Thursday, April 18, 2024

State Bar of Nevada eNews

Applications Available

for Vacancy in Eighth Judicial District Court

Governor Joe Lombardo announced the vacancy for the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada, Department 14. Department 14 will become available due to the retirement of the Honorable Adriana Escobar in May.

Applications for Department 14 are due May 14, 2024. Applicants interested in applying must contact Margarita Bautista at mbautista@nvcourts.nv.gov to receive the required application materials.

To be eligible to apply for a seat on the Eighth Judicial District Court bench, applicants must be Nevada attorney in good standing with 10 years of legal experience, two years of Nevada legal practice and residency, and be at least 25 years old.

Application instructions can be found on the court's website.

The state bar is committed to your health and well-being. If you are dealing with a difficult life situation, stress, or anxiety, and would like to speak with a licensed professional, you are entitled to three free therapy sessions through the Nevada Lawyer Assistance Program. Call 1-866-828-0022 to speak with a fellow attorney and receive the names of approved therapists in your area. Both the call to NLAP and subsequent therapy sessions are confidential. 

Commission on Judicial Selection Looks to Fill Vacancy

The Commission on Judicial Selection invites applications from Nevada lawyers to fill the following position:

• Temporary member from Clark County.

The temporary member will serve for the duration necessary to fill a vacancy in the Eighth Judicial District Court.  

Pursuant to Article 6, Section 20, of the Constitution of the State of Nevada, the appointment of a temporary member by the state bar to serve for the purpose of filling this vacancy is necessary. Subsection 4(c) calls for the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Nevada to appoint a temporary member of the Commission on Judicial Selection. The appointee must be a Nevada licensee and reside in the judicial district in which the vacancy occurs (Clark County).

Please submit your application no later than Thursday, May 2, 2024.

Eighth Judicial District Court Issues Reassignment Orders

On April 17, 2024, the Eighth Judicial District Court issued Administrative Order (AO) 24-01 regarding case and hearing master assignments in that court.

According to the order:

• All cases currently assigned to Department 27 shall be reassigned to Department 14, and all cases currently assigned to Department 14, except those retained for court efficiency, shall be reassigned to Department 27. This change becomes effective April 22, 2024.
• Holly Roys shall be assigned to hearing Civil Commitment Court, MAT Re-Entry Court, Assisted Outpatient Treatment Court, and Co-Occurring Disorders Court. This change became effective April 1, 2024.
• Claudia Romney shall be assigned to hearing Domestic Violence Temporary Protection Order Court. This change became effective April 1, 2024.

Wanted: AI Advisory Group Members

The State Bar of Nevada is building a diverse and knowledgeable team to help its licensees harness the power of AI in legal practice. The state bar is seeking volunteers to serve on an AI Advisory Group to evaluate AI products and services for the legal profession.

The purpose of the AI Advisory Group will be to:

• Research and evaluate the current landscape of AI products and services available to lawyers, including their features, benefits, and limitations.
• Test and assess these AI tools to determine their practical applications and value for legal practice.
• Provide recommendations to the state bar on the most promising and impactful AI solutions for lawyers.

The advisory group will play a critical role in helping Nevada attorneys navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape and identify tools that can improve legal workflows, enhance client service, and drive practice efficiency. Lawyers with experience in legal technology, innovation, and/or AI are encouraged to apply.

The time commitment will be approximately five to 10 hours per month, including regular virtual meetings and hands-on product testing. Participants will have the opportunity to shape the bar's AI strategy and provide valuable guidance to their fellow lawyers.

If you are interested in serving on the AI Advisory Group, please contact Lisa McGrane at lisam@nvbar.org by May 3, 2024, with a brief description of your experience using AI technology platforms to date and your vision on the future of AI in legal practice. 

Earn CLE Credit for Pro Bono Through Section Challenge

Did you know you can earn one CLE credit for every three pro bono hours of service you provide? Attorneys can earn up to four CLE credits per year this way.

You can leverage that opportunity and help your section earn bragging rights by volunteering during the Section Pro Bono Challenge running now through May 31.

Participating in the challenge and earning points is easy as 1, 2, 3:

• Donate online and earn 1 point for every $500 in section donations; 100 percent goes to legal aid. No CLE credit.
• Volunteer online and earn 2 points for every Ask-A-Lawyer or Lawyer in the Library; two “Ask” events can often earn one CLE credit.
• Volunteer online and earn 3 points for every case taken; one case can often earn one CLE credit.

Learn more about the challenge and how to earn points for recognition, including the top volunteer from each of the top 10 sections joining a thank you luncheon with the Nevada Supreme Court and Nevada Court of Appeals. See the leaderboard.

State Bar Committees Seek Volunteers for Multiple Openings

The State Bar of Nevada is looking for qualified individuals to fill open positions on several volunteer boards.

The Board of Bar Examiners has two openings. The 14-member board writes and grades the bar examination questions, and it oversees the administration of the two bar examinations, the committees related to the bar application, and the admission process. Members have three-year terms that are often extended as there are no term limits. The application period closes May 16.

The Character and Fitness Committee has four openings – three Southern Nevada Panel seats and one Northern Nevada Panel seat. The committee conducts investigations and holds informal and formal hearings with respect to bar applicants’ character and fitness. The committee reviews those applicants who are recommended to the committee by the admissions director. The application period closes May 16.

The Clients’ Security Fund (CSF) Committee has two open attorney positions. The committee is responsible for making financial resources available to reimburse victims of attorney theft. Attorney committee members investigate 10 to 15 claims filed with the CSF each year. All committee members analyze the claims to determine if attorney fees were earned and/or if attorney theft took place, evaluate the ongoing financial condition of the CSF, and approve or deny reimbursement requests in accordance with these factors. The application period closes May 16.

The Lawyer Advertising Advisory Committee has one open position. The committee meets once per month to review attorney advertisements submitted pursuant to bar regulations and renders advance advisory opinions upon request. Because much of the review and communication will be online, the best candidates should be proficient with computers, e-mail, and internet use. Committee members are appointed by the Board of Governors to two-year terms. The application period closes May 16.

The Northern Nevada Disciplinary board is seeking volunteer attorneys and lay members to fill open positions. The disciplinary boards are responsible for conducting screenings and hearings for the Office of Bar Counsel. Board members are appointed to panels to hear the presentation of cases where there are allegations of misconduct. The application period closes May 31.

Bar Exam Graders are needed for upcoming exams. Serving as a bar exam grader is a great way to gain experience if someone is interested in becoming a member of the Board of Bar Examiners. A grader must be an active member of the state bar, have been practicing law for at least five years, and have exceptional academic credentials. Apply online.

Liberty Bell Award Winners to be Honored April 26

The Clark County Law Foundation announced that John H. Mowbray, Athar Haseebullah, and Marisa Rodriguez are the recipients of its 2024 Liberty Bell Award.

The winners will be honored at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 26. The event will be held at Historic Fifth Street School, Centennial Plaza, located at 401 S. 4^th St., Las Vegas, Nevada.

Since 1983, the Liberty Bell award has been given to individuals who uphold the rule of law, contribute to good government within the community, stimulate a sense of civic responsibility, and encourage respect for the law in the courts.

State Offers Opportunity to Explore Career in Indigent Defense 

The Nevada Department of Indigent Defense Services has developed a new program to encourage law students and recent graduates to explore and commit to careers in indigent defense. 

The program is called LASSO (Law Student Supervision Operation) and it is designed to provide real-world and hands-on public defense experience to students, under the mentorship of experienced public defense attorneys.

Under the program, the department will coordinate with law schools to place first- and second-year law students in summer training programs with experienced public defenders. LASSO will also offer incentives to recent graduates to accept employment in rural public defender offices, including stipends to cover relocation and study materials for the Nevada Bar Exam.

LASSO will provide funding to law students as follows: $6,500 for 1Ls and $10,500 for 2Ls to take a summer internship in a rural public defender office. Also, a training stipend of $15,500 is paid for new graduates who take employment in a rural public defender office; plus the new graduates could obtain a $6,500 stipend to purchase training materials for the state bar exam.

If you are a student interested in participating in LASSO, please fill out the form here. 

If you are an office interested in offering LASSO opportunities, please fill out the form here, and return to didscontact@dids.nv.gov.

State Bar of Nevada

702.382.2200

publications@nvbar.org

www.nvbar.org

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