Bar
Association Administration
Finance & Planning.
This committee has responsibility for the evaluation and review of HCBA
programs and activities. It makes recommendations regarding long-range plans,
annual plans, and the annual budget to the Executive Committee and Governing
Council. It is also responsible for reviewing and recommending changes to the
HCBA Articles and Bylaws as necessary.
Technology
Oversight Committee. This committee
oversees technology efforts of the bar. You need not
be a "techie," just a user of technology
to enhance your practice. Help set priorities for
new steps by the association in making the most of new
technology tools.
The Hennepin Lawyer
Committee.
This committee oversees the content and editing of
the bar association's bi-monthly magazine. members determine policies and
procedures, write and/or recruit authors, serve as issue editors and mentor
newer members.
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Service
to the Community
Delivery of Legal Services Committee.
Members of this committee
are representatives from legal services agencies and the courts who together
seek to encourage the legal community in providing access to justice. The
committee serves as a "think tank" for the effective provision of
legal services in the community as well as a way for agencies to provide
practical coordination of their services. The committee encourages lawyers in
their professional obligation to practice in the public interest, as
contemplated by Rule 6.1 of the MN Rules of Professional Conduct. The HCBA
provides staff support for this joint committee.
Community Relations Committee.
This committee oversees community service and public legal education programs of
the HCBA, including Law Week programming, programs for schools, speakers bureau,
pamphlets, etc. The committee also provides general oversight of public
relations efforts of the bar, emphasizing the positive achievements of the association.
Lawyer
Referral & Information Service - Oversight Committee. The
LRIS Oversight Committee focuses on the practical issues and procedures of the
Lawyer Referral and Information Service and the related direct legal service
programs of the bar association. The task of the committee is to advise the
leadership and staff with regard to policies and procedures that will best
provide these services to the public while maintaining the LRIS as a valuable
member service.
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Service
to the Legal Profession
Bench & Bar Committee.
This committee provides a forum and educational programs for lawyers and judges
in Hennepin County. The committee focuses on practice and procedure in the
Hennepin County District Courts.
Continuing Legal Education Committee.
The mission of this committee is to foster development and presentation of high
quality, cost effective continuing legal education for the HCBA legal community.
Diversity Committee.
This committee was formed as a result of the 1993 Glass Ceiling Task
Force. It monitors implementation of the recommendations of that report,
collecting and publishing relevant statistics. The committee recommends the
recipient of the annul Diversity award. The committee also monitors
compliance and progress toward achieving the diversity recommendations of the
HCBA's Long Range/Strategic Plan, including building relationships with other
bar associations.
Government
Relations Committees.
This committee identifies legislation that the HCBA should
support or oppose and communicates to HCBA members. The
committee serves as an information resource to members and
legislators on matters consistent with the association’s
mission.
New Lawyers
Section. A "new lawyer" means a lawyer who has been admitted to practice before
the Supreme Court of Minnesota within the past six years or is eligible for
membership in the MSBA Young Lawyers Section or the ABA Young Lawyers Division.
The HCBA New Lawyers Section consists of those new lawyers who have joined the
association. The Section organizes its programs through various committees that
promote professional development, community outreach, and networking
opportunities at social events.
Professional Conduct/Professionalism
Section. This committee reviews and makes
recommendations on the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct and acts as a
policy liaison committee with the Lawyers’ Professional Responsibility Board.
It also considers proposals that would amend the Model Rules of Professional
Conduct; reviews Legal Fee Arbitration policy and procedure, the unauthorized
practice of law and other issues relating to professional conduct and the
practice of law; and acts as a liaison to Minnesota Supreme Court Boards. The
committee promotes and encourages high standards of professionalism in the
practice of law. It works with HCBA committees and sections, law firms, law
schools and HCBA members to develop and implement projects related to
professionalism. The committee also recommends the recipient of the HCBA’s
annual Professionalism Award.
Solo and Small Firm Practice Section.
This section provides education and a forum for information sharing for
attorneys who are engaged in a general practice and/or a solo or small firm
practice.
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Special
Events
Bar Benefit Committee.
This committee is responsible for planning the annual Bar Benefit, a fundraiser
of the Hennepin County Bar Foundation (HCBF) . Committee members plan
and coordinate fundraising, event publicity and ticket sales, entertainment,
site selection and catering.
Bar Memorial Committee.
This committee is charged with preparing memorials for deceased members of the
Hennepin County bench and bar, and planning the annual Bar Memorial Session.
Charity Golf
Committee. The committee is responsible for
planning the annual Charity Golf Classic, a fund-raiser of the
Hennepin County Bar Foundation (HCBF). Committee members
coordinate and promote this event.
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Substantive
Law
Affordable Housing.
This committee serves attorneys practicing in the areas of affordable housing
and community development and provides a forum for discussing issues of mutual
interest. Along with the ABA Forum on Affordable Housing and Community
Development Law, the committee sponsors a series of brown bag lunches each year
where leading practitioners present information regarding current practice
issues, followed by group discussion of issues. The committee’s goal is to
foster education and cooperation among practitioners in all areas including
private practice, and local, state, and national government.
Business and Securities Law Section.
This section promotes the study of the
law relating to corporations, general business practice, the franchising of
business enterprises, and the laws and regulations relating to the sales and
distribution of securities.
Civil Litigation Section.
The section promotes the study of substantive and procedural law in the area of
civil litigation, and educates members in the rules and procedures relating to
civil litigation practice.
Corporate Counsel
Section.
The purpose of this committee is to provide a forum for education and the
exchange of ideas among in-house corporate counsel and between in-house counsel
and attorneys who represent corporate clients. The committee may also review
legislation and recent developments in case law.
Criminal Law
Section
This committee studies the law relating to crimes, provides CLE programs in
these areas, and makes legislative and other recommendations for the improvement
of the administration of criminal justice.
Debtor/Creditor Remedies Section.
This committee educates HCBA members and members of the bar generally, and to
evaluates and takes positions on legislation and court rules in the field of
debtor/creditor remedies in both consumer and commercial settings. It also
addresses areas of substantive law such as liens, security interest, insolvency
and civil procedure as these fields are encountered in debtor/creditor practice.
Eminent Domain Section.
The charge of this committee is to study and make recommendations for
improvements in the law relative to condemnation.
Environmental Law Committee.
This committee studies the law and legal problems relating to ecology and
environmental protection.
Family Law Section.
This section promotes the study of family law related issues.
Insurance and Tort Law Section.
This committee sponsors monthly educational programs on topics related to
insurance coverage issues and other issues raised for discussion or debate by
attorneys for insurers and policyholders.
Juvenile Law Section.
The charge of this committee is to study the law, both substantive and
procedural, relating to Juvenile Court proceedings, and to make legislative and
other recommendations for the improvement of the administration of justice.
Labor/Employment Law Section.
This committee provides information to members about substantive and procedural
development including labor/management relations, employee discrimination,
employee health and safety, wage and hour law and other aspects of the employee
relationship.
Landlord/Tenant Section.
This committee studies and makes recommendations for improvements in the
principles of law applicable to and governing the relations of landlords and
tenants.
Probate and Trust Law Section.
This committee provides educational opportunities on the substantive and
procedural law regarding estates, trusts, planning for incapacity, guardianship
and related matters. The committee may also review and recommend legislation or
other means for improvements of probate and estate practice, and serves as a
liaison to the Probate Court and its personnel.
Real Property
Section.
This section promotes the study of the law relating to interests in real
property and the title thereto, including conveyances inter vivos, wills
and testaments, descent and distribution, trusts and cestuis que trustent,
and also the desirability of drafting and adopting statutes to effect the
improvement or reform in the substantive law of property and the adjective law
relating to the enforcement of property rights.
Tax Section.
This section promotes the study of tax law, including federal, state and local
taxes of all kinds. The section sponsors its meetings and programs alone and in
conjunction with other organizations.
Workers’ Compensation Section.
This committee provides continuing legal education and a forum for the exchange
of information in the area of Minnesota workers’ compensation practice and
procedure.
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Special
Committees:
Members of the following committees are
appointed by the HCBA’s President, Executive Committee and/or Board of
Directors..
Ethics Committee.
The Fourth District Ethics Committee is responsible for the investigation of and
recommendations on discipline for many of the ethical complaints filed with the
Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board against Hennepin County lawyers. The
committee consists of both attorney and lay members. The chair is appointed by
the Supreme Court and members must be recommended by the chair for approval by
the Governing Council.
Judicial Evaluation Committee.
This committee, working separately and jointly with a
committee of the Hennepin County District Court, develops methods by which
judges may be evaluated in order to enhance judicial performance. The committee
identifies criteria for judges’ backgrounds and performance that my be
disseminated to the HCBA members and the public on the association Web site and
elsewhere.
Judicial Plebiscite Committee.
This committee is responsible for the oversight and implementation of the
Judicial Plebiscite, which is a preference poll conducted in each even-numbered
year in which there is a contested judicial election. The three members of the
committee are recommended by the HCBA Executive Committee.
Nominating Committee.
This committee selects nominees for officers and other positions for the HCBA,
MSBA and other outside Boards. Committee members are recommended by the
president and approved by the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
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