Vol. 4 No. 6 | Feb. 7, 2024
Courts
- 2024 OK 1: STRICKLEN v. MULTIPLE INJURY TRUST FUND
- 2024 OK 2: IN RE GUARDIANSHIP OF L.A.C.
- 2024 OK 3: BASE v. DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION
No published opinions this week.
- 2024 OK CIV APP 3: CARTER v. PENDLEY
- 2024 OK CIV APP 4: PHILLIPS v. NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO
- 2024 OK CIV APP 5: ONDOBO v. INTEGRIS BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER
- 2024 OK CIV APP 6: HOLLAND v. ROBERTS
- 2024 OK CIV APP 7: ORTHMAN v. PREMIERE PEDIATRICS
Dispositions Other than by Published Opinions
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma Court Calendar
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma is in session year round, unless otherwise noted. The court regularly schedules conferences on Mondays and other days as needed.
Member Transitions
More
The February edition of the Oklahoma Bar Journal is now online. The theme of this issue is "Estate Planning," focusing on various facets of estate planning, including the impact of the Corporate Transparency Act, disputes over loved ones' remains, planning for loved ones with special needs and long-term care plans for farmers and ranchers. This month's issue also highlights Oklahoma's agricultural laws, the kickoff of Oklahoma's legislative session, OBA Leadership Academy and much more. Check it out!
FEATURED ARTICLES
Corporate Transparency Act: What It Is and How It Affects Estate Planning Attorneys
By Chantelle Hickman
Laid to Rest: Making a Clear Plan for How Your Client's Remains Are To Be Disposed
By Darcy N. Worth
Planning for People With Special Needs
By Travis Smith
Long-Term Care Planning for Oklahoma's Farmers and Ranchers
By Tyler R. Barrett
PLUS
Oklahoma's Agricultural Law
By Brendon S. Atkinson
"Whether or not you take advantage of everything, you get a lot out of your OBA membership. The CLE Department puts on high-quality programming. The communications team and Board of Editors create and curate high-quality publications. The practice management professionals negotiate discounted rates on great services that can help you run your law office. Just to name a few.
First and foremost, however, admission to the OBA grants the privilege of practicing law in Oklahoma. Perhaps we take it for granted from time to time, but that is an awesome and time-honored opportunity we all have worked hard to earn. It benefits us, our clients, our families and hopefully our communities and our systems of justice and governance as well."
"Happy New Year! As an initial matter, I would like to extend a huge 'thank you' to Miles Pringle, who served as co-chair of this committee last year and is now the OBA president. His rather large shoes are being filled by Teena Gunter, who is a longtime committee member and serves as general counsel at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Welcome aboard, Teena! By the time you read this, we will have just completed our Feb. 2 Legislative Kickoff program. Details of that program will be provided after its conclusion for those who were unable to attend. Thanks so much to all the attorneys who spent their valuable time and effort bringing our membership helpful information about this year’s legislative agenda!"
"The YLD is excited to start off its 2024 year. That includes getting a fast start on elections for 2025 YLD leadership. As such, we encourage any dedicated young lawyer individual to participate in YLD elections. As Vince Lombardi once stated, 'Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.'
View the 2025 list of vacancies here. Nominating petitions will be accepted through April 1. Those offices that are contested will be set for voting, and ballots will be sent by email. Those offices that are not contested will be deemed elected by acclimation.
DEADLINE
Nominating petitions, accompanied by a photo and bio of 350 words or less for publication in the Oklahoma Bar Journal, must be forwarded to me at cshaffer@gablawyers.com no later than 5 p.m. Monday, April 1. Results of the election will be announced at the YLD meeting at the OBA Annual Meeting, July 9-12 at the Embassy Suites in Norman."
The application period for Oklahoma Bar Foundation court grants is now open. Through these grants, the Oklahoma Bar Foundation helps improve the administration of justice in district and appellate courtrooms across Oklahoma. Grants may be used to fund courtroom technological equipment, such as interactive display boards, audio systems or video equipment. Courts can apply now through March 4.
What are your goals as a lawyer for 2024? Are you working toward growing your client base? Learning how to automate a few of your day-to-day processes or establishing new pricing for your services? Planning to share your knowledge by writing an article for the Oklahoma Bar Journal or optimizing your workload so that you have more free time? Whatever your goals, it is important to establish attainable action steps to help you get there – and remember that it is okay to ask for help if self-doubt is keeping you from setting and reaching goals.
Goal setting can feel difficult, especially if you’re not sure where to start. To help, Clio recently published a blog post giving lawyers tips to establish SMART goals for your practice. Below is a summary of Clio's SMART goals for lawyers:
Specific
Goals that are too broad are not actionable. Keep goals specific by identifying how you will accomplish them, why you want to accomplish them and any anticipated obstacles.
Measurable
Keep goals measurable, breaking them down into "bite-sized" milestones so that you can keep track of your progress.
Achievable
While you don't want to set goals that are too easy, setting unrealistic, unattainable goals can be less meaningful and ineffective.
Relevant
Keep your SMART goals related to your overall end goal, and make sure they tie in to the larger vision and mission.
Time-Bound
Set timeframes for each goal, and ensure the timeframe is realistic. Setting unrealistic timelines for your goals can make them feel unattainable and unachievable.
According to a recent post by A Chance to Change, some of the main hindrances in effective goal setting are fear and poor self-image. These two issues are closely related and stem from negative self-talk and self-doubt. If you’re an attorney who struggles with either of these issues or any issues related to anxiety, depression or substance abuse, Lawyers Helping Lawyers can help. Call the LHL hotline (800-364-7886) to be referred to a counselor in your area. The OBA offers all bar members up to six hours of free short-term, problem-focused or crisis counseling. The counseling service is strictly confidential.
Built by lawyers, the ABA Retirement Funds Program has been providing flexible, tailored retirement plans exclusively to the legal community for nearly 60 years. The program's mission is to help every legal professional to and through retirement. Learn more at www.abaretirement.com.
Featured CLE
By OBA MAP Director Jim Calloway
For those who want to learn more about how lawyers can appropriately use artificial intelligence in their law practices, I recommend the on-demand OBA CLE program, "Artificial Intelligence in a Law Practice." This webinar has great presenters. OBA Practice Management Advisor Julie Bays is joined by Catherine Sanders Reach, director of the Center for Practice Management at the North Carolina Bar Association. Many of you have enjoyed hearing Ms. Reach speak at the OBA Solo & Small Firm Conference or ABA TECHSHOW in the past. During this program, Ms. Bays and Ms. Reach will demonstrate some practical AI tools and discuss future AI developments they see ahead. The hour-long program is $50 to attend and worth 1 hour of general MCLE credit.
The Oklahoma Bar Journal is a publication of the Oklahoma Bar Association. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2024 Oklahoma Bar Association. Statements or opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff. Although advertising copy is reviewed, no endorsement of any product or service offered by any advertisement is intended or implied by publication. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their ads, and the OBA reserves the right to edit or reject any advertising copy for any reason. Legal articles carried in The Oklahoma Bar Journal are selected by the Board of Editors. Information about submissions can be found at www.okbar.org.