The State Bar Association of North Dakota Winter 2015 Gavel Magazine | Page 33

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN MEMORY OF Judge Karen Braaten Howard D. Swanson Gary E. Euren Alice R. Senechal Hon. Gerald W. VandeWalle Swanson & Warcup, Ltd. Greater Grand Forks County Bar Association Hon. Carol Ronning Kapsner Lyle Moe Greater Grand Forks County Bar Association Larry J. Richards Fabian E. Noack Hon. Gerald W. VandeWalle SBAND Alfred C. Schultz Hon. Gerald W. VandeWalle SBAND Mildred Johnson Simone M. Sandberg Hon. Carol Ronning Kapsner SBAND Richard Farroh Greater Grand Forks County Bar Association Tom Robb Elizabeth Reppe SBAND Judge Gerald Rustad William A. Neumann Michael J. Hannaher SBAND Judge Frank Kosanda Hon. Gerald W. VandeWalle Patrick J. Maddock Hon. Lee A. Christofferson Tom Dickson Tom Dickson Lois Vogel Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle Neff Eiken & Neff P.C. Frederick E. Whisenand, Jr. Lowell O. Tjon SBAND Kent Reierson Tom Dickson Hon. Daniel J. Crothers SBAND LAWYER REFERRAL & INFORMATION SERVICE When your clients are looking for you . . . They call us How does the LRIS work? Calls coming into the LRIS represent every segment of society with every type of legal issue imaginable. Many of the calls are from out of State or even out of the country looking for a North Dakota attorney. When a call comes into the LRIS line, the caller is asked about the nature of the problem or issue. Many callers “just have a question” or “don’t have any money to pay an attorney.” As often as possible, we try to help people find the answers to their questions or direct them to another resource for assistance. If an attorney is needed, they are provided with the name and phone number of an attorney based on location and area of practice. It is then up to the caller to contact the attorney referred to schedule an initial 30 minute consult either by phone or in person. It is FREE to all North Dakota licensed attorneys: There is no fee for North Dakota licensed attorneys to join LRIS. Applicants needing a lawyer referral pay a nominal fee of $30 directly to the State Bar Association of North Dakota for a referral to an attorney who practices in the area of law they in which they need help. If applicants do not receive a consult from the attorney, they can contact LRIS for another referral at no charge. You don’t have to take the case: If you are unable to take a case due to a conflict of interest, not practicing in that area of law any longer or not taking any new clients, just let the prospective client know. The LRIS can refer the client to another attorney. You pick your areas of law: The LRIS will only refer prospective clients in the areas of law that you register for. There are no cold calls from prospective clients seeking help in areas that you do not handle. It’s easy to join: Membership of the LRIS is open to any active member of the State Bar Association of North Dakota in good standing who maintains a lawyers’ professional liability insurance policy. To join the service, fill out the Lawyer Referral & Information Service Application at https://sband.org/UserFiles/ files/LRISAttorneyApplication.pdf and forward to the State Bar Association of North Dakota ATTN: Debbie Bowen. If you have questions or would like more information, call Debbie at [phone] or [phone] or email [email protected]. WINTER 2015 33