As I began gathering my thoughts to write about the Spring meeting of the State Bar's Board of Governors on March 31, 2012, it occurred to me I could practically cut and paste what I wrote last year about the $2 dues increase and just tweak some of the numbers a little bit. The latest $2 increase will bring dues to $240 for active members and to $120 for inactive members.
The reason for the increase this year is the same as last year--covering the cost of various programs the State Bar has taken on in recent years without increasing dues. Last year's $2 increase was the first increase since 2008.
What was different this year was that before taking a vote on the dues increase, the board voted to undertake a detailed review of the cost effectiveness of the various programs that the State Bar has taken under its wing due when they lost funding from the Georgia Bar Foundation. The per member cost of absorbing these programs, as well as the creation of new initiatives such as the Military Legal Assistance Program, is $24.27 per member. The total cost of these various programs is $964,768.
Last year, I described a $2 increase as de minimis. And I still feel that way about this year's $2 increase.
But $2 here and $2 there for very long can begin to add up to some real money. So, it seems to me a good thing that there will be an assessment in the near future of the cost-effectiveness of these programs.
Other items that you will see on your bar dues statement will include section dues, at rates of $10 to $35 to opt in; assessments required by the bar rules for the Clients' Security Fund and the Bar Center; Checkoffs for the Legislative and Public Education Fund, a $100 opt out; and, a $250 suggested opt-in for the Georgia Legal Services Program.
In other action, the board voted to create a new section--the Child Protection and Advocacy Section. This new section is geared toward lawyers who practice in Juvenile Court and those who represent children in other forums, such as Probate Court, or before school tribunals.
The board also amended the bylaws of the Family Law Section so that its fiscal year will be the same as the State Bar's year and to control legislative advocacy to make it subject to the same rule, bylaws and policies of the State Bar itself. In other words, to make clear that the Family Law Section cannot individually advocate before the General Assembly.
Legislation
The General Assembly having just completed its 2012 session, the State Bar's chief lobbyist Tom Boller reported on the outcome of various legislative issues that the State Bar was tracking. A full report on these items will be posted to the State Bar's website in the near future.
Legislative highlights include funding at requested levels for legal services for victims of domestic violence, $1.8 million; ICJE funding, $458,000; indigent defense, over $40 million, which is about 98 percent of what is raised from fees increased to cover these costs; and, $800,000 for the Resource Center, which had seen its funding slashed to $500,000 in recent years.
Other items tracked by the State Bar which gained passage this year included the new Open Records Law, an international arbitration code, a uniform depositions act, an a civil process bill. Criminal justice reform was adopted, although some important changes, such as giving judges more discretion in sentencing under laws with mandatory minimums, did not make the final bill and will require long term effort.
The Juvenile Code revision did not pass due to funding concerns, brought on in part because of the unknown effect of reduced revenue from tax cuts and questions about the cost effectiveness of the criminal justice reforms.
Information Reports
The board received information reports on a variety of topics, including:
--The revamp of the State Bar's website, which is expected to debut in April. New features will include readily accessible member log in and member directory search boxes on the home page. The handbook is being arranged in a more user friendly fashion. There will be a master calendar of bar activities that coordinates with an event registration area. In addition, the website will have a mobile platform to make it compatible with various mobile devices without the necessity of downloading a special app. From the member directory search function it will be possible to simply click to call the listed phone number and there will be a button to click to get directions to the address.
--Web-based public service announcements, a variation on ads previously aimed at improving the image of lawyers, this time are being launched in an effort to educate the public on the need to utilize lawyers in various aspects of their lives--such as contract formation, estate planning, etc. This five month program, which will run from May 1 through September 30, will cost $100,000 and will place ads on a variety of new media websites.
--The disciplinary rules committee is looking to revise Rule 7.3 c, regarding the permissibility of lawyers paying fees to a commercial lawyer referral service. This issue came to light when a for-profit referral business began referring cases to the highest bidder based on bids made on synopses of the cases. A proposed rule to address this issue is being fast-tracked for approval at the State Bar's annual meeting this summer.
--The Fair Market Practices Committee is looking at issues regarding runners. The committee is working to educate agencies that release accident reports, to make them aware that it is a crime to help people solicit clients for lawyers. The committee also wants to work with law enforcement in their regular training sessions at the police academies to educate them on this issue. The committee is also considering ways to make the public aware that if they are approached by a runner to make a report. In addition, the committee is working to educate solicitors about this type of criminal activity and urge them to prosecute. The committee is also looking at lawyer advertising, with an eye toward rules dealing with the types of disclosures and disclaimers to put in the ads. Another concern is lawyers who contact persons who have been sued for divorce to solicit their business, sometimes before the person has even be served with the law suit.
--There will be a Georgia Bar Leadership Institute held at the State Bar Headquarters on April 27, aimed at the leaders of local bar associations. This will be coupled with a Braves baseball outing.
--SOLACE, an acronym of Support of Lawyers/Legal personnel All Concern Encouraged, is moving toward organizing members of the legal community to create an outreach network to assist judges, lawyers, court personnel, and law office staff that have a medical crisis in their family. As described on the State Bar's website, "types of assistance range anywhere from a need for a place for a family to stay near a distant hospital during cancer treatment or a transplant, or help in getting an appointment with a medical specialist with a long waiting list."
--The Georgia Legal Food Frenzy will take place from April 23 to May 4 to collect food for local food banks.
--There will be a Unauthorized Practice of Law Public Hearing on June 1 in Savannah on the issue of contracts by consulting foresters.
--The YLD is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year with a them of inclusiveness. Attendance at YLD meetings is up 30 percent. At its recent signature fundraiser, the YLD raised $73,000 for Georgia Legal Services.
Elections
There are contested elections for State Bar Treasurer and YLD Secretary, as well as for various Board of Governors posts, including Post 9 of the Stone Mountain Circuit. You can vote on line or send in the ballot you receive in the mail.
You can find information on all of the races here:
http://www.gabar.org/news/vote_here_-_2012_state_bar_of_georgia_election_information/
Please note that I am running for re-election to Post 1 of the Stone Mountain Circuit, but without opposition unless someone would like to mount a write-in campaign.
Katie Wood, Post 1, Stone Mountain Circuit
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