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Now that my term as Bar president is drawing to a close, I see the seamless transition of Bar governance much like a track relay team. Each president has the privilege of carrying the
baton and running hard for one year and then handing it off to another who is already running at full speed side-by-side when the actual hand-off occurs. On a successful relay team, each
runner benefits from and then tries to increase the strides made by previous relay members. In the end, any win is a team victory achieved by all.
2002-2003 has been another lap in
a great effort by members of the Utah State Bar and our Bar staff. We have seen the Utah Supreme Court adopt a multi-jurisdictional practice rule - an effort begun three years ago by
Charles Brown and a hard-working task force. In just four months since adoption, approximately 25 attorneys have applied for admission under this rule. Effective this January the Court
adopted revisions to the Rules of Lawyer Discipline and Disability, which make clear that the Court's disciplinary jurisdiction includes both lawyers and persons engaged in the
unauthorized practice of law. Revisions to the rules were first considered under Jim Jenkins and were essentially completed during the administration of now-Magistrate Judge David Nuffer.
The Bar's Admission Committee this year has implemented a new component of the bar admissions examination, a multi-state performance test, and has improved exam administration procedures
and character and fitness screening - all efforts that began under the direction of Scott Daniels. Finally, the Bar Commission adopted policies and procedures dealing with the unfair
criticism of courts and judges - a necessary and long-awaited effort.
A primary focus of the Bar Commission this year has been law-related education. The Utah State Bar on Law Day
was presented with the Scott M. Matheson Award for its sponsorship of the Dialogue on Freedom program and the bicentennial celebration of the United Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison.
Dialogue on Freedom involved hundreds of lawyers together with judges, legislators and members of the executive branch. More than 40,000 students from over 130 junior highs and high
schools in the state participated in the classroom discussions. As part of both projects, the Bar was able to reach members of the public through the educational supplements that appeared
in newspapers and through the favorable coverage from the media. Law firms, county bars and sections of the Bar stepped forward with financial assistance to make this public outreach
possible. Our Bar staff is to be commended for their efforts in coordinating the logistics of these two monumental projects.
The Bar Commission's task force on the delivery of
legal services arranged for focus groups in various parts of the state to gather public input about the accessibility and affordability of legal services. The task force's report will be
issued shortly. The Bar this year has printed and distributed two brochures to help consumers of legal services. The first one is titled "Attorneys and Fees" and the other
"Non-Legal Resources for Low Income Utahns." The latter brochure is made available in local shelters, libraries and ethnic centers. The Office of Professional Conduct has
prepared and made available a document titled "Answers to Frequently Asked Questions." In addition, the Bar has nearly doubled this year its offering of group benefit services
and has tried to improve communications with members through monthly e-bulletins. For those of you not receiving email communications from the Bar, please send us your email address with
your next dues payment.
Perhaps the most far-reaching accomplishments this year have been achieved by "and Justice For All," supporting law firms and lawyers, charitable
foundations and concerned citizens who have helped fund the capital campaign for the Community Legal Center and its ongoing operations. The Community Legal Center houses four providers of
free legal services. These providers have co-located and work cooperatively in a model of efficiency. For the first time ever, the Utah Legislature has contributed $100,000 to both the
capital campaign and another $100,000 to family law cases for low-income clients. The George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation has given a $750,000 gift as well as a significant
matching challenge grant. The Utah Bar Foundation made a generous endowment of $500,000. Our Utah Congressional delegation secured an appropriation of $180,000. The capital campaign is
within $500,000 of reaching its four million dollar goal. Utah lawyers and law firms percentage-wise lead the nation in contributing to the annual operations of these legal providers.
The Bar Commission this year has worked to improve its relations with the State Legislature. The Bar sponsored a constitutional law class for new legislators. One might wonder with
the passage of House Bill 349 that drastically altered the definition of the practice of law whether progress has been made. However, the Bar has been actively studying the delivery of
legal services to make them more affordable and accessible and hopes that progress will be realized in cooperation with the Legislature.
As we look to the coming year, the delivery
of legal services and the scope of the practice of law will continue to be major issues. In May of 2004 we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Brown
v. Board of Education. A mini-convention for solo practitioners and small firm lawyers will be held in the fall. The Bar Commission is considering a major benefit to members entitled
Casemaker that would offer free computer legal research to members.
Most of the satisfaction from Bar service comes from the people with whom you associate. I thank my fellow
Commissioners for being such a dedicated and collegial group. Debra Moore, our next president, and other members of our executive committee, have worked tirelessly on many initiatives
that will bear fruit this coming year. As usual, our Executive Director, John Baldwin, has provided a steady hand and enlisted the services of a talented cast of Bar staff. Finally, I
want to acknowledge and thank those on a more personal level who have enabled me to run this lap - my partners at Ray, Quinney & Nebeker and my secretary, Cheryl Wagner. My wife and
fellow bar member, Lisa Ramsey Adams, has been a wonderful emissary for the Bar. She was in the trenches during Dialogue on Freedom, leading more classroom presentations than any other
lawyer, and has traveled to other states' bar meetings and ABA meetings to represent the Utah State Bar. Finally, thanks to all of you for giving me the opportunity to serve. Debra, ready
for the hand-off?
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