It's the season of giving and even during the hardships of 2020, generous sponsors, bidders and donors helped the Indianapolis Bar Foundation raise over $26,000 during IndyBar's Giving, this year's online silent auction to benefit the programs and initiatives of the foundation.

Most lawyers view document automation as a time saving device. That's true: the efficiency wrought by document automation allows law firms to take on more work and to make more money. But, in the modern context, it may be that law firms are still underutilizing document automation.

For the first time since the 2016 establishment of Commercial Courts as a pilot, the Courts are expanding. Four new counties will have a specialized commercial court docket starting January 2021: Hamilton County (Jon Brown), Madison County (Mark Dudley), St. Joseph County (Steven Hostetler), and Vigo County (Lakshmi Reddy). 

There were a lot of things I was going to do this year, places I was going to go (conferences in French Lick, AFCC in New Orleans, a girls’ trip to Hilton Head…gone but not forgotten, clearly) that just went completely off the rails. Instead, I learned some things, experienced some “personal growth” and so far, I’ve survived. I thought I’d share some things in case you were feeling alone, or want to feel superior, or are just looking for some product suggestions.

The Social Security Administration publishes upcoming changes to its social security program every October that take effect on January 1 of the next year. These changes can make a difference in how you plan for or live during your retirement years. It is good practice to create what is known as a "my Social Security" account with the SSA by clicking the "Create Your Account Today" button.

The United States District Court hereby gives public notice of the amendments to its Local Rules for the Southern District of Indiana, which take effect December 1, 2020.

2020 has been (and no doubt will continue to be) like riding a roller coaster in a hurricane. Fortunately, for the IndyBar, we have a committed membership that has responded in amazing ways. While the pandemic will affect the practice of law for years to come, we can all be proud of the work our association did to respond in positive and uplifting ways. In a non-COVID year, we would typically recognize our IndyBar award winners at our annual Recognition Breakfast — typically a packed event with comradery and good cheer. Like many things this year, we will recognize our award winners in different (but no less important) ways.

It’s getting blustery outside, but don’t let your knowledge of the magistrates and commissioners who may hear your case cause you to be blustery in the court room – virtual or not.  Join us on November 10! 

These days, digital marketing has become increasingly popular, but outsourcing your digital marketing can get pricey fast. Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or even TikTok (when used thoughtfully), can be excellent tools to market your law firm for free. For those wanting to enhance their social media marketing, consider these four resources.

As 2020 ticks to a close, IndyBar sections and divisions are in the process of evaluating their committee rosters and determining vacancies for 2021. Now is the perfect time to indicate your interest in serving on a committee. While space is limited, every effort will be made to involve anyone expressing interest in some capacity.