Annual Meeting & Judicial Conference

This year’s Annual Meeting & Judicial Conference takes place at the historic Roundhouse & Railyards in Evanston, Wyoming, September 15 – 18th. Join your friends and colleagues for three days of educational programs and earn up to 18.5 CLE credits with 8.5 ethics credits! There’s still time to register – www.wyomingbar.org/annualmeeting - or you can register at the door. Hope to see you in Evanston!

Access to Justice Public Hearing

In an effort to learn more about the barriers that exist between people and the justice system, the Wyoming Access to Justice Commission will be holding a series of public hearings. These hearings are designed to gather input from the public, human services and non-profit agencies, as well as legal services clients themselves. The Commission hopes to use this information to craft a high-quality, statewide legal aid system that could be of great benefit to the citizens of Wyoming. In conjunction with the Wyoming State Bar Annual Meeting & Judicial Conference, the next public hearing will be held on Monday, September 14th, at the Roundhouse in Evanston, Wyoming, from 6 – 8:00 p.m. To see a list of those on the Access to Justice commission, please click here - www.courts.state.wy.us/AJCMembers.aspx.

New Rule 7.4 in Effect Today!

The Officers and Commissioners of the Wyoming State Bar have recommended that the Wyoming Supreme Court amend Rule 7.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys at Law. After careful review, the Court adopted the proposed amendments, and the new rule will go into effect September 1, 2009.

Rule 7.4 addresses “communication of fields of practice.” The current rule prohibits a lawyer from stating or implying that he/she is certified as a specialist. The new rule states that “a lawyer shall not state or imply that the lawyer is certified as a specialist in a particular field of law unless:

1. The lawyer is certified as a specialist by an organization that has been approved by the American Bar Association;
   
2. The name of the certifying organization is clearly identified in the communication; and
   
3. The attorney has provided copies of the current certification along with a $150.00 annual certification fee to the Wyoming State Bar prior to advertising such certification.
   
4. The attorney shall cease to state or imply that the lawyer is certified as a specialist in a particular field of law, at such time as the certifying entity or attorney no longer has current certification or accreditation by the American Bar Association, or if the attorney has not paid the annual certification fee to the Wyoming State Bar when the same is due.

The above is simply a summary of the amended rule. To see the full text of the amended rule, to go into effect today, please visit the Wyoming Supreme Court website at www.courts.state.wy.us.

Request for Public Comment

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming has amended its local rules based upon the proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure by the federal rules committee. A “red-lined” copy of the proposed local bankruptcy rules is available for review on the court’s website, www.wyb.uscourts.gov. Comments or questions should be directed to: Michele Russell, Law Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, P.O. Box 763, Cheyenne, WY 82003-0763; (307) 433-2252; michele_russell@wyb.uscourts.gov. Comments must be received by the Court on or before September 25, 2009.

Wyoming Supreme Court-Appointed Boards

In an effort to coordinate all of the terms of the various boards and committees that are appointed by the Wyoming Supreme Court, and to give the incoming President of the Wyoming State Bar some additional time to find members who are willing to serve for recommendation to the Court, the terms of members of the Board of Professional Responsibility and Character and Fitness Committee, Peer Review Panel, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, and the Permanent Rules Advisory Committee will be extended, and will all expire on December 31st of the calendar year when the members' terms would otherwise expire. Please contact Judy Pacheco, Clerk, if you have comments or questions.

Wyoming High School Mock Trial

The Wyoming High School Mock Trial Program will be posting the “case” for its fall competition on September 1st and has put materials in all county libraries in Wyoming to help students and their coaches form teams and get ready for the 2009 competition.

The case is based on the dispute involving the “Black 14” football players and the administration at the University of Wyoming in 1969. It will be published – along with WHSMT competition rules and procedures – on the website for the Wyoming Partnership for Civic Education today. The state competition is November 21 in Casper, and the winner will represent Wyoming at the national competition in May in Philadelphia.

To help teachers and attorney coaches, we have purchased and placed a set of materials called “May It Please the Court” in all 23 county libraries (using funds from the Wyoming State Bar). The materials include a DVD and notebook with information on how to organize a high school team and how to prepare for competition.

Students who participate in mock trial programs learn teamwork, leadership, goal-setting, strategic planning and implementation, professionalism, critical thinking, citizenship and constructive argumentative skills. Please pass on this information to a teacher who is interested in working with 6-8 students to prepare for the November tournament. For more information, contact Marguerite Herman at margherman@bresnan.net or (307) 638-1468.

Positions Available

1. DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE DEAN
   The University of Wyoming College of Law invites applications for the position of Director of External Relations and Special Assistant to the Dean. Position Number 2631. Minimum qualifications include a master’s or J.D. degree, substantial experience in a legal or academic setting, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, excellent computer skills, organizational and public relations skills.
   
   This is a full-time position and reports directly to the Dean of the College. The salary will be commensurate with experience, with full university benefits. The successful candidate’s principal responsibility will be to assist the Dean and the College with external communications and relations. Specific duties include but are not limited to: Coordinate with other academic units; manage joint degree programs; coordinate with the School of Energy Resources; coordinate the Dean’s and the College’s external relations with alumni, attorneys, judges, legislators, executive branch officials, and the public; coordinate with campus student services to provide effective financial aid advising to law students; assume primary responsibility for external communications, including producing the College of Law’s electronic newsletter (The Docket) and its print newsletter (Counsel); provide significant administrative and communications support to faculty director of the law school externship program; coordinate and plan alumni events, continuing legal education programs, law-related symposia, and other events; manage public relations; assist with the Dean’s correspondence, scheduling and office organization; organize meetings for the Dean and the College; serve as a liaison between the Dean and the UW Foundation; and fulfill other duties as assigned by the Dean.
   
   The position will remain open until filled, but applications should be received by September 15, 2009, to ensure full consideration. All applicants should submit a cover letter, resume that addresses how the applicant’s experience meets the job requirements listed in the posting, and at least three personal references with contact information to Associate Dean Dee Pridgen, University of Wyoming College of Law, Dept. 3035, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071. Electronic submissions will be accepted at Pridgen@uwyo.edu.
   
   Persons seeking admission, employment or access to programs of the University of Wyoming shall be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or political belief.
   
   
2. ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
   Wyoming Attorney General's Office – Tort Litigation Division. Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming. Salary: $4,044 - $6,528/month.
   
   NOTE: The Wyoming Attorney General’s Office offers a competitive benefits package including: Medical, Dental and Life Insurance, paid vacations and sick leave, paid holidays, State Retirement and Deferred Compensation Program, longevity pay and opportunities for advancement.
   
   This position is at-will and is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Attorney General (W.S. 9-1-608). Successful candidates are required to pass a background investigation.
   
   Minimum Qualifications:
   Completion of college coursework at the juris doctorate level and membership in the State Bar as an attorney qualified to practice law in Wyoming.
   
   This position is for an attorney in the Tort Litigation Division provide professional legal representation to various state licensing boards and commissions by providing legal advice and counsel to assigned investigative board and commission members; prosecutes all contested case proceedings before the boards and commissions which involve disciplinary action against a license holder; advocates a board reviewer’s position when applications are denied and a contested case hearing is requested by the applicant; conduct legal research and draft or present legal conclusions; review official rules and regulations; review draft legislation to advise the governor and clients; review agency correspondence; compose formal and informal legal opinions; participate in training and instruction for board members and staff.
   
   Class Code: ATTY-15828 Attorney General
   
   For more information or to apply online go to statejobs.state.wy.us/JobSearchDetail.aspx?ID=15828 or submit a State of Wyoming Employment Application to the Human Resource Division, Emerson Building, 2001 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82002-0060, Phone: (307)777-7188, Fax: (307)777-6562, along with transcripts of any relevant course work. Open Until Filled. EEO/ADA Employer.
   
   
3. TRAFFIC SAFETY RESOURCE PROSECUTOR – The Wyoming County and Prosecuting Attorneys Association is seeking to contract with a qualified applicant to serve as a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor. Applicants must have a juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school and member in good standing of the Wyoming State Bar. Experience in prosecution of impaired driving cases is preferred. The successful applicant will be responsible for development of traffic safety training programs with an emphasis on prosecution of drunk driving and vehicular homicide and other duties attendant to that training responsibility. The successful applicant will also assist in development and maintenance of listserve and other internet resources; serve as a liaison between prosecutors, courts, Department of Transportation, law enforcement agencies and others on traffic safety issues.
   
   Compensation is dependent on experience. Statewide travel and travel for national trainings and symposiums is required. Resumes should be submitted promptly as the position is open until filled. Resumes and inquiries should be addressed to Richard Bohling, 525 Grand Avenue, Suite 100, Laramie, Wyoming 82070.