JAN. 25-FEB. 7, 2017
A whistleblower’s lawsuit against a state agency highlights the risks and rewards for plaintiffs. Young lawyers and law students are likeliest to experience mental health issues, but help is available. Retiring Indiana Supreme Court Justice Robert Rucker discusses his decades on the appellate bench.
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Former IDEM employee’s lawsuit highlights risks, rewards for whistleblowers
Suzanne Esserman claims the Indiana Department of Environmental Management fired her for questioning payments to private contractors, so she's filed a whistleblower lawsuit.
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Young attorneys, law students prone to mental health issues
Stresses from school and adapting to one's first legal job can lead to poor health and self-medicating, but confidential assistance is available.
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Retiring Rucker urges diversity on court
As the first African-American to serve on the state’s appellate bench, retiring Indiana Supreme Court Justice Robert Rucker said he doesn’t think of himself as a trailblazer, but he said it’s important the state’s high court look like the population it serves.
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Rush praises ‘Partners in Justice’ during address
In her third State of the Judiciary address as chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, Loretta Rush highlighted how partnerships in the state’s judicial system are serving to further three initiatives to the benefit of litigants and legal professionals alike.
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Report: number of black attorneys decreasing in large firms
The decline may be due to a lack of African-American partners at the firms and more black attorneys choosing to open their own practices.
Read More6 hate crime bills introduced at Statehouse
Once again, a handful of Indiana lawmakers and community organizations are trying to get hate-crime legislation through the Statehouse and onto the governor’s desk.
Read MoreOpen government advocates find victory in Groth decision
Not much was changed in terms of government transparency when the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected former Gov. Mike Pence’s argument that the Indiana executive branch’s responses to open record requests are exempt from judicial review. But, according to open government advocates, that lack of change is actually a good thing.
Read MoreFunding ‘critical’ to continue criminal code reform initiatives
As lawmakers hammer out another biennial budget, officials backing Indiana’s criminal justice reform say money is the key to keeping the effort moving forward.
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College savings plan benefits could expand
As 529 plans hit 20-year milestone in Indiana, new state and federal contribution incentives have been proposed.
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For small and solo firms, financial and succession planning takes commitment
At 41, Cumberland family law and estate attorney Jessica Lacy thinks a lot about her 10-month-old daughter’s future, but she’s also mindful of the years ahead for those who work with her.
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Making Rain: The secret to networking lies within your firm
Having an organized approach to becoming more visible internally and forming stronger relationships with your co-workers can be a very effective networking strategy.
Read MoreJLAP: Post-holiday blues: Yes, it really is ‘a thing’
You may or may not be aware of it, but at JLAP we are sensitive to the reality that a lot of people feel pretty crummy right after the holidays. We talk to lawyers a lot about how they are feeling and our observations are that despite all the advice on how to avoid feeling stressed during the holidays, more people struggle after the holidays than during the holidays.
Read MoreMaley: First things first: jurisdiction, jurisdiction, jurisdiction
As the year begins, it is appropriate to get back to the basics. Subject matter jurisdiction is the starting point in every case in federal court, scrutinized from the outset by the district court and then the 7th Circuit. Yet in opinion after opinion common errors in complaints or removal notices are noted by these courts, particularly in diversity jurisdiction cases.
Read MoreHammerle on… ‘Hidden Figures,’ ‘Sing’
Bob Hammerle says all women will enjoy “Hidden Figures.”
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Camm prosecutor reprimanded for book deal
The Indiana Supreme Court has imposed a public reprimand against a Floyd County prosecutor charged with violations of three Professional Conduct Rules after he failed to recuse himself from a case he planned to write a book about.
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IndyBar: Stay Up to Date on Legislation That Matters to You with Bill Watch Reports
Save time and find the legislation that matters to you and your practice with IndyBar Bill Watch reports, now available for the 2017 legislative session. Bill Watch is a service of the IndyBar Legislative Committee. Through the support of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, the IndyBar distributes an updated report during each week of the session to members indicating the progress and recent actions taken on the bills being monitored by the association.
Read MoreDTCI: Be careful what you say: Disciplinary cases hold lessons
Attorneys in Indiana are governed by the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct. One of those rules, Rule 8.4(g), provides that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to “[e]ngage in conduct, in a professional capacity, manifesting, by words or conduct, bias or prejudice based upon race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, or similar factors. Legitimate advocacy respecting the foregoing factors does not violate this subsection.”
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