Thursday, March 27, 2025

State Bar of Nevada eNews

Membership Awards: Justice Douglas Recipient of Trailblazer Award

The State Bar of Nevada is honored to announce that Justice Michael L. Douglas (Ret.) is the recipient of this year’s Bryan K. Scott Trailblazer Award. 

 

Douglas is being recognized because of his historic appointment in 2004 to become the first Black justice of the Nevada Supreme Court. He is also the first African American to hold Nevada statewide office. During his tenure, he mentored generations of law students and attorneys in Nevada, and remains an active and energetic community leader.


Douglas has spent his career making significant contributions to Nevada jurisprudence, most recently through his work to support students interested in law careers through the Justice Michael L. Douglas PreLaw Fellowship Program at the William S. Boyd School of Law on the campus of UNLV.

This Week at the State Bar

The State Bar of Nevada is introducing the Practice Management Resource Network! The network highlights products and services designed to help Nevada lawyers manage their firms efficiently and effectively. The tools range from accounting and payroll services to digital marketing and website development, and more, to help attorneys to streamline their firm’s operations.

The Clients’ Security Fund (CSF) Committee has an open attorney position. The committee is responsible for making financial resources available to reimburse victims of attorney theft. The application period closes May 16.

View Upcoming Bar Events

Register Today for 2025 Bar Conference in Washington, D.C.

Registration is now open for the State Bar of Nevada’s upcoming Annual Conference. Join us in the heart of Washington, D.C., at the historic Willard Hotel. Immerse yourself in a dynamic environment of legal professionals – including former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal – as we explore cutting-edge legal issues, network with colleagues, and experience the best of the nation’s capital. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your legal knowledge, expand your professional network, and discover the latest trends shaping the legal landscape. The conference will kick off with a welcome reception on the evening of June 11, followed by programming and receptions June 12 – 13.


Visit the state bar’s website for more information, including how to become a sponsor and to register.

Deadline Extended for Tax Law Specialization Exam

The State Bar of Nevada’s Tax Law Section’s Specialization Board has extended the deadline to Friday, April 11, for applications for the inaugural Tax Law Specialization Exam.

 

Anyone interested in sitting for the exam is asked to submit their application online at https://nvbar.org/tax-exam-application/. There is an application fee of $500. 

Lawyer Representatives Still Needed; Deadline to Apply is Monday

The U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada is accepting applications for three Lawyer Representatives: two in Reno and one in Las Vegas. Lawyer representatives assist the court with improving the administration of justice. They provide vital input to the court on a myriad of issues affecting the operations of the federal courts including, but not limited to, rule changes, development of new programs, planning of conferences, and applications for the expenditure of funds from the Attorney Admissions Fund.

 

Lawyer representatives also assist with educating members of the bar generally about conferences and obtaining feedback for future conferences, promoting and judging the Ninth Circuit high school civics contest and local civics outreach, and finding ways to improve the general dialogue between the court and bar to make improvements in the judicial system.

 

To be considered for one of these positions, you must be: 1) admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court of Nevada and actively involved in federal practice; 2) interested in the purpose and work of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, and willing to actively contribute to the planning of the conference; and 3) willing to actively contribute to the planning of the district conference, and 4) willing to assist in implementing circuit conference and district court programs with local bar associations. Lawyer Representatives are expected to attend the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and the district conference.

 

If you are interested in serving as a lawyer representative, please submit a letter of interest detailing your federal experience and reasons you would like to be considered to: NVD_LawyerRep@nvd.uscourts.gov. Please include your email address and direct telephone number. Letters of interest must be received by the close of Monday, March 31. ­­­­­­­­­­­­Please contact Debra Kempi at 702-464-5456 with questions regarding the role of a lawyer representative or the selection process.

Lawyer Referral Service in Need of Attorneys

The State Bar of Nevada’s Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) has been serving the public since 1979 by referring clients in need of legal services to qualified attorneys statewide. The LRS serves the public interest by assisting individuals who can pay normal attorney fees but are unable to locate appropriate legal representation due to a lack of experience with the legal system, a lack of information about the type of service needed, or a fear of the potential costs of seeing a lawyer.


Lawyers who participate in LRS pay a $50 annual fee and, if retained by the client, remit 20 percent of all net fees earned and collected beyond the initial consultation fee to SBN.


LRS attorneys can opt to take an unlimited (or limited) number of clients statewide from a list of more than 20 practice areas. Attorneys are especially needed in the following areas: bankruptcy, civil rights, collections, consumer law, employment, immigration law, medical malpractice, real estate, Social Security, tax law, and workers’ compensation.

Featured CLE: Hot Topics: Construction

Defects and Mechanics’ Liens

This CLE offers a practical overview of key issues in construction and real property law, with an emphasis on recent developments and common pitfalls.

 

The construction law segment provides a concise rundown of Nevada Revised Statute Chapter 108, including lesser-known provisions such as “disinterested owner” requirements, voidable contract clauses, prompt payment law, and the statute’s interaction with NRS 624. Attendees will gain insight into potential traps for the unwary and review recent Nevada appellate decisions that impact construction practice.

 

The real property segment presents a broad-based look at trends, legal developments, and items of importance in real estate law, equipping attendees with essential knowledge to navigate issues that commonly arise in this area of practice.

 

Presented by the Construction Law Section and the Real Property Law Section.

Program Date:

April 17

 

Time:

3-4 p.m.

 

Location:

Webinar

 

CLE Hours:

1 General credit

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