The focus of the Virtual Ask-a-Lawyer was to provide a place for people to get real help, direction and referrals, especially as the full impact of COVID-19 was shuttering businesses and causing waves of unemployment. To date, since May 2020, more than 100 attorneys have volunteered through the virtual desk and over the telephone to provide answers to more than 1,352 questions.

As 2020 IndyBar President Andy Campbell is off in “trial prep nightmare-land,” he invited me to give an update on Marion Superior Court operations and the new Community Justice Center campus.

In order to conduct and participate in a successful mediation, there are two things you can do to prepare that will increase the likelihood of a successful result for you and your client. These pre-mediation steps, if not considered, can throw off what would have otherwise been a successful mediation.

The judges of Marion County Courts have given notice of proposed amendments to the local court rule LR49-FR00-503 NOTICE OF SPECIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.

IndyBar volunteers are needed to serve as judges for this year's Indiana University Maurer School of Law Sherman Minton Moot Court Competition, which will be conducted on Zoom. Oral arguments this year will be held on Sept. 30 through Oct. 28.

As you begin to return to the office and reopen your practice, you may be feeling a little anxious about the unknown. The landscape has changed and we need to make sure we are all doing our part to keep ourselves, our families, our co-workers and our clients safe. There are a few things you can do to prepare to re-open your practice.

The latest legal scoop to keep you in the loop: Here are the top five stories from the IndyBar this month.

As lawyers, many of our relationships are governed by our rules of professional conduct. For the most part, these rules place burdens, limits and duties on us. The judge-lawyer relationship, however, is governed by interlocking rules from both sides. In our practices, lawyers are limited in what we can say to a judge, as well as when and how we say it. We may really want to let the judge know what we think is going on in a case, or we may really want to know what the judge is thinking on an issue, but often can’t just say or ask what we want.

The proposed amendments affect LR49-TR79-223 Initial Request for Change of Judge, LR-TR-79-224 Appointment by Clerk, LR49-TR79-225 Acceptance, and LR49-TR3-200 Random Filing of Civil Cases. 

We hope you're well rested after the holiday weekend! See the latest IndyBar news and check out our calendar here.