August 12, 2015

In this Issue

Member ID Photos - 8/21
NHMCLE Tip: Navigating ART
Judicial Evaluations
Strafford County Felonies First Brown Bag
Can You Help These Clients?
Fraud Reminder

Apply for US Sentencing Advisory Panel
Human Rights Award
Suggested Reading
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Update Your Contact Info

Member ID cards will be issued to all active status attorneys later this year. To update or add a photo for your card and for inclusion in the online Member Directory, please send a high-resolution, passport-style photo (or one that can be cropped to a head-and-shoulders) to nhbainfo@nhbar.org by Aug. 21 (last week's eBulletin incorrectly stated the photo submission deadline).

These photos are used for identification purposes and must be clear and professional in appearance, without busy backgrounds. Photos that do not meet this standard will be returned.

Members who already have a photo on file with the bar should please login to www.nhbar.org and check the member directory, to verify that the photo is up to date.

All submitted photos will be included in the online member directory. Member photos are also provided to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for use in the Hillsborough County Court Security Program.

Members can have photos taken at the Bar Center. Call (603) 224-6942 to schedule a time. Please contact Rosemarie Atwood with questions about ID cards and Karrie Fesette with questions about photos.

NHMCLE Tip: Navigating ART

Not sure whether you have completed all the necessary credits for the NHMCLE reporting year that ended June 30? The Attorney Reporting Tool (ART) website shows potential credit shortages in two locations.

First, the bottom section of the 2014-2015 My Record page has a "Totals" section that shows accrued minutes in each requirement category. Second, the ART toolbar contains an "Affidavit" tab. If shortages exist, that tab lists the shortages.

Complete a qualified activity (an online program or webcast, for example) and report it on ART. Once the minimum number of credit minutes has been reported for the July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 reporting year, the 2014-2015 My Record page will show an active "File Affidavit" button. Follow the steps from there to file the affidavit. To avoid late fees, the affidavit must be filed and the payment must be processed and cleared before Oct. 1, 2015.

Judicial Evaluations - 9/14

The NH Judicial Branch Circuit Court Administrative Judge routinely conducts judicial evaluations and invites participation in this process. The following judges/ masters are presently being evaluated. Click on the name to fill out the survey.

Justice Sharon DeVries	10th Circuit Court
Justice Robert Foley	7th Circuit Court
Justice Thomas Rappa	2nd Circuit Court
Justice L. Phillips Runyon	8th Circuit Court

Responses will be shared with the judges and masters being evaluated, but the identities of respondents are confidential.

For a hard copy of a survey, email lcammett@courts.state.nh.us with your name, address and the name of the judge/master you would like to evaluate, or call (603) 271-6418 and one will be mailed to you. All evaluations must be completed online or be returned by Sept. 14.

Strafford County Brown Bag on Felonies First - 9/10

Criminal law practitioners are encouraged to attend a brown bag lunch meeting at noon on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Strafford County Superior Court. NH Superior Court Chief Justice Tina Nadeau will discuss the Felonies First legislation (SB 124-FN) that was recently signed into law.

For more information, contact Strafford County Superior Court Clerk Kim Myers.

Can You Help These Clients?

Parent with bullying issues.
Child of client has experienced severe bullying for two years. Mom feels the environment is unsafe and needs advice on her legal options, would prefer a transfer to a new district. Contact Margaret.

Tenant needs to avoid eviction.
Single mom with two teenagers served an eviction notice which expired July 31. Potential defenses have been identified along with a possible counterclaim for 540-A damages. No hearing yet scheduled. Case will be in Plaistow District Court. Please contact Vanessa.

Fraud Reminder

Ever-changing and increasingly sophisticated fraud scams aim to entice lawyers to cash phony checks and send portions of the proceeds to phony clients. Canadian legal malpractice insurer LawPRO maintains a "confirmed frauds" page on its Avoidaclaim website that tracks many of these fraudsters.

Red flags include:

Client is in a rush and wants you do the work quickly;
The case is remarkably easy;
You are to be paid a good fee from the large check you will be processing;
You are instructed to wire funds to an offshore bank based on urgent circumstances

Apply for US Sentencing Advisory Panel - 9/1

Are you an experienced criminal defense attorney? Interested in weighing in on federal sentencing? The US Sentencing Commission is seeking applicants for a practitioner advisory panel representing the First and Ninth Circuits. This notice explains who is eligible to apply and what the panel does. Deadline is Sept. 1.

Human Rights Award - 8/28

Nominations are now being accepted for the NH Commission for Human Rights' Rep. William H. Craig Award. This award is named after Rep. William H. Craig who introduced the Law Against Discrimination in 1965. The recipient of this award will be someone whose work has made a significant impact on the condition of human rights in New Hampshire.

This award will be given at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Commission, to be held at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at State House Plaza. Nomination forms are due Aug. 28.