2020 will be a year to remember for decades to come. In the world of tax and retirement planning, it’s brought opportunities for advisors to present to clients. But unlike those in other years, 2020’s opportunities should be seized now—taken advantage of before year’s end—because they may not be as effective afterward.

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.

IndyBar will be offering free wills to Indy-area residents who cannot afford an attorney on Tuesday, November 10. This offering was originally being offered exclusively to veterans in conjunction with Veteran’s Day; however, we have a few openings still available so we are opening the opportunity up to all residents subject to meeting financial requirements at 150% of the Federal Poverty guidelines.

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.

In our profession, we are taught to be respectful and civil toward the court, toward our clients and toward our fellow practitioners. During a time where everyone is suffering through the added stress of a pandemic, you may have caught yourself being impatient, combative, dare I say, snarky, when you otherwise may not have been.  

The nomination period has begun for the 2021 Board of Directors of the Indianapolis Bar Association, and Kelley Johnson of the Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson LLP  has been appointed to chair the effort. Johnson, who is a past president of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation, will lead a committee of members in selecting a slate of officers for the coming year.

The brand new IndyBarHQ facility, opened in 2020, boasts meeting spaces now available for reservation! Our flexible meeting rooms feature state-of-the art technology, reliable wi-fi connectivity and easy access via private street-level entrances.

The pandemic—and shift to remote work—is speeding up a shift that has been years in the making.

The Internal Revenue Service has advised that new rules under the CARES Act provide flexibility for health care spending that may be helpful in the current environment where more people may need at-home services due to measures to fight the coronavirus.

The IndyBar exists to serve members of the legal profession, and through our members we serve the community. Lawyers are problem-solvers, defenders of the rule of law. We spend our days seeking to improve the lives of our clients and our communities. We have an opportunity and a privilege to help.