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What the Bar Association What the Bar Association Can Do for You!Can Do for You!

Attorney Admissions & Attorney Admissions & Law School CommitteeLaw School Committee

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BAR ASSOCIATIONSBAR ASSOCIATIONS

How do they work?How do they work?

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Why Belong?Why Belong?

With more than 17,000 members, there are probably at least 17,000 answers to that question. In our experience, there are at least three reasons to be a CBA member.

The benefits of membership serve individual attorneys and law firms on a daily basis.

Participation creates opportunities to network, make friends, and to engage in mentorship programs.

Involvement with the CBA provides an opportunity to give back to the profession, the judicial system, and the community.

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Members

Sections & Committees

Board of Governors

Executive Counsel

President

Bar

Staff

Benefits

Dues $

How the CBA OperatesHow the CBA Operates

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Member Participation: Member Participation: Committees & SectionsCommittees & Sections

CommitteesCommittees – – Numerous Committees with various opportunities to fit your Numerous Committees with various opportunities to fit your

interests. Examples include Professionalism, AALS, and Access interests. Examples include Professionalism, AALS, and Access to Justice.to Justice.

Sections – Sections – Substantive Law Sections that charge dues to their members. Substantive Law Sections that charge dues to their members.

Examples are the Real Estate, Wills & Trust, Business and Examples are the Real Estate, Wills & Trust, Business and Construction Law SectionsConstruction Law Sections

Ad Hoc Committees & Task ForcesAd Hoc Committees & Task Forces – – Appointed as needed, disbanded upon completion of task.Appointed as needed, disbanded upon completion of task.

Local Bar Associations & Specialty Bars –Local Bar Associations & Specialty Bars – Examples include Denver Bar Association, Boulder Bar Examples include Denver Bar Association, Boulder Bar

Association, Sam Cary Bar, and Women’s Bar.Association, Sam Cary Bar, and Women’s Bar.

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Benefits of Membership:Benefits of Membership:What do you get for your Money?What do you get for your Money?

Dues: For law students, membership is free. Thereafter, dues start at approximately $150 a year for the first three years of practice.

Free Local Bar Association Membership and Membership in the CBA Sections and Committees

Automatic Membership in the CBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) The CBA YLD organizes and participates in legal education programs, pro bono

activities, community service projects, and social and networking events.

Free Legal Research with Casemaker 2.0 - Online Legal Research Library is your source for Colorado case law, statutes, rules, The Colorado Lawyer, and more!

Lending Library The CBA circulates all ABA Law Practice Management Section books. Stop by

our office to borrow one or two.

Special Rates for CLE in Colorado Programs and Publications

Discounts with: Financial Services Insurance Programs

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Bar Review Bar Review Scholarship OpportunityScholarship Opportunity

The AALS Committee administers a Bar-Bri The AALS Committee administers a Bar-Bri Colorado Bar Examination Preparation Course Colorado Bar Examination Preparation Course Needs-Based Scholarship for Diverse Needs-Based Scholarship for Diverse IndividualsIndividuals

One scholarship available for February ExamOne scholarship available for February Exam Four scholarships available for July ExamFour scholarships available for July Exam Provides full course tuition Provides full course tuition Application available on-line, with the law school, and Application available on-line, with the law school, and

hard copyhard copy

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Networking OpportunitiesNetworking Opportunities Attend CBA, Local Bar Association, Section, or Committee meetings that interest you. Attend CBA, Local Bar Association, Section, or Committee meetings that interest you.

You will be welcomed with open arms! You will be welcomed with open arms!

Attend a Bar Sponsored Function:Attend a Bar Sponsored Function:

Open invitation to attend an Open House Reception where representatives from various Open invitation to attend an Open House Reception where representatives from various local bars and specialty associations and committees will be present to provide information local bars and specialty associations and committees will be present to provide information about their groups on Friday, March 20, 2009 at the CBA Offices. Reception is free (and about their groups on Friday, March 20, 2009 at the CBA Offices. Reception is free (and discount Nuggets tickets are available for after the reception as well).discount Nuggets tickets are available for after the reception as well).

• R.S.V.P. to Michael A. Paul at R.S.V.P. to Michael A. Paul at map@thlf.commap@thlf.com if you plan to attend the reception (free) and/or want to if you plan to attend the reception (free) and/or want to reserve your Nuggets tickets. reserve your Nuggets tickets.

Open invitation to the Open invitation to the 2009 CBA DBA Annual Awards Party2009 CBA DBA Annual Awards Party that is Tuesday, that is Tuesday, June 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Colorado History Museum. There is no cost to attend! June 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Colorado History Museum. There is no cost to attend!

• R.S.V.P. to R.S.V.P. to lunches@cobar.orglunches@cobar.org or call 303-860-1115 x727 and note that you are law student. or call 303-860-1115 x727 and note that you are law student.   Open invitation to the Open invitation to the Community Action Network of the Denver Bar Community Action Network of the Denver Bar

Association’s Battle of the BandsAssociation’s Battle of the Bands::• Participating as a band, purchase discounted admission tickets for $15, or volunteer with the Participating as a band, purchase discounted admission tickets for $15, or volunteer with the

Committee and get in free! Committee and get in free! • Sept. 23, 2009 at La Rhumba (9th and Acoma, Denver). Sept. 23, 2009 at La Rhumba (9th and Acoma, Denver).

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Mentorship OpportunitiesMentorship Opportunities

Numerous Sections, Committees, and Numerous Sections, Committees, and Local Bars offer mentorship opportunities.Local Bars offer mentorship opportunities. Substantive areas of lawSubstantive areas of law General law practice and professionalismGeneral law practice and professionalism

List of mentorship opportunities is List of mentorship opportunities is available on the CBA website, with your available on the CBA website, with your law school, and in hard copylaw school, and in hard copy

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Practice Tips for Summer Practice Tips for Summer Associates and InternsAssociates and Interns

General Best Practices:General Best Practices: Be on time and maintain a regular schedule. Be sure your assistant knows where you are and Be on time and maintain a regular schedule. Be sure your assistant knows where you are and

how to contact you during work hours and evenings.how to contact you during work hours and evenings. ListenListen Dress professionally and for the occasion. Dress professionally and for the occasion. Be honest. Be ethical.Be honest. Be ethical. Respond to e-mails and voicemails as soon as possible, even if to say that you received the Respond to e-mails and voicemails as soon as possible, even if to say that you received the

message and will be responding as soon as possible. message and will be responding as soon as possible. Be sure your e-mail and voicemail indicate when you are on vacation or otherwise out of the office Be sure your e-mail and voicemail indicate when you are on vacation or otherwise out of the office

for the day.for the day. Maintain an organized office so that client files and documents can be found in your absence Maintain an organized office so that client files and documents can be found in your absence

(make sure your assistant knows where you keep your client working files).(make sure your assistant knows where you keep your client working files). Never critique, criticize, or gossip about anyone, particularly in the presence of staff, clients, or Never critique, criticize, or gossip about anyone, particularly in the presence of staff, clients, or

opposing counsel.opposing counsel. Treat administrative staff (and everyone else) with respect.Treat administrative staff (and everyone else) with respect. Avoid discussing politics, religion, and other sensitive topics with staff, clients and others.Avoid discussing politics, religion, and other sensitive topics with staff, clients and others. Introduce yourself to people you don’t already know.Introduce yourself to people you don’t already know.

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Panel War StoriesPanel War Stories

Q&A with StudentsQ&A with Students

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Best Practices - Specific AssignmentsBest Practices - Specific AssignmentsOverall Considerations:Overall Considerations: Think before you speak!Think before you speak! Take ownership of every assignment just as if the assignment was given to you Take ownership of every assignment just as if the assignment was given to you

directly by your own best client.directly by your own best client. Spell check, proofread, and double-check your work product.Spell check, proofread, and double-check your work product. Treat every assignment as an opportunity to learn, to develop the breadth of your Treat every assignment as an opportunity to learn, to develop the breadth of your

legal knowledge, and to build a good reputation with the assigning attorney and the legal knowledge, and to build a good reputation with the assigning attorney and the firm in general.firm in general.

Put yourself in the client’s position and assume it’s your money being spent or asset Put yourself in the client’s position and assume it’s your money being spent or asset being sold, both in terms of your billing practices and in terms of the nature of the being sold, both in terms of your billing practices and in terms of the nature of the terms and conditions applicable to the transaction.terms and conditions applicable to the transaction.

Attitude:Attitude: Consider the importance of, and effort invested in, the assigning attorney’s Consider the importance of, and effort invested in, the assigning attorney’s

relationship with the client. relationship with the client. Display enthusiasm, a sense of urgency, and a willingness to participate and learn.Display enthusiasm, a sense of urgency, and a willingness to participate and learn. Anticipate the next stage of the overall project and volunteer to assist with those Anticipate the next stage of the overall project and volunteer to assist with those

assignments.assignments.

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Best Practices - Specific Assignments Cont.Best Practices - Specific Assignments Cont.Work Product and BillingWork Product and Billing Treat all work product given to the assigning attorney or client as the final project. Do Treat all work product given to the assigning attorney or client as the final project. Do

you stake your job on your work product?you stake your job on your work product? Ask for sample forms. Ask for sample forms. Take thorough notes during meetings.Take thorough notes during meetings. Consider what law might apply to your assignment, including statutes applicable to Consider what law might apply to your assignment, including statutes applicable to

corporate transactions, and review the law .corporate transactions, and review the law . Enter your time daily and be concise, yet informative, in your billing entries. Be sure Enter your time daily and be concise, yet informative, in your billing entries. Be sure

to include all of the time you spent on an assignment even if you believe there was to include all of the time you spent on an assignment even if you believe there was inefficiency that, perhaps, should not be billed. Be sure to note and mention to the inefficiency that, perhaps, should not be billed. Be sure to note and mention to the assigning attorney any concerns regarding perceived inefficiencies in your billing assigning attorney any concerns regarding perceived inefficiencies in your billing before the billing cycle is completed. Don’t over bill!!!before the billing cycle is completed. Don’t over bill!!!

Be prepared when you attend a meeting and anticipate what may be useful in the Be prepared when you attend a meeting and anticipate what may be useful in the meeting, including any client files.meeting, including any client files.

Redline changes made to documents that you drafted by the assigning attorney and Redline changes made to documents that you drafted by the assigning attorney and discuss any changes that you do not understand with the assigning attorney.discuss any changes that you do not understand with the assigning attorney.

Do your filing timely and in an organized manner.Do your filing timely and in an organized manner. Develop a document forms bank.Develop a document forms bank.

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Best Practices - Specific Assignments Cont.Best Practices - Specific Assignments Cont.

Communication:Communication: Meet with the assigning attorney in person, particularly when receiving the Meet with the assigning attorney in person, particularly when receiving the

assignment, delivering the assignment, giving notice of any difficulty or assignment, delivering the assignment, giving notice of any difficulty or potential delay in completing of the assignment. Make sure you understand potential delay in completing of the assignment. Make sure you understand what is expected of you and when! what is expected of you and when!

Provide the assigning attorney with regular updates on the status of each Provide the assigning attorney with regular updates on the status of each assignment.assignment.

Always get permission from the assigning attorney before communicating Always get permission from the assigning attorney before communicating with the relevant parties and before sending documents or other with the relevant parties and before sending documents or other correspondence.correspondence.

Never discuss confidential information with persons other than those directly Never discuss confidential information with persons other than those directly involved in the project.involved in the project.

Calendar important dates and include the assigning attorney and paralegal, Calendar important dates and include the assigning attorney and paralegal, if applicable, then follow-up with regard to due dates.if applicable, then follow-up with regard to due dates.

Always copy the assigning attorney on correspondence, including e-mails.Always copy the assigning attorney on correspondence, including e-mails.

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Panel War StoriesPanel War Stories

Q&A with StudentsQ&A with Students

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Best Best PracticesPractices: Career & Practice Development: Career & Practice Development

Promote yourself inside the firm:Promote yourself inside the firm: Volunteer to take assignments that will diversify your legal knowledge and display your Volunteer to take assignments that will diversify your legal knowledge and display your

competence and desire to learncompetence and desire to learn Ask to attend client meetings, closings, and other client events “off the clock”Ask to attend client meetings, closings, and other client events “off the clock” Participate in firm activities and events. Introduce yourself to others in the firm and begin Participate in firm activities and events. Introduce yourself to others in the firm and begin

developing relationships beyond your practice areadeveloping relationships beyond your practice area

Develop an expertise in a particular area of law:Develop an expertise in a particular area of law: Write about it, Write about it, Give in-house CLE presentations, and Give in-house CLE presentations, and Express an interest with attorneys in the firm that practice in the area or need the expertiseExpress an interest with attorneys in the firm that practice in the area or need the expertise

Promote yourself outside the firm:Promote yourself outside the firm: Joining a Bar Association and other legal and non-legal organizationsJoining a Bar Association and other legal and non-legal organizations Write articles, Write articles, Participate in speaking engagements, and Participate in speaking engagements, and Volunteer with reputable charitable or quasi-governmental organizationsVolunteer with reputable charitable or quasi-governmental organizations

Maintain contact with classmates and other contacts, including making regular lunch Maintain contact with classmates and other contacts, including making regular lunch dates, sending holiday cards, and taking note of their professional and personal dates, sending holiday cards, and taking note of their professional and personal accomplishments.accomplishments.

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Contact InformationContact Information

Helpful Phone Numbers: CBA: (303) 860-1115 or (800) 332-6736 Legal Aid Foundation: (303) 863-9544 DBA: (303) 860-1115 CBA-CLE: (303) 860-0608 or (888) 860-2531 Metro Volunteer Lawyers: (303) 866-9378

Websites: CBA – www.cobar.org

AALS webpage is located on the CBA site under the Committee listing

DBA – www.denbar.org