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January 2009 (Volume 5, Issue 1)
In this Issue:
· The 2009 Legislative Session
· Board of Governors Approves
Medical Insurance Broker
· FDIC Provides Unlimited Insurance
on IOLTA Account Balances
· Attorney Coaches Needed for
High School Mock Trial
· Free Casemaker Research
Offered Through the State Bar
· Bar News and Events
The 2009 Legislative Session
The 2009 session of the Georgia General Assembly convened on Jan. 12. The
Governor has announced his proposed budget and some legislative concepts
that affect Georgia’s civil justice system. As usual, there are legislative
storm clouds for the legal profession and for the administration of justice
on the horizon.
Your State Bar will remain engaged and vigilant in helping the
General Assembly distinguish between constitutionally mandated state
government responsibilities (including access to timely adjudication by
fair and impartial courts and indigent defense) and extra-constitutional
policy options. While the state’s revenue shortfall inevitably takes an
overdue pay adjustment for the state’s judicial officers off the table
until a future session, the Bar will be standing firm for adequate funding
to operate the judicial branch of Georgia government and to preserve the
Rule of Law in these difficult economic times. We also hope to make
progress on important reforms to Georgia’s evidence, trust and juvenile
codes and to work with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce to preserve
Georgia’s business court.
Your personal participation can make a huge difference in the
outcomes of the General Assembly’s deliberations. Please visit the website for a complete summary of Bar proposals, other
legislative items of interest, and links to addresses, phone numbers and
e-mail addresses for your legislators. And to join the State Bars’
Legislative Action Network, send an e-mail with your home address and
e-mail address to membership@gabar.org
or update your member profile on the Bar's website to include your home and
e-mail addresses. Visiting the website and joining the Legislative Action
Network will give you up-to-date information on all legislative issues and
provide you an easy way to communicate with your members of the General
Assembly.
Board of Governors Approves Medical Insurance Broker
At its Jan. 10 meeting, the Board of Governors concluded an exhaustive
investigative process and selected BPC Financial to become the State Bar’s
approved medical insurance broker. The selection of BPC marks the
culmination of a three-year effort by the Bar’s Member Benefits Committee
to identify a reputable medical insurance broker who is well-equipped to
help lawyers and their employees with medical insurance needs. The
Committee and the Board considered other well-qualified applicants for this
role, but ultimately came away impressed with BPCs 21-year track record as
the approved association medical insurance broker for the Florida Bar. The
Board’s action authorizes Bar counsel to proceed with contractual
negotiations to implement this relationship.
FDIC Provides Unlimited Deposit Insurance on IOLTA Account
Balances
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has decided to provide unlimited
insurance on balances in IOLTA accounts. Banks need to elect to receive the
coverage, so not all banks may decide to participate in the program. Most
banks, however, will be participating. For the current listing of banks not
participating, please download the list. As a result of the FDIC decision to provide unlimited
insurance protection on IOLTA accounts, lawyers can have total confidence
that their duty to protect client money is fulfilled regardless of the
amount of client money being held.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the
General Counsel at 404-527-8720 or Len Horton at the Georgia Bar Foundation
at 404-588-2239.
Attorney Coaches Needed for High School Mock Trial
The 2009 Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition season is under way.
There are several teams throughout the state that are still in need of
attorney coaches. The contact information for these teams may be found on
our website under
the Attorney Volunteer section. (Attorney coaches may receive CLE credit
for coaching a mock trial team.) Also, there is a need for judging panel
volunteers for the regional competitions (in cities statewide in early
February), for the State Finals competition (in Lawrenceville on March 14
and 15) and for the National Competition (in Atlanta on May 8 and 9).
Judging panel volunteer forms may be found online under the Attorney
Volunteer section, as well. Thank you for your support of the Georgia High
School Mock Trial Competition.
Free Casemaker Research Offered Through the State Bar
Learn how to effectively navigate the Georgia Casemaker library. Training
classes will be offered at the Bar Center on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 10
a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. The sessions are limited to the first 10
attendees. Download a registration form and e-mail to kimh@gabar.org by noon on the day before
the class is scheduled. If you have additional questions about Casemaker,
please e-mail kimberlyw@gabar.org
or call 404-526-8618.
Bar News and Events
Please visit the Bar News and Events section at www.gabar.org for information
about upcoming events, projects and news items that may be of interest or
assistance to you and your practice.
Please do not respond to this e-mail address. Send questions or
comments to sarahc@gabar.org.
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