Utah State Bar August eBulletin
Facing the Challenges of a New Bar Year with Gratitude and Excitement
In preparation for this first message, in which I have the opportunity to introduce myself to you as President of the Utah State Bar, I reviewed the messages from prior Presidents. I couldn’t help but be struck by the immediate Past President Herm Olsen’s message from his first eBulletin. He discussed his excitement of taking on a new role (which I share), expressed gratitude to those who preceded him (which I also share), and discussed the upcoming challenges he intended to address in the upcoming year. In a now prophetic-seeming statement, he rounded out his remarks saying, “I know as we face the challenges of the coming year--some easy to see, and some not yet seen--we as a Bar will be equal to those challenges.” 

While Herm had the foresight to realize unexpected challenges would arise, he certainly could have never imagined that he would be leading the Utah State Bar in our response to a global pandemic, potential economic crisis, and social unrest. Yet, he rose to these challenges, as did the Bar, and as I hope to do. Nothing about my term has been expected: I certainly never expected to be the first President-elect to have their Spring Convention cancelled, or the first President to be sworn in via Zoom. Yet, while unexpected, I am thrilled to be one of the two to be the first successive female presidents of the bar. I am excited to be a part of first entirely online Fall Forum Sessions. Lastly, I am thrilled to work with the Court and the Utah State Bar’s Reform Committee to increase access to justice for the people of Utah. 

Though this year is unlikely to even remotely represent the year I had initially expected when I announced my candidacy and my agenda at the end of 2018, I am grateful for it. I thank you for allowing me this unprecedented opportunity.  
Online Renewal Process Began June 8 with 90-Day Late Fee Extension
The annual Bar licensing renewal process has begun and can be done online only. An email containing the necessary steps to re-license online at  https://services.utahbar.org  was sent on June 5. 

To receive support for your online licensing transaction, please contact us either by email to   onlinesupport@utahbar.org  or, call 801-297-7021 . 

License renewal and fees must be submitted and payment received (or postmarked) by October 31 to avoid a late fee. If renewal is not complete and payment received before December 1, your license will be suspended . 

 This one-time extension by 90 days of the deadlines for the assessment of late fees and suspension for non-payment is for this licensing year only.
Well-Being Special Section: Learning to Thrive in the Legal Profession
The Well-Being Committee for the Legal Profession committed to improving well-being for Utah’s legal practitioners and to offering information, resources, and actionable, evidence-based recommendations. To learn more and to access these resources, visit the WCLP’s newly launched website. And And here are a few tips to help you be your best during.

Emotional Health: A Vital Partner to a Successful and Sustainable Legal Career
Emotional health is an important part of overall well-being. It involves being in control of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors which in turn helps us to cope with life’s challenges, keep problems in perspective, and bounce back from setbacks.
 
Being emotionally healthy doesn’t mean you are happy all of the time. It means you are aware of your emotions and can deal with them, whether they are positive or negative. Emotionally healthy people still feel stress, anger, and sadness, but they know how to manage these feelings. They can also tell when a problem is more than they can handle on their own and they know when to seek help.

Emotional health is a skill that can be developed. To learn more about evidence-based ways that you can do so, visit the Utah Bar’s Well-Being website.

Pro Bono: Success Through Service
Feeling overwhelmed and stressed out? Set aside an hour a week to help someone out through pro bono work. You might be thinking – wait, I don’t have the time or energy for that! But science tells us that your perceived lack of time or energy is exactly why you  should  do it. Why? Because helping others helps us. Research shows that two major things happen if, when we are stressed, we take even a little time to genuinely connect with and help one another: 

  1. Our feelings of overwhelm and the fear and avoidance that can come with lessen.
  2. Our motivation and perception of our own competence and capability to handle difficulty increase.  

Find a pro bono activity that fits you and your schedule at utahlegalhelp.org.

Quality Relationships Matter
Social well-being is the extent to which we have good relationships, feel a sense of belonging and connection, and experience social inclusion. The importance of this cannot be overstated. People with high-quality relationships social tend to be mentally and physically healthier, live longer, and are more resilient to stress, challenge, and adversity. In the workplace, high-quality relationships enhance our cognitive processes and boost our engagement. 

Find evidence-based information on building social well-being for yourself and your colleagues at the Bar's well being website.

Lawyer Well-Being During COVID-19
This episode of The Future of Resolution podcast provides an overview of what lawyers and the legal profession are experiencing during the pandemic and how law firms and legal organizations can help in meaningful ways. 
Live CLE Requirement Suspended for 2020 and '21 Cycles
2020 CLE Compliance Reporting Period
The Supreme Court Board of Continuing Legal Education has suspended the live in-person credit requirement, allowing all required CLE to be fulfilled with online self-study with audio or video presentations, webcasts or computer interactive telephonic programs for the compliance period ending June 30, 2020. 

Because of the cancellation of in-person CLE courses, and the uncertainty as to when in-person courses may resume, compliance deadlines have been extended. Lawyers with a compliance period ending June 30, 2020 will have through September 1, 2020 to complete required CLE hours without paying late filing fees and will have through September 15, 2020 to file Certificate of Compliance reports without paying late filing fees.
 
2021 CLE Compliance Reporting Period
The Supreme Court Board of Continuing Legal Education has suspended the live in-person credit requirement, allowing all required CLE to be fulfilled with online self-study with audio or video presentations, webcasts or computer interactive telephonic programs for the compliance period ending June 30, 2021. 

The 2020 Compliance Reporting Period Extension does not apply to the 2021 Compliance Reporting Period.

Accordingly, Bar members may complete all required hours through  webinars and other self-study courses   in accordance with Rule  14-413   of the MCLE Rules for the 2020 and 2021 cycles. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this announcement, please email the  MCLE Staff  or call 801.531.9077.
Bar Creates New Online Marketplace to Supplement Beneplace Offerings
The Utah State Bar has organized a new marketplace consisting of offers from vendors offering services to Bar members at special rates. These vendors offer a variety of services designed to help you in your practice, all at discounted rates available only to preferred customers. If you have questions, visit the marketplace or email David Clark.