The Iowa State Bar Association has established this special website to bring you comprehensive news about attorneys affected by the recent floods and tornadoes in Iowa, and how you can assist them in rebuilding or continuing their practices. The website also offers links to resources available from the ISBA and from other sources that can be used to continue or rebuild the practices of those impacted by the disasters. Additional information will be added to this website as information becomes available.
Donate to the Legal Community Relief Fund Disaster Legal Assistance Hotline 1-877-775-8882 The Disaster Legal Assistance Hotline for victims located in the counties that have been declared disaster areas has been activated by The Iowa State Bar Association. The Iowa State Bar Association in conjunction with the Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project and the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division provides legal assistance through a toll-free hotline. For disaster assistance call the toll-free Legal Assistance Hotline at 1-877-775-8882 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Iowa Disaster Legal Assistance Manual Listen to the ISBA Disaster Recovery Telephone CLE Audio Recording View Disaster Recovery Seminar Presentations Panel discussion by Leopold Sher, James Garner and Elwood Cahill from the New Orleans law firm of Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert LLC FEMA & SBA Overview Triage and New Technology Considerations for Displaced Attorneys from a Malpractice Standpoint Thomson West offering 50% discount on replacement law libraries Thomson West is extending an offer to assist flood-affected attorneys and firms in replacing their damaged and lost print libraries by offering a 50% off discount on replacement libraries.   Thomson West has also set up a dedicated hotline for West customers affected by the flooding.  Contact West Customer Service at 1-800-328-4880, ext. 67281.   Westlaw® customers can also contact their Sales representative, and West’s Reference Attorneys also are available to help support research needs.  The letter from Thomson West’s President & CEO regarding this offer can be viewed here.
Technology Assistance Temporary Email Access The State Bar offers you a free e-mail box on a secure server with your own iabar.org e-mail address. • Free E-mail -plus- Free 30MB Storage • Webmail access from virtually anywhere, anytime • POP3, Forwarding, Address Book, Calendar, Spell Check Tools, and more Temporary Fax Solutions - SEND & RECEIVE FAXES from your EMAIL - For $7.95 per month NO Hardware or Software.

Disaster Recovery for Law Firms
(Excerpted from "The Essential Formbook: Comprehensive Management Tools for Lawyers, Volume IV"

Emergency Salvage of Wet Books and Records
The recovery of books and records after exposure to a water-based emergency can be successful and cost-effective if staff and management are prepared ahead of time and react in a timely way. Many libraries and archives have recovered in splendid form because staff knew precisely what to do in an emergency. However, if decisions and actions are delayed more than a few hours, collections may be lost or so seriously damaged that recovery becomes a major undertaking. Read More

The Psychological Effects of Disaster
By Geralyn Datz, PhD with recommendations by the National Center for PTSD

The Long-term Impact of Hurricanes Katrina & Rita: What to Expect in Your Personal, Family, Work, and Financial Life
By Geralyn Datz, PhD with recommendations from the US Dept of Health and Human Services

NY 9/11 Experience; Personal Experience; How The Bar Can Help You
By: Steven Krane Proskauer Rose, L.L.P. New York, NY

Avoiding Ethical Disaster When Natural Disaster Strikes Steps to Take in Recovery Effort
By: Suzanne Rose, Suzanne Rose Consulting Brentwood, TN

Malpractice Concerns and Claims
By: Roland Johnson Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C., Ft. Worth, TX

Rebuilding Your Practice
By: JR Phelps The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, FL & Gisella Bradley State Bar of Texas, Austin, TX

Technology Triage
By: Jim Calloway Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma City, OK

The Country Lawyer’s Paperless Office
Prepared and Presented By: David L. Masters