April 2007

Brandon's Legacy After a young deputy sheriff is killed, ASB members come to the aid of his fellow law enforcement officers

n April 8, 2004, Covington County District peace officers. Attorney Greg Gambril awakened in the night “I immediately sent Oto the sad news that Brandon Lassiter, a young copies to the police chiefs deputy sheriff, had been killed by a drunk driver. His patrol in the county for them car was hit head on and the other driver was also killed. “I to hand out,” Gambril said. usually go to crime scenes involving fatalities, but this was He did not stop there. one that wouldn’t involve a prosecution, so I asked the inves- He contacted several local tigator if there was anything that I could do at the scene. He lawyers To see if they would got quiet and then said, ‘Yeah, you can come and just be with prepare simple wills, at no your fellow law enforcement officers.’” charge, for all the Covington Gambril soon understood why. Lassiter was the first of- County officers, as well as explain death benefits available ficer to fall in the line of duty in Covington County in nearly to them. All said they would participate. Gambril decided to two decades. At the scene, there were well over 100 law extend the idea to the entire Covington County Bar mem- enforcement officers from multiple counties. “I’ve experi- bership and so began the Brandon Lassiter Memorial enced a lot of death and tragedy in my job, but this took it Will Program. to a new level.” “Brandon was so young and his death was so sudden. The Before the night was out, Gambril’s role as a prosecutor tremendous risks that come with the officers’ jobs were was needed. “I was approached about authorizing an autopsy suddenly right there in front of them,” Gambril said. on Deputy Lassiter. When I asked why, as there would be no The response to the will program was impressive. “Over prosecution, they told me it was necessary for his family to half of our bar membership volunteered to take part. Each qualify for police officer death benefits,” Gambril said. “I was year, additional lawyers have joined the list and not a single really entering foreign territory and, to complicate matters, a one has asked to be removed,” Gambril said. “Several of member of his family was opposed to the autopsy.” Ulti- these attorneys make a large portion of their living defend- mately, officers close to the family got them to consent and ing clients accused of crimes, but they still have a deep Gambril ordered the autopsy. respect for our law enforcement officers.” Gambril said, “The confusion out there was horrible. Most The program is spreading. “One of the most exciting things of the officers had never dealt with an officer killed on duty is that other local bar associations are following suit. Both and did not know what benefits were even available.” Gam- criminal defense attorneys and district attorneys have called bril was determined that scene would never be repeated. wanting information on how to start a program. Some of He was given a booklet from Covington County Proba- these jurisdictions intend to name their program in tion Officer Bill Law, entitled Benefits Available to Surviving Brandon’s memory. That is a great tribute to the sacrifice Families of Federal Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of that Brandon paid in service to all of us.” Duty, which included information for local, state and federal (Continued on page 6)

25449 AlaBar_april add.indd 1 3/28/07 1:36:00 PM Slip Opinions from Casemaker® Still relying on this method to keep up to date? A few simple steps and you're on your way

lip opinions have pretty much gone the way of the tab to the right of the blue "Basic Search" tab which is buggy whip with the development of online legal the default. Sresearch, but lots of lawyers who came of age reading 4. Leave the "Full Document Search Query" box blank. them in the advance sheets want to continue the practice to 5. Move down to the "Date Decided:" box. Enter the stay on top of changes in the law. Casemaker® can help you date you’d like the opinions to begin in the "From" box. do just that. All you have to do is a specialized search to find Clear the "To" box if there is a date in it. the most recently released cases for the last week or month. 6. Click "Search." Here’s how you do it. This will pull up all opinions from the date you put in the 1. Enter Casemaker® through the ASB Website at "From" box forward. If you’d like to look at just supreme www.alabar.org and select the Alabama library. court cases, or just civil appeals or criminal appeals cases, 2. Click on "Search" under the Alabama Opinions button. type "Supreme" or "Civil" or "Criminal" in the court field. 3. Click on the "Advanced Search" tab. This is the white –Laura A. Calloway, Practice Management Assistance Program

 / Addendum April 2007

25449 AlaBar_april add.indd 2 3/30/07 11:00:51 AM The Complete Lawyer

The Alabama State Bar's newest member benefit focuses on increased satisfaction and success of lawyers' careers and lives

o be successful in today’s world, lawyers need to be in setting the stage for this issue. “Understanding the power ready to take on new challenges that come their way of client service, focusing on a niche, thought leadership, Tevery day. The ASB is pleased to add another mem- networking instead of selling, building your personal brand ber benefit to assist Alabama lawyers. The Complete Lawyer signature, and, yes, having the right attitude are a few of the (TCL), a bi-monthly online publication dedicated entirely to proven strategies that lawyers use every day to effectively the personal and professional development of attorneys, is market themselves." now publishing a special Alabama State Bar edition. Laura Calloway, director of the ASB’s Practice Manage- In today’s world it is increasingly difficult for attorneys to ment Assistance Program, said, “Regardless of your practice balance the demands of a career and still find time for family area, the size of your firm, your age or gender, you can learn and other pursuits that give meaning to their lives. The Com- and effectively deploy the client development skills that suit plete Lawyer helps provide guidance and practical advice. your personal style and goals. In this edition, TCL offers you The March-April issue is headlined “Focus on marketing the perspectives of national marketing experts as well as yourself.” In keeping with the format that is being replicated lawyers who have increased their visibility and multiplied with other bar associations throughout the country, each their success via savvy approaches.” issue will contain an article specifically devoted to individual TCL originated in 2004 as a collaborative effort with the members of the ASB. Atlanta . A consortium of metropolitan bar ASB Executive Director Keith B. Norman said, “Each associations in Ohio followed, joined now by the Virginia Bar issue of the TCL is about one thing–increasing the satisfac- Association, Tennessee Bar Association, , tion and success of individual lawyers, in their careers and in , State Bar of Montana, The Mississippi their lives as a whole. Contributors are practicing lawyers, Bar, North Carolina Bar Association, , and the veteran coaches and consultants, and best-selling authors. Hennepin County (Minn.) Bar Association. They are dealing with the same complex issues that face The Complete Lawyer is provided to ASB members at no Alabama lawyers daily.” cost, with its revenue generated entirely through advertis- Regular departments in TCL include: ing sales. Distribution of each issue is communicated via the •Business Development ASB Web site at www.alabar.org, thereby enabling the ASB to •Communications maintain complete control and access to its members’ •Coaching & Mentoring e-mail addresses. •Health Archived issues of The Complete Lawyer, as well as links to •Leadership editions bearing the nameplate of other state and municipal •Navigating Your Career bar associations, are accessible via the online publication’s •Family main Web address, www.thecompletelawyer.com. •Women in the Law Member feedback is welcomed, either through the editors •Work-Life Balance of TCL or by contacting Brad Carr with the Alabama State “What marketing principles do the most successful attor- Bar Communications Department ([email protected]). neys use to grow their practices?” asks The Complete Lawyer

April 2007 Alabama State Bar Addendum / 

25449 AlaBar_april add.indd 3 3/28/07 1:38:03 PM Alabama’s Great Tradition of Lawyers in the Legislature: Have You Hugged Your Lawyer-Legislator Recently?

art of the mission statement of the Alabama State Bar Lawyer-Legislators (ASB Members): includes dedication to “improving the administration U.S. Senator Richard C. Shelby of justice.” Who can help us fulfill this mission better U.S. Senator Jefferson B. Sessions, III P U.S. Congressman Robert B. Aderolt than our members who are lawyer legislators? U.S. Congressman Josiah Robins Bonner, Jr. All of us are proud that we come from a profession that U.S. Congressman Spencer T. Bachus has produced many of the greatest legislators in the history U.S. Congressman Robert E. Cramer of our country, including Thomas Jefferson, the author of the U.S. Congressman Artur G. Davis Declaration of Independence, and 25 of its 56 signers; James U.S. Congressman Michael Dennis Rogers Madison, the primary drafter of the United States Constitu- Alabama’s House of Alabama’s Senate: tion, and 22 of its 39 signers; and 36 of the 52 governors of Representatives: Roger Bedford the State of Alabama. Both of our U.S. senators from Ala- Marcel Black Ben Brooks bama are lawyers. Six of seven members of the U.S. House Paul Demarco Bradley Byrne of Representatives from Alabama are lawyers. We have 22 Chris England Ted Little lawyer legislators who are members of the ASB and are cur- Ken Guin Zeb Little Tammy Irons Pat Lindsey rently serving in the Alabama legislature. Marc Keahey Wendell Mitchell I believe that the lawyers and judges in Alabama should Jeff McLaughlin Arthur Orr support lawyers who are willing to sacrifice time away from Demetrius Newton Myron Penn their families and their jobs to engage in public service. Yusuf Salaam Phil Poole Their service benefits all Alabama citizens. Cam Ward Hank Sanders At a recent meeting of state lawyer legislators, a past Rodger Smitherman president of the Alabama State Bar asked the question, – Samuel N. Crosby, Stone, Granade & Crosby, Daphne “What can we do to help you?” The response of two of the legislators who have active trial practices was to ìask Addendum (USPS 013-915), official newsletter of the Alabama State Bar, fellow lawyers and judges to cut us some slackî by agreeing is published six times a year (December, February, April, June, August, to, or granting, continuances of trials and depositions during October) by The Alabama Lawyer Board of Editors, P.O. Box 4156, periods when the legislature is in session. Montgomery 36101-4156. Contributions from members are welcomed and encouraged. Views expressed are those of the authors, not neces- This seems like a reasonable request and I hope all of us sarily those of the board of editors, officers or board of bar commis- involved in litigation will make every effort to comply with sioners of the ASB Subscriptions: ASB members receive Addendum as this request. part of their annual dues payment; $15 of this goes to subscriptions The ASB is encouraging lawyers to be legislators and lead- for The Alabama Lawyer and Addendum. Copyright 2007 The Alabama ers in public service through its Leadership Forum, mentor- State Bar. All rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, ing programs and other efforts. For non-legislator members AL. Postmaster: Send address changes to Addendum, P.O. Box 4156, Montgomery, AL 36101-4156 to fail to support our legislator lawyers while the legislature Editor: Ashley H. Hamlett, Montgomery, is in session in accordance with their request runs counter [email protected] to these other efforts by the ASB.

 / Alabama State Bar Addendum April 2007

25449 AlaBar_april add.indd 4 3/28/07 1:43:53 PM Spanish-Speaking Lawyers Committee Still Needs Your Time and Talents

Despite an overwhelming response from the ASB members, there's always room for one more

he announcement of the Spanish-Speaking Lawyers Hispanic community through participation in the ASB Law- Committee has generated an overwhelming re- yer Referral Service; (2) working with the court system as it Tsponse, including that of Judge J. Scott Vowell, pre- develops universal certification standards for court inter- siding judge, Jefferson County Circuit Court, who has agreed preters; (3) assisting with the translation of the ASB public to serve as honorary chair of the committee. Judge Vowell information brochures into Spanish; and (4) providing guid- has been a strong supporter of the ASB’s Hispanic outreach ance to the ASB Rules of Professional Conduct as they apply to efforts and we appreciate his interest and dedication. representation of clients with limited English proficiency. Thanks also to those lawyers who expressed an interest If you have not yet asked to be on this committee, but in joining the committee to further its goals. Your energy would like to contribute your skills, ideas and time, indicate will be greatly appreciated. The committee has a number of your interest and provide your contact information by potential projects in mind and the combined resources and e-mail to [email protected]. support of each member will help to address such projects Muchas gracias. as: (1) expanding access to legal services for Alabama’s

You Want It? You Got It The Alabama State Bar is converting our paper membership files to an electronic filing system. You may request that your original bar application be returned to you once the project is completed. The request must be in writing and there will be a $10 administrative fee. This offer is being made for a very limited time. Complete the form below and return it and your $10 fee to the Alabama State Bar, Attn: Member- ship, P.O. Box 671, Montgomery 36101 no later than June 1, 2007.

Full name:______Address:______Bar Identification Number: ASB-______Date of Admission:______

Note: Upon completion of this project the files will be destroyed, so requests made after June 1, 2007 cannot be honored.

April 2007 Alabama State Bar Addendum / 

25449 AlaBar_april add.indd 5 3/28/07 1:45:29 PM YLS and VLP Render Service in Coffee and Wilcox Counties

he Alabama State Bar’s Young Lawyers’ Section is Volunteer Lawyers Program. Attorney volunteers once again providing free legal information to victims screen incoming calls and accept pro bono referrals from Tand families in the aftermath of the recent tornado the helpline. that struck Enterprise and surrounding areas. According to Lund, residents affected by a disaster appreci- A disaster legal helpline (800-354-6154) was created to ate assistance in clarifying confusing legal questions, including aid the residents of Coffee and Wilcox counties which have assisting with insurance claims, counseling on landlord- been declared a disaster area by federal authorities. State tenant problems, helping with home repair contracts, Bar President Boots Gale said, “Lawyers’ services are consumer protection matters and mortgage foreclosure in high demand after a natural disaster. People with dam- problems, replacing wills, and drafting powers of attorney. aged homes have questions about their insurance policies. Typically, a disaster helpline becomes operational a few Landlords and tenants want to know their rights when their days after a disaster is declared. This gives the victims time properties become uninhabitable. Alabama lawyers are vol- to attend to more pressing matters, such as obtaining shel- unteering to help their neighbors in a time of need.” ter and food. After a short time, however, victims recognize In a unique partnership with the Federal Emergency Man- that they need legal help to put their lives back in order. agement Agency (FEMA), members of the YLS will assist the The helpline number is made available by all governmental families. “This helpline is to provide free legal information agencies responding to the disaster. Lawyers staffing the and answer disaster-related legal questions, not provide legal helpline identify the legal issues presented by each caller and representation. When a natural disaster strikes our state, the then refer the caller to an appropriate agency (e.g., shelters, Alabama State Bar is both ready and willing to assist those in food banks, government claims processing units, etc.). For need,” said Linda Lund, director of the state bar’s more information, contact the ASB at (334) 269-1515.

(Continued from page 1) On February 25, 2006, tragedy struck again. Investigator One of the first to contact Gambril was Richard Mi- Kevin Green of the Moody Police Department was killed in nor, St. Clair County district attorney. “When Greg told a one-vehicle accident. He was survived by his wife and two me about the program, my first thoughts were of Officers children. Keith Turner and Kevin Green of the Moody Police On May 19, 2006, the St. Clair County Law Enforce- Department. I only wish we had the program before tragedy ment Will Program became a reality with over 25 par- struck our community.” ticipating attorneys. “Just knowing that the service was there Officer Turner was on patrol the night of June 27, 1998 prompted a lot of our officers to have a will prepared when when he pulled in behind a suspicious vehicle driven by Ma- they might have delayed it. I deeply appreciate what these rio Centobie. Centobie was an escaped convict who had just attorneys are doing,” Gambril said. shot Captain Cecil Lancaster of the Tuscaloosa Police For more information, contact Covington County DA Department. He pulled out a stolen handgun and shot and Greg Gambril at [email protected] or St. Clair County killed the officer. Officer Turner was survived by his wife and DA Richard Minor at [email protected]. infant daughter.

 / Alabama State Bar Addendum April 2007

25449 AlaBar_april add.indd 6 3/28/07 1:47:18 PM Grants, Comments, Nominations Legal Services Corporation Notice of Availability of Competitive Grant Funds The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announces the availability of com- petitive grant funds to provide civil legal services to eligible clients during 2008. A Request for Proposals and other information pertaining to the LSC grants competition will be available from www.ain.lsc.gov during the week of April 16, 2007. Refer to www.ain.lsc.gov for filing dates and submission requirements. E-mail inquiries to [email protected].

Notice of and Opportunity for Comment on Amendments to the Rules of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071(b), notice and opportunity for comment are hereby given of proposed amendments to the Rules of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and of proposed amendments to Ad- dendum Five, Non-Criminal Justice Act Counsel Appointments. A copy of the proposed amendments may be obtained on and after April 2, 2007 from www.ca11uscourts.gov. or from the Office of the Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 56 Forsyth St., NW, Atlanta 30303. Com- ments may be submitted in writing to the Clerk by May 2, 2007.

Pro Bono Award Nominations The Alabama State Bar Committee on Volunteer Lawyer Programs/Ac- cess to Legal Services is seeking nominations for the Pro Bono Award. Nomination forms can be obtained by contacting Linda L. Lund, Alabama State Bar, P.O. Box 671, Montgomery; (334) 296-1515. The Pro Bono Award recognizes the outstanding pro bono efforts of attorneys, law firms and law students in the state. The award criteria includes: the total number of pro bono hours or complexity of cases handled, impact of the pro bono work and benefit for the poor, particular expertise provided or the particular need satisfied, successful recruitment of other attorneys for pro bono rep- resentation, and proven commitment to delivery of quality legal services to the poor and to providing equal access to legal services. Nominations must be postmarked by May 1, 2007 and include a completed nomination form.

April 2007 Alabama State Bar Addendum / 7

25449 AlaBar_april add.indd 7 3/30/07 11:06:23 AM

8 add.indd AlaBar_april 25449 PM 5:34:32 3/29/07

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