The ABA Division of Public Education has announced The Rule of Law: Foundation for Communities of Opportunity and Equity as the theme for Law Day 2008, the 50th anniversary of the celebration. The theme will emphasize the law's daily effect on Americans. Click here for more on Law Day 2008, including the brochure.

---

The ABA is petitioning states to implement its Model Court Rule on Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of Major Disaster, adopted in February 2007. The rule allows out-of-state lawyers to provide pro bono to citizens in disaster-stricken states, and for lawyers from such states to practice temporarily in other states. The rule was prompted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which devastated parts of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi in summer 2005, disrupting those states' legal systems.

For a chart of states that have already adopted and are considering adopting the rule, click here. For questions about the rule, contact John Holtaway.

---

At its 2007 Annual Meeting last month, the ABA House of Delegates adopted its Section of Litigation's Principles for the Rule of Law in Times of Calamity, 12 axioms to guide the justice system during a disaster. To read the principles with commentary, click here.

---

The National Organization of Bar Counsel and the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers have released a joint study and report examining the effectiveness of traditional attorney discipline on aging lawyers. The 85-page PDF report includes recommended 'best practices,' most of them bar-association focused, to protect the public while preserving the dignity of age-impaired lawyers. For a summary of the report's recommendations, read the news release linked to from the NOBC home page.

---

Crain's Cleveland Business reports that the boards of the Cleveland Bar Association and Cuyahoga County Bar Association have voted to unify. The memberships of both groups still must approve the agreement.

---

The ABA is launching a pro bono immigration pilot project in San Diego. The project will train volunteer attorneys and law students to assist detained and non-detained immigrants and asylum seekers. The project also aims to educate potential victims of "notarios," predators prevalent in San Diego who fraudulently offer legal assistance to immigrants. For more on the project, contact Irena Lieberman.

---

The ABA Standing Committee on Client Protection, in partnership with the ABA Commission on Law and Aging, is establishing a pilot program for defrauded legal clients. The program will assign retired lawyers to clients victimized by dishonest lawyers. The retired lawyers will work pro bono to help the clients recover legal fees and resolve their original legal matter.

---

The State Bar of Texas has launched TexasBarCircle, a social networking site for members.

Seattle's King County Bar Association has been awarded the ABA's 2007 Silver Gavel Award in the New Media category. The bar was honored for www.votingforjudges.org, which provides information on Washington State judicial candidates. Other winners included The Boston Globe, National Public Radio, and Court TV. For more on the awards, including a complete list of winners, click here.

The Commission on Law and Aging is helping state bar associations adapt its Health Care Proxy Guide for their states. Maryland, North Dakota, and New Hampshire have already adapted the guide. For more information, contact Erica Wood.

---

The ABA Journal has re-launched its Web site, www.abajournal.com. The enhanced site is free to ABA members and non-members and includes a daily e-mail newsletter, continuously updated legal news stories, a blawg (or, legal blog) directory, and journal articles dating back to 1995.

---

The Legal Technology Resource Center has released a new, free guide for legal organizations looking to build (or re-build) their Web sites. The guide, FYI: Starting a Web Site, provides a broad overview of the process of building a Web site and step-by-step instructions.

---

The ABA Division of Public Education is offering free posters promoting Constitution Day on September 17. Bar associations can order the posters to distribute to area schools, many of which are required to hold Constitution Day programs. To order, send a message to Colleen Danz noting the number needed. For more on this year's Constitution Day, click here.

---

Site-tation, newsletter of the ABA's Legal Technology Resource Center, covers Web sites and Web tools, technology news, and anything that relates to law practice technology. Subscribe via RSS to get the news as it happens, or to get a monthly compilation newsletter.

---

The Criminal Justice Section provides legislative updates on major legislation such as prisoner reentry, federal sentencing guidelines, indigent defense funding, court security, and juvenile justice. For the latest update, click here.

---

The ABA Career Resource Podcast features career tips from national leaders in the legal profession. Released the first Thursday of each month, each edition provides advice to help lawyers distinguish themselves professionally.

---

The ABA Young Lawyers Division has announced it has chosen the Wills for Heroes® program as its public service project for 2007-08. The program provides free wills, healthcare, and financial powers of attorney to emergency "first responders" – firefighters, police officers, and other public safety personnel – and their partners. During the year the YLD will encourage its affiliates and members to promote the program to first responders in their area. For more on the program, including how to implement one, click here.

Each publication listed, unless otherwise noted, can be ordered from the ABA Web Store, or by calling the ABA Service Center at (800) 285-2221 and referencing its product code. Click any publication cover to open its Web store page.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

	2007 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report $2000 Published by the Legal Technology Resource Center Product code 2680068P A comprehensive look at how the legal profession uses technology. Divided into five volumes, available individually or as a set.
	ABA Criminal Justice Standards, Third Edition: Pretrial Release $35.95 Published by the Criminal Justice Section Product code 5090110 Contains the "black letter" ABA Criminal Justice Standards on Pretrial Release approved by the House of Delegates in 2002, the history and a discussion of the rationale for each standard, and updated references to relevant case law, legislation, literature, and research
	The Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work-Product Doctrine, Fifth Edition $195 Published by the Section of Litigation Product code 5310363 A comprehensive overview of the current law of the attorney-client and work-product immunities. Includes case illustrations, contextual examples, and practical tips
	Advising the Small Business: Forms and Advice for the Legal Practitioner $79.95 Published by the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division Product code 5150311 Helps lawyers provide effective legal counsel and guidance to small business clients
	Compendium of Professional Responsibility Rules and Standards, 2008 Edition $39.95 Published by the The Center for Professional Responsibility Product code 2150021 Gathers for immediate reference the essential legal ethics materials needed by legal professionals and students
	Corporate Director's Guidebook, Fifth Edition $49.95 Published by the Section of Business Law Product code 5070576 The premier authority on the director's role and the board's functions.
	The Citizenship Flowchart $49.95 Published by the Criminal Justice Section Product code 5090108 An easy-to-understand flowchart that takes the reader through the complex and sometimes conflicting steps to determining citizenship
	MacCarthy on Cross-Examination $129.95 By Terence F. MacCarthy Product code 1610163 Learn how to look good on cross, even when the witness is not cooperating
	Model Code of Judicial Conduct, 2007 Edition $19.95 Published by the The Center for Professional Responsibility Product code 2150020 Establishes standards for ethical conduct of judges and judicial candidates
	The State of Criminal Justice 2006 $29.95 Published by the Criminal Justice Section Product code 5090106 Essays from authors across the criminal justice field on topics from cybercrime to juvenile justice to DNA
	Street Legal: A Guide to Pre-trial Criminal Procedure for Police, Prosecutors, and Defenders $79.95 Published by the Criminal Justice Section Product code 5090107 Guidance on pre-trial criminal procedure of all sorts