Articles

Outsourcing for Ethics Compliance 
By Megan Zavieh, Originally Published in Attorney At Work.
Notice the title of this post: It is not “Outsourcing Ethics Compliance.” That you may not do. Rather, it is “Outsourcing for Ethics Compliance,” the idea being to send work out to help ensure you meet your ethics obligations.  Full Article

Three Steps to Increasing Law Practice Productivity
By Raj Jha, Originally Published in Attorney At Work.
  I bet this has happened to you. You show up at the office with the best intentions. You’re finally going to get that marketing project — or some other large project — done so you can reap the rewards.

You sit down at your desk. Your voicemail light is flashing. Your inbox is loaded with unread emails. And the fire drills begin.

A few hours later, you skip lunch. Then it’s dark outside. You have no idea where the day went.  Full Article

How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming the Legal Profession
By Julie Sobowale, Originally Published in ABA Journal Magazine
The future of the legal profession began 20 years ago.  The technology boom was just beginning with the emergence of email and personal computers. Jay Leib was working for Record Technologies Inc. as director of software sales and training in 1999, and the company was scanning documents into databases for clients. At one point the company printed and scanned legal documents related to a lawsuit with Microsoft. Leib thought that was inefficient, a waste of time and paper.  Full Article

NSBA News

Enjoy an Evening of Baseball
The Senior Lawyers and Young Lawyers Sections are teaming up to sponsor an evening of baseball and networking on Tuesday, Apr 26. The event is open to all lawyers and their guests, with a special invitation extended to section members. The event starts with appetizers and drinks from 5-6 pm at The Session Room, which is a couple blocks from Ameritrade Park in Omaha. At 6:30 pm Creighton and UNL will meet on the diamond. Cheer on your alma mater or pick a team to support while you get acquainted with fellow lawyers. Tickets are $10 each and include the game ticket, and one drink and appetizers at The Session Room. Tickets will be passed out at the pregame event and at the ball park for those arriving at game time. More details on which gate to enter and where to pick up tickets at the stadium will be sent a few days prior to the game. If you register for this event and then find you can’t attend, please contact Lorrie Benson at NSBA so we can give your tickets to someone else.

More details and registration are on the NSBA website. Registration is capped, so register now. Don’t miss this chance to make professional connections and enjoy a night at the ball game!

NSBA Executive Council- 5^th and 6^th Districts
Notifications and petitions will be sent to the 5^th and 6^th Supreme Court Districts on April 29, 2016 for the Executive Council vacancies. The deadline for returning a petition will be May 30, 2016. Executive Council terms are four years. 

Volunteers Needed for April 29 Law Day Event
The NSBA Volunteer Lawyers Project and Omaha Bar Association Present “Lawyers in the City” - Friday, April 29, 2016

To celebrate Law Day, the NSBA Volunteer Lawyers Project and Omaha Bar Association are co-sponsoring “Lawyers in the City,” a day during which volunteers meet with low-income persons in the Omaha area to answer basic questions about the law, the court and court process, and to provide legal resources and services available in the Omaha area.

This is a great opportunity to do pro bono service, meet new colleagues, and help low-income residents gain access to our courts and system of justice. The event is appropriate for attorneys of all practice areas and experience. VLP attorneys will be onsite to provide guidance in civil practice areas, including divorce, custody, child support, guardianship, debt collection, name change, powers of attorney.

If you are interested in volunteering 1, 2, 3, or 4 hours, please email VLP@nebar.com by April 18 and specify which location and which times you are available:

• Metropolitan Community College, Fort Omaha Campus 30th & Fort
  Building 10, Room 136C
  Noon-1pm; 1-2pm; 2-3pm; 3-4pm
• Metropolitan Community College/South Omaha Public Library
  South Omaha Public Library, Conference Room A
  2900 Babe Gomez Avenue
  9am-10am; 10am-11am; 11am-Noon
• Omaha Civic Center, Douglas County
  Farnam Level Lunchroom
  1819 Farnam Street
  Noon-1pm; 1-2pm; 2-3pm; 3-4pm
  

Contact VLP Director Carol Cleaver (402) 742-8127 or ccleaver@nebar.com, or OBA Executive Director Dave Sommers (402) 280-3607 or dave@omahabarassociation.com for additional information.

Young Lawyers Section Page in The Nebraska Lawyer Magazine
Young lawyers, do you want to be published? The Young Lawyers Section page in The Nebraska Lawyer magazine needs submissions! Contact Sara Weber at sweber@nebar.com or 402-475-7091 if you’d like to submit something or have questions.  

Six Submit their Names for District Court Judge in the Second Judicial District
David J. Partsch, Nebraska City; Stephanie S. Shearer, Omaha; Michael A. Smith, Springfield; PaTricia A. Freeman, Stefanie A. Martinez, and George A. Thompson, all of Papillion, have submitted applications for appointment as District Judge in the 2nd Judicial District consisting of Cass, Otoe, and Sarpy counties. The primary place of office for the judicial vacancy is Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska. The vacancy is due to the appointment of Judge Max J. Kelch to the Supreme Court bench.  Full Press Release

Judicial Resources Hearing to Hold April 14 Hearing
The Judicial Resources Commission will hold a public hearing pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-1204 to determine, based on the judicial workload statistics, whether a judicial vacancy exists in the office of district court of the First Judicial District, due to the retirement of the Honorable Paul W. Korslund, effective April 1, 2016, and make a recommendation to the Supreme Court as to the primary place of office of said vacancy.  Full Press Release

Proposed Rule Amendments for March 17, 2016
Neb. Ct. R. § 6-1210 Rule Amendments for Comment
The Nebraska Supreme Court invites interested persons to comment on proposed amendments to the Supreme Court’s Problem-Solving and Drug Court Rules at Neb. Ct. R. § 6-1210. The amendments were submitted to the Supreme Court for consideration on March 10, 2016, by Scott Carlson, Statewide Coordinator for Problem-Solving Courts.  Anyone desiring to comment on these proposed amendments should do so in writing to the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, P.O. Box 98910, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8910, or via e-mail to jill.machacek@nebraska.gov, no later than June 15, 2016. A hard copy may be reviewed in the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals upon request.

Neb. Ct. R. § 3-803(B) Rule Amendments for Comment
The Nebraska State Bar Association submitted to the Nebraska Supreme Court a proposed rule amendment to create a pro bono publicus attorney rule. The proposed rule would, in accordance with the proposed amendments, allow Nebraska attorneys with inactive status in the Nebraska State Bar to engage in pro bono activities through approved civil legal service providers. The Nebraska Supreme Court invites interested persons to comment on the proposed rule amendment.  Anyone desiring to comment on the proposed rule amendment should do so in writing to the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, P.O. Box 98910, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8910, or via e-mail tojill.machacek@nebraska.gov, no later than June 15, 2016.  A hard copy may be reviewed in the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals upon request.

Neb. Ct. R. § 3-803(C) Rule Amendments for Comment
  The Nebraska Supreme Court invites interested persons to comment on proposed amendments to Supreme Court rules, Article 8: State Bar Association; Creation; Control; and Regulation, at Neb. Ct. R. § 3-803(C) to require that a sole practitioner name an attorney (“Designated Attorney”) to protect the interests of the designating attorney’s clients in the event the designating attorney dies, becomes disabled, disappears, or abandons or otherwise temporarily or permanently ceases the practice of law.  The amendments were submitted to the Supreme Court for consideration on February 19, 2016, by Mark Weber, Counsel for Discipline for the Nebraska Supreme Court.  Anyone desiring to comment on these proposed amendments should do so in writing to the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, P.O. Box 98910, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8910, or via e-mail to jill.machacek@nebraska.gov, no later than June 15, 2016.  A hard copy may be reviewed in the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals upon request.

Recent Supreme Court Opinions

Week of April 1, 2016

Week of March 25, 2016

For a complete listing of recent opinions, visit the Nebraska Judicial Branch Website.

NLF News

2016 Barristers' Ball: Once Upon a Time...A Royal Barristers' Ball

Plans for the 2016 Barristers’ Ball, Once Upon a Time...A Royal Barristers' Ball, are underway. It will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the Embassy Suites – La Vista Conference Center. This elegant affair features a silent and live auction, followed by dinner and dancing. The funds raised will benefit the Nebraska Lawyers Foundation.  

COCKTAILS & SILENT AUCTION 6:00 PM • DINNER 7:30 PM • LIVE AUCTION 8:30 PM
DANCING TO THE MUSIC OF PAM & THE PEARLS 9:00 PM • BLACK TIE OPTIONAL

Individual Tickets: $100/ticket • Young Lawyers Tickets: $75/ticket or $100/couple

RSVP Online or Return RSVP Form by April 11, 2016.

Special Offer on Tux Rental from Tip Top Tux

13th Annual Greater Nebraska Golf Scramble
The 13th Annual Greater Nebraska golf scramble is Friday, June 3, 2016 at the Prairie Club in Valentine, Nebraska. Please reserve your foursome soon. You also have the option of playing your own ball on Thursday, June 2nd or Saturday, June 4th. To make tee times or reserve a sleeping room, please contact Janeen Arens at 888-402-1101, option 0. When reserving your room, make sure you tell her it is for the NSBA tournament.  All proceeds go to the Volunteer Lawyers Program. Did you know that thousands of individuals contact the Volunteer Lawyer’s Project for assistance each year. For the majority of persons who seek assistance from VLP, it is a place of last resort. During the nine months of 2015, VLP assisted 2,227 persons with case placement or service at one of six self-help centers located in county courthouses. More than 90% of these persons were self-represented. VLP assisted 2,806 telephone callers by providing information and resources about access to the justice system or referral to legal service providers.   Download and complete the registration form to sign up for the tournament.

Resources

Nebraska Find-A-Lawyer: Reestablishing Our Statewide Lawyer Referral Service
The Nebraska State Bar Association is pleased to announce its new online resource for the public, the Nebraska Find-A-Lawyer website.  The new website, www.nefindalawyer.com, allows the NSBA to both provide attorneys with a low cost marketing opportunity and help connect members of the public with legal services. Members of the public can search for a licensed attorney by area of practice and/or area of the state.  The search functions also allow clients to identify lawyers who suit other needs, such as attorneys who are bilingual or who are licensed in multiple states.  To participate in Nebraska Find-A-Lawyer, complete and return the application form to the Nebraska State Bar Association, along with the appropriate registration fees, and the requisite certificate of insurance addressed to the NSBA or with a copy of the declaration page of your policy showing that you carry the requisite professional liability insurance. The rules adopted by the NSBA House of Delegates regarding the program are available here. To visit the website, go to: www.nefindalawyer.com