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Annual MCLE Compliance Hours Need to Be Completed Before June 30

All active status lawyers admitted to practice in Utah are now required to comply annually with the Mandatory CLE requirements. Hours need to be completed before June 30 and submitted by July 31. And remember, if your hours are complete they can be submitted now–no need to wait!
 
The annual CLE requirement is 12 hours of accredited CLE. The 12 hours of CLE must include a minimum of one hour of Ethics CLE and one hour of Professionalism and Civility CLE. 
 
At least six hours must be Verified CLE, which may include any combination of In-person CLE, Remote Group CLE, or Verified E-CLE.  The remaining six hours of CLE may include Elective CLE or Verified CLE.  
 
Supreme Court Amends Rules for MCLE
 
The Utah Supreme Court has adopted the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) rule amendments below effective May 1, 2023. 
 
The amendments update terminology, replacing “Live CLE” with “Verified CLE” and “Self-Study CLE” with “Elective CLE.”  Rule 14-404 clarifies issues around the New Lawyer Training Program.
 
And Rule 14-419 offers a new avenue for Bar members to obtain “Elective CLE” credit through approved pro bono work. 
 
For a copy of the new MCLE rules, please visit https://www.mcleutah.org. For questions, please email staff@mcleutah.org, or call 801-531-9077.

Bar Issues Ethics Guidance on ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence

As ChatGPT takes the world by storm, lawyers have started to experiment with using it (and other artificial intelligence) in their practices. Read about some of the ethics concerns in this piece by Bar Ethics Counsel Beth Kennedy. 

https://www.utahbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ChatGPT-article.pdf

Nominees Announced for Fifth District Judicial Bench

The Fifth District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Fifth District Court. This position results from the retirement of Judge G. Michael Westfall effective Aug. 31, 2023.

The nominees for the vacancy are: Ryan Christiansen, Attorney/Section Director, Utah Attorney General’s Office; Von Christiansen, County Attorney, Beaver County; Eric Gentry, Deputy County Attorney, Washington County Attorney’s Office; Susan Hunt, Instructor of the Practice, Utah Tech University; Nicholas Mills, City Attorney, Kaysville City.

Written comments can be submitted to the Fifth District Judicial Nominating Commission at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon on June 9, 2023.

Registration Now Open for Bar Virtual Summer Convention and Annual Meeting

The Bar will hold its 2023 Summer Convention and Annual Meeting  June 29 at the Utah Law and Justice Center. We will swear in new officers, conduct business of the Bar, and highlight a summer of virtual CLE courses. Awards will be given for Judge of the Year, Lawyer of the Year, Section of the Year and Committee of the Year. After the meeting, there will be food trucks, music from the band DeNovo, and more! Register now!

Bar Election Results Announced for Commissioners and President-elect

Returns from the Utah State Bar elections are in. Elections were held April 1-15 for president-elect and three commissioners in the Third Division.

In a retention election, Cara Tangaro was confirmed as the Bar’s President-elect. In the First Division, J. Brett Chambers ran unopposed and was declared elected. In the Third Division, Kim Cordova, Mark Morris and John Rees were elected to serve three-year terms. 

Thanks to all the candidates and all who voted in this year’s elections.

Law Day Celebration Promotes Civics, Civility and Collaboration, Presents Awards

Thanks to all those who helped make Law Day 2023 such a success! It was great to honor members of the Salt Lake Peer Court and present the Pro Bono Publico Awards. Congratulations to Alex VanDiver for Pro Bono Young Lawyer of the Year, Greenberg Traurig for Law Firm of the Year, and BYU’s Public Interest Law Foundation for Law School Group. Destiny Garcia was awarded the Young Lawyer Division Liberty Bell Award, and Ezzy Khaosanga is Young Lawyer of the Year. 

Upcoming Events

Utah State Bar Calendar

Latest Bar News

Stay up to date on what's happening with the bar and its members
Bar Issues Ethics Guidance on ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence
May 31, 2023
As ChatGPT takes the world by storm, lawyers have started to experiment with using it (and other artificial intelligence) in their practices. Read about some...
Bar Admits 131 Attorneys, Two LPPs at Admissions Ceremony
May 17, 2023
The Utah State Bar welcomed 131 attorneys and two LPPs to its ranks in an admissions ceremony at the Utah State Capitol. Speakers included Justice...
Bar Announces 2023 Annual Meeting
April 28, 2023
The Bar will hold its 2023 Annual Meeting June 29 at the Utah Law and Justice Center. We will swear in new officers, conduct business...
Bar Election Results Announced
April 19, 2023
Returns from the Utah State Bar elections are in. Elections were held April 1-15 for president-elect and three commissioners in the Third Division. In a...
Pro Hac Vice Goes On Line
March 31, 2023
We are excited to announce that pro hac vice is now online! Attorneys may access the pro hac vice portal here in the Admissions section of the...
Bar Issues Ethical Guidance on Protecting Client Accounts
March 24, 2023
The recent failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has brought renewed attention to the ethical implications of protecting client property, namely trust accounts, from improper...
May eBulletin: Licensing Begins June 5; Summer Awards Nomination Deadline May 26
March 1, 2023
In this Edition Licensing Begins June 5; Join us for Bar Annual Meeting June 29
Tava and Unmind Well-Being Services Now Available for Utah State Bar Members
February 1, 2023
The Utah State Bar’s new well-being services, Tava and Unmind, are now available to Bar members and their dependents.  Tava is a free, confidential mental...
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