MAY 31-JUNE 13, 2017

The final stop for a last will and testament in the e-filing era depends on where in Indiana an estate is opened and what the local probate court demands, at least for now. The Indiana Court of Appeals is deciding whether agency immunity covers a lawyer's failure to file a lawsuit. The closing of Indiana Tech Law School leaves a lot of unanswered questions.

Legal malpractice arguments focus on whether crime victim lost settlement chance

May 26, 2017 |

Can agency immunity cover a lawyer's failure to file a tort claim notice and lawsuit?

Appeal: Commercial court, without notice, put worker out of job

May 26, 2017 |

A glass industry engineer’s challenge alleges the Indiana commercial court pilot project dockets’ specialized rules violated his due process rights.

Indiana Tech’s closing of law school leaves unanswered questions

May 26, 2017 |

As the law school’s last class graduates, its website has been taken down andstudents begin to transfer to other programs.

ABA urges ‘reasonable efforts’ to avoid cyberattacks

May 26, 2017 |

The ABA's Formal Ethics Opinion 477 is an updated version of a previous one handed down in 1999, when email was the primary method of electronic communication. Now, attorneys communicate with their clients in a variety of ways and with various devices, necessitating new guidance to legal professionals on how to protect their work on all platforms, the opinion said.

Retired attorney creates course to teach lawyers how to be leaders

May 26, 2017 |

Retired attorney Greg Utken has helped develop a program focused on preparing attorneys to step into lead positions within a firm, legal department or company. The course, Lawyer to Leader, was developed in conjunction with Butler University’s Executive Education initiative.

Lawyers of summer return to the baseball diamond

May 26, 2017 |

Attorneys say playing the sport relieves stress and helps with the practice of law.

IU Maurer professor’s new blog studies market effect on legal field

May 26, 2017 |

Through his new blog, Legal Evolution, IU Maurer’s Bill Henderson wants to “provide lawyers, legal educators, and allied professionals with high-quality information to solve very difficult industry-specific problems.” Henderson’s website, legalevolution.org, was launched earlier this month in place of his former blog, The Legal Whiteboard.

Portage attorney juggles legal practice with life on the red carpet

May 26, 2017 |

It wasn’t until about 20 years ago that Mark Roscoe taught himself to design and sew to help his mother. He then began doing smaller fashion jobs for his friends and neighbors, and his reputation continued to grow. About five years ago, he took the plunge and began pursuing his design business aggressively.

Lack of statewide will procedures leaves unanswered questions about official documents

May 26, 2017 |

The final stop for a last will and testament in the e-filing era depends on where in Indiana an estate is opened and what the local probate court demands, at least for now.

Student loans cause confusion, affect career choices for new lawyers

May 26, 2017 |

It was shortly after his 2012 graduation from George Washington University Law School when the realization hit Michael Lux hard: He had a ton of student loan debt to begin paying back to the federal government.

Retzner: Estate planning second step is more important than first

May 26, 2017 |

Most clients, and indeed more than a few attorneys, believe that once step one is completed, so is the client’s estate planning. The file is closed and, maybe a reminder to check back with the client in a few years for any updates. Maybe there is correspondence discussing “step two,” but in too many cases nothing is done. Step two, however, is by far the most important part of the estate planning process.

Boldt: Estate planning essentials for newlyweds and new parents

May 26, 2017 |

Amid all of the anticipation and excitement surrounding new unions and new babies, estate planning often falls by the wayside. Nevertheless, newlyweds and new parents are wise to make their estate planning goals a priority.

Potential death of Affordable Care Act likely to cut taxes

May 26, 2017 |

The American Health Care Act, which seeks to repeal and replace the ACA, passed the House on a party-line vote but has not gained much traction in the Senate. In fact, the upper chamber is crafting its own repeal-and-replace legislation that could differ widely from the House proposal.

Hage: Pros and cons of a decade of experience prior to entering law

May 26, 2017 |

I graduated from law school in December 2015 and sat for the bar exam in February 2016, then continued to work in state government until joining Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP in January of this year. In many ways, I am starting a second career and this has both pros and cons.

137 successful on February Indiana Bar Exam

May 26, 2017 |

Indiana’s newest attorneys received advice from judges and took several oaths during an admission ceremony held May 17 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.

Quick: Get noticed by being the expert in your practice area

May 30, 2017 |

The secret to being a lawyer that’s a “go-to” source for legal commentary in the media is simple.

Hammerle On… ‘The Dinner,’ ‘The Lost City of Z,’ ‘Colossal’ and ‘The Circle’

May 30, 2017 |

Bob Hammerle shares his thoughts on four forgettable films in theaters.

Plugged In: WannaCry ransomware – You would cry too if it happened to you

May 30, 2017 |

While there is no way to completely prevent malware attacks, this strain is a great example of why it is important to ensure your computer is always kept updated. These updates include things such as patches and fixes to the computer’s operating system, security software updates, and anti-virus definition updates as they become available.

Federal Bar Update: Northern District order changes judicial assignments

May 30, 2017 |

The Northern District of Indiana has implemented new protocols for assignment of cases to judges, both for certain pending cases and for newly filed cases.

Bloomington files lawsuit over last-minute annexation amendment

May 25, 2017 |

The city of Bloomington has filed a lawsuit against Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, claiming an amendment dropped into the state’s biennial budget at 2 a.m. April 21 and approved less than 24 hours later is specifically targeting the municipality to prevent it from annexing seven unincorporated areas near the city limits.

Former Indiana justices reunite for event saluting Rucker

May 25, 2017 |

Members of Indiana’s legal community who have worked with now-retired Indiana Supreme Court Justice Robert Rucker gathered in Indianapolis Wednesday to celebrate the impact the long-time jurist had on the practice of law in Indiana during his quarter-century career on the appellate bench.

In This Issue of Indiana Lawyer