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Access to Justice

This standing committee shall consider and make recommendations to the Board of Governors on: (1) promoting the growth of pro bono service to the poor by members of the State Bar; (2) operation of the Bar's efforts to facilitate the participation of Georgia's lawyers in the delivery of pro bono services through the Pro Bono Resource Center; and (3) how best to give appropriate recognition to Georgia lawyers whose pro bono efforts inspire the members of the legal profession. It shall also promote the establishment and efficient maintenance of legal aid organizations equipped to provide free legal services to those unable to pay for such service. It shall study the administration of justice as it affects persons in low income groups, and shall study and report on methods of making legal service more readily available to persons of moderate means, and shall encourage and assist local Bar associations in accomplishing this purpose.

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Arbitration of Attorney Fee Disputes, Committee on the

This program committee shall monitor and render advice to the staff, Executive Committee and Board of Governors with respect to the rules, procedures, policies and operations of the Fee Arbitration Program.

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Attorney Wellness

This standing committee will oversee the Bar's wellness initiative, Lawyers Living Well. It will 1) promote health and wellness among members and staff, 2) identify factors that impact the physical and emotional well-being of attorneys, 3) develop work/life balance CLE programs, 4) increase awareness of existing Bar programs that deal with such issues, and 5) accumulate information and educate members about wellness issues and resources.

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Attorney-Client Solicitation

This special committee shall advise the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors about attorney-client solicitation practices that may violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, and if appropriate, make recommendations related to this issue.

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Audit

This standing committee will assist the treasurer, Executive Committee and Board of Governors in fulfilling their oversight responsibilities for the accounting, financial, and internal control process of the Bar's audits of its financial statements. It shall recommend annually to the treasurer and chief financial officer either the retention of the current audit firm or three qualified firms as replacements of the current audit firm. The treasurer and chief financial officer shall recommend to the Board of Governors either the retention of the current audit firm or one replacement firm from the Audit Committee's list.

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BASICS

This standing committee shall monitor and render advice to the staff, Executive Committee, and Board of Governors with respect to the rules, procedures, policies and operations of the BASICS program.

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Bar Center

This standing committee will continue to monitor the Bar's needs and uses of the Bar Center in Atlanta, and its Coastal Georgia Office in Savannah and South Georgia Office in Tifton.

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Bench and Bar

This standing committee shall identify and facilitate solutions to issues of mutual interest between State judges and Georgia lawyers for the benefit of the bench, the bar and the public. It also oversees the annual Justice Thomas O. Marshall Professionalism Award that honors one lawyer and one judge who have demonstrated the highest professional conduct and paramount reputation for professionalism.

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Business Court

This special committee shall monitor the performance of the Business Court and perform a liaison function between the Court, the State Bar and Georgia's business community. It shall report its advice and recommendations to the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors.

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Children and the Courts

This standing committee shall consider the interests of children in the judicial system and proposals for reform of the law governing juveniles, and provide advice and expertise to the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors.

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Clients' Security Fund Board of Trustees

This program committee shall monitor and render advice to the staff, Executive Committee, and Board of Governors with respect to the rules, procedures, policies and operations of the Clients' Security Fund. It shall decide claims for compensation in accordance with the Fund's rules and policies.

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 Clients' Security Fund Application Package

Communications

This standing committee shall monitor and render advice to the staff, Executive Committee, and Board of Governors with respect to the State Bar's program of communications with its members and the public.

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Continuing Lawyer Competency, Commission on

It is of utmost importance to members of the Bar and to the public that attorneys maintain their professional competence throughout their active practice of law. To that end, this commission establishes the minimum requirements for continuing legal education.

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Disciplinary Rules and Procedures

This standing committee shall advise the Executive Committee and Board of Governors with respect to all procedural and substantive disciplinary rules, policies and procedures.

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 Meeting Agenda, Oct. 17, 2023
 Meeting Minutes, June 9, 2023
 Meeting Agenda, June 9, 2023

Elections

This standing committee shall prepare, supervise and conduct the elections of all officers and members of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia and conduct all Bar polls.

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Finance

This standing committee, which shall include the State Bar Treasurer, State Bar President-elect, and YLD President-elect as ex-officio members, shall be appointed and organized by the President-elect within the six (6) months immediately preceding the Annual Meeting of the State Bar so as to facilitate the preparation of a budget of estimated receipts and disbursements for the approaching fiscal year, which said budget with appropriate recommendations the committee shall cause to be submitted to the meeting of the Board of Governors held either during or immediately after the Annual Meeting for appropriate consideration and approval. The committee also shall be responsible for monitoring the finances of the State Bar throughout each Bar year to ensure that all State Bar funds are being received, held and disbursed in accordance with the provisions of the budget approved by the Board of Governors. In the event this committee feels that developments during any Bar year dictate, it shall have the duty and responsibility for initiating consideration of proposed budget amendments to the Executive Committee, and in turn to the Board of Governors for action.

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Formal Advisory Opinion Board

This board is authorized to draft Formal Advisory Opinions concerning a proper interpretation of the Rules of Professional Conduct or any of the grounds for disciplinary action as applied to a given state of facts, as set forth in Bar Rule 4-403.

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General Counsel Office Overview Committee

This standing committee shall monitor and render advice to the staff, Executive Committee, and Board of Governors with respect to the rules, procedures, policies and operations of the Office of the General Counsel.

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Georgia Bar Journal Editorial Board

This standing committee shall monitor and render advice to the staff, Executive Committee and Board of Governors with respect to the scholarship of legal articles in the Georgia Bar Journal.

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Georgia Diversity Program

This standing committee shall monitor and render advice to the staff, Executive Committee and Board of Governors with respect to the rules, procedures, policies and operation of the State Bar of Georgia Diversity Program.

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ICLE Board

This program committee shall render advice to the staff, Executive Committee and Board of Governors with respect to the rules, procedures, policies and operations of the ICLE program. It will promote and support continuing legal education programs for Bar members designed to enhance their skills and keep them abreast of developments in the law. It will also encourage CLE programming by the Sections of the State Bar.

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Inclusion in the Profession, Committee to Promote

This standing committee shall facilitate, analyze and present for consideration initiatives and programs which increase participation, retention and representation of diverse attorneys in the legal profession in Georgia that accurately reflects the makeup of our state. In this effort, the committee will work toward inclusion of lawyers who have been historically underrepresented. It shall advise the Executive Committee and Board of Governors with regard to those interests.

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Indigent Defense

This special committee monitors the progress and funding for Georgia's Public Defender Standards Council and works in conjunction with the Advisory Committee on Legislation, the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors to provide advice, expertise and advocacy on behalf of systemic reform designed to satisfy the State's constitutional obligation to provide adequate counsel for indigent persons accused of crime.

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Insurance

This special committee shall monitor the State Bar's insurance coverage and advise the Executive Committee with respect thereto.

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International Trade in Legal Services

This special committee shall monitor the impact of international developments on the legal profession, including, but not be limited to the effect of, the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), other free trade agreements having an impact on delivery of legal services, changes in the regulation of the legal profession in foreign countries that may have local impact, and all other events affecting the delivery of legal services across international borders. It shall consider these matters from both the perspective of outbound legal services delivered in foreign countries by member lawyers and inbound delivery of legal services in this State by foreign lawyers. The committee shall also consider any international issues as requested by, and make reports and recommendations concerning its activities to, the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors.

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Investment

This special committee will review and monitor the State Bar's Investment Policy and report to the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee on its advice and recommendations.

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Judicial Procedure and Administration/Uniform Rules

This standing committee shall observe the practical working of the judicial system of this state in all courts and recommend such changes to the law or uniform rules as observation or experience of the committee may suggest. It shall receive and review all proposed legislation affecting the courts of this state and report findings and recommendations on any such legislation to the Advisory Committee on Legislation and the Executive Committee. It shall also consider and make recommendations on all proposed uniform or other court rules. The committee will also confer and advise with the American Law Institute in its work and promote its programs as may be of interest and benefit to the State Bar.

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Judicial Qualifications Commission Nominating Committee

This standing committee will receive nominations from members of the Bar to the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) and provide a list of recommendations to the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors for approval and submission to the various appointing authorities as may be provided by law.

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Law Practice Management Program

This program committee shall monitor and render advice to the staff, Executive Committee and Board of Governors with respect to the rules, procedures, policies and operation of the Law Practice Management Program.

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Lawyer Assistance Program

This program committee shall monitor and render advice to the staff, Executive Committee and Board of Governors with respect to the rules, procedures, policies and operation of the Lawyer Assistance Program.

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Legislation, Advisory Committee on

This standing committee shall prepare for legislative action such matters requiring legislation as may have received the approval of the Board of Governors. It shall keep itself informed as to all proposed legislation affecting members of the Bar and the practice of law.

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Local and Voluntary Bars

This standing committee shall have the duty of promoting the organization and maintenance of local and circuit bar associations throughout the State and creating a closer affiliation between such associations and the State Bar.

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Member Benefits

This standing committee focuses on the State Bar's mission of Lawyers Serving the Public and the Justice System.It identifies opportunities for serving lawyers, implements legal support services, including but not limited to, lists of vendors who offer services and products of interest to lawyers, and communicates to members the existence and benefits of State Bar services that offer value to them and their law practice.

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Military Legal Assistance Program

This standing committee shall monitor and render advice to the program's director, Executive Committee, and Board of Governors with respect to the operation of the Military Legal Assistance Program, which facilitates pro bono representation of veterans and service members in addressing their unmet legal needs.

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Pension Plan, Committee on the Bar Employees

This special committee is charged with the discretion, responsibility and authority to oversee the management of the State Bar's employee defined contribution pension plan.

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Personnel

This standing committee shall advise the Executive Committee and Board of Governors with respect to staffing, salaries, and other personnel matters. It shall consist of the five current State Bar Officers and the three YLD Presidential Officers, with the State Bar's President-elect serving as chair.

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Professionalism

This standing committee shall consider and make recommendations to the Executive Committee and Board of Governors necessary to advance professionalism in the practice of law. It shall concern itself with the various facets of professionalism including knowledge, technical skill, integrity in relations with both clients and courts, dedication to the law and public good, and ultimately the providing of competent legal services to the public.

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Programs

This standing committee shall advise the Executive Committee with respect to the addition, deletion, change, and operation of all State Bar programs and services. It shall solicit and review staff and budget impact statements whenever any proposal is made for the addition, deletion, or change of any State Bar program or service.

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SOLACE

Through this special committee (an acronym for Support of Lawyers/Legal Personnel - All Concern Encouraged) members of the legal community will be able to reach out in small, but meaningful and compassionate ways to judges, lawyers, court personnel and law office staff that have a medical crisis in their family. Types of assistance range anywhere from a need for a place for a family to stay near a distant hospital during cancer treatment or a transplant, or help in getting an appointment with a medical specialist with a long waiting list.

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Seeking Equal Justice and Addressing Racism & Racial Bias

This standing committee shall consider, analyze, strategize, and recommend to the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors how best to: (1) engage, listen and learn from all who are willing to share their experiences with bigotry and racism; (2) identify, address and eradicate bigotry, racism, and racial bias in the administration of justice in this State; (3) encourage, partner with and assist local Bar associations and other law-related organizations, entities and agencies to accomplish these goals state-wide; and (4) otherwise ensure an equal system of justice for all. In addition, this committee shall assist the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors in the execution and implementation of the above enumerated actions.

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Senior Lawyers

This special committee shall render advice to the staff, Executive Committee, and Board of Governors with respect to 1) aiding lawyers in preparing their practices for succession upon retirement, death, impairment or otherwise, 2) assisting the Office of General Counsel in the disposition of practices of lawyers who leave their practice without a succession plan, 3) assisting lawyers who are cognitively impaired but still practicing, and 4) creating educational programs about cognitive impairment, financial planning and law practice succession.

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Statewide Judicial Evaluation

This standing committee shall advise the President with regard to the qualifications of all candidates for appointment to the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Georgia courts. The purpose is to assist the Judicial Nominating Commission.

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Suicide Prevention and Awareness

This special committee will develop new means through which to provide Bar members, their families and colleagues with suicide prevention resources and information, including understanding the warning signs, myths and realities, and attorney specific risks.

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UPL District 1 Committee

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UPL District 10 Committee

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UPL District 2 Committee

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UPL District 3 Committee

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UPL District 4 Committee

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UPL District 5 Committee

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UPL District 6 Committee

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UPL District 7 Committee

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UPL District 8 Committee

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UPL District 9 Committee

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Unlicensed Practice of Law

This program committee shall investigate and diligently inquire into the unlicensed practice of law by law agencies and other unauthorized persons specifically including any person not an active member in good standing of the State Bar, and the participation of lawyers therein, and proper methods for the prevention thereof.

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