YLS In Brief June 2015

in briefnewsletter

June 2015 - Volume 18 Number 3

Arkansas Traveler

Editor's Letter

Hats Off Tasty Tips

YLS News

What Judges Want:honorable

joseph J. Volpe

3

14

5

4

15

6

Mary & Trey Cooper

Rashauna Norment

Stacy Williams

C o n t e n t

Yls New Social Media Handbook

9

Tech Tips: Going Virtual: The New Law Practice

16

flying solo: Making the Bed You Lawyer In

10

Stefan McBride

arkbar Annual Meeting12

Brooke Moore

YLS Report18

Jessica S. Yarbrough

2 3y l s i n b r i e f y l s i n b r i e f

editorsYls in brief

Moore

Cooper

Cooper Norment

WoosterYoungdahl

McBride

Editor-In-Chief Brooke Moore Tasty Tips Editor Rashauna Norment

Arkansas Traveler Co-Editors Trey & Mary Cooper

What Judges Want Editor Megan Wooster

Tech Tips Editor Colleen Youngdahl

Flying Solo Editor Stefan McBride

YLS In Brief is published online quarterly by the Arkansas Bar Association.


In this issue we travel alongside the Coopers to the famous Doe’s Eat Place, as they indulge in some fantastic cuisine in what is being considered the perfect atmosphere. Prefer a night in? Roll that dough with Rashauna as she shares her tasty pizza roll up recipe. After that fantastic dinner and a good night’s sleep, learn from Stefan how to Make the Bed You Lawyer In. Then learn What Judges Want from Stacy William’s interview with Judge Volpe and take a look into the future of legal services with my tips for going virtual.

As we come to the end of another bar year, I just want to thank all of the In Brief editors and contributors for their hard work. I am thrilled that several of our talented editors are staying on for another year but we still have several opportunities to get involved. The time commitment is minimal and it is a great way to get connected with YLS and the Bar Association! Feel free to email me if you are interested in volunteering for In Brief, have questions, or are interested in getting connected elsewhere within the Bar Association.

Editor-in-ChiefBrooke Moore

e d i t o r ’ s l e t t e r


chairjessica s. yarbroughChair-ElectMATTHEW L. FRYARSecretary/TreasurerCHARLEY E. SWANNImmediate Past Chair J. CLIFF MCKINNEYDistrict A Reps. AUBREY BARRWILLIAM M. PRETTYMAN IIIDistrict B Reps. CALEB GARCIAGREGORY J. NORTHENSTEPHANIE A. LINAMDistrict C Reps.CHASE A. CARMICHAELLESLIE J. LIGONCHRISTOPHER ALAN RITEENHOUSE

executive councilarkbar young lawyers section

At Large Reps.AMBER DAVIS TANNERBROOKE MOOREU of A School of Law Rep.

TIFFANY NICOLE GODWINUALR School of Law Rep.

NICHOLAS WILLIAMS

y l s n e w s

yls at the annual meeting June 10-13hot springs Convention Center

THE ARKBAR YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION has created a program specifically for law student attendees and new admittees at this year’s Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 10 in Rooms 203-204. All meeting registrants are welcome to attend. The programs do qualify for CLE. FRIDAY YLS MEETING10:00 a.m., Rooms 203-204. Join the section in the passing of the gavel to the next section chair and the election of new officers and district representatives.

Zehra AbbasiJenna A. AdamsMakenzie A. ArnoldDamon AssemCody J. BasshamVirginia L. BaughnMargaret H. BensonRamon J. L. BertucciStacie C. BertucciSybil A. BrownKayla M.CampbellJason A. CarterBenjamin T. CatterlinLauren E. ClarkAlycia M. CurtisJoshua A. EasonJason A. EppersonLaura C. FellowsRyan C. HillBenjamin R. HollowellRyan J. JewellAshley K. JonesJarred W. KibbeyJarid M. KinderWilliam M. KleinBraden C. LandRichard K. LippardJonathan P. MartinTaylor D. MartinMackenzie J. Meador

Patrick D. MelikianWilliam B. MontgomeryChristopher M. MorganJohn E. J. MorganSamuel T. MundyMicah E. MurphreeSamuel W. NorwoodChristopher J. O’NeillTara W. RaddleBlake A. RayJames M. ReardonVictor R. RichardsonBenjamin M. RossStella A. RowlandZachary F. RyburnCaitlin E. SavageScott J. C. SchrumCharles G. ShepherdSean ShortKayla C. SmithWilliam K. StonerGary B. SwainDylan W. ThomasJohn B. Van KleefJoseph T. WhiteJohnny R. WilliamsJennifer A. WyseMichael C. YoungMichael C. Zangari

Congratulations to the New Members Admitted to the Practice of Law May 2015

iPad mini give away during meeting


Leslie Copeland is the newest associate at Howerton Law Firm in Fayetteville. In addition to practicing family and criminal law, she also runs a fun and informative blog at FayetteLawyer.wordpress.com.

Kathleen McDonald, Managing Partner of Beacon Legal Group, has been selected by Arkansas Business to be a member of their 2015 Class of 40 Under 40 which recognizes intriguing business and political leaders under 40 years old.

Abtin Mehdizadegan and Katie Lestage were married in Little Rock on May 23, 2015. Both are UALR Bowen School of Law graduates. Abtin is an Associate at Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon and Galchus and Katie is the Law Clerk for Judge Vann Smith in Fourteenth Division, Pulaski County Circuit Court.

Christopher Rittenhouse and his wife, Becca, had their first daughter. Susan Marie Rittenhouse, on March 18, 2015 at JRMC in Pine Bluff. She

If you have information on YLS members who deserve a Hats Off or would like to submit ideas for articles, please contact the Editor of In Brief, Brooke Moore at [email protected]

h A T S O F F

was 7 lbs 8 oz and 20.5 inches.Christopher also graduated from the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course for the US Army on May 7, 2015. He is now a First Lieutenant with the Arkansas Army National Guard's Trial Defense Team out of Camp Robinson.

Courtney Salas-Ford and her husband, Joe, had their third boy, Cason, on May 18th.

Jamie Moss and Charley Swann were featured (among 26 other women) in soiree's 2015 women to watch.

Meredith Rebsamen and her husband, Paul, welcomed their first child, Ana Blaise, on March 2, 2015.

Jenny Massanelli (formerly Jenny Wilkes) and her husband, Greg, were married on November 19, 2014.

On May 17th Lauren Ruff competed in the American Poolplayers Association's Regional Jack-n-Jill Championships, a doubles style 8-ball game. She and her partner won and received a trip to Las Vegas for the APA National Championships this August.

Robert Wells, of Wells and Wells in Jonesboro, and his wife, Hilary, had a baby girl named Reagan Renae Wells in March.

Katie Lestage and Abtin Mehdizadegan


The Honorable Joseph J. Volpe was selected to serve as United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Arkansas in 2009. Judge Volpe is a self-proclaimed “Army Brat” and moved around as a child, but he was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. His father, an Army officer, was enrolled at University of Pitts-burg receiving his master’s degree at that time. Judge Volpe graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science Degree majoring in Qualitative and Quantitative Management. After completing four years of active duty, he attended law school at the University of Arkan-sas, William H. Bowen School of Law. He then served as law clerk to the Honorable Mary McGowan, the Honorable John Forester, and was also a Staff Attorney for the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas. Judge Volpe deployed as a Judge Advocate with the Army, and upon his return, became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Arkansas. He has continued to serve in the Army, both the Army Reserves and Arkansas National Guard, and is completing his term as the State Judge Advocate. He will be retiring from the military this year. Judge Volpe was the recipient of the Pulaski County Bar Association’s Judge of the Year 2013-2014.

with stacy williams

What Judges Wantthe honorable joseph j. volpe


What was the primary reason you decided to attend law school?

I wanted to become an FBI Agent!

Often, young attorneys struggle with maintaining a professional and personal life balance. Do you have any advice for young attorneys who are struggling with this issue?

You must find time to spend with your family. It is a real struggle at times when you have a spouse and children. I always tried to come home at a decent hour, spend time having dinner with my family until bedtime. After everyone went to sleep, I would pull out my laptop and get more work done.

Can you describe an average day in your courtroom?

As a U.S. Magistrate Judge, I do not have court every day. We do a lot of written work addressing the numerous pro se pleadings in our 42 USC § 1983 cases. We do have hearings and bench trials in those cases, and occasionally, we hear habeas cases. We entertain oral argument in social security disability appeals and spend a lot of time mediating civil cases for the district judges. Every few months the magistrate judges rotate criminal duty. When on criminal duty, we are in court almost every day conducting initial appearances, pleas and arraignments, and bond hearing.

What percentage of cases in your courtroom involves pro se litigants? Do you have any advice for young attorneys who have cases with pro se litigants?

About 75% of what we do involves pro se litigants. Young attorneys should treat pro se litigants with respect and courtesy. I find that often their cases may not pass legal muster, but from a common sense approach, they make fair claims. They often feel like everyone is against them so it is important to ensure they get a fair shake in court. When I clerked for Judge Forster, I remember that we wrote an opinion to an inmate who was seeking credit for his sentence after completing the very intensive Residential Drug Abuse Program. Typically inmates who complete that course receive a year credited to their sentences. This inmate was denied his year because there was a firearm involved with his conviction. The law was very clear that he did not qualify. But rather than summarily dismissing his case, the opinion tried to explain in detail the denial. The opinion recognized that he was making a solid “common sense” argument but there was no relief available. Judge Forster also credited him for completing the program. A few weeks later, we received a letter from the inmate. The inmate said he appreciated the explanation and knew he would get a “fair shake” in federal court. That letter had a great impact on me, and I try to remember this

point each day that I make rulings in pro se cases. Speaking of pro se cases, I would encourage young lawyers to contact the U.S. Magistrate Judges in this district and volunteer to take pro se prisoner cases to trial. While it is unlikely you will make any money, you will get trial experience and you never know what other opportunities this might lead to.

What are some common mistakes that you see young attorneys make in your courtroom?

I speak to law students and young lawyers in various settings, including instructing new Department of Justice lawyers at the National Advocacy Center. I have compiled the following points I like to address with young lawyers:

1. Be Prepared! A simple step, but often overlooked for simple hearings. One misstep due to a lack of preparation can ruin all your past good deeds!

2. When making requests of the court, make sure you bring your supporting law. Creating new law is generally something I prefer not to do. And if I do, I better have some good support for doing it!

3. Deliver time sensitive pleadings in person or follow up with a phone call. Do not expect that the court will automatically receive your urgent request or response through CM/ECF.

Q & A with the honorable joseph j. volpe


4. The “shotgun” approach is 100% accurate. . . at killing your credibility. Stay focused on your main points and save your bullets for your main targets.

5. Do not become too reliant on the computer equipment. It is an aid, not a life support system!

6. Be courteous to staff and clerks!

7. If you do not agree with the court, you have a right to appeal, not a right to argue with the judge.

8. Practice writing like your livelihood depends on it. (Because it does!)

9. Advocacy is never personal. When it becomes personal, it is called a fight and people that fight in court get put in time out or the county jail!

10. Always do your best and act professionally - even when no one is looking. (Because we are!)

Bonus Tip - Have fun and enjoy your work!

When it comes to oral arguments in your courtroom, what do you expect from young attorneys?

Be brief and well prepared. Also, when I ask a question, answer that question right then. Don’t give me the “I will get to that point….” That is terrible advocacy.

What advice can you offer to young attorneys who find themselves in the midst of a discovery dispute?

Civility is the most important character trait during discovery disputes. I have had the occasion

to listen to very well respected and seasoned lawyers recite their issues in a dispute and find myself telling them, “Tomorrow when you wake up, I think you are going to scratch your head and wonder how this became entangled in a dispute.” Keep your calm and always keep your eyes on the big picture. The disputes usually involve the lawyers getting too far into the weeds and wrapped around the axle.

How would you advise a young attorney to deal with a difficult, or nonresponsive, opposing counsel?

As a general practice, I suggest picking up the telephone or going over to opposing counsel’s office when litigating cases. In doing so, you will undoubtedly build relationships with opposing counsel and difficulties will be less. For those lawyers who are just difficult, take all your preliminary steps in a reasonable and unemotional manner and then contact the court for help resolving the conflict.

How has the legal profession, based on your view, changed or evolved since you began practicing law, in terms of the style or manner in which attorneys interact with one another?

I don’t find much change from where I sit. We have the best bar of any state in the USA. I see many out of state lawyers, and they are often rude, arrogant, unprofessional, and extremely difficult with which to work. Embrace this idea of Arkansas being a great place to practice law and do everything you can to ensure it continues to be great.

We owe that to the incredible lawyers and judges of the past who have paved the way for us.

In cases, in which pretrial briefs are not required, do you prefer that attorneys submit pretrial briefs to the Court?

It really depends on the case. It is always helpful to have a short and concise brief in a case. If I want one, believe me, I will ask for it!

What are your favorite aspects of being a judge?

I love being in court. I loved trying cases, and I love watching good lawyers in action. I frankly love all aspects of being a U.S. Magistrate Judge. It is the greatest job in the world.

What is your average caseload? How has your caseload changed since you initially took the bench?

My average caseload is about 125. The biggest change is that we went gangbusters on our social security cases and got way ahead on our docket. That accounted for about 60 cases that would be pending in addition to the 125. Now, we resolve SSA appeals as soon as they are ripe rather than about 6 months later.

Do you personally believe that litigants should try to mediate issues before litigating issues in court?

Mediating cases are a large part of my practice, so, yes. But only if the parties want to mediate. I don’t agree with requiring mediation or forcing settlement in any way.


What do you believe is proper courtroom attire? Do you believe that young attorneys are making poor decisions with respect to courtroom attire? Explain.

I have not had a situation where an attorney was not properly attired in my six years on the bench. I do think young lawyers should spend some time ensuring their clients and witnesses are properly attired. Some of the attire of witnesses and parties can be ridiculous.

Do you have any interesting courtroom stories that you would like to share?

I need to start writing a book because I can never think of them on queue. I will relay this one that comes to mind

that is appropriate for young lawyers. I was helping with this massive multidistrict litigation hearing before District Judge Billy Roy Wilson. The lawyer asked the witness a question and the witness answered, “NO.” The attorney went on questioning as if the witness said, “YES.” Opposing counsel, enraged, jumped up and lodged a loud “Objection! The witness answered NO and the attorney acts like he said YES.” Judge Wilson asked, “Ok…but what’s the objection?” The attorney then shouted, “I want the Court to know that the witness said NO but the attorney says YES!” Judge Wilson said, “Do you not think I am smart enough to recognize that?” It was priceless.

Would you mind if young attorneys observed court in your courtroom? If you permit courtroom observation, do you require that young attorneys request permission to observe court?

I am happy to have young lawyers come visit any time they would like. My courtroom belongs to the people of the United States.

Stacy Williams is a law clerk to the Honorable Joe J. Volpe.

The handbook is located at Arkbar’s website under Law Practice Management.

The Young Lawyers Section recently published its online

guide to social media. This guidebook is intended to give

lawyers, whether new to the profession or seasoned and

experienced attorneys, insight into the world of social

media and how its use—for both personal and business

purposes —intersects and

interplays with the Arkansas

Rules of Professional

Conduct.

yls publishes new social media handbook

Ethics and Social Media: A Guidebook for Arkansas Attorneys

" This guide is not meant to

discourage you from having

an online presence; rather,

it is meant to point out ethi-

cal predicaments so you can

find creative ways to have an

online presence while you can

rest easy knowing that you

are working within the Rules

of Professional Conduct. "


flyingsolo

Yls in brief

by stefan mcbride

If you had internet access last May, you probably saw Admiral William H. McCraven’s commencement speech at the University of Texas. Everyone picked it up (and many have recycled the content since then, as I am now shamelessly about to do). McCraven said many things over the span of 20 minutes on stage, but everyone’s takeaway was this piece of advice: “If you want to change the world, start by making your bed.”

McCraven drew this wisdom from his training as a Navy SEAL, where who he termed “professionally trained warriors” meticulously inspected his bed every day. After 37 years as a SEAL and a laundry list of professional accomplishments, he understood why making his bed was such an important part of his training.

According to him, this discipline was important for three reasons:

1. The successful completion of this simple task gave him the confidence for the next task. And the next task. And the next task. And so forth.

2. The little things in life matter. If you can’t do them well, you won’t be able to do the big things well.

3. When everything else falls apart, you still have a well-made bed in which you can find comfort and rest.

The advice is a little cutesy, I’ll admit, but I don’t think the overwhelming response to the speech is sheer novelty. The advice is solid, and it’s particularly good for the solo or small-firm lawyer.

Making the Bed You [Lawyer] In


As solo or small-firm lawyers, we have a unique combination of vague, complicated, impossible-to-control, completely un-finishable projects along with many mundane, straightforward, simple tasks. In the same day, we might have to walk someone through a gut-wrenching narrative about child abuse or predatory debt collection and then turn around and reconcile our bank account or schedule a hearing. One of these requires careful legal analysis, empathy, and discernment, any of which take an entire lifetime to cultivate. The other could be done by anyone at anytime. Both are necessary to be a competent attorney.

The big tasks can be overwhelming (unless you’re one of those lawyers that sees every client as nothing more than ability-to-pay and a discrete legal issue to solve). It’s difficult to know where to begin. It is sometimes impossible to see the end. Take some time to read through the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct if this seems overstated. We are “public citizen[s] having special responsibility for the quality of justice.” Our advice should consider all the “moral, economic, social and political factors that may be relevant to the client’s situation.” How do I know if my interesting approach (necessary for “zealous advocacy”) has a “basis in law and fact?” Lots of needles to thread. Lots of lofty expectations.

So how do you make the bed you [lawyer] in? Embrace the simple, mundane things as blessings, not curses. Do them first and do them well. Take the small things off your plate by getting them done. That will allow you to focus clearly on the things that we really want to do—the things that tangibly benefit our clients. Task-completion begats task-completion. If you don’t currently have the confidence to believe that you can beat the other person in court, take some time to beat the heck out of your disorganized bookshelf or outdated intake forms. It helps.

And when we (inevitably) do get beat in court,

we have a well-organized, systemized office to which we can return. You can’t always control what goes on in court (or whatever the analog is for your area of practice), but you can at least control the nuts and bolts of your office.

I wrote this article for me because I need it. My tendency is to eschew bed-making and instead plan full-scale invasions. Unfortunately, they often fail to get off the ground because of unmade beds—small tasks that go undone because I would rather focus on the big ones. I need to find more ways to start my days with a made bed and control the few things that are controllable. But everyone is different. I see some law practices whose purpose, it would seem, is nothing more than careful bed-making. There’s got to be a healthy balance in there somewhere.

I would love to hear your feedback on how you make the bed that you [lawyer] in. (It just didn’t seem right to further associate the word “lie” with lawyers and “making the bed that you [tell the truth] in” seemed a little clunky.

Stefan McBride is a family lawyer with Wilson & Haubert, PLLC, in North Little Rock. You can read his semi-weekly blog posts on semi-interesting topics at WHLawOffices.com.


There is still time to meet us in Hot Springs

The Annual ArkBar

HOT SPRINGSCONVENTION CENTER

The ArkBar’s Largest Annual Event 2015JUNE 10-13th

Preserving Justice for All at the 2015 ArkBar Annual Meeting

It is time again for Annual Meeting. Pack your suitcases and

bring your laptops and mobile devices to Hot Springs June 10-13. This year’s theme is: Preserving Justice for All. Our ple-nary speaker is Justice E. Oliver Diaz, Jr. He is the former Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court and his story inspired John Grisham’s novel, “The Appeal.” One good problem is that there are so many good speakers you will be con-flicted on which program to attend. Here are a few tidbits to whet your appe-tite: Barron K. Henley returns with “60 Tips in 60 Minutes” and another

hour of “Communication Breakdowns.” Dr. William Frederick Meinecke, Jr., will present “Law, Justice, and The Holocaust: How the Courts Failed in Germany.” If you want to bring a smile to your face be sure not to miss humor-ist Sean Carter. Governor Asa Hutchinson will speak, as will Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

Of course, our Annual Meeting is not all about CLE. This is a chance we have to see old friends and to make new ones in a non-adversarial arena. On Wednesday, the Arkansas Bar Foundation’s annual Fellows’ Dinner follows the Presidents’ Reception at the Hot Springs Con-

vention Center. A can’t miss, and nobody does, is the reception on Thurs-day afternoon hosted by the Friday Firm. Our As-sociation is grateful that they have sponsored this magnificent event for more than 50 years. If you see a member of the Fri-day Firm be sure to thank them for their support.

Brian H. Ratcliff, Arkansas Bar Association President

2015 Annual Meeting Chair: Paul W. Keith

Feat

ured

Spe

aker

s Sean Carter

Prof. Thomas Clancy Dr. William F. Meinecke, Jr.

Barron K. Henley

Justice Oliver Diaz, Jr. Former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice

Friday, June 12, Keynote Speaker“Buying Justice: Corporate Spending on

Judicial Elections in the Wake of Citizens United”

In his lecture, Justice Diaz illustrates the dangers of unregulated campaign spending by wealthy individuals and large corporations who are trying to purchase our elections. With record spending forecast in the 2016 Presidential elections, this issue is at the forefront of national consciousness.

> FULL BROCHURE ONLINE


117TH ANNUAL MEETING

FACTS

Why You Should Attend

Presidents’ Reception Friday Firm Reception

TGIF Reception Register to win an iPad mini

UPDATES FROM THE CAPITOL

Schedule & Course Materials on the Go!

Download the ArkBar Events app:

*Course materials are only accessible on the mobile app by registered ArkBar members.

Access to Course Materials*Complete Event SchedulePersonal Itinerary BuilderEvent AlertsExhibitors SearchSession SearchSession Notebook (available on tablets)Speaker Directory

FEATURED RECEPTIONS

JUNE 10-13, 2015REGISTER NOW AT

ACE.ARKBAR.COM/ANNUALMEETING

MEMBERS SAVE UP TO $300REGISTER ONLINE BY JUNE 5TH

FOR BEST DISCOUNTFRIDAY LUNCH EVENTS


At the corner of West Markham Street and South Ringo Street in Little Rock, Doe’s Eat Place has been serving steaks and hot tama-les since 1988. While President of the United States, Bill Clinton was known to go jogging in Washington D.C. wearing his Doe’s Eat Place shirt.

If you are looking for filet mignon at a trendy lounge, Doe’s isn’t for you. If you want a great steak at a kid-friendly hole in the wall, then pull up a chair. Doe’s is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and for dinner Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Doe’s lunch menu features Hot Sandwiches includ-ing a Cheeseburgers, Catfish, and Chili Dogs. All sandwiches are served with french fries. Doe’s dinner menu is simple: appetiz-ers are hot tamales with chili or shrimp, boiled or fried; entrees include steaks, shrimp, and grilled salmon. Whether lunch or dinner, you can always order what Doe’s is known for: steak. As for steak, you can order a t-bone (2 or 3lbs) at $19.50 per pound, porterhouse (2½ - 3lbs) at $22.50 per pound,

does eat placeLittle rock

arkansas traveler

Yls in brief

sirloin(3½ - 6lbs) at $17.50 per pound, or an 8 oz. fillet for $35.00. All steaks are served “family style” and can be cooked at two differ-ent temperatures. The children’s menu has two choices – spaghetti or grilled cheese.

We last visited Doe’s on a Satur-day night with family, including five adults and four kids ranging in age from seven months to seven years. As luck would have it, the nice Arkansas spring evening gave way to a thunderstorm with a tor-rential downpour as we parked on Markham across the street from the restaurant. Just as we jumped out of the car and grabbed the tod-dler and baby, a good Samaritan, the Doe’s security guard, appeared offering us his umbrella. Doe’s was packed, with a few people waiting on a table at the small bar in the back of the room. We had reservations and our large group was seated at a large banquet table (think old school cafeteria not wedding) in the side room. The side room seemed mostly reserved for larger groups. The walls are littered with Arkansas memorabilia and photos of famous entertainers and politicians who have visited over the years. Considering Doe’s

proximity to the State Capitol, you get the feeling that more than one legislative “deal” has been struck there over the years.

The less formal (if that’s even pos-sible) side dining room was quite loud, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for us considering the age of some in our party – a/k/a screaming Baby. We started with a dozen and a half hot tamales with chili for the table. Doe’s Hot Tama-les are awesome – period. Mary ordered the eight ounce filet and I ordered the two pound t-bone – both were cooked to perfection. Speaking from experience, the por-terhouse is Doe’s best cut, but you have to get there earlier than us to order one before they run out. My t-bone was served on a steaming hot plate and was cut into strips with the bone still in place. The steaks were served with a mound of new potatoes, french fries, and Texas toast. I personally love sopping up the steak juices with a piece of Texas toast. Even our dog, Georgia, loved the bone from my steak that I brought home to her. All in all, it’s definitely hard to beat an evening at Doe’s Eat Place in Little Rock.

by mary & trey cooper


tastytips

Yls in brief

Roll that pizza

Roll that PizzaA simple and tasty appetizer. Easy to make. Too easy not to eat.

Prep Time: 10-15 minutesCook time: 10-15 minutesEstimated total time: 30-40 minutesMakes 12-15 rolls, depending on cut size and length of rolled dough

Ingredients1 package pizza crust (dough mix)½ cup onion, chopped2 cloves of garlic, minced2 fresh basil leaves, chopped1 cup ricotta cheese4 cups of shredded Italian cheese blend(such as Mozzarella, Provolone, Asiago, and Romano cheeses)1 egg, beaten4-6 mushrooms, sliced (can substitute any other desired ingredient for topping)1 jar of any pizza sauce Salt and pepper to taste

Directions• Preheat oven to 475°F.• Prepare pizza dough according to directions on

the package, then form into a loose ball. Any brand of pizza dough should work. Keep the dough ball covered and in a warm place until ready to use.

• Sauté chopped onion, minced garlic, and chopped basil leaves in olive oil. Set aside until cooled.

• To prepare cream mixture, combine ricotta cheese, 2 cups of Italian cheese blend, sautéed ingredients, and salt and pepper (to taste). Stir in beaten egg.

• Roll (or press) dough into a thin rectangle on a baking sheet or pizza pan. Bake dough for 3 minutes. After removing from oven, spread cream mixture over dough. Roll up the dough, from one side to the other. Slice dough into 1 inch rolls, then place each roll on the baking sheet, with the rolls touching each other. Add pizza sauce and top with sliced mushrooms (or other toppings) and remain-ing shredded cheese.

• Bake 10-12 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

These meatballs are also great for using as mini-burgers.

by rashauna norment

ARKANSASFINDALAWYER®

www.arkansasfindalawyer.com

Market Your Law Practicefor only $75/year


techtips

Yls in brief

by brooke moore

We’re living in a virtual world and I am a virtual lawyer. In an age of instant gratification and increasing consumer demand for online services, the legal profession has been slow to evolve and non-lawyer legal services have jumped at the opportunity to grab an underserved share of the market. This shift to non-lawyer e-service providers does a disservice to both clients and our profession.

So what can we do to change this dynamic and preserve the sanctity of legal services forever? Okay, so maybe that’s a little dramatic but one way to level the playing field is for attorneys to meet potential clients where they are: ONLINE! I am not suggesting that we all abandon the brick and mortar firm and although that is exactly what I have done, it certainly does not make sense to do so across all practice areas. I am simply encouraging you all to consider the value that having an online presence will bring to your firm and your clients!

There are numerous benefits derived from adding a virtual component to your firm, including the ability to reach more consumers, added freedom from your office, and the flexibility to meet consumer demands.

Here are 3 Must-Haves to build your virtual law firm presence:

1. Build a Website.

Partner with tech-savvy people who can build an awesome, user-friendly website and maybe throw in some SEO and marketing tips along the way. You cannot have an effective virtual presence without a website. There are numerous options. If you are tech-savvy or more limited financially

Going Virtual:The New Law Practice


there are several do-it-yourself options like godaddy.com, wix.com, and websitebuilder.com, just to name a view. If you want to enlist the help of a professional then look around your area for reputable marketing and advertising agencies. Because I opted for an entirely virtual law practice, I chose the latter and hired the cool web building gurus over at Agency501 in downtown Little Rock.

2. Add a client portal to your web page.

A client portal is software that enhances interaction with clients and collaboration between colleagues. You can use the portal to upload and share files, send messages, organize, plan, and manage tasks. Each user is assigned a unique user name and password and has 24/7 access to updates and information, accommodating any schedule. This secure platform is a great alternative to e-mail and aids in improved communication with clients. I use MyCase.com for my client portal. MyCase is designed exclusively for law firms and its fantastic features are always evolving. It is relatively inexpensive and if you are an American Bar Association member you get a discount! Plus you can try it for free for the first 30 days and you can easily access it from an app. I have linked the MyCase link into my website for my clients; however, MyCase does offer website builder services that include the client portal already built in.

3. Make online payments available.

I am talking about establishing an electronic payment system. E-payments not only lower costs for businesses, consumers love the ease and convenience of paying online. E-payments also allow for delivery of electronic invoices, saving time and increasing efficiency. LawPay is a popular E-payment service used by attorneys because the credit card processing service is knowledgeable of IOLTA guidelines and the Rules of Professional Conduct and is a member benefit for 39 state bar associations, including the Arkansas Bar Association. If you have MyCase, you also have the ability to send e-invoices and make e-payments. Through MyCase you can schedule and define payment plans, direct each transaction to your trust or operational account, and retrieve

documentation of every transaction. MyCase also provides a one-way sync of your accounting data into Quickbooks for a one-time fee of $99 and ongoing use for no extra costs thereafter.

As the legal landscape continues to evolve and we find ourselves adrift in a sea of bitcoins and codes, a solid virtual presence can aid in improving access and communication to today’s legal consumers, while preserving and advancing the profession we serve.

Brooke Moore is the owner of Arkansas Virtual Lawyer, an online law practice providing statewide limited scope representation services in the areas of family & estate law. For more information, visit www.arkansasvirtuallawyer.com.


This article was originally published in the Spring 2015 issue of The Arkansas Lawyer magazine and is reprinted here with permission.

The Arkansas Bar Association Young Lawyers Section continues to “spring forward” with momen-tum in community involvement and professional development.

Estate PlanningOn Saturday, February 21,

2015, the Citizenship Education Committee joined the Leader-ship Academy Alumni Section to host a free Estate Planning Clinic in Little Rock. Commit-tee Co-Chair John Rainwater reported, “the Free Estate Plan-ning Clinic hosted by the Lead-ership Academy Alumni Section of the Arkansas Bar Association held at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute was a success! Despite the unfavor-able weather conditions, our vol-unteers showed up and served cancer patients by preparing free estate planning documents. We greatly appreciate Amy Johnson’s efforts in providing coordination and training; everyone at the Bar Association for all the planning and detail work done; and all our volunteers who gave up their Sat-urday to help others.”

Social MediaThanks to Sarah Sparkman,

the YLS Social Media Guide has made its debut. Entitled “Ethics and Social Media: A Guidebook for Arkansas Attorneys,” the guide provides valuable information for lawyers who use social media in

their personal and professional lives. Topics of discussion in-clude oversharing information in personal media accounts, as well as advertising legal services. YLS members may access an electronic version of the guide via ACE.

Access to Justice Arkansas Access to Justice

(AATJ) continues to ignite dia-logue in the legal profession concerning accessibility of legal services in rural or underserved areas. Amy Johnson of AATJ, Mark Nichols, and Nate Coulter recently joined together to host a Jeffersonian Dinner in which at-tendees discussed the importance of quantifying the current unmet demand for services and ways to meet the needs of underserved Arkansans. I was honored to at-tend this collegial event on behalf of YLS for the purpose of learning more about how young lawyers may become part of the solution. Those who may share an interest in helping to develop solutions should contact me or Amy John-son at Arkansas Access to Justice.

American Bar Association Subgrant Awards

The Arkansas Bar Association YLS has been awarded Subgrants in the amount of $1,000.00 and $2,000.00 from the American Bar Association to fund its Law School Application Guide and its Domestic Violence Handbook

respectively. The Law School Ap-plication Guide will be used as a resource for students that are in-terested in embarking upon a legal career. The Guides will be dissem-inated during the College Road Tours, in which YLS members visit Historically Black Colleges and Universities and community colleges throughout the state. The Domestic Violence Handbook will include information concern-ing protective orders, custody, support, and visitation in the stir of domestic violence. YLS hopes that once printed, the handbook would be distributed to shelters and circuit clerks across the state.

ArkBar Annual MeetingThe YLS is looking forward to

a rewarding and fun-filled An-nual Meeting, which will be held the week of June 8, 2015. The ArkBar Young Lawyers Section has created a program specifical-ly for law student attendees and new admittees on Thursday, June

11th. All meeting registrants are welcome to attend. The programs do qualify for CLE. The follow-ing topics will be presented on Thursday in Rooms 203-204 of the Convention Center. 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.: The Arkansas Lawyer’s Ethical Use of Social Media presented by Sarah Sparkman

12:45 - 1:45 p.m.: Student Loan Debt presented by Heather Jarvis

1:45 - 2:45 p.m.: Do’s and Don’ts for Starting Your Own Law Firm presented by Brandon Moffitt and Robin C. Smith

3:00 - 4:00 p.m.: 10 Things You Won’t Learn in Law School—But Really Should Know Speakers TBA

Attorneys helping at the Estate Planning Clinic at UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Institute

YLS REPORT

Launching Ahead

By Jessica S. YarbroughJessica S.

Yarbrough is the Chair of the Young Lawyers Section. She is an attorney with McKissic &

Associates, P.L.L.C. in Pine Bluff.


ArkBar.2 0 1 5 B E S T O F C L E

2015Best of CLE

2015

2015 Best of CLE Little Rock

June 22-26, 2015

UALR Bowen School of Law

1201 McMath Avenue, Little Rock

2015 Best of CLE Northwest

June 29-30, 2015

Holiday Inn & Convention Center

1500 S. 48th St., Springdale

www.arkbar.comRegister online

Earn a full year of CLE

YLS In Brief June 2015

Documents

Transcript of YLS In Brief June 2015