MSBA General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section

Annual Reports

MSBA Solo and Small Firm Section
Annual Report
2012-13

Section Membership
As of June 3, 2013 the Section has 512 members. This represents an 8% decrease in membership since July 1, 2012.

Financial Status
The Section had an account balance of $3,297.57 as of June 3, 2013.

Continuing Legal Education Programs & Other Events
The Section hosted 8 CLE programs in fiscal year 2012-13.

Program Title	Date	Event Code	CLE Credits	Number of Attendees
Second Annual Solo and Small Firm Section Happy Hour in Duluth	8/6/2012	N/A	N/A	87
Ethical Implications of the Digital Age	10/5/2012	172370	1 Ethics	58
Texts, Lies and Backup Tapes: What You Must Know about E-Discovery to Prove Your Case and Avoid Big Mistakes (co-sponsored with the Computer & Technology Section)	10/5/2012	172369	1.5 Std .5 Ethics	27
Real Estate Trifecta: Making More Murky Matters Mundane (co-sponsored with Real Property Section)	10/24/2012	172608	1 Std	39
Solo or Small Firm, But Not Alone! Tips on Hiring and Enabling Staff	12/5/2012	174254	1.5 LOM	33
Maintaining Your Solo-Small Law Firm Practice in Today's Legal Climate (held in Duluth)	1/24/2013	175758	1.5 LOM	19
Solo-Small Firm Section Caribbean “Don’t Worry, Be Happy" Hour	2/21/2013	N/A	N/A	26
Help, I Still Have Hearsay Problems (co-sponsored with the Civil Litigation Section)	3/15/2013	176943	1 Std	30
Motions in Limine - Live Demonstration with Judge's Feedback (co-sponsored with the Civil Litigation Section)	3/28/2013	177316	1 Std	35
Solo & Small Firm Section Appreciation Event, Elections and CLE – Updates you need to know in Family, Civil, and Criminal Law	5/10/2013	179066	1 Std	40

Annual Meeting and Election Results

The Section’s Annual Meeting was held on May 10, 2013 and 40 people attended.

The following officers were elected to serve on the Section’s Governing Council from 2013-2014:

Chair: Adam Gislason
Vice Chair: Debra McLain
Treasurer: Marylee Abrams
Secretary: Anthony Bushnell

The following council members were elected to serve on the Section’s Governing Council from 2013-2015:

Anthony Bushnell
Barbara A. Forshier
Ken Kunkle
Susan J. Mundahl

The council will be made up of the following people next year:

Chair: Adam Gislason
Vice Chair: Debra McLain
Treasurer: Marylee Abrams
Secretary: Anthony Bushnell

Brian Cote
Barbara Forshier
Ken Kunkle
Susan Dickel Minsberg
Susan Mundahl

Other Section Accomplishments

The section, in conjunction with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, gave a scholarship to a member to cover the registration fee for the 2012 AAML Divorce Camp at Breezy Point Resort in September. The criteria from the AAML and this Section for awarding the scholarship was as follows: (1) the recipient practices family law at least 75% of his/her time; (2) is a licensed attorney who is serving low-income clients; (3) has practiced law for five years or more; and has registered for annual MSBA membership in the Under $35,000 Annual Income Category. The recipient was selected by lottery.

Debra McLain, on behalf of the Solo-Small Firm Section, completed a report regarding the unauthorized practice of law. The Section has asked the MSBA to consider appointing a task force to further explore this issue and make recommendations. The MSBA is currently soliciting comments from other sections and, if there is sufficient interest, a task force will be appointed in September with a specific charge and a deadline of May 31, 2014 to complete the work.

Submitted By:
Susan Dickel Minsberg, Section Chair
Date: June 24, 2013

- Last Updated 06/26/2013 -

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