Please indicate the committees on which you wish to serve for the July 2005-June 2006 year. To join a committee, please place an X by each of your choices. If you are currently a member of a committee, you will be automatically renewed for that committee unless we are notified of your desire to be removed. (Note that the Ethics Committee is limited to 85 people.) Please be sure to list your e-mail address if you have one.

CBA COMMITTEES

ATTORNEY ADMISSION AND LAW SCHOOL (Previously Legal Education and Admissions)

Promotes interaction between the bar and the law schools. Reviews standards for admission to practice and makes recommendations to the Board of Law Examiner and the Supreme Court.

ATTORNEY REGULATION POLICY

The committee meets once a month to discuss and comment on attorney regulation rules and regulations. It discusses attorney regulation policy and will, from time to time, make recommendations regarding rules and procedures to the Board of Governors so that the Board may, in turn, report recommendations to the Colorado Supreme Court Attorney Regulation Advisory Committee. The Committee educates the bar about the attorney regulation process, and operates a low/fee pro bono respondent's counsel subcommittee and attorney regulation telephone answer hot-line programs.

AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL SERVICES

Works for the expansion of legal services for all people regardless of their ability to pay; encourages lawyers to provide pro bono services; develops proposals to improve systems of low-cost legal services and to assist local bar associations with public service programs.

AWARDS

Selects the recipient of the CBA Award of Merit "in recognition of outstanding and distinctive service to the CBA"; selects six deceased lawyers for inclusion in the "Six of the Greatest" feature in the July issue of The Colorado Lawyer and supervises the publication of the profiles of these lawyers; selects the recipient of the "Sue Burch Legislative Award" to recognize outstanding service to the CBA by a member in legislation and related activities.

BILL OF RIGHTS

Studies matters, including pending legislation, related to the Bill of Rights; educates the public concerning the Bill of Rights, and endeavors to protect the rights of all persons under the Bill of Rights.

DIVERSITY IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION

This joint committee of the CBA/DBA is working on the following projects: creating a central registry for job opportunities on the CBA Homepage for firms and entities that are interested in equal employment opportunities; the Pledge to Summer Minority Clerkship Program; the minority attorney/summer clerk reception; and the continuation of the Attorney Minority Mentor Program sponsored by the Specialty Bar Associations in concert with the University of Colorado School of Law and The University of Denver College of Law on an annual basis.

ETHICS

(Limited to 85 members) Prepares letter opinions in response to lawyer inquiries regarding application of the Rules of Professional Conduct to the lawyer's own proposed actions; prepares abstracts of letter opinions for publication in The Colorado Lawyer; publishes formal opinions on ethics issues of widespread concern; provides ethical guidance to attorneys by telephone; reviews and makes recommendations regarding changes in Rules of Professional Conduct; provides speakers, educational programs and consultations on legal ethics to state and local bar associations, sections and committees.

INTERPROFESSIONAL

A joint CBA/DBA committee. A committee consisting of attorneys and other professionals that seeks to promote better understanding among the professions; prepares statements of principles governing interprofessional relations; and assists in resolving disputes between professionals.

LAWYERS PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY

Conducts educational programs and provides educational resources aimed at improving the quality of legal practice and avoiding legal malpractice claims. Publishes materials pertaining to risk management and legal malpractice prevention; examines the market for professional liability insurance as required and recommends to the Colorado Bar Association members an insurance program to cover professional malpractice claim or suits.

LEGAL FEE ARBITRATION

Seeks to identify and resolve through arbitration disputes between attorneys and their clients concerning legal fees.

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ONLINE FORUM

This committee meets a few times a year to give input to the Bar Association on various membership issues as well as membership benefits and services. This committee will meet primarily by e-mail and online communications.

PARALEGAL

To provide support and assistance to the legal community in providing quality legal services to the community at large. To support the continuing education and effective utilization of paralegals. To monitor issues relevant to the legal and paralegal professions. To cooperate with other community, legal and paralegal organizations to achieve common goals in providing quality legal services to the community. To develop a plan for long-term growth of the profession and its use by the legal community and community at large. To provide leadership to the profession by maintaining the highest ethical standards. To promote professional recognition of paralegals.

PROFESSIONALISM

This committee deals with issues such as Advertising; Continuing Legal Education; Civil Rules and Discovery Abuses; Conciliation Panels; Community Services; Fees and Billing Practices; Law School/Legal Education; Legal System Dynamics.

PUBLIC LEGAL EDUCATION

The committee strives to facilitate education of the public about the legal system. This is accomplished through ongoing programs such as the high school mock trial competition, public speaking on legal topics, developing model legal information clinics for pro se litigants (for use by local bar associations) and publishing legal resource materials for the public.

TRANSITIONS

This committee provides programs for CBA members who are, or may be, planning a transition from full time practice of law. The transition may be to retirement or to another career. Our programs address both emotional and practical issues involved in making a transition--from overcoming inertia, to confronting the fear of losing one's "identity", to financial planning to healthcare and other issues. We have about 5 programs per year, and we also have a small support group for members who want to explore issues on a more relaxed and personal level.