IBA Frontlines -5/22/13

Seminar Offered to Assist with Odyssey ConversionThe Marion County Circuit and Superior Courts and the Marion County Clerk’s Office have now moved to the state-wide court case management system, Odyssey. Odyssey is a web-based system that allows for greater communication and sharing of data among counties utilizing this system. It replaces JUSTIS, Marion County’s current mainframe system, which has been in use since 1988. To assist with the conversion, the IndyBar will offer “Odyssey in Marion County: The Basics for Practitioners,” on Tuesday, June 11 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. To learn more and register for this program, visit the Events Calendar at www.indybar.org.

Volunteers Needed for Naturalization Ceremonies

Courtroom connotations: stress, contention and opposition. Let the IndyBar change that for you-participate in a warm, wonderful Naturalization Ceremony. Twice a month, the IndyBar sends representatives to the Naturalization Ceremonies to give welcoming words to the new citizens. Ceremonies are held in the Federal Courthouse, last about an hour and are held on Thursday mornings. For more information and to volunteer, contact Caren Chopp at [email protected].

IndyBar Board Approves Section Name Change

The IndyBar Board of Directors unanimously approved the rebranding of the IndyBar Health Care Section as the Health Care and Life Sciences Section at its May 1, 2013, meeting. This rebranding will allow the section to expand its focus to include issues complementary to its traditional focus on health care that are also of interest to local life sciences practitioners. To join the Health Care and Life Sciences Section, simply visit your member profile at www.indybar.org and add the group to your IndyBar membership.

Indianapolis Bar Foundation Seeking Annual Fund Director

Founded in 1968, the Indianapolis Bar Foundation’s mission to advance justice and lead positive change in our city through philanthropy, education and service has inspired thousands of hours of volunteer service and funded more than 20 programs each year. We now seek an Annual Fund Director to help us give greater aid to our neighbors by growing our annual fund campaign which has typically raised $250,000 to $300,000.  Under administrative direction of the Executive Director, this individual will develop, plan and implement an annual fund development program for the Indianapolis Bar Foundation (IBF) in line with its strategic goals; identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors; develop fundraising strategies; serve as liaison to all committees; and support budget, projects, goals, and strategic planning. To view the full job description and requirements, visit www.indybar.org.

Qualified individuals interested in applying for this position may submit a resume and cover letter to Julie Armstrong at 135 N. Pennsylvania, Suite 1500, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or [email protected]. Please, no phone calls.

Transcription Services Needed

A local women’s organization is seeking an individual to perform part-time, paid transcription services of interviews for an oral history project headed by the Hon. Sarah Evans Barker. For more information, please contact Susan Haber at [email protected].

Thank You, Legal Line Volunteers!

Thank you to the following Kightlinger & Gray attorneys for volunteering their time to assist 74 callers at the IndyBar’s Legal Line program on Tuesday, May 14: Marie Alexander, Lou Britton, Matt Bruno, Amanda Bushemi, Ashley Butz, James Cohee, Nick Dugan, Billy Horvath, Aubrey Noltemeyer, and Matt Phillips. Legal Line, a free monthly call-in service provided to Indy-area residents in need of legal advice, is made possible by the generous support of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation.

Free CLE Available to Hospice Program Volunteers

The IndyBar Pro Bono Standing Committee will host “End of Life Care and Probate 101” on Wednesday, June 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. This program, which is designed to help lawyers who are willing to advise in-facility hospice patients with end of life legal issues on a pro bono basis, will be offered at no cost for IndyBar members who are current Hospice Program Volunteers or who volunteer to participate in the program. All other individuals can attend the seminar for $30 for IndyBar members and $60 for non-members. The seminar includes 2.0 General CLE credits, including 1.0 Ethics.

Volunteers in the IndyBar Hospice Program assist hospice patients through consultations and offering limited representation, primarily with end of life concerns and forms. Volunteer pairs address all hospital referrals made during their assigned calendar week, typically three hours of service, and are assigned two to four weeks per year. Training is available via DVD.

Attorney volunteers can comfort hospice patients in so many ways with just a little bit of time. Answering questions, executing powers of attorney or simple wills, or transferring a car title can relieve the mental anguish from which a patient suffers. Some attorneys learn that within hours of their consultation, a patient passes with their affairs in order. With a few phone calls, one attorney volunteer helped unravel a 20-year-old matter which was preventing a cancer patient from receiving Medicaid assistance for chemo and pain meds.

Visit www.indybar.org to register for the seminar and contact Caren Chopp at [email protected] to volunteer for the Hospice Program.•