In the News
A round-up of interesting articles that have come across our desks.
SAY HELLO TO THE ABA CENTER FOR BAR LEADERSHIP: The Division for Bar Services has changed its name to the ABA Center for Bar Leadership. While service is still in our DNA, we hope the name change better reflects our commitment to promote strategic leadership and governance in the bar community – among state, local, and special-focus bars, as well as throughout the ABA. How do we plan to do that? We’re evolving and expanding our suite of publications, services and programs to make them more accessible to bars of all sizes. We’re exploring new ways to collaborate and leverage our knowledge and collective resources. And, we’re building our research and consulting capacity to support innovation and transformative thinking. To learn more about our priorities, take a look at our strategic framework, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
NEW ABA FORMAL OPINION SETS GUIDELINES FOR OFFICE SHARING
Formal Opinion 507, released July 12 by the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, addresses the possible confidentiality when independently practicing attorneys share offices. Lawyers who have this office arrangement should undertake, “appropriate measures to comply with their ethical duties concerning the confidentiality of information, conflicts of interest, supervision of nonlawyers and communications about their services.” Consult the ABA Journal for additional information and analysis.
AMENDED BILL WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT FOR STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA
A California Assembly policy committee advanced legislation that maintains the State Bar of California’s base 2024 licensing fees for active lawyers at $390 and adds amendments that would require Senate approval of any future state bar executive director and general counsel. The bill’s author, Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, rejected the bar’s request for a fee increase and suggested the additional legislative oversight in response to the lingering fallout from the bar’s handling of complaints against attorney Tom Girardi. The Recorder (subscription required) has additional details of the pending bill.