Young Lawyers Division 2000-2001

MARCH/APRIL 2000

"The Best of the West" - The 2000 Rocky Mountain Regional AOP Conference

By Joseph Kanefield

As the Tempe skies cleared and the sun rose after forty-eight straight hours of rain (both hosts and guests were biting their respective nails), the stage was set for this year's Rocky Mountain Regional AOP in Tempe, Arizona, March 10-11. Over forty young lawyers were in attendance from Rocky Mountain affiliates and surprise appearances were made by affiliate representatives hailing from Maryland and Puerto Rico!

Events kicked off Friday afternoon with a warm welcome from Heidi McNeil Staudenmaier, president of the Maricopa County Bar Association, who, in turn, introduced the conference keynote speaker, Scott Bales, Solicitor General, Arizona Attorney General's Office. Mr. Bales challenged the young lawyers in attendance to openly embrace change in recognition of such rapidly evolving fields as genetic research and Internet technology. He reminded attendees of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct's charge that lawyers owe a duty to the preservation of society and encouraged young lawyers to "be connected" to societal change and to consider its effect on the evolution of the role of law in society.

Mr. Bales' address was followed by the "Best of the West Project Ideas," which showcased some of the premiere member and public service projects currently being implemented in the Rocky Mountain region. Andrew Turk, president-elect of the Maricopa County (AZ) Bar YLD, kicked off this segment with "An Ethical Evening at the Theatre (The Sequel)." This lively and entertaining evening features a series of skits performed by Maricopa County's own judges and lawyers that highlight a particular ethical issue - with no small amount of comic exaggeration. Each skit then leads to discussion about the issue among small groups of lawyers and judges, followed by general discussion, and ending with a reception after the final "performances."

On behalf of the Pima County (AZ) Bar Association YLD, Steven T. Portell presented attendees the "Lawyers for Literacy" program, now in its ninth year. The program focuses on elementary students who meet individually with young lawyer volunteer tutors one hour a week for the entire school year. After successfully completing the program, the children are given a variety of awards. Because of the success and continued growth of the program, the Pima County YLD has even created a website featuring the program at www.lawyersforliteracy.com.

Denver Bar Association YLD President Laura B. Embleton showed fellow attendees how to implement her bar's "Christmas in January" program for Denver foster children. In its third year, this program provided 400 children each with two toys, a stuffed animal, a book, a video, and a sporting item. The giving event culminates with a pizza party that offers the kids a chance to eat and play together, often reuniting siblings who have been separated by the foster care process, while providing a much-needed social forum for the foster parents.

Rounding out the "Best of the West" programs, Joseph Kanefield, president of the Arizona State Bar Association YLD, presented the Arizona Modest Means Project. Now in its fifth year, this project provides legal assistance at little or no cost to those individuals who make too much money to receive free legal aid but not enough to afford an attorney on their own. The program offers assistance in the areas of domestic relations, landlord-tenant, consumer advocacy, wills/probate, and guardianships. For more information regarding any of these projects, contact Shane Clays, Maricopa County Bar YLD Divisional Director at 602/257-4200.

After the "Best of the West Project Ideas," attendees gathered at Gordon Biersch, a local Tempe brewery and restaurant offering hearty pints and a delicious dining array. Thanks to a great dinner reception turnout, attendees feasted, reunited, made new connections, and set off to explore the many offerings of downtown Tempe nightlife.

The following morning, thanks to a bit of coffee and a motivating talk by the Honorable Judge John Gaylord of the Maricopa County Superior Court, attendees awoke to another day of pertinent programming. Through humorous and often touching personal accounts and courtroom insights, Judge Gaylord implored attendees to pursue public service endeavors both within and outside the legal profession, noting his strong conviction that this fosters personal and professional contentment.

Next, it was Jo Ellen McBride's turn to educate attendees about affiliate membership recruitment and retention. Jo Ellen, treasurer of the Arizona State Bar YLD and Membership Recruitment Committee chair of the Maricopa County Bar YLD, has earned a reputation for being knowledgeable and current regarding membership issues, and from the evidence of this solid and informative presentation, that reputation proved to be well deserved.

Following Jo Ellen and rounding out the presentations were Beth Nedrow, immediate past-president of the Montana State Bar YLD, and Laura B. Embleton, president of the Denver Bar Association YLD, both representing the ABA YLD's Affiliate Assistance Team. Beth and Laura teamed up to provide attendees with a framework for implementing successful and effective long-range planning meetings as well as providing potential substantive long-range planning goals. Laura and Beth also made attendees aware of the many offerings of the ABA YLD Affiliate Assistance Team. For more information regarding the ABA YLD Affiliate Assistance Team, please contact the ABA YLD at 312/988-5629.

In keeping with Rocky Mountain Regional frontier tradition, the 2000 Rocky Mountain AOP Conference officially concluded with the passing of a fashionable pelt-lined hat, replete with tail, to Laura B. Embleton, next yearŐs conference organizer.

And speaking of next year, mark your calendars for the 2001 Rocky Mountain Regional AOP in Breckenridge, Colorado, April 6-7, 2001. Join the Denver and Colorado Bar Associations for a great two-day program with plenty of time for skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and discovering the beautiful Victorian town of Breckenridge. Contact Laura Embleton at 303/824-5369, e-mail lembleton@cobar.org or Bill Munn at 303/696-5405 or bmunn@unipac.com for more information. See you next year!

Joseph Kanefield is president of the Arizona State Bar YLD and an assistant attorney general for the State of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona.