AUG. 22-SEPT. 4, 2018
As law schools begin a new academic year, first-year students get formal introductions to the legal profession's obligations and responsibilities. Embattled Attorney General Curtis Hill is facing a backlash over his office's intervention in two voting lawsuits. The pursuit of an exoneration for a man who advocates say was wrongly convicted of murder is the latest in an extraordinary number of such cases out of Elkhart County.
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Law schools introduce 1Ls to profession’s obligations, responsibilities
As another academic year begins at Indiana’s law schools, 1L students are brought on the campuses a few days before classes begin to learn the practical things they’ll need to know. But the schools also are offering early lessons on ethics and professionalism.
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Hill enduring backlash in voting lawsuits
Even as the office of embattled Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is pleading for more time to challenge a ruling that found changes to the state's voter registration statute violated federal law, it's taking another election dispute to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Read MoreElkhart wrongful conviction case latest in county’s justice system
An effort to exonerate a man with limited mental capacity who was convicted of murder 13 years ago is the latest in a string of criminal cases that have put a spotlight on the extraordinary number of wrongful convictions in Elkhart County.
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Fighting fear, stigma of impairment due to mental health issues
Legal employers interested in helping colleagues impaired by issues such as substance abuse, depression or cognitive degeneration now have a versatile toolkit they can customize to meet the needs of their attorney and the organization.
Read MoreThree new judges prepare to join Marion County bench
For the first time, three new Marion County judges have been appointed through merit-based selection. Charnette Garner, Jennifer Harrison and Mark Jones were chosen by Gov. Eric Holcomb from among 40 applicants to replace retiring Indianapolis judges Becky Pierson-Treacy, Michael Keele and Thomas Carroll, respectively.
Read MoreWith applications rising, 1Ls bring strong credentials
The Law School Admissions Council is reporting an 8.1 percent increase in applications for the 2018-2019 academic year compared to the previous school year. Also, applicants with higher LSAT scores are returning, as evidenced by the 1L classes at Indiana’s law schools.
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After a decade, Notre Dame Law dean Newton prepares to step down
The law school dean who has written scholarly articles that have been cited in U.S. Supreme Court decisions and who claims “My Cousin Vinny” is her favorite legal movie will be returning to the classroom next summer.
Read MoreIndiana Court decisions – Aug. 2–15, 2018
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
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Labor laws revisited: Unions regroup after SCOTUS ruling
It was a decision that surprised few, but disappointed many. The United States Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME, 585 U.S. ___ (2018), delivered a victory to right-to-work advocates but a blow to labor unions, holding that public sector, non-union employees cannot be forced to pay union dues.
Read MoreRetaliation, discrimination, wage claims keep pace with hot economy
Claims of workers being harassed or denied opportunities because of their race, national origin, gender, age or sexual orientation are continuing despite diversity in the workforce and employers’ heightened need for labor amid low unemployment.
Read MoreBankovich and Pauli: Documentation tells the employer’s story
Preparing and maintaining good documentation is a practice that seems simple in theory. But it requires discipline and training for those creating documentation. It’s important to know that just as good documentation is helpful, bad documentation can be harmful.
Read MoreFinklea and Eckhart: Good faith under Wage Payment Statute still developing
Liquidated damages under Indiana law were initially mandatory, but amendments to the statute in 2015 created a good faith defense. However, three years out from the 2015 amendment, the concept of good faith remains relatively undefined by caselaw.
Read MoreWildeman and St. Pierre: Case gives employers bright-line rule on ADA unpaid leave
In an area of law focused on individualized inquiry, Indiana employers now have a bright-line rule thanks to a recent decision in our jurisdiction. In September 2017, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals handed down Severson v. Heartland Woodcraft, Inc., 872 F.3d 476.
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Quality of Life: Navigating life’s highway, patched potholes and all
If only we could have a heads-up before encountering uneven pavement in life — perhaps then we could be more resilient when hitting our personal rough patches.
Read MoreCotterill: Reinforcing corporate culture with personnel policies
Everyone’s talking about corporate culture and employee engagement these days because talent attraction and retention are so critical to the success of every company. So much goes into developing culture, and lawyers can have a positive impact on their company’s culture just by modernizing the old, boring personnel policy manual.
Read MoreLaw Student Outlook: Navigating the 2L summer job search
Along with a full course load, leadership positions on the executive boards of student organizations, moot court, journals with endless cite-checking assignments and other time-consuming obligations, one thing is common among top priorities for rising 2Ls: the job search.
Read MoreEye on the Profession: Does culture in the legal workplace matter?
One of the new tensions of moving a law firm or legal department toward more businesslike behavior is culture. Critics constantly ask, “Will our culture be ruined?” “Will our culture be changed?” “Should we even be concerned about the impact change may have on culture?” “Does culture matter?”
Read MoreHammerle on… “Christopher Robin,” “BlacKkKlansman”
Movie reviewer Bob Hammerle says “BlacKkKlansman” is the year’s best film to date, while “Christopher Robin” offers its own special special brand of magic.
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Disciplinary Actions — 8/22/2018
Read who’s been reprimanded and suspended in the most recent reporting period.
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IndyBar: A Golden Gala — Get Your Babysitter Ready
Busy lawyers always need a night to relax, and there’s no better place than Evening Under the Stars. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation, and the event will be extra special.
Read MoreIndyBar: How to Avoid the Summertime Blues … Next Year
If you’re anything like me, your summer as a family law attorney is usually fraught with way more work than usual. In addition to the school choice and family relocation cases, there are all the summer parenting time issues that you — and your clients — didn’t know were issues.
Read MoreIndyBar: Help Us Honor Excellence
This fall, IndyBar members will be honored for their contributions to our legal community. The Indianapolis legal community is fortunate to be home to many talented, dedicated professionals, and we need your help in identifying our colleagues who went above and beyond this past year!
Read MoreIndyBar: Save Your Spot for the Can’t-Miss Advanced Business Litigation Summit on September 12!
Calling all business litigators! We’re bringing together more than 15 of the brightest legal minds in business litigation for the top-notch Advanced Business Litigation Summit on September 12.
Read MoreDTCI: Compare and Contrast — Indiana’s Corporations Statute and LLC Statute
There are important distinctions between LLCs and corporations that should be analyzed when deciding between the two forms. These distinctions include legislative policy considerations, business formalities, tax implications, litigation, creditor rights and others.
Read MoreDTCI & ITLA Young Lawyers’ Punch Bowl Social
DTCI & ITLA Young Lawyers’ Punch Bowl Social was sponsored by Robson Forensics, August 2.
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