GROUPS
Criminal Defense Group
The Douglas County Criminal Defense Bar Association is a not-for-profit corporation comprised of attorneys who practice criminal defense law. The majority of its members serve on the district court appointment panels, providing legal services to indigent criminal defendants as well as in care and treatment cases and indirect contempts. The group meets for lunch on the second Friday each month at The Free State Brewing Co., 636 Massachusetts St. Annual membership dues are $20.00; members buy their own lunch at meetings. For more information contact "Skip" Griffy at 842-0040 or sg328@aol.com.
Solo & Small Firm Group
The Solo and Small Firm group focuses on practice management and firm development for attorneys practicing alone or in small firm settings. Presently, there are no meetings. Members share ideas and information, and post questions and comments, via the Solo & Small Firm Listserv. There are no fees or dues. For more information contact John Bodle at 843-0187 or jb@kawlaw.com.
Women Attorneys Group
Douglas County Women Attorneys is an informal group that was formed for the purpose of social and professional networking. The group is informally affiliated with the Kansas Women Attorneys Association. There are no dues and no membership requirements other than gender. The group meets for lunch at 11:45 on the second Thursday each month at the Eldridge, 701 Massachusetts St. For more information, contact Kathy Kirk at 749-1323 or kathykirk@earthlink.net.
Young Lawyers Section
Pursuant to the Bylaws of the DCBA, the Young Lawyers Section consists of members who have practiced law in Douglas County for less than five years or who are less than 36 years of age. The Young Lawyers Section does not have a regularly scheduled meeting aside from the DCBA monthly meeting on the first Thursday each month. The Young Lawyers are charged with responsibility for ongoing public relations, culminating in the annual Law Day activities. The principal feature of Law Day is the Law Day Luncheon, as well as investigation of nominees and selection of the recipient of the Liberty Bell Award for outstanding public service. For more information contact the President of the Young Lawyers Section or email younglawyers@dgbar.org.
Bench-Bar Committee
The Bench-Bar Committee is responsible for communicating concerns and advancing the professional relationship between the members of the bar and the judges of Douglas County, Kansas. The Committee is comprised of the DCBA President, Young Lawyers Section President, and five additional members who each serve staggered five year terms, a new member being appointed each year by the DCBA President. The Committee meets on the first Tuesday of odd-numbered months at the Judicial Building, 111 E. 11th St. For more information, or to suggest matters for consideration by the Committee, contact Ed Collister at 842-3126 or bench-bar@dgbar.org.
Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee is composed of the DCBA President and six to eight other members appointed by the President. The committee investigates complaints regarding ethical conduct by an attorney, and makes recommendations as to proper action pursuant to the rules of the Kansas Supreme Court relating to disciplinary administration.
Lawyers Assistance Committee
The Lawyers Assistance Committee, sometimes called the Impaired Lawyers Committee, works in cooperation with the Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program (KALAP). KALAP was established by the Kansas Supreme Court to provide for peer intervention, counseling, and rehabilitation of attorneys and judges whose professional performance may be impaired because of physical or mental illness, substance abuse or emotional distress. The Douglas County Committee, in addition to providing such assistance, is sometimes called upon by the District Court when the death or disability of an attorney necessitates referral of client files. KALAP may be contacted at 888-342-9080 or help@kalap.com. Anyone preferring to seek local assistance or information may contact Martin Miller at 841-8462 or millerlaw48@msn.com.
