Bench & Bar January/February 2025

BAR NEWS

BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 IN REGULAR SESSION, THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS CONDUCTED THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS:

The Board of Governors met on Friday, September 20, 2024. Officers and Bar Governors in attendance were, Presi dent R. Blackburn, President-Elect T. McMurtry, Vice President M. Cook, Immediate Past President W. Schrock, Young Lawyers Division Chair D. Combs. Bar Governors 1 st District – J. Sigler, S. Montalvo-Gesser; 2 nd District – R. Reed, S. McGehee-Shacklette; 3 rd District – D. Benge, J. Ridings; 4 th District - S. Phillips; 5 th District – A. Adams, A. Connelly; 6 th District J. Gatherwright, and 7 th District –M. Click, W. Hall. Bar Governors C. Stav ros and J. Watkins were absent.

• KBA Chief Bar Counsel Jane Herrick presented the Office of Bar Counsel annual discipline report. • Clients’ Security Fund Trustee Chair Justice Daniel Venters (Ret.) presented the annual Fund report. • Attorneys’ Advertising Commission (AAC) Chair Matthew Tierney pre sented the AAC annual report. • Unauthorized Law of Practice (UPL) Committee Chair Rodger Lofton pre sented the UPL annual report. • Approved an ethics opinion regarding attorney responsibilities where a Notice of Appeal has not been filed. • Director of Communications Shannon Roberts presented the results of the AI Survey. The survey was sent to the KBA membership in July 2024 with it reaching approximately 18,870 mem bers and with 13.1% or 2,480 members completing the survey. Most attorneys participating in the survey were solo practitioners and attorneys from small firms. In conclusion, the survey results were many respondents believe lawyers should learn about AI; a significant majority think self-represented litigants should disclose using AI; opinions are divided on whether using AI should be part of ethical obligations and most clients do not ask if lawyers use AI or request them to use AI tools. Recom mendations for moving forward were education and training, clear ethical guidelines and encourage client-driven demand.

• Young Lawyers Division Chair Donald H. Combs III reported YLD is chang ing the plans for the Gala Fundraising Event and are preparing to join it with the Legal Food Frenzy to make it less formal with plans to have the Attorney General and other dignitaries attend ing. The Board approved amendments to the Bylaws beginning with Article II Membership Section 1, which covers age or tenure. The proposed amendments allow a lawyer to run for office and if they only had 10 years of service, they could potentially serve an extra three years to serve out their term through the officer’s track. The other issue YLD faced last year involved law students with a limited license to practice law. If they hold the limited licenses, they are con sidered eligible and under the proposed Bylaw amendment if they age out while they are following the officer track then they can continue to serve. The Board approved the proposed Bylaws amend ments as submitted. • President Rhonda J. Blackburn reported that the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee had its meeting with Jen nifer Lewin, Director, ABA Center for Bar Leadership, who is helping to facil itate the planning process and identified some issues which will be reviewed by the committee. • President Blackburn reported the KBA’s Annual Convention is sched uled for June 5 and 6, at Central Bank Center in Lexington. Christine Stanley

KBA MEMBERS Do you have a matter to discuss with the KBA’s Board of Governors? The next Board meetings are scheduled on MARCH 21, 2025 MAY 16, 2025 To schedule a time on the Board’s agenda at one of these meetings, please contact John Meyers or Melissa Blackwell at (502) 564-3795.

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