal is to have at least one representative from each county. Click here to learn more about how to become a delegate and to see which delegate positions are still open. With questions about serving as a delegate, contact Kim Latimore-Martin . The House of Delegates Meeting is an in-person only event and registration is required.

Following the House of Delegates Meeting, we will kick off this year's Annual Summit focus with our Opening Session (3:15 - 4:45 p.m. ET). This year, the Annual Summit will require your input. Your 2023-24 Board of Governors identified Indiana's attorney shortage as a priority for the association and volunteer task forces have been at work analyzing and considering potential solutions. ISBA leaders will present their research and open the floor for your thoughts, suggestions, and input. We encourage you to attend this session as it will lay the foundation for the breakout discussions the following day. Attendees will receive 1.5 hr. CLE credit for participating in the Opening Session.

End your evening by connecting with other leaders from Indiana’s bench and bar Wednesday evening with a Reception (5 - 6:30 p.m. ET). We’ll be joined by some of the top movers and shakers in the community as well as thought leaders, community leaders, and aspiring leaders. The reception is free for all ISBA members, officials, and special guests, and includes appetizers and two drink tickets.  

Following the reception, the Young Lawyers Section will be hosting a Happy Hour (6:30-7:30 p.m.) at Bistro 33 restaurant, located next to the lobby bar. All members are invited to stop and mingle with the next generation of the legal profession. Attendees’ first drink and light snacks are provided by the section.

Day 2: Thursday, Oct. 10
Following breakfast on Thursday morning (available to all Annual Summit attendees), we will take a deep dive into Indiana's attorney shortage through a series of breakouts, focusing on three areas: broadening pathways to licensure; exploring alternative forms of licensure; and increasing opportunities for practitioners in rural communities. Each breakout will be led by a professional facilitator and will be offered during two time blocks (9 a.m. - Noon and 1:30 - 4 p.m. ET) where the morning sessions will be repeated in the afternoon. Therefore, attendees are encouraged to attend a different topic during each block. Be ready to engage in deep discussions and shape the future of Indiana’s legal landscape. Note: each 3 hour breakout session will qualify for 1.0 hr. CLE.

This year's Assembly Meeting Lunch (Noon - 1:30 p.m. ET) is the official member meeting of the ISBA. Members will elect the 2024-25 board members and induct Michael J. Jasaitis as the 2024-25 president. Hear from ISBA’s leaders as they reflect on the achievements of the past year, articulate their vision for the future, and recognize outstanding volunteer contributions. The Assembly Meeting is a great time for all legal professionals to reflect on the importance of the work we do throughout the year.

Following our afternoon breakouts, we'll re-convene one last time at the Closing Session (4:15 - 5 p.m. ET) to hear reports from our breakouts and talk about where we go from here.

Please note registration ends Friday, October 4.

Contribute to Support the Annual Summit
ISBA Annual Summit registration is offered complimentary to all ISBA members to allow and encourage everyone to participate. The more voices present at the Annual Summit, the stronger our conversation and impact. With the "Pay What You Wish" option, attendees are invited to financially support the event by contributing in a way that feels right for them. If you’d like to make an optional, non-refundable contribution, please select one of the amount options when completing your registration. As a reference point, the per-person cost to host the event, including food, beverage, and refreshments, is $275. Thank you for helping make this important event available to all members of ISBA and the Indiana legal community.

Marriott Indianapolis North Hotel
3645 River Crossing Pkwy
Indianapolis, IN 46240

This year’s Annual Summit will take place at the Marriott North Hotel, located by Keystone at the Crossing on the northside of Indianapolis. The ISBA group rate cut-off has passed, however, the hotel will continue to accept reservations on a space available basis. 

All attendees of ISBA's events are required to comply to the Code of Conduct Policy. 

Refunds for optional donations will be issued if the cancellation is received in writing on or before September 25, 2024, and are subject to a $25 processing fee. Refunds will not be granted for optional donations after September 25, 2024, nor will they be given for no-shows after the summit. If you are unable to attend but would like to send someone in your place, please contact cle@inbar.org.

Thank you to our Sponsors