Family Law Tip of the Week: IndyBar Family Law Modest Means Project and Candid Counsel Program

Welcome to Tip of the Week! Judicial officers will offer a tip each week for members of the Family Law Section. Feel free to send suggestions to Mag. Kim Mattingly at kimberly.mattingly@indy.gov.

By Mag. Kimberly Dean Mattingly, Marion Superior Court

This week’s tip is especially for newer lawyers who are looking to build their practice: IndyBar’s Family Modest Means Project. It is meant to be a net to catch potential clients who do not qualify for pro bono services, yet also do not have the means to hire a lawyer at market rates. It is a fantastic way to get some experience but also generate some revenue! If you are interested in participating, contact Arnetta Scruggs at ascruggs@indybar.org. 
 
To repeat one of the themes from the Family Law track at the Bench Bar Conference, mentoring is a great way to share cases. Long-timers have a place to send clients who cannot afford them and newbies have a pipeline for sending cases that are beyond their expertise. (That’s right, newbs, there are some cases you have no business accepting, no matter your law school GPA or size of your malpractice policy.) Recognize that and everyone benefits – clients get the right lawyer for their case and lawyers get cross-referrals. Mentoring can be formal or informal; I’ll repeat my Bench Bar mantra that I eat lunch every day and am happy to share that time with lawyers. And I’m not the only one, so don’t feel intimidated and just ask a judicial officer or a long-time lawyer you’d love to meet. The worst that can happen is your target will say no. If they do, email me and you know I’ll say yes!
 
Speaking of mentoring/networking/cross-referrals, we have formed groups for the new Candid Counsel program, but it is not too late to add your name! Candid Counsel is informal groups that will meet once per month or so with the goal of improving civility within our practice area. We have groups on all sides of town and meetings at different times of day. If you are interested, go here to sign up.

Stay tuned for a new tip next week!

If you would like to submit content or write an article for the Family Law Section page, please email Kara Sikorski at ksikorski@indybar.org.