DEC. 27, 2017-JAN. 9, 2018
2017's top legal news was dominated by the closure of one law school and the uncertain fate of another, along with big changes in federal and state courts. Looking into 2018, law firms will focus on core strengths and retaining talent, a leading consulting firm predicts. And at Indiana Legal Services, a new project is helping other nonprofits get the legal assist they need to succeed in serving indigent clients.
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Top 10 legal stories of 2017 focus on law schools, court changes
The closing of 4-year-old Indiana Tech Law School in Fort Wayne, and the revelation that 138-year-old Valparaiso University Law School faced an uncertain future, made law school troubles the top legal news story of 2017, as determined by the staff of Indiana Lawyer. Changes on the federal and state bench also were among the year’s top stories.
Read MoreIn 2017, IL readers most followed these links
Breaking news and online updates of major legal stories were the most-read articles on TheIndianaLawyer.com in 2017, according to an analysis of pageviews. Here are the IL’s Top 20 most-read online stories of the past year.
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New ILS project assists nonprofits serving the indigent
A new initiative launched at Indiana Legal Services is aimed at helping nonprofits with their legal needs. The Community Development Legal Project, which officially started in September, is designed to provide services to 501(c)(3) organizations that stretch their dollars to serve the indigent population and have little or no resources to spend on hiring attorneys to draft agreements, file for tax-exempt status, or handle other legal issues.
Read MoreAnother round: Alcohol issues brewing again at Statehouse
Expanding retail sales of cold beer beyond liquor stores and permitting Sunday sales of alcohol are among the issues that will once again be on tap for lawmakers in the 2018 session of the Indiana General Assembly.
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Law firm outlook for 2018 focuses on strengths, retaining talent
Major Lindsey & Africa, a recruitment and consulting firm for the legal industry, has released its 2018 Industry Outlook report outlining what law firms can expect in the new year. In short, law firms will remain under increasing pressure to keep costs low and productivity high, so firms are expected to focus on core strengths and retaining key personnel.
Read MoreRethinking bail: Pretrial release and apps among trends here and nationwide
The drumbeat to reexamine the practice of cash bail in Indiana and nationally has grown louder in recent years as jails groan under the weight of overpopulation. A court pilot program in Indiana assesses risk while a private initiative in New York uses computing power to raise money to pay bail for nonviolent arrestees.
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Ex-judge candidate teaches power of voting, is among 6 honored
An Elkhart lawyer who teaches schoolchildren the value of voting is among six attorneys recognized by the Indiana Bar Foundation for their volunteer efforts.
Read MoreProfiles from 2017 followed lawyers’ personal, professional endeavors
Lawyers are an eclectic bunch who never seem to run out of stories to tell. Here is a look back at some of the memorable stories of Indiana attorneys and what they were up to — on and off the clock — from these pages in 2017.
Read MoreIndiana Court Decisions – Dec. 6-18, 2017
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the latest reporting period.
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Eye on the Profession: Ready for 2018? Some ‘hot’ tips to get you started
For 29 years, Bob Denney of Robert Denney Associates, Inc., has published his annual “What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Legal Profession.” Firm leaders, industry consultants and legal junkies like me have looked forward to Bob’s compilation of industry news. Alas, unless he changes his mind, the 2017 bulletin will be Bob’s last.
Read MoreTech Untangled: Periscope live streaming augments presidential tweets
In theory, Periscope could be useful to broadcast important societal interactions such as civil unrest events, or disaster relief response efforts. In practice, there are probably better social media avenues for such things.
Read MoreNeutral Corner: What they said about mediation in 2017
Here is a quick look back at some interesting observations about mediation from journals and law review articles in 2017.
Read MoreHammerle on … “Darkest Hour,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
Bob Hammerle says Gary Oldman delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour,” while “The Last Jedi” is captivating as the latest “Star Wars” feature.
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IndyBar: Meet the 2018 Indianapolis Bar Foundation Board of Directors
Rebecca W. Geyer leads the Indianapolis Bar Foundation as president in 2017. Find out who's who on the foundation's board of directors.
Read MoreDTCI: Lessons from 1405 French novel timely, relevant for litigators
The ancient novel “The Book of the City of Ladies” serves as a reminder that in this and other unexpected places one can learn (or relearn) tactics to hone our craft. More broadly, it is reminder that today — as in fifteenth century France — there remains a need for effective advocates.
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