October 2022
Lawyers associated for justice, service, professionalism, education and leadership for our members and our community
Multnomah
Lawyer
Est. 1906
October 2022 Volume 68, Number 9
ANNUAL PRO BONO ISSUE
Focusing on Service to Our Community by Tim Resch MBA President “Hold on, why isn’t Jackie writing this column?” Fair question. The short answer is that duty called, and she answered - like she has so many times. Judge Jacqueline Alarcón resigned from the MBA Board and as President on September 12 to focus on her service to our county as a circuit court judge. I’ll come back to that term - service - a few times in this article. “So Tim, why not just stay treasurer of the MBA?” Well - my colleagues and I on the MBA Board talked, and decided I should complete Judge Alarcón’s term; and Terry Wright would accept the role of President-Elect. John Robb has taken over the treasurer’s duties. I’m grateful for the support of our board and the hardworking and dedicated staff as we continue the important work of the MBA. A little about me. I’ve lived in Oregon since 1978. My family moved here from California, when I was in second grade. I grew up in the suburbs, and graduated from Sunset High School in 1988. Four years later I had a degree in economics and political science from the University of Oregon. I worked in sales for a few years and then went to law school at the Northwestern School of Law. I’ve been with the Samuels Yoelin Kantor law firm - mostly - since 1996. I say “mostly” because I did leave for four years to work as a prosecutor in The Hague, Netherlands, at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. I have been a member of the MBA since 1998, when I was admitted to the Oregon Bar. I learned a lot about how to practice law from the new lawyer CLE series - brown bag sessions during lunches for several months - back when we could do that sort of thing. I also learned from my I’m humbled to follow in mentors, like Pam Jacklin and Steve Kantor, the importance and the footsteps of so many privilege of being an advocate fellow attorneys who I and counsellor for my clients. I respect and admire. saw examples of professionalism in opponents like Bob Stoll and Steve Larson. They certainly didn’t go easy on a very junior lawyer opposing counsel; but they were kind and magnanimous and left a positive impression on me about how to litigate and advocate professionally. I looked at the list of past MBA Presidents, and several thoughts jumped out at me. One thought is how much respect I have for all of my colleagues who have taken the time to serve our association. Another thought was the respect I have for trailblazers like Susan Hammer, and friends like Wally Sweek and Thom Brown. I’ve served on the MBA Board with presidents Valerie Colas and Jovita Wang, who ably led the MBA into and during the pandemic. Hopefully, this next year is one of continuing transition as we all find our way in the new hybrid work world. I’m humbled to follow in the footsteps of so many fellow attorneys who I respect
Multnomah Bar Association 620 SW Fifth AVE., Suite 1220 Portland, Oregon 97204
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and admire. One area where I hope to continue our progress is the MBA Board’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I will embrace Judge Alarcón’s commitment to emphasize those efforts during my term as president. October is traditionally the MBA’s annual pro bono issue. I was inspired by the stories I heard about the MBA Pro Bono Award recipients at the MBA Annual Dinner back in May. The MBA is asking our members to serve our community and commit to taking at least one pro bono matter this year. Many individuals and firms have signed the MBA Pro Bono Pledge, and I ask you to consider making that pledge if you haven’t done so already. Opportunities abound in our community for you to get involved and find a way to give back. The MBA’s website lists pro bono opportunities in our county at www.mbabar.org/probono. There is also a link to the OSB’s website with more pro bono opportunities. You could accept an appointment to represent Opportunities abound an individual in a contested in our community for guardianship matter. You could volunteer at the Commons Law you to get involved and Center and commit a few hours a find a way to give back. month to serve as a mentor to their attorney fellows. You could volunteer at St. Andrew Legal Clinic and help people with family law issues. Sadly, the need for legal services in our community may be higher now than at any time in the past. Many of these opportunities continue to be “virtual” as we work our way through the pandemic. As I close, I want to come back to Judge Alarcón, and her commitment to service to our community. She has held leadership roles with the MBA, OWLS, and as Chair of the OSB Advisory Committee for Diversity and Inclusion. She has also given many hours of pro bono service through Legal Aid Services of Oregon. Judge Alarcón has led by example with her service to our association and our community. While we may be losing her as a leader and member of the MBA Board, we are gaining her as an empathic and wise member of the bench. Thank you, Jackie, for your leadership and service.
mba EVENT Multnomah Bar Association Absolutely Social Wednesday, October 12 Castaway 1900 NW 18th Ave., Portland 5-7 p.m. Drop in after work and catch up with friends and colleagues. Thank you, sponsors! Barran Liebman LLP Buchanan Angeli Altschul & Sullivan LLP Cable Huston LLP Columbia Bank Farleigh Wada Witt Foster Garvey PC Heritage Bank Hodgkinson Street Mepham LLC Holland & Knight JAMS Jordan Ramis PC Larkins Vacura Kayser LLP Miller Nash LLP Morris Stannard & Batalden Family Law PC Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC Richardson Wang Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP Sound Jury Consulting Tonkon Torp LLP
mba CLE
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MBA will be offering all seminars ONLINE ONLY unless otherwise listed. To register for a CLE seminar, please see p. 3 or visit www.mbabar.org/cle and input your OSB number to register at the member rate.
OCTOBER 10.11 Tuesday Coping with Burnout and Staying Ethical While You Do It Nellie Barnard Holli Houston Bryan Welch 10.18 Tuesday Mediating Employment Cases - The Key Elements for Successful Resolution Paula Barran Richard Vangelisti 10.19 Wednesday Deposition Crash Course Chad Colton
NOVEMBER 11.2 Wednesday Preserving Financial Stability for Your Disabled Clients Navigating the Complexities of Public Benefits During and After Third-Party Liability Settlements and Judgments Aaron Frishman 11.3 Thursday The Mosh Pit - The Interplay Between Payment and Defect Claims in Construction Jack Levy Liz Rhode Jacob A. Zahniser
In This Issue Calendar ������������������������������������������ 2 CLE �������������������������������������������������� 3 Announcements ������������������������������� 6 Ethics Focus ������������������������������������� 6 Around the Bar ��������������������������������� 8 News From the Court �����������������������10 Tips From the Bench ������������������������10 MBF ������������������������������������������������ 11 YLS �������������������������������������������������12 The Corner Office ����������������������������� 15 Classifieds ��������������������������������������16 Pro Bono Thanks �����������������������������16
Multnomah Bar Association 620 SW 5th Ave Suite 1220 Portland, Oregon 97204 503.222.3275 www.mbabar.org
Register at www.mbabar.org.
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