South Carolina Bar's E-Blast                                                              
May 8, 2008

Welcome to the South Carolina Bar's E-Blast!
E-Blast highlights upcoming activities, legal information and links to the Bar's Web site at www.scbar.org.

The South Carolina Bar is dedicated to advancing justice, professionalism and understanding of the law.



House of Delegates meets
The Bar's House of Delegates met today in Florence.

During the meeting, the following officers and board members were sworn into office: Flo Lester Vinson, President; Fred W. Suggs Jr., President-Elect; Robert L. Kilgo Jr., Treasurer; Carl L. Solomon, Secretary; Alice F. Paylor, chair, House of Delegates; Kathryn M. "Kif" Cook, Michael P. Horger, G. Dewey Oxner Jr., S. Venus Poe and Ronnie Sabb, board members; and Lana H. Sims Jr., ABA State Bar Delegate. In addition, the Law Related Education Lawyer of the Year Award was presented to Holly H. Wall of Johnsonville, and the Young Lawyer of the Year Award was presented to Ginny N. Waller of Lexington.

The House voted to replace Rule 608, SCACR, regarding court appointments to eliminate the ability to require Bar members to take unfunded appointments. The recommendation will be forwarded to the S.C. Supreme Court.

The House also received comments from the Practice and Procedure Committee regarding the Court's recent proposed rule changes pertaining to expert testimony. The House approved the Committee's request to forward the comments to the Court.

Requests from the Professional Responsibility Committee to recommend a rule governing procedures for lawyers leaving law firms and the dissolution of law firms, amendment of terms in Rule 1.15(f) of Rule 407 and state-specific ethics testing on the bar examination were approved.
 
The House also adopted Bar and CLE Division budgets for FY 2008-09.

Casemaker makes the case! 
Due to popular demand, the Bar is offering eight additional live Internet training sessions (Webinars) on Casemaker 2.0. Now, lawyers can choose from four sessions tailored to beginner Casemaker users and four sessions for advanced users. Lawyers can follow the Webinars by logging onto the Internet and listening simultaneously on the telephone to the trainer. After you register online, you will receive an e-mail with detailed instructions to use the day of the training. Each Webinar lasts approximately one hour. The training will include a review of the enhancements and new functionality in Casemaker 2.0. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of a Casemaker expert. Space is limited, so reserve your Webinar seat now by choosing your date at www.scbar.org/casemaker. If you have questions about how to register, contact Courtney Kennaday at (803) 799-6653, ext. 183.

Family fun time at EdVenture Children's Museum
On April 17, the Young Lawyers Division from the 5th and 11th Judicial Circuits hosted a family outing at EdVenture Children's Museum. Children (and kids at heart) enjoyed the many activities of the museum, including the fire truck, grocery store and bulldozer. With more than 250 people in attendance, the reception was a wonderful opportunity to network with colleagues in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Thanks to Christy Jones, Shelby Leonardi and Alana Williams for coordinating the event.

Reinstatement
By order of May 6 the Court reinstated Brian J. Odom of Denver to the practice of law.

Firm announcements
Pritchard & Elliott, LLC announces that John C. Hayes IV has joined the firm as special counsel located at 8 Cumberland St., Ste. 200, Charleston 29401. (843) 722-3300.

The Tecklenburg Law Firm, LLC announces that Gary E. English has joined the firm located at 215 E. Bay St., Ste. 404, Charleston 29401. (843) 534-2628.

Calendar
May 12
Construction Law Section Council Meeting, Conference Call

May 14
Employment and Labor Law Section Council Meeting, Conference Call

May 15
Family Law Section Council Meeting, Bar Building

May 16
Ethics Advisory Committee Meeting, Bar Building
YLD Leadership Academy, Charleston School of Law
Probate, Estate Planning & Trust Section Council Meeting, Conference Call

May 21
Practice and Procedure Committee Meeting, Bar Building
YLD Committee Chairs Meeting, Conference Call

Publications - new release!
Book of Estate Planning Questions & Answers, 2nd Edition by Albert C. Todd III
This guide is not a textbook on estate planning for practitioners, but is rather a conversational guide to estate planning for the estate planning client or layperson. It outlines the questions, with answers, that Al Todd most frequently received from his clients in the course of his more than 27 years of estate planning practice. It provides a practical, down-to-earth overview of complex questions, but should not be used as a substitute for qualified legal advice. Instead, the attorney should use the book as a reference for clients, and the layperson should use the book to be better prepared when seeking help from his or her estate planning lawyer. The cost is $25 per book, plus $6 shipping and handling and seven percent S.C. sales tax. To order click the link above or contact Vera Belton at (803) 771-0333 or (800) 768-7787, ext. 126.

Live seminars
Dealing with Difficult Clients, previously scheduled for Friday, May 9, has been postponed due to a faculty scheduling conflict and has not yet been rescheduled.

Selling, Purchasing and Planning with Closely Held Businesses - Friday, May 16
Faculty: Robert August, Tod Hyche, Alan Austin, E. Marie Monroe and Barbara Seymour

Recent Developments in Labor & Employment Law - Wednesday, May 21
Faculty: Gene Matthews, William Foster, Robert Hoskins, Franklin Shuler Jr., J. Hagood Tighe, Tina Burnside and Molly Hughes Cherry

7th Annual NC/SC Tax Section Workshops - Friday, May 23 to Sunday, May 25
Faculty: Jasper Cummings Jr., David Dahl, James Daniel, Toy Glennon, Reginald Hinton, Jane Jeffries Jones, Fred Murray, Phillip Pillar, Janet Shires, John von Lehe Jr. and Amy Walsh

Mass Litigation, sponsored by ALI-ABA - Thursday, May 29 to Saturday, May 31
The faculty for this seminar is composed of nationally recognized authorities in the field of mass litigation including practitioners, judges and academics and features Joseph Rice of Motley Rice LLC, in Mt. Pleasant.

Teleseminars
Buying and Selling Distressed Small Businesses, Part 1 - Tuesday, May 13

Buying and Selling Distressed Small Businesses, Part 2 - Wednesday, May 14

Business Divorce, Part 1 - Tuesday, May 20

Business Divorce, Part 2 - Wednesday, May 21

"Green Law": Regulation, Real Estate & Environmentally Friendly Projects - Tuesday, May 27

For a complete listing of upcoming teleseminars, please click here then choose the program you wish to attend. If you have any difficulty registering for these seminars, please e-mail service@webcredenza.com or call (800) 694-9747.

Live Webcasts
Recent Developments in Labor & Employment Law - Wednesday, May 21

Mass Litigation, sponsored by ALI-ABA - Thursday, May 29 to Saturday, May 31

What You Don't Know About Motorcycle Accidents  - Friday, June 20

If you have any difficulty registering for a Webcast, please e-mail Matt Riley at mriley@scbar.org or call (803) 576-3818 or (800) 767-7787, ext. 118.

Seminars Direct Online - new releases!
ADR:
South Carolina Circuit Court Arbitrator Certification Training

Ethics:
Professionalism: An Extension of Ethics

Traversing the Ethical Minefield: Ex Parte Communications with Robert Rushing

Law Office Technology:
60 Technology Tips Featuring Nancy Duhon

For a complete listing of Seminars Direct Online offerings, click here.

For a complete listing of upcoming live CLE opportunities, view the CLE Calendar.


To be added or deleted from the E-Blast list, e-mail ljackson@scbar.org.