JAN. 10-23, 2018
On a trip to Saudi Arabia for the wedding of a former exchange student they hosted, Indianapolis attorneys Monica Foster and Bob Hammerle found it’s a different world, yet many things are the same, including cross-cultural family ties. The departure of Mary Beth Bonaventura as director of the Indiana Department of Child Services surprised several family law attorneys and social service providers. The former juvenile judge was a strong advocate for children and brought valuable experience to her tenure, but DCS continues to struggle against internal and external challenges. As sexual harassment allegations rise, experts say the law provides answers for when conduct crosses the line from objectionable to actionable, though sometimes it's hard to prove.
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Indy attorneys see cultural shifts, U.S. similarities on Saudi Arabia trip
It’s a different world, yet many things are the same, including cross-cultural family ties. Those are the impression of Indianapolis attorneys Monica Foster and Bob Hammerle after a two-week visit to Saudi Arabia last month to witness the wedding of their former foreign exchange student, Abdulazziz al Ayed.
Read MoreProblems persist as director quits DCS
The departure of Mary Beth Bonaventura as director of the Indiana Department of Child Services surprised several family law attorneys and social service providers. Uniformly, they agreed the former Lake County juvenile judge was a strong advocate for children and brought valuable experience to her tenure. Still, the department has struggled against internal and external challenges.
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Church of Cannabis seeks sanctuary in RFRA; Hill asks court to rule for state
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has asked a court to rule in the state’s favor against what he calls “a small group of marijuana enthusiasts operating in Indianapolis under the name ‘First Church of Cannabis.’” An attorney for the church said he was thrilled at Hill’s response to its lawsuit on religious freedom grounds.
Read MoreRFRA’s unintended consequences
Indiana Senate Bill 101, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, was signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence on March 26, 2015. An amendment was then signed the following month. Since, RFRA has been cited in a few unexpected ways.
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Law offers varied answers to sexual harassment questions
Employment law and sexual harassment attorneys say the law provides answers for when conduct crosses the line from objectionable to actionable, though sometimes those answers can be hard to prove. That’s why they say it’s important from both an employer and employee perspective to take steps to protect yourself from ending up in a compromising situation.
Read More2018 outlook: Litigation spending up, law firm rosters down
In a legal market that continues to ask firms to do more with less, there is a bright spot expected to bring about a possible business increase in 2018: litigation.
Read MoreLegal education still struggles to increase student diversity
The lack of racial and ethnic diversity continues to frustrate law schools and the entire legal profession. Within Indiana, the students at the four law schools remain primarily white and male, according to the American Bar Association’s 2017 Standard 509 reports.
Read MoreRecent $35M verdict is among largest Indiana jury personal injury awards
Multi-million-dollar verdicts in personal injury cases are rare in Indiana, but they signify a jury’s determination to provide quality of life for the injured, practitioners say.
Read MoreIndiana Court Decisions — Dec. 19, 2017-Jan. 3, 2018
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the latest reporting period.
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Sign here: Millennials increasingly seek prenups to protect their assets
While they are often portrayed as monetary safeguards for the rich and famous, prenuptial agreements have been appealing to a different demographic in recent years: millennials. In fact, about 51 percent of family law attorneys within the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers said they have noticed an increase in the number of young couples seeking premarital agreements.
Read MoreIndiana eighth to offer state employees parental leave
Gov. Eric Holcomb last month signed an executive order establishing paid parental leave for state employees, effective Jan. 1. Labor and employment attorneys say many private organizations, including law firms, also are offering paid leave to new parents.
Read MoreKeefer: Resolve in new year to remember the family in family law
As attorneys, we can only counsel our clients, and we cannot always control their actions. But hopefully, we can help them understand how their actions may impact their children, even indirectly. Parents need to be careful not to place their children in the middle — and not only with words, but by their actions.
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Editor’s Perspective: Warming thoughts of spring, Leadership in Law
Spring is closer than it seems, and so is The Indiana Lawyer’s Leadership in Law ceremony recognizing 15 Distinguished Barristers and 15 Up and Coming Lawyers, as well as those who’ve earned these honors in years past. The awards begin with your nominations, due Jan. 17.
Read MoreJones: Stresses of bar exam sometimes can go beyond the test itself
“It’s only minimal competence.” This well-meaning phrase is meant to reassure bar examinees that, though the exam is difficult, you only need to pass it, not receive a high score. Despite the minimal competence standard, bar examinees still stress about the exam. As a recent examinee, I want to share how three significant changes surrounding the bar exam in the past 20 years have contributed to examinee stress.
Read MoreLiving Fit: Did you drop the ball after the ball dropped?
Despite your effort to keep new year’s resolutions, you will almost certainly notice your descent back into your old habits. Resolutions are difficult to keep with a busy work life, dark and gloomy days that bring you down, and colder-than-normal weather. But with these tips, you can do it, no matter what goals you choose.
Read MoreSuccession Planning: What is succession planning for solo and small law firms?
Law practice succession planning is the development and implementation of a plan to protect a law practice’s clients and continue its legal legacy. In some ways, it is coming to terms with the fact that our legal careers are finite.
Read MoreMental Fitness: Connection a constant in decision to disclose
I know that my desire to write and reach others who suffer is difficult for some people to understand. Many people view mental illness as a personal matter that should be kept private. I see nothing wrong with keeping it private. I do not think that anyone with a mental health diagnosis should feel pressured to disclose. Dealing with the disease in this way is just part of who I am. It was something that I tried, and it has worked for me.
Read MoreHammerle on … “Coco,” Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” “The Greatest Showman,” “All the Money in the World,” “Downsizing”
Film reviewer Bob Hammerle finds something to like — and not — in five recent movies.
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IndyBar: Meet the President
Who’s the new IndyBar president? We sat down with James Bell of Paganelli Law Group to give you an exclusive peek inside the mind of the IndyBar’s newest front man! Check it out below and keep up with him on Twitter at @indybarpres. We promise you’ll be entertained!
Read MoreIndyBar: Bill Watch Reports — Keep up with Legislation that Matters to You
How can you keep up with pending legislation that’s important to you and your practice? The IndyBar Legislative Committee, chaired this year by Lawren Mills of Ice Miller LLP, will provide weekly Bill Watch reports throughout the session, which highlight progress and recent actions taken on bills being monitored by the association.
Read MoreIndyBar: Making and Maintaining New Year’s Resolutions
It’s a new year and people everywhere are making resolutions. Whether you’re making your first resolution, maintaining one from last year, or trying an old resolution again, there are several steps to set yourself on the path to success.
Read MoreIndyBar: Find Your Next Great Employee at the Diversity Job Fair
Intentionality in seeking career opportunities helps propel progress. The legal profession is no exception. We strive to have a legal workforce that is representative of the clients and communities that we serve. In this current climate, now more than ever, we need lawyers to be leaders in the courtroom, the legislature, in business and family matters and in our community to help eradicate unfair social stratification barriers.
Read MoreIndyBar: Former DEA “Whistleblower” to Open 2018 IndyBar Bench Bar Conference
“All these people died, and it happened under my watch,” claims Joe Rannazzisi, former Deputy Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Rannazzisi ran the DEA’s Office of Diversion Control, which is the division that regulates, investigates and prosecutes the pharmaceutical industry, and he’s set to present the opening plenary session for the 2018 Bench Bar Conference in Louisville June 14 – 16.
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