Polk County Bar Association

Our Polk County Bar Association Law Day Committee every year hosts an educational competition dedicated to helping Polk County area students learn about the role of the law in society through various projects. Students with winning projects attend an award ceremony at the Iowa Supreme Court on May 1! You can find more information for local educators and students and also sponsor prizes for winning students here: https://lnkd.in/gKjDkeNq

"You Don't Look a Day Over 49!" The Iowa Court of Appeals is fast approaching its 50th anniversary, and Chief Judge Mary Tabor provided a fascinating look at its history, evolution, and current state at today's annual PCBA Bench & Bar Luncheon. We learned about the Court's past, heard some fascinating things about judges who are shaping its future, and received updates on recent rule changes.?

The Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) is excited to offer a weekly Family Law Legal Clinic designed to assist pro se litigants navigating the complexities of family law cases. Every Friday afternoon, we are on-site at the Polk County Courthouse during pretrial conferences for family law cases involving pro se parties. Many litigants face challenges with case requirements and need additional guidance to move forward in their divorce or custody cases. That’s where you come in! As a volunteer, you’ll be providing critical support to individuals who are representing themselves, helping them: ?? Review case requirements ?? Understand and complete forms ?? File necessary paperwork ?? Navigate the legal system with confidence ?? Help clear the busy family law dockets We even have a free training course for those who don't regularly practice family law. Your time can help ease the burden for those who need it most, meeting them where they are so they don’t have to navigate the legal process alone. ?? Sign up for a shift: https://lnkd.in/gAkcc9EQ

Yesterday, the Polk County Bar Association had the privilege of hosting Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr. of Drake University Law School for an engaging and insightful conversation with our members. We are grateful for the opportunity to strengthen the connection between the Polk County legal community and the next generation of legal professionals at Drake Law School. A special thank you to Dean Jones for his thoughtful words and for highlighting the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and opportunity in the legal field.

Every fall, the Polk County Bar Association hosts our Bench and Bar Fall Social for local judges and attorneys to connect outside of the courtroom and boardroom. This year, our event was held at Ricochet in downtown Des Moines. We had a great time honoring our retiring, newly appointed and elevated judges while enjoying refreshments and catching up with colleagues. Thanks to everyone who came out! Consider becoming a PCBA member or renewing your membership to stay in the know about similar events throughout the year: pcbaonline.org/joinrenew

Yesterday, we had a fantastic time hosting a social for Polk County area educators to introduce them to our annual Law Day event. This year's theme, "E Pluribus Unum" (Out of Many, One), is a powerful reminder of the unity that can be forged through diversity and the rule of law. We're excited to invite Polk County students in grades K-12 to participate in our Law Day celebration by showcasing their creativity through visual arts, music, essays, and poetry. This is a wonderful opportunity for young people to learn about the law, express themselves, and win prizes! The Law Day celebration and recognition event will be held at the Iowa Supreme Court on May 1, 2025. Let's inspire the next generation of legal minds!

Thank you to all the attorneys and law students who volunteered at the PCBA VLP & Drake University Law School Cady Day of Service Family Law Legal Information Clinic at the Polk County Courthouse. Our volunteers assisted pro se litigants in Polk County with completing forms and providing legal information on family law matters.?Our Cady Day of Service project this year was also a pilot program which the PCBA VLP plans to continue regularly on Friday afternoons at the Polk County Courthouse. If you are interested in volunteering but need an introduction to or refresher in family law, we have some great training materials which will bring you up to date.?We will also have an experienced family law attorney at our clinics who will be available to assist.?For more information and to get involved in one of these volunteer opportunities, give us a call or send us a message! ?

A fantastic October luncheon celebrating Pro Bono Month! William J. (Bill) Miller and Jared Taglialatela shared their real-world insights on the value of pro bono work in our community. We were thrilled to be joined by four justices of our Iowa Supreme Court to award and recognize Bridget Penick, Nathan Britton, and Eric Borseth for their 50+ hours of pro bono service during the last year through the PCBA VLP. Thank you to all our speakers and award winners for their continued commitment to our community!

Looking forward to another outstanding Law Day event planned for May 1, 2025!

We had a fantastic time at our September luncheon today, featuring a fascinating presentation by Cory Gourley of Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm. Cory shared his insights into the legal process of opening his restaurant, Prime & Providence in West Des Moines along with some additional great information about the establishment from the restaurant’s General Manager and Sommelier. If you missed this event, don't worry! We're already planning our next luncheon - mark your calendar for October 8, 2024. See all of our events at pcbaonline.org/events.