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By Lacey Berkshire, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
IndyBar’s Bill Watch Report is an important tool, ensuring that legal professionals in Indianapolis stay informed and engaged with legislative developments that impact the practice of law. This past session, 1,250 different measures were filed by the General Assembly. The Public Advocacy Committee, made up of lawyer-lobbyists, reviewed every bill and resolution, tagging relevant bills to specific practice groups’ tracking lists. Through this work, IndyBar is able to offer a comprehensive tool for attorneys, law firms, and other legal professionals to track proposed bills, track their progress through the process, and understand the potential implications of these legislative changes on their work and their clients. This service facilitates active participation in the legislative process and empowers legal practitioners to make informed decisions.
One of the primary benefits of Bill Watch is that it keeps members updated on bills that affect the legal profession, both directly and indirectly. For example, bills related to land use, family law, criminal justice, and taxation can all have far-reaching effects on legal practices in the state. By tracking such legislation, attorneys can anticipate potential changes in the law and adjust their strategies accordingly. This proactive approach helps ensure that legal professionals remain compliant with new regulations and maintain their ability to provide high-quality legal services to their clients.
The service also provides an easy and organized way to monitor legislation in real-time. Given the volume of bills that are introduced in the legislature each year, keeping track of relevant legislation manually can be overwhelming for practitioners. IndyBar’s service streamlines this process by allowing members to sign up for notifications on bills that are pertinent to their practice areas. This reduces the risk of missing important legislative updates and ensures that attorneys can respond promptly to changes that affect their clients’ cases or legal strategies.
Bill Watch also enhances the capacity for advocacy. By staying informed about the status of bills, attorneys are better positioned to engage with lawmakers, express concerns, and advocate for positive change that benefits the legal profession and their clients. IndyBar often works to advocate on behalf of its members, and having accurate, up-to-date information on the legislative landscape is essential for effective lobbying and engagement with state legislators. Legal professionals can also use the service to share their expertise with lawmakers, contributing to the development of sound, well-informed policy decisions.
IndyBar’s Bill Watch Report is an indispensable resource for legal professionals in central Indiana. It provides a systematic and efficient way to track legislative developments, promotes proactive engagement with lawmakers, and helps attorneys navigate the ever-changing landscape of state laws. By offering members access to timely and relevant information, IndyBar ensures that the legal community remains well-informed and is able to advocate effectively on behalf of their clients and the profession at large. IndyBar’s Bill Watch Report is updated on Fridays during session and can be found at www.indybar.org/billwatch.•
Lacey Berkshire is Counsel at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP where she helps large corporations, small businesses, trade associations and other entities navigate governmental processes and procedures, and advises companies on public sector procurement and growth strategies. She’s the Chair of IndyBar’s Public Advocacy Committee and a member of the board of directors. She received her BA from DePauw University, Her MPA from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and her JD from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
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