Utah State Bar eBulletin
Take the Opportunity to Get Involved in Bar Leadership and Service
I was sitting comfortably in my office, working away, when I received a call from future Bar President Angelina Tsu, who I had met through the Women Lawyers of Utah organization. She spoke to me about how the Bar Commission was seeking someone from the Fifth Division to run to be a Bar Commissioner. She encouraged me to run. I was skeptical. I told her how busy I was, and that I didn't think I had time for bar service. I told her that I was hesitant to commit to traveling to Salt Lake City for meetings. I gave her every excuse in the book. She told me that I should still run, and told me about all the benefits of networking and involvement. I thought about it, and then I started the process of getting on the ballot.

I'm very grateful to Angelina for that encouragement. Without it, I would never had been elected to the Bar Commission in 2015. With my bar service have come relationships that have served me both professionally and personally. I have been able to work closely with the Utah Supreme Court and their stellar staff and attorneys. I have been in meetings with our legislators. I have been a part of overseeing bar finances, and in giving awards and recognition to the outstanding attorneys we have in the State of Utah. In short, being a part of bar service has greatly enhanced both my personal and professional life.

To that end, I encourage all of you to consider becoming involved. Yes, you don't have time. I don't either. But by making time, and making it work, I have been greatly rewarded. Our elections for bar positions is coming up rapidly. Go to the bar elections website to see what the process is like.

This year, we have positions in the First and Third Divisions up for election for Bar Commissioners. There are so many opportunities to serve on Section or Group leadership. Inquire with the section or group to see how you can get involved.

The wonderful thing about being part of a vibrant bar is that there is a place for anyone who wants to be involved. Thanks for making Utah such a great place to practice the law!
Governor Cox Encourages Attorneys to Be "Builders" in the Community
Utah attorneys need to focus on being builders, not attorneys, outside of the courtroom and the boardroom, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said at the Bar's Fall Forum in Salt Lake City.

"It's much harder to be a builder than a destroyer," Cox said. "But it is far more rewarding to be a builder."

The Governor's remarks were part of a Fall Forum that featured the Litigation Section's Trial Academy, presentations on the state of appellate law in Utah from Justices Paige Petersen, Diana Hagen and Jill Pohlman of the Supreme Court and many others.
Robert S. Clark
Professionalism
Award
Jennifer Huntsman
Paul T. Moxley
Mentoring Award
Philip S. Ferguson
Charlotte L. Miller
Mentoring Award
Hon. Su J. Chon
James B. Lee
Mentoring Award
Shawn Newell
Community Member
Award
Terrence L. Rooney
NLTP Mentor of the Year
Award
Kristin K. Woods
LALU Pioneer Award
Fall Forum Awards Highlight Attorneys Contributions to the Community
Utah attorneys and a community member were honored for their contributions to the legal community at the Bar's Fall Forum on November 4 at the Little America Hotel.

Robert S. Clark received the Bar's Professionalism Award, while Jennifer Huntsman received the Paul T. Moxley Mentoring Award, Phillip S. Ferguson the Charlotte L. Miller Mentoring Award, and Hon. Su J. Chon the James B. Lee Mentoring Award. Shawn Newell was honored with a Community Member Award, and Terrence L. Rooney received the NLTP Mentor of the Year Award.

Bar President Kristin K. Woods received the LALU Pioneer Award, which recognizes attorneys for their contributions to the visibility of LGBTQ lawyers within Utah.
Access to Justice Department Kicks Off New Pro Bono Opportunity Portal
The Access to Justice department of the Bar is excited to announce the launch of the Utah Pro Bono Opportunity Portal. 
 
This centralized dashboard shows pro bono opportunities throughout Utah in real time. These include Utah State Bar program listings and those from approved community partners. There are options for brief advice, limited scope representation, and full representation pro bono cases. 
 
For lawyers: 
Part of being a legal professional means serving our communities. This is truly a one-stop shop where you can filter by your interests, practice areas, type of service, and availability. Use the filters to identify opportunities and click to express your interest. 
 
You can view the portal by visiting: https://app.joinpaladin.com/utahprobono/
 
The Utah Pro Bono Opportunities Portal makes it simple to find and volunteer to serve Utahns with lower incomes by providing pro bono legal assistance. 
 
For legal service providers: 
You can receive a free account to post pro bono opportunities, please contact Pamela Beatseat ATJ@utahbar.org. You must be approved as a qualified “sponsoring entity.” You can request an application by contacting ATJ@utahbar.org. Once approved, you will receive a free account to use the portal.  
 
Please bookmark this page for future reference. If you have any questions or encounter any difficulties, please contact us for assistance at ATJ@utahbar.org. Thank you for your commitment to providing greater access to justice and for your service. 
 
This program is made possible through our partnership with the Pro Bono Commission, and it is sponsored by the Utah State Bar.
Apply Now to the Utah State Bar's Leadership Academy
The Utah Leadership Academy is now accepting applications for the Class of 2023.  Apply by November 11, 2022, for the chance to join one of a select group of lawyers from across the state who have been identified as emerging leaders. This free program is intended to provide in-depth training by local and national leaders on a host of critical issues facing the legal profession and tactics and strategies for effective leadership.  
  
Our Mission 
  •  To develop leaders within the Utah State Bar 
  •  To nurture effective leadership with respect to ethical, professional, and service-based values. 
  •   To build relationships among leaders in different practice areas and geographical locations in Utah. 
  • To raise the level of awareness among lawyers regarding the broad range of issues facing the profession. 
  • To provide an intimate setting to explore leadership topics and be mentored by some of the most influential lawyers in Utah.  
 
The Program - Benefits of Membership
 
"One of the most fun and highly rewarding programs I have been involved in. It changed my perspective and made me a better lawyer and leader. The friendships and connections I made will last a lifetime." Jenifer Tomchak, Class of 2017.
 
Utah Leadership Academy meets with local and national leaders to discuss a broad range of topics intended to enhance the participants' leadership skills. The training takes place over a two-day training seminar, eight meetings, and social activities throughout the year.  Participants are mentored in a close-knit setting by highly skilled attorneys and leaders in our community.  CLE credit available for some of the presentations.
 
Topics May Include:
  • Qualities of Effective Leadership 
  •  Identifying and Maximizing Your Leadership Style 
  • Setting and Achieving Goals 
  • The Importance of Perspective 
  •  Dealing with Difficult Workplace Situations 
  • Finding Balance in An Unbalanced World 
  • Networking Skills 
  • Getting to Yes 
  • Improving Oral Advocacy Skills
 
At the completion of the year, participants will have the knowledge and skills necessary to lead the legal profession and to improve leadership service in the Utah State Bar. Through this process, the class members will develop their own leadership style and learn how to put that style into action. 
 
Application Criteria
The Academy seeks attorneys with a desire and commitment to develop leadership skills and serve the Utah legal community. The Academy will select approximately twelve class members. The Academy strives to have broad representation and will give special consideration to candidates who are geographically or otherwise diverse.  
 
To apply, you must:
  • Be a member in good standing of the Utah State Bar 
  • Be available to attend the initial Leadership Academy training seminar, which will be held on February 23-25, 2023 
  • Commit to attend and participate in at least 90% of the meetings 
  • Commit to participate for at least one year on a Utah State Bar committee  
Preference will be given to attorneys who have been in practice for 10 years or less.
 
Application Process
To apply, download and fill out the application and return it and a copy of your resume to christy.abad@utahbar.org on or before November 15, 2022. Your application may be accompanied with optional letters of recommendation from members of the legal profession. 

Bar Signs Agreement with SmartDraw Legal Graphics Service
SmartDraw is an enterprise grade diagramming tool that allows you to visualize legal processes, timelines, crime scenes, and accidents with minimal effort. Whether presenting to clients or a jury, SmartDraw makes it easy to tell a story visually and in detail. Find out more by visiting the SmartDraw website.