The Oklahoma Bar Journal August 2023

the pandemic is still believed to be a major factor of the lower passage rates. She also said a visit to the OU College of Law is still being coordinated. Governor Ailles Bahm reported the Bench and Bar Committee is meeting regularly, and new leadership is doing well. Legislator Michael Brooks-Jimenez spoke during a recent meeting about his concern of having so few lawyers in the Legislature, with many current lawyer legislators close to term limits. She also said the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program Committee meets regularly, and its leadership is very engaged. She said with substance abuse, mental health issues and lawyer suicide on the rise, the committee urgently needs additional support and resources to help bar members in crisis. Governor Barbush added the Southeastern Oklahoma Summit that is being planned is partly intended to expand LHL services to rural Oklahoma. Governor Barbush also said the Cannabis Law Committee has very active and engaged leadership and is meeting monthly. Governor Rogers said the Clients’ Security Fund Committee is meeting soon. He also said the Professionalism Committee is planning a CLE. Governor Vanderburg said the Rules of Professional Conduct Committee met and is looking at a change to Rule 1.8 that deals with financial interests. He said the ABA has model rules that are being updated, and the updates are intended to help expand access to courts for low-income people. President-Elect Pringle reported the Strategic Planning Committee met and is making a recommenda tion to the MCLE Commission to allow diversity-related CLE to qual ify as ethics credit. The Annual Meeting and the association’s information technology needs are

Governor Shaffer Siex reported the Access to Justice Committee is working to provide bilingual legal guides for the public.

REPORT OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

Oklahoma and Arkansas. She also met with Executive Director Johnson regarding ongoing issues with increasing board participa tion, reviewed the minutes of the Access to Justice Committee meet ing and corresponded with the Solo and Small Firm Conference Planning Committee about the YLD helping to promote the party and organizing a costume contest. Additionally, she met virtually with Governor Barbush to dis cuss the Southeastern Oklahoma Summit, where she will present, and attended an Oklahoma Girl Attorney brunch event in Tulsa to promote the Solo & Small Firm Conference, as well as planning a hospitality suite at the conference. She worked on gaining sponsor ships for the happy hour reception the YLD will host on May 12 after the spring group of new lawyers has been sworn in. She reported the YLD has been get ting a good response to its recent survey email, and among the survey results is the insight that there can be a difficult transition period between law school and legal practice. She also said the YLD is planning to bring back the Kick It Forward event to provide assistance to bar members who are having trouble paying their membership dues.

General Counsel Hendryx reported for the month of March, the Office of the General Counsel received 15 formal grievances involving three lawyers. She discussed the disciplinary pro cess for those who resign pending discipline and described how the consequences of such action are essentially the same as disbarment, with a five-year waiting period before those members can reap ply for admission. She reported Assistant General Counsel Peter Haddock is retiring, and her office is in the process of hiring his replacement. A written report of PRC actions and OBA disciplinary matters for the month was submit ted to the board for its review. BOARD LIAISON REPORTS Governor Shaffer Siex reported the Access to Justice Committee is working to provide bilingual legal guides for the public. Governor Knott reported the Bar Center Facilities Committee is looking at a redesign of the front entrance to the bar center on 18th Street. She also reported the Law Schools Committee conducted its site visit of the OCU School of Law when members met with faculty, admin istration and students. She also said bar exam passage rates are still a concern, and the impact of

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL