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Thursday, May 28, 2026
State Bar of Nevada eNews
Serving Nevada's Legal Community Since 1928
| | State Bar Honors Finlayson, Shea as Volunteers of Year | The State Bar of Nevada is honored to announce that Charlie Finlayson and James Patrick Shea are the recipients of the 2026 Volunteer of the Year Awards. | |
Finlayson, a partner at Claggett & Sykes Trial Lawyers, is recognized for his leadership of the Nevada Lawyer Editorial Board, where he has served since 2021 and has chaired since 2025. Under his leadership, the board has grown to include new faces and fresh voices, adding three new attorneys during his years as an officer. Finlayson also served on the Nevada Supreme Court’s Commission on Nevada Rules of Appellate Procedure, working alongside the state’s top appellate attorneys to modernize the rules governing Nevada’s appellate courts, and he also serves on the board of Northern Nevada Legal Aid. Former Nevada Supreme Court Justice James W. Hardesty has described Finlayson as “one of the most skilled legal writers in the appellate system” and “a model for the legal profession.”
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Shea, a partner at Shea Larsen, is recognized for more than four decades of service to the bar and the profession: most notably as the founding chair of the State Bar of Nevada’s Bankruptcy Law Section, a role he held multiple times since the section’s inception. Under his leadership, the section has consistently prioritized education, bringing national speakers to members through a free CLE series and ranking among the bar’s top sections for pro bono participation. He has presented at three of the past six Annual Bar Conferences, with a presentation on “The Price and Value of Civility” scheduled for the upcoming Hawaii conference. Shea is also a past president and chairman of the board of the American Bankruptcy Institute, where he chairs its Civility Task Force, demonstrating a commitment to professionalism that runs through every aspect of his service to the Nevada legal community.
The State Bar’s Membership Awards honorees will be recognized at the upcoming 2026 Bar Conference, taking place June 18–19, 2026, in Hawaii. We invite all licensees to join us as we celebrate Finlayson, Shea and our other deserving recipients. These awards recognize individuals and organizations for their service to the bar and their contributions to the legal profession.
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This Week
at the State Bar
| The state bar announces the passing of Elizabeth M. Quillin on March 31, 2026, at age 66. She joined the State Bar of Nevada in 1996. Las Vegas memorial service information is forthcoming. | The Nevada Lawyer Editorial Board is asking State Bar of Nevada licensees to submit possible ideas for issue topics for the 2027 issues of Nevada Lawyer magazine. To submit an issue topic idea, please email nvlawyer@nvbar.org. The deadline to submit ideas is Friday, June 12. | There’s still time to make plans to attend the 2026 State Bar of Nevada Annual Conference to be held June 17-19, in Maui, Hawaii! You can also reserve your hotel room or become a sponsor. | The Standing Committee on Judicial Ethics seeks to fill a vacancy. The state bar’s Board of Governors shall appoint an attorney member to fill it. Applicants should complete an online application form. | The State Bar of Nevada’s Family Law Section is inviting licensees to join them at the section’s Annual Meeting and Continuing Legal Education Conference on August 26-28 at the Caesar’s Republic Lake Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe. | The State Bar of Nevada is looking for qualified individuals to fill open positions on the Character and Fitness Committee and the Functional Equivalency Committee. To volunteer for these openings, submit an online application form by Saturday, August 1. | | Last Chance to Finish Strong in 2026 Pro Bono Challenge | | |
If you have been considering getting involved in the 2026 Section Pro Bono Challenge, now is the time. Your participation can make a real difference for Nevadans in need.
The deadline is approaching quickly as the challenge closes Sunday, May 31, but there is still time to make a meaningful impact. Volunteering during the challenge period counts for service completed anytime in 2026.
Whether you can take on a full case or contribute in another way, your participation matters:
Providing pro bono service is an opportunity to build skills, earn CLE, and connect with colleagues. It is also a core part of supporting access to justice, which strengthens our legal system and the communities we serve.
| | Young Lawyers Section Endows Scholarship at Boyd | | |
The State Bar of Nevada’s Young Lawyers Section has launched a new endowed scholarship at the William S. Boyd School of Law, creating a permanent legacy of support for the next generation of legal professionals.
Read more about the endowment at the Boyd School of Law website.
| | U.S. District Court Accepting Applications for CJA Panel | | |
The U.S. District Court is accepting applications to the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel in Reno and Las Vegas. The deadline to apply is Sunday, August 1, 2026. The application is posted to the FPD’s CJA website.
There are four panels: Las Vegas Trial, Reno Trial, Direct Appeals, and Habeas. The U.S. District Court also has a mentorship program to help less experienced attorneys prepare to accept CJA appointments. Questions may be directed to CJA Resource Counsel Kim Driggers via email at NV_CJAResource@fd.org.
| | State Bar Makes It Easier to Find CLE Courses Online | | |
The State Bar of Nevada – a provider of quality continuing legal education programs – is now making it easier for licensees to find specific courses online. Licensees can search for programs by the type of course they need – AAMH, general, and ethics.
Users will now see a “CLE Store” button on their member dashboard. From the dashboard, licensees can access online CLEs by clicking on the “CLE store” button and select from the available options.
The state bar’s CLE Department works with the CLE Committee to develop programming specifically focused on the needs of Nevada attorneys. Programs are offered in a variety of formats, providing ease of access when convenient for you.
Programs include:
For information, contact Eric Johnson at ericj@nvbar.org.
| | Faith Lutheran Sixth in National Mock Trial Event | | |
Accompanied by attorney coach Joe Yezbak, the Faith Lutheran Middle School & High School Mock Trial Team represented Nevada at the National High School Mock Trial Championship held May 8–9 in Des Moines, Iowa, after winning the state championship on March 6.
The national tournament brought together 48 of the top high school mock trial teams from across the country for four rounds of competition. Faith Lutheran faced state championship teams from Massachusetts, California, New Hampshire, and Ohio, finishing with an impressive 3-1 record against exceptionally strong competition.
Faith Lutheran ultimately placed sixth overall in the nation, an outstanding accomplishment and one of Nevada’s strongest finishes at the national tournament in recent years.
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Seth Cohen, team leader and regional vice president of sales for the ABA Retirement Funds Program, will lead this session designed to help younger lawyers understand why starting to plan for retirement early – despite student debt and competing priorities – can make a meaningful long-term difference. Through relatable examples and practical guidance, this CLE will show how small, manageable steps today can build a strong financial foundation and future flexibility.
Learning objectives are:
- Identify realistic retirement goals and understand how early planning supports long term financial flexibility and choice.
- Recognize simple, practical strategies to begin saving while balancing student loans, living expenses, and other financial demands.
- Understand the impact of starting early, compounding, and gradually increasing savings over time.
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Program Date:
June 4
Time:
Noon until 1 p.m.
Location:
Webinar
Credits:
1 General Credit.
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