40 new attorneys admitted to Iowa bar

Yesterday, 40 new attorneys from 15 law schools around the country were admitted to practice law in Iowa at the 128th Bar Admission Ceremony at Hoyt Sherman Auditorium in Des Moines. Iowa Supreme Court Justice Daryl L. Hecht gave the keynote address and administered the oath.

"I wish for each of you that 20, 30 and 40 years from now you will pause from time to time to contemplate and appreciate how fortunate you are to be a lawyer. Whether you are then doing transactional work, practicing family law, handling criminal cases, working as a civil litigator, teaching law, practicing public service law, serving on the bench or using your law degree in some other capacity, I hope that you will be aware of what an extraordinary honor it has been to play a role in our legal system,” remarked Justice Hecht.

He also urged the new admittees to meet the aspirational goal for pro bono service each year. In a time when knowledge of and respect for government institutions seem to be waning and cynicism seems to be increasing, he went on to say, lawyers have countless opportunities to be good ambassadors for the rule of law.

Additional speakers included Board of Law Examiners Chair F. Richard Lyford, ISBA President Bruce Walker, ISBA YLD President Joseph Goedken and Iowa Legal Aid Executive Director Dennis Groenenboom.

Only 30 of the 44 individuals who took the exam for the first time were successful. Click here to see the complete list of successful applicants.

General Practice, Construction Law Sections seek eligible chairperson

The ISBA is searching for members who are interested in becoming a section chairs for the General Practice and Construction Law Sections for the upcoming year. Section chairs are responsible for the facilitation of discussions, exchanges of ideas, development of potential legislative initiatives and overall representation of their particular section.

Candidates must have section membership for the period in which they serve. Bar association members interested in serving one year as chair of either the General Practice Section or the Construction Law Section are encouraged to visit with Dwight Dinkla. His email address is ddinkla@iowabar.org.

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May Iowa Lawyer now available online

The May issue of the Iowa Lawyer Magazine is now available online. Those who elect to receive the print version of the magazine should see it in mailboxes in the next week or so. In this issue, ISBA focuses on attorney wellness.

Members can view the digital version of the May issue by navigating to www.iowabar.org, clicking on "Publications,” then "Iowa Lawyer Magazine.” Those who no longer wish to receive the printed version of the magazine can elect to receive it electronically by navigating to their ISBA account settings and selecting "yes” for the "Iowa Lawyer Magazine Online” option.

Questions regarding the Iowa Lawyer Magazine can be directed to the ISBA Communications Department at communications@iowabar.org or 515-697-7898.

Government Practice Seminar registration open

Registration is now open for the Government Practice Seminar scheduled for May 20 at the ISBA headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa. The seminar will provide 6.25 state hours, including one ethics hour. 

The CLE line-up includes sessions on solar power purchase agreements, government employment law updates, select topics of appellate advocacy, appeals of administrative rulings to a district court and more. Attendees may attend in person or via live-webinar.

Early-bird registration is open through May 19 and can save participants $50 on their registration fees. For more details or to register for the seminar, visit the Government Practice Seminar event on the ISBA website.

Continuing a Tradition of Civil Rights in Iowa lecture May 3

University of Iowa College of Law Professor Angela Onwuachi-Willig will present her lecture, Continuing a Tradition of Civil Rights in Iowa, Tuesday, May 3, from 12 - 1 p.m. at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center, 1200 Grand Avenue, in downtown Des Moines. Professor Onwuachi-Willig will discuss the history of social justice and civil rights in Iowa, including the social justice work that individuals at the College of Law have accomplished and are currently pursuing as part of The University of Iowa Provost’s Office of Outreach & Engagement Hawkeye Lunch & Learn lecture series.

The Office of Outreach & Engagement debuted the Hawkeye Lunch & Learn lecture series in January 2014 and now hosts monthly lectures in Des Moines and Iowa City. Each lecture showcases the diverse work of a passionate expert while increasing the knowledge of how Iowa citizens can collaborate with the university and create a better future for Iowans. The lecture series is free and open to the public, however RSVPs are encouraged. Attendees are invited to bring their lunch, and drinks and desserts are provided. 

For more information about the lecture series and the May 3 event, click here. To register, click here. 

National Taxpayer Advocate Public Forum

National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson and Senator Charles Grassley, a member and former chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, will hold a public forum to discuss what taxpayers want and need from the IRS to comply with their tax obligations. This public forum will be held Thursday, May 5, at 8:30 a.m. at the YMCA, 101 East Cherry Street, Red Oak, Iowa. 

In the National Taxpayer Advocate’s 2015 Annual Report to Congress, Olson recommended the IRS solicit comments from taxpayers and tax professionals regarding a plan that envisions how the IRS will operate in five years and beyond, the "Future State” plan, including their thoughts on the extent to which taxpayers will continue to need telephone and in-person assistance. The objective of the public forums held around the country is to ensure the "Future State” plan will better reflect the needs and preferences of U.S. taxpayers as they seek to comply with the tax code.

The May 5 public forum will feature an invited panel of representatives from the agricultural and local taxpayer communities, including the following: Varel Bailey, President Bailey Farms, Inc.; Tamara Borland, Director Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, Iowa Legal Aid; Alvin LaMar, Enrolled Agent Iowa Farm Business Association; Kristy Maitre, Tax Specialist Agricultural Education & Studies, Iowa State University; and Wendy Smith, VITA Program Coordinator United Way of Wapello County. Members of the public will also have an opportunity to speak.

For information about the forum, go to TaxpayerAdvocate.irs.gov/public-forums. 

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