Utah State Bar eBulletin

New Year, New Goals: Your Bar Membership Can Help Reach Them

Happy New Year! If you're anything like me, you've spent a little bit of time thinking about what your goals for this new year are. Maybe you've resolved to hit the gym a little harder, go to more yoga classes, or adopt a puppy? Maybe it's to watch more Jazz games, or spend more time with your grandma. Regardless of your goals, the new year is a good time to reflect on things that are going well, and things that could use a little brush up. Now that we are past the lull of the holidays and back in the swing of business, it's a good time to reflect on what our careers could use in terms of a pat on the back or a resolution to change. As you evaluate your legal goals for this year, let me encourage you to utilize the resources your bar membership offers. The Bar can be a valuable resource for you to turn to, including for assistance with your health and wellbeing, connecting with like-minded practitioners through the sections and affinity groups, and developing CLE opportunities to gain knowledge about different topics. Maybe spend some time perusing the Bar's website, and getting to know the resources that your membership brings you. We all want to learn how to make more money while still enjoying a healthy quality of life. We all do this in different ways, but having tools to lean on as you find your path forward is key to being able to craft the career that you want. Allow the Utah State Bar to be one of those tools. Cheers to 2023, and may this upcoming year be a healthy and happy one for you and yours!

Nominations for Dorathy Merrill Brothers and Raymond S. Uno Awards Close January 20 Nominations are currently open for the Utah State Bar Spring Convention Awards. These awards include the Dorathy Merrill Brothers Award for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession and the Raymond S. Uno Award for the Advancement of Minorities in the Legal Profession.  Nominations are due January 20. Nominations can be made by filling out an awards form. And don't forget to make your hotel reservations for Spring Convention in St. George March 16-18!

A Note from Leonard Burningham, Chair of the Bar's Food and Clothing Drive To members of the Utah State Bar, Law Firms, Court Personnel and Others in the Legal Community: I wanted to personally thank everyone who participated in this year’s food and clothing drive. It was a great success! We received hundreds of warm coats, dozens of new winter stockings and other winter apparel, along with special toiletry kits assembled by many of you, and a great deal of food and toys and other items, including cash donations, that made a very special holiday for those in need.  Jennie Dudley of Each Ranch Ministries advised me that the distribution of the items was started within 24 hours of receiving them, and she expressed her blessing on all and gave thanks for all of the kindness shown. Thank you again for your generosity, and we’ll see you next year!

Bar Leadership Academy Announces Class of 2023 The Bar Commission Leadership Academy is a program to develop leaders within the Utah State Bar. Each year a class of 12 lawyers who have been practicing 10 years or less are chosen to participate in the academy. The 2023 class includes: Mary Ann Davies; Kent Davis; Samantha Frazier; Nathaniel Gallegos; Alan Hurst; Laura Kyte; Shain Manuele; Andres Morelli; Jessica Ramirez; Olivia Rossi; Jonathan Wayas; and Annie Yi. Congratulations to the Leadership Academy Class of 2023!

Volunteers Needed for "We The People" Competitions in Ogden and Orem The "We The People" Citizens and the Constitution program needs volunteers to help with competitions in February of 2023. Positions are available for unit judges, judge facilitators and timers. The High School competition will take place at Weber State University on Thursday February 9 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Jr High School competition will take place at Utah Valley University on Friday February 10 from 8 p.m. to 1p.m. Please fill out this Volunteer Survey Form and let us know if and when you can help us. We could not run this program without the amazing support of our volunteers. Thank you so much for being willing to help us! The positions we need volunteers for are: Unit Judge- Be familiar with the unit material, the unit questions, and follow up questions. Be willing and able to judge students according to the given criteria. Be willing and able to give students kind and constructive feedback about their presentation Unit Judge Facilitator-Be willing to lead your group of judges to the different judging locations. Be willing to help keep people from entering or exiting the room while a competition is in session. Be willing to double check judge scores to make sure they are added properly Timer-Be willing to time each speech and follow up questions. Be willing to hold up a sign indicating 1 minute left and time. Thank you again, so much for being willing to help provide this opportunity for students here in Utah. The "We The People" program is one of the very best programs available to help students prepare for and understand their civic responsibilities. It is a powerful tool that they will use for the rest of their lives. You can help create this experience for them.  For more information, visit Law Related Education of Utah and We The People Civic Education or email Dawn Harvey.

Utah State Bar Announces Partnership with Well-Being Partners Tava and Unmind Taking care of your well-being is not a luxury, but a necessity. Well-being is an essential element for anyone looking to perform their best. That's why the Utah State Bar has partnered with two leading names in Well-Being, Tava Mental Health and Unmind. These are different but complimentary services to provide assistance wherever you are on the mental health spectrum--from thriving to surviving and everywhere in between! Well-being encompasses both physical and mental health, and plays a crucial role in how we think, feel, and behave. Learn more about these services by listeTava Mental Health and Unmind by listening to the Tava Mental Health podcast or the Unmind podcast, or visiting this page. These services begin February 1.

Enter to Win a $100 Gift Card by Visiting the Utah State Bar Marketplace The Utah State Bar has organized a Marketplace consisting of vendors offering services to Bar Licensees. For a limited time, you enter to win a $100 gift card by visiting the page and clicking the link. The services listed are designed to help you in your practice. If you have questions or need additional information, please visit the Marketplace or contact the Utah State Bar.

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