Utah State Bar March eBulletin
F. Lee Bailey Highlights Bar's Spring Convention Set to Kick Off this Week in St. George
Happy Convention Week!  I hope you’re joining us this week at our Spring Convention in St. George. As always, there’s a great lineup of speakers, panel discussions and workshops designed to help you become a better attorney.  You can earn up to 10 CLE hours in the course of just a few days.

We will present the Raymond S. Uno and Dorathy Merrill Brothers Awards (see below), and you can participate in the always-popular golf tournament and “Bar”beque in the incomparably beautiful Snow Canyon on Friday evening. Many other events are on the schedule. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a chance to make new friends, renew old acquaintances, and spend time with some wonderful people.

This year’s speakers include F. Lee Bailey, who has been part of some of the most well-known criminal legal matters in America, and numerous other judges and attorneys with a wealth of legal experience.

It’s not too late to make plans to join us. Online registration is closed, but walk-ins are welcome and encouraged!  Come on down.  

H. Dickson Burton
Utah State Bar President
Raymond S. Uno and Dorathy Merrill Brothers Award Winners Announced
The Raymond S. Uno Award for the Advancement of Minorities in the Legal Profession was awarded to Yvette Donosso, and Jacey Skinner received the Dorathy Merrill Brothers Award for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession.

Donosso, the Uno award winner, received her law degree from J. Reuben Clark Law School in 1999. Currently she is serving as a judicial law clerk for Magistrate Judge Brooke C. Wells in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. 

Skinner, who received the Brothers award, is an attorney at Ballard Spahr, LLC and former General Counsel to Governor Gary Herbert of the State of Utah. As General Counsel, she advised the Governor and his staff and Cabinet on legal and ethical issues. She also acted as the Governor’s legislative director during four legislative sessions.

Ms. Skinner advised Governor Herbert on his appointment of 83 state court judges, including four of the five members of the Utah Supreme Court and six of the seven judges in the Utah Court of Appeals. As a result of Governor Herbert’s appointments, Utah has more female judges than at any point in its history.

Litigation Section Announces Second Annual Casino Night to Benefit RMIC
The Litigation Section of the Utah State Bar and Rocky Mountain Innocence Center are pleased to announce the
Second Annual Casino Night - Masquerade Ball
Please join us for a fun-filled evening with games, prizes, food, and drink. There will be prizes for Best Costume!
When: Friday April 5, 7:30-10 p.m.
Where: Publik Roasting Company, 975 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah
Cost: $50.00 Suggested Donation, all proceeds to benefit the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center. Registration is here.
Reminder: MCLE Reports for Odd Year Reporting Cycle Due June 30
Law concept with Themis symbol of justice. law justice attorney themis lawyer scale legal book concept
A friendly reminder: MCLE hours for the odd year reporting cycle are due June 30, and your MCLE report must be filed by July 31. For more information and to obtain a Certificate of Compliance, please click  here .

If all of your required MCLE hours are in the database, all you need to do in order to fully comply is to login to your Member Dashboard to pay the $15 reporting fee. Once this fee has been paid, you will not need to report again until July 2021, and we will not require a Certificate of Compliance from you. 

Below are step-by-step instructions to pay the fee online:
 
  • Log into the Practice Portal.
  • Select pay MCLE Compliance fee under Utah Bar Portal Control Card.
  • Follow prompts to pay MCLE Compliance fee.
Pro Hac Vice Admissions Rule to Change May 1
Substantial changes to the pro hac vice admissions rule have been approved by the Bar.

Effective May 1, 2019, the fee for Pro Hac Vice admission will increase from $250 to $425. Attorneys admitted pro hac after May 1 will be required to pay an annual fee of $425 for each year they continue to practice in Utah.
Malpractice Insurance Provider ALPS to Introduce New Business Development Representative
The official provider of malpractice insurance to the Bar, ALPS, will be introducing a new Business Development representative at the Spring Convention in St. George.

Larry Vaculik is the new representative and will be representing ALPS at the convention. Stop by the ALPS booth for a visit, and enter to win $100 cash!
Striefel Appointed New Executive Director for "and Justice for all"
AJFA has appointed Kelly Striefel as its new Executive Director, replacing the retired Kai Wilson. She was previously AJFA's Director of Development and has been serving as Interim Executive Director since Wilson left in early 2018. Her new position was officially approved by the board earlier this month.

Striefel brings AJFA more than 15 years' experience in community relations, project management and non-profit and business development. She graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Westminster College with a Masters of Community Leadership.

"We all have a fundamental duty to help those in need," said Striefel. "Legal aid programs make it possible to give those with critical needs essential support in order to secure their dignity, protect their assets and stay safe. I’m proud that 'and Justice for all' has and will continue to support and benefit the programs that help those in our communities most in need."
Bar Discount Provider Launches New Website
Beneplace, the Bar's provider of discount services, has upgraded its website for Bar members. The new site is designed to be more intuitive and easier to use. You can check out the latest discounts here .