Discussion Points for Bob Craghead

Prepared by:

John E. Thies

Past President, Illinois State Bar Association

Updated: ______

Operational Plan and Calendar for Presidential Year

(template)

A. Action Items

1. xxx

2. xx

3. xxx

[**examples, “Finish June President’s Page”; “Complete speech for XYZ Bar Association”; “Complete agenda for September Board Meeting”; “Identify targeted speaking engagements to coincide with roll out of themes”; “Draft submission for YLD Newsletter”…**]

B. Themes/Special Committees

** Overall Leadership Vision Statement:

[**example: Through the wise use of available resources, we want to improve the image of lawyers and judges, and address at least some of the critical issues facing the profession. In so doing, we want to keep our Association strong, with members who feel connected, and a staff that feels empowered and professionally fulfilled**]

** Summary of Special Committees:

(1) Special Committee on ______. This group will look at ______.

[**example (for a committee working on the law student debt crisis): “This group will look at the long term impact on the delivery of legal services of the current trajectory in the cost of legal education (and resulting debt load for the typical law school graduate to which this has led)”**].

(2) Special Committee on ______. This group will look at ______.

[** example (for a committee working on court funding): “This group will coordinate the association’s efforts to identify and publicize threats to fair and impartial courts due to lack of funding (and consider measures to address this problem)”**].

(3) Special Committee on ______. This group will coordinate the association’s efforts to ______.

(4) Special Committee on ______. This group will coordinate the association’s efforts to ______.

Detail as to Special Committees [**by way of example**]

a. Law School Debt - the impact of higher and higher law school debt on the delivery of legal service.

Background: As the practice of law is evolving, the core membership of the association – lawyers in firms of five or less – will have a progressively more difficult time hiring new lawyers and therefore meeting legal needs. Among other things, this will threaten the association’s long term health.

This is a direct result of the higher and higher cost of legal education, leading to salary/benefit needs that generally cannot be met by smaller firms. Since these firms currently provide a large percentage of the legal services to the citizens of this state, the strain on their ability to do so raises significant public policy issues.

(1) Special Committee on Impact of Law School Debt on the Delivery of Legal Service. Staffed by ______.

______, co-chair;

______, co-chair;

______(reporter);

______;

- Mission/structure/activities of the Special Committee:

(a) Mission: study impact of crisis on the future delivery of legal services and propose next steps.

(b) Fall, 20xx: Hold hearings around the state receiving testimony from practitioners, judges, local bar leaders, the legal aid community, financial aid providers and academics.

(c) Winter, 20xx: Draft report including findings and recommendations for action by the Association.

(d) Spring, 20xx: Get approval/endorsement of Board of Governors

(e) Annual Meeting, June, 20xx: Present report to Assembly, including any proposals for Assembly action.

(2) August Bar Journal President’s Page.

(3) August Bar Journal companion article.

(4) Report to Assembly at Mid-Year Meeting, 20xx.

(5) White paper which documents evidence collected and makes recommendations as to next steps.

(6) Assembly action (at Annual Meeting, 20xx).

(7) Bar Foundation Fellowship (helping to fund lawyers at legal aid organization(s)).

b. Threat to Fair and Impartial Courts (aka Judicial Independence) – from lack of adequate court funding.

Background: The ongoing weakened economy has only exacerbated the funding crisis facing our courts – historically, the primary forum of our justice system. The national crisis in this area has been well-documented – it has also been the focus of ABA President Bill Robinson during 2011/12. This crisis has included, e.g., court closings for one business day a week, judges without courtrooms, etc. It also is likely to impede the introduction of needed and efficiency-bringing reforms such as e-filing. This instability threatens the viability of a co-equal branch of our government.

Because access to the courts is so critical for members of the public – and the lawyers who represent them – the association should take a leadership role in calling attention to this problem, and in proposing and achieving solutions. While past work in this area by the Judge’s Association has been positive, we need to do much more. The association’s profile and influence make us uniquely situated to take this issue further and effect substantive reform.

(1) Special Committee on Fair and Impartial Courts. Staffed by ______.

Members include:

______, co-chair;

______(reporter);

______;

- Mission/structure/activities of Special Committee:

(a) Mission: To coordinate association efforts to identify and publicize threats to fair and impartial courts from lack of funding, and to consider measures to address this problem. This mission could go beyond one year (subject to association leadership and approval).

(b) Activities: These may include:

i. creating presidential press events and letters to the editor;

ii. planning a lawyer/legislator breakfast/lunch (mid-October or mid-November);

iii. developing a PR/lobbying campaign in collaboration with other like-minded organizations such as the ABA, Judge’s Association, other lawyer groups, court administrators, court reporters, circuit clerks, county boards, etc. (e.g., this might include providing examples of how the lack of funding has negatively impacted not only court personnel but also the citizens within legislative districts);

iv. joint program at Mid-Year (MCLE credit?);

v. identifying possible legislative proposals to consider by Assembly at Mid-Year meeting (e.g., putting circuit clerks under the courts, seeking revenue neutrality);

vi. survey of chief judges;

vii. access statistical information from Administrative Office of Courts;

viii. confer with the Conference of Chief Judges;

ix. coordinate with Strategic Marketing Committee.

(2) November Bar Journal President’s Page. Reference activities of task force; survey results; Mid-Year program.

(3) November Bar Journal companion article(s). Article by Chief Justice of Supreme Court.

(4) Miscellaneous…

c. ______

d. ______

2. Conferences/Conclaves.

a. [**detail**]

3. Appointments.

a. Deadline to complete. xxx

b. Dates to meet with Executive Director. xxx

c. Sign appointment letters. xxx

4. Bar Journal Related.

a. Deadlines for President’s Pages. See calendar.

b. Dedicated Issues: xxx

c. Photo shoot. xxx

d. Guidelines from Director of Publications: show passion; start with a story; determine number of words on one page and shoot for that (~900); what do I want the reader to do?; emphasize the value of membership; deliver message of the Association’s services.

e. Tentative Schedule of president’s pages:

(1) July – Overview of bar year

(2) August – xxx

(3) September – xxx

(4) October – xxx

(5) November – xxx

(6) December – Holiday Message with Family Photo.

(7) January – xxx

(8) February – xxx

(9) March – xxx

(10) April – xxx

(11) May – xxx

(12) June – Summary of year and thank yous

** Other possible topics to incorporate: xxx

5. Other Internal Messaging.

a. Facebook, Linked In and other social media

b. Regular presidential updates in Bar Association Blog

c. Board materials to past-presidents by email

d. Linkage between electronic publications.

6. ABA-Related Issues

a. House of Delegates.

b. National Caucus of State Bar Associations.

c. NCBP

7. Other possible points of presidential emphasis (e.g., to include in stump speeches).

a. Xxx

b. Xxx

c. Bar Foundation Related

8. Assembly-related.

a. Begin to formulate/anticipate proposals to be acted upon.

(1) Annual, 20xx.

(2) Mid-Year, 20xx.

(3) Annual, 20xx.

9. Travel.

i. President’s Trips.

(1) xxx

(2) xxx

ii. Washington, D.C. Swearing In.

iii. Other

10. Annual Meeting related

a. Site visit.

b. Spouses’ event.

c. Thursday night Opening Reception honoring President.

d. Rain Option. Ballroom reserved.

e. Children’s activities.

f. Special signage

g. Menus.

h. Babysitting.

i. Overflow option.

j. Confirm any changes to hotel before Annual Meeting (e.g., construction projects that could impact meeting)

k. President’s Dinner.

l. Section and Committee Officers Breakfast.

11. Mid-Year Meeting Related.

a. Senior Counselor Lunch.

b. Symposium drawing upon a themes

c. Spouses’ event.

d. President’s Dinner.

e. Meeting with past presidents.

12. Officers’ Retreat – prior to start of year.

13. Board Meetings.

a. July BOG –

- Agenda items:

b. October BOG –

- Agenda items:

c. January BOG –

- Agenda items:

d. March BOG –

- Agenda items:

e. May BOG –

- Agenda items:

14. Miscellaneous.

a. Board of Governor’s Awards. xxx

b. Presidential Commendations: xxx

c. Judge’s Association Related

(1) Meetings with their president

d. New legislator reception.

e. Meetings with Section Council/Committee Chairs (during July/August, 20xx).

f. Courtesy meetings with justices of the Supreme Court.

To cover:

- plans for 20xx/xx

- support for the Court’s initiatives

g. Appointment of under-represented spot on board.

15. Special assignments for officers (and others?) during 20xx/xx (aside from the usual):

16. Overall Schedule – be sure all dates are on following schedule:

C. Calendar

20XX

**Note: start at least six months before installation**

January

To schedule: xxx

1/5 xxx

. . .

February

x/x xxx

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

. . .