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). 

The IndyBar Young Lawyers Division (YLD) has awarded this year’s IndyBar Young Lawyers Division Distinguished Leadership Award to a much-deserved candidate, Stephanie McGowan. Stephanie has served as chair of the YLD for two consecutive years and has given countless hours of time and support to the Indianapolis legal community through her leadership. In addition to her time as chair, Stephanie has been a member on the YLD Executive Board for several years, including serving as education chair for multiple years.

The Indianapolis Bar Association’s Young Lawyer of the Year award is given to an attorney who has made exceptional contributions to support the Young Lawyers Division sponsored activities and programs, is recognized as a good role model for the legal profession and is deserving of special recognition. I was delighted to nominate Emily Angel for this award as she is certainly most deserving of it.

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.

We are eight months into wading through COVID-19. I have heard several people talk about feeling more depressed, anxious and tired. Make a conscious effort to rest and recharge. Here are some simple ways to cope.

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.  

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.