Midyear Meeting

Miranda warning translations should be developed for non-English speakers, the ABA House resolves

The ABA House of Delegates has approved Resolution 112C, urging law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels to develop translations of Miranda warnings in as many languages as necessary to accurately inform criminal suspects of their Miranda rights. Miranda warnings stem from the 1966 decision Miranda v. Arizona,…

Feb 6, 2017 11:26 AM CST

Resolution recommending CLE on substance-abuse disorders, ethics and diversity approved by ABA House

The ABA House of Delegates has adopted Resolution 106, which imposes a new Model Rule for Minimum Continuing Legal Education to replace the older model rule, which was first adopted in 1988. The new rule recommends that lawyers be permitted to select CLE programs and their method of delivery—whether at…

Feb 6, 2017 10:12 AM CST

State courts should work to improve civil justice system, the ABA House of Delegates says

The ABA House of Delegates has adopted Resolution 102, a policy urging state courts to develop and implement improvements in the delivery of civil justice. The policy relies on guidance from the recommendations of the report “Call to Action: Achieving Civil Justice for All” (PDF), which was endorsed by the…

Feb 6, 2017 9:52 AM CST

President-elect candidate touts ABA’s continuing relevance to ‘Main Street lawyers’

The ABA’s policy and lobbying arms can get a lot of attention, especially after public statements on contentious issues. But ABA president-elect candidate Robert Carlson says the ABA also offers unmatched value to “Main Street lawyers”: practical help with their everyday work, opportunities to keep abreast of important legal news, and advocacy for causes important to the profession.

Feb 5, 2017 2:10 PM CST

Missing out on midyear in Miami? Here’s the roundup of what’s gone on

If you didn’t make it to the 2017 ABA Midyear Meeting, you can still keep abreast of what’s gone on. Check out the roundup below for the issues raised and decisions made. [View the story “ABA Midyear Meeting - Miami” on Storify]

Feb 5, 2017 12:10 PM CST

What’s the buzz around the ABA Midyear Meeting? (podcasts)

Our podcast partners at Legal Talk Network have been on the scene of the 2017 ABA Midyear Meeting in Miami, recording interviews with attendees about some of the most urgent legal issues facing the profession. To get the scoop on what some of our country’s top legal minds are thinking…

Feb 5, 2017 11:45 AM CST

How lawyers can increase veterans’ access to legal services

The ABA Veterans Legal Services Initiative is the ABA’s most important one this year. At the ABA Midyear Meeting in Miami, three lawyers who have been involved in developing legal services programs for former and active military personnel provided how-to guidance and tips for others interested in doing the same.…

Feb 4, 2017 9:25 PM CST

What will be the Trump administration’s enforcement priorities?

President Donald Trump’s administration is expected to bring significant change to enforcing laws. Despite the president’s at times unpredictable approaches to governance, a panel of experts provided some possibilities for enforcement priorities at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Miami. Although prognostication is no more than a wild guess in many…

Feb 4, 2017 5:40 PM CST

Political appointees nomination process is ‘so brutal’ that qualified candidates shy away

Notwithstanding the swiftness of several early, high-level presidential appointments in the Trump administration, the process for nominating, vetting and confirming political appointees has become more partisan, politicized and brutal in recent years. And there is no sign it will lighten up. That’s the takeaway from comments by five panelists with…

Feb 4, 2017 1:35 PM CST

Having grit and a growth mindset goes a long way for women lawyers, according to ABA study

Having grit influences lawyers’ overall quality of work; the point at which in-house counsel are brought into the decision-making process; and seniority and tenure within an organization, according to a recent study by the ABA’s Commission on Women in the Profession. The Grit Project’s study findings are expected to be…

Feb 3, 2017 3:35 PM CST

How can law schools encourage diversity and opportunity? Two Florida deans speak out

Law schools are adapting to changing times with courses and training that go beyond the goal of teaching students to practice law. They are also ensuring that students gain an understanding of diversity and inclusiveness as well as be able to demonstrate technological competence, according to two Florida law school…

Feb 3, 2017 3:10 PM CST

ABA will cut $10.7 million from general operations budget, a savings of more than 10 percent

The ABA Board of Governors on Thursday authorized ABA Executive Director Jack Rives to proceed with a plan to cut $10.7 million from the association’s general operations budget for fiscal 2018. The plan, announced in a memo, includes consolidating travel-planning and publishing operations, renegotiating the lease of the Chicago headquarters,…

Feb 2, 2017 4:02 PM CST

Legal aid spending has a seven-fold economic impact, Florida study finds

Every dollar spent on civil legal aid for low-income Florida residents creates $7 in economic impact, according to a study released Thursday. The study, commissioned by the Florida Bar Foundation, found that one of the biggest economic impacts of legal aid stems from helping low-income people obtain federal benefits, money…

Feb 2, 2017 12:23 PM CST

Board of Governors approves creation of Commission on the Future of Legal Education

Updated: The ABA Board of Governors on Friday approved a proposal submitted by incoming president Hilarie Bass to create a Commission on the Future of Legal Education. Bass is aiming to restructure the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar with a new, “forward thinking” entity handling…

Feb 1, 2017 2:05 PM CST

Timely issues and hot topics when ABA convenes for 2017 midyear meeting in Miami

Miami is just 228 miles away from Havana. When the most tropical city on the U.S. mainland hosts the 2017 ABA Midyear Meeting, scheduled for Feb. 1-7, there will be plenty of buzz about the implications of Fidel Castro’s death and Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency on relations between…

Feb 1, 2017 12:50 AM CST