The
MSBA is in a constant state of evolution in its pursuit of excellence
within the profession. As I have traveled throughout the state and
nation, my belief that Minnesota attorneys are dedicated, professional,
and unselfish in serving their clients and the community has been
confirmed. It has also become clear that Minnesota judges and our
court system are highly regarded nationally for their competence and
constitutional analysis, and internationally for their assistance
to various countries in the process of developing judicial systems.
As
this is my last opportunity to address the MSBA membership as president,
I feel it is my duty to inform you of the good work we accomplished
in the past year. While I would like to take credit for all of these
accomplishments, the reality is that the Bar president is charged
simply with harnessing the talents and energies of the membership,
and I have been blessed to lead a group of individuals unequaled in
their desire and ability to serve this organization and the public
at large.
In
the past year the MSBA has taken steps to assist attorneys in the
practice of law. The invaluable website practicelaw.org
has been updated with HotDocs software, which formats selected legal
documents in response to the user’s answers to a series of simple
questions. Additionally, the MSBA Civil Litigation Section, working
with district court judges, has compiled district court orders and
memoranda for posting to practicelaw. Responding to popular demand,
the Civil Litigation Section also has undertaken to reprint its valuable
handbook, Times Up: A Manual
of the Statutes of Limitation in Minnesota for Civil Litigators.
One
accomplishment of which I am particularly proud is the computer-assisted
legal research (CALR) program, through which members will soon have
free online access to caselaw and other information for legal research.
I had the honor of selecting a first-rate task force to address this
issue, and their findings should be completed soon. Once a service
has been selected, MSBA members will have free access to all published
state and federal appellate decisions, the Code of Federal Regulations,
Minnesota statutes and rules, full Minnesota caselaw, search options,
and online help and training.
In
addition to providing services direct to members, the MSBA has continued
to pursue partnerships with others in the legal profession and to
provide services to those who are unable to easily afford legal assistance.
The MSBA membership enjoys a long history of providing services to
those in need, and this year we took steps to ensure that those attorneys
who give of themselves are rewarded for their altruism. The MSBA Assembly
approved a resolution requesting that the Supreme Court amend the
CLE rules to allow lawyers to receive CLE credit for performing pro
bono services. This program will reward the lawyers who already give
so much, and we hope will encourage others to engage in pro bono work.
The
MSBA also believes in rewarding members of the public who make sacrifices
for the good of society. The “Wills for Heroes” program was created
to show our appreciation for fire fighters, police officers, and other
first responders. Working through the Probate & Trust Law Section,
we expect soon to be providing wills, health care directives and financial
powers of attorney to these deserving public servants.
The
MSBA continues in its effort to educate the public on the role of
attorneys and the good work we perform in the community. This year
we have again engaged Minnesota’s youth through the Mock Trial program.
As many members can attest, judging these competitions and coaching
these youth are wonderfully satisfying opportunities. The MSBA’s Criminal
Law Section has created a video to inform teenagers about the dangers
of methamphetamine abuse. And we are pleased and proud to participate
in Secretary of State Mark Ritchie’s Civic Education Roundtable, a
noble endeavor engaging 140 individuals from 75 groups to revive and
promote civic education in the schools and in the public. We are also
active in planning the celebration of Minnesota’s 150th birthday and
hope through these events to help remind people of the important role
the legal community has served in shaping our great state.
Finally,
the MSBA has taken an active role in perhaps the most controversial
issue of the day involving our judiciary. In March, the 32-member
Citizens Commission for an Impartial Judiciary headed by former governor
Al Quie released its findings regarding the process by which we choose
our judges. Facilitating this ground-breaking study is just one of
the ways in which the MSBA is working to help frame the debate surrounding
this vital issue.
I
started this article by quoting one of the great legal minds in history,
and as I sign off for the last time as your president, I’m drawn to
the thoughts of another great lawyer, Benjamin Disraeli. Disraeli
once famously commented on time: “But what minutes! Count them by
sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day.” This past
year has been a thousand days, none of them spent anchored or adrift,
and all of them made up of memories that I will cherish for the rest
of my life.
The
coming year will be filled with great expectations under the leadership
of Brian Melendez and the MSBA officers, Leo Brisbois, Mike Ford,
and Terry Votel.
PATRICK
J. KELLY is president of the Minnesota State Bar Association,
a founding partner in the St. Paul law firm Kelly & Fawcett, and
a recognized Minnesota SuperLawyer. He practices in areas of
municipal law, labor and employment law and litigation, real estate,
and administrative hearings.
