Thursday, January 27, 2022
State Bar of Nevada eNews
Craig Denney Selected as
U.S. Magistrate Judge in Reno
Craig S. Denney has been selected to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of William G. Cobb, U.S. Magistrate Judge in Reno. Chief Judge Miranda M. Du, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, made the announcement on January 24. The term of appointment is eight years.
 
Denney has served as an administrative law judge with the Social Security Administration (SSA) since 2016, and as the chief administrative law judge for SSA’s Reno Hearing Office since 2019. He has also served as a part-time military judge (trial and appellate level) in the U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps since 2011.
 
Denney was a partner and counsel at Snell and Wilmer LLP from 2011-16. He was also an attorney at Downey Brand LLP from 2007-11. He served as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Nevada from 1999-2006. Denney served in various positions with the Army JAG Corps on active duty, including special assistant U.S. Attorney and defense counsel from 1994-99.
 
Denney has a law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio; a Master of Business Administration from Saint Martin’s College in Lacey, Washington; and a Master of Arts degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  
This Week at the State Bar
The State Bar of Nevada Board of Governors and practice-area section leaders met January 20. During the meeting, section leaders talked about challenges the sections are facing in the era of Zoom meetings and pandemic-related cancellations.
 
The Entertainment & Sports Law Section met January 20 to discuss planning for CLEs in 2022. They also discussed the Name, Image, Likeness legislation passed by the Nevada legislature in 2021.
 
Applications for the new Incubator class are now being accepted through January 31. The program is designed for those with an entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm about serving low- and modest-income clients. The new class starts March 4. 
Nevada CLE Board Seeks to Fill Vacancy; Application Deadline Feb. 11
The Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education is responsible for administering annual continuing legal education (CLE) credit hour and reporting requirements, vetting CLE providers for quality educational programs, and reviewing CLE courses submitted for credit. The seven-member board meets regularly to oversee the functions carried out on the board’s behalf and recommend policy to enhance attorney compliance with Supreme Court Rules.

The board is seeking to fill one vacancy for a term ending on December 31, 2024. This position is appointed by the State Bar of Nevada Board of Governors. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply no later than February 11.

Questions may be directed to state bar Executive Director Kimberly Farmer at kimberlyf@nvbar.org.
State Bar Seeks Feedback on Formal Ethics Opinion through Feb. 21
The State Bar of Nevada’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has drafted a formal opinion and is seeking comments from membership. The formal opinion is regarding the following matter:
 
 
  • Does utilization of a “coworking” office space for the practice of an attorney admitted in Nevada but residing outside of Nevada constitute maintaining an office in Nevada for purposes of SCR 42.1?

  • Is a nonresident attorney admitted in Nevada and using a “coworking” office space in Nevada subject to the advertising filing requirements of NRPC 7.2A with regard to the attorney’s business cards, letterhead, and website?

The full opinion will remain posted on the State Bar of Nevada’s website until February 21. The website allows members to voice their opinions about these matters via online comment form.
High School Mock Trial Competition Goes Virtual; Volunteers Needed
The State Bar of Nevada’s high school mock trial competition has gone virtual, and volunteers are still needed to judge competition rounds.
 
To accommodate the virtual event in February and March, competition rounds for the northern and southern Nevada regional and state competitions have been spread over two days each and the times for competition rounds have been adjusted. Volunteers who have previously signed up to serve are asked to register again; openings remain for those who still wish to volunteer. Attorneys may judge any round of competition, regardless of location (northern or southern).
 
Each round of competition is approximately two hours; training is provided. Attorneys may earn 1 hour of CLE credit for every 4 hours of competition judging, for a maximum of 4 hours annually. Questions may be directed to Eric Johnson at ericj@nvbar.org.
Featured CLE: Succession Planning
When an attorney decides to close a law practice, it usually is more difficult than just turning off the phones and locking the doors. Clients must be informed, files returned or transferred, courts notified, and bank accounts closed.

The problems increase when an attorney experiences an unexpected medical crisis or death, and there is no plan to guide others trying to wind down the practice.

This CLE, which will be led by Bruce Hahn and Phillip Pattee with the State Bar of Nevada’s Office of Bar Counsel, shall discuss how to close a practice with or without the attorney, who might not be available to assist with the process. It also will provide a starting point for attorneys to draft a plan crafted to the specific needs of his or her law practice.
 
Succession Planning in Nevada, a resource book produced by the State Bar of Nevada, helps Nevada attorneys close their practice or plan for an unexpected medical crisis or death. The book is available as a free download. 
Program Date:
February 23
 
Time:
Noon – 1 p.m.
 
Location:
Webinar
 
CLE Hours:
1 General Credit

State Bar of Nevada
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