In This Issue...

This newsletter includes a few features to help with your year-end planning, including some terrific CLE promotions, guidance on reducing your health insurance costs, free online research tools, and even some light-hearted suggestions for your holiday planning.

Bar News Bytes won't be distributed in December, so let me take this chance to wish you all a very happy holiday season.

1. Important Notice Regarding UHC Benefit Plans
2. Preventive Health Care Benefits
3. Franklin County Courthouse Developments
4. Election 2008
5. Did You Know?
6. In Case of an Emergency...
7. Free Internet Research Tools
8. Building a Diverse Community of Lawyers in Columbus
9. It's Not Too Late to Set Yourself Apart
10. Thankful Thoughts
11. Thankful Thoughts... Part 2
12. Strength in Numbers
13. Volunteers Needed

Important Notice Regarding UHC Benefit Plans

Columbus Bar / UnitedHealthcare plans renew February 1, 2009. We know that controlling your firm’s overhead is especially important, and we have some tips for ensuring that you get the best coverage at the most affordable costs.

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Preventive Health Care Benefits

In these uncertain economic times, the last thing any of us can afford is a health crisis. The fact is that nearly 90% of the causes of death and disability take years to develop and are preventable if they are detected early.

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Franklin County Courthouse Developments

If you haven’t already seen this, you have to check it out. It gives a day-to-day photo history of construction of the new Franklin County Courthouse. Click on the day to see the progress since the project first started in June.

Election 2008

Bet you're relieved that all the campaign commercials are over (if only for another year). Here’s a snapshot of some interesting law-related election news.

Supreme Court News:
43 New Judges Elected

The Columbus Dispatch:
Over 2000 "Overvotes" in Franklin County

Looking ahead to 2010:
Ohio Election Officials Consider Expanding
Early Voting System

Did You Know?

We’re not one to perpetuate the multitude of videos that circulate your e-mail via YouTube, but this one really caught our attention. A member brought it to our attention – it contains some fascinating statistics about technology from a global perspective. Think about how this impacts your practice.

In Case of an Emergency...

In September, we noted that the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles had launched one of the nation's first statewide registries for next-of-kin information. Ohioans could register contact information for loved ones in case of an accident. Now, you can enter your next of kin info on the OBMV website so that authorities know who to contact if you should be injured in an auto accident and unable to provide the information. It only takes a minute or two.

Free Internet Research Tools

From our research of the web for your research of the law…and all free!

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Building a Diverse Community of Lawyers
in Columbus

With sustained passion and growing sophistication, the Managing Partner’s Diversity Initiative continues the great change it started, building a diverse community of lawyers in Columbus. Visit www.cbalaw.org/diversity for current information about the Initiative and the efforts being made in the local legal community, including a CLE program on December 9 designed to provide practical tools and strategies to address commonly encountered barriers to an inclusive law firm culture.

It's Not Too Late to Set Yourself Apart

Thanksgiving is a great time to let your clients know how much you appreciate their business. Matthew Homann gives five reasons you should take the time to express your appreciation this holiday season.

Thankful Thoughts

Thanksgiving is upon us, and the house will soon be full of family and friends. Or not… is the house is empty this year? – you couldn’t travel; your family couldn’t travel; kids are at the new in-laws this year; you don’t like your brother or his annoying children and didn’t invite them – and you don’t want to cook a 20 lb. turkey for two people (in my house it is apparently against some law to prepare anything smaller than a 20 lb. turkey whether dinner is for 30 people or 2 people). So if you choose to forego the joys of spending countless hours in the kitchen, here is a list of some local restaurants serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Thankful Thoughts... Part 2

Or, on the other hand, the family is coming – Aunt Martha and Uncle Harold, that brother and his annoying children... Dinner’s over, everyone is full, and no one is leaving until Sunday. What do you do with them now?? Here’s a look at some of the things happening in our town over the Thanksgiving weekend. Check out http://events.columbusalive.com for lots of additional ideas – Blue Jackets games, Ohio State basketball and hockey to name but a few.

Strength in Numbers

Tis the season… to be thankful for what we have (the Dow and the S&P notwithstanding) and to be mindful of the many families in our community who have far less. If your firm has plans this holiday season to help the less fortunate, we can help spread the word to increase your volunteer base. Whether you are volunteering at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, donating to Toys for Tots, conducting a clothing drive, or any other charitable project, we can help you attract additional volunteers.

One thing we have learned over the years is that Columbus Bar members are very generous with their time. Submit your charitable plans to jill@cbalaw.org, along with volunteer contact information, and we’ll post your efforts on our website and in The Daily Reporter. There may be opportunities for groups to coordinate efforts, or there may be individual volunteers looking for ways to help.

Volunteers Needed

Reynoldsburg High School teacher Jim Coley is looking for a few attorneys willing to serve as role models in a Mock Trial program sponsored by OCLRE. Click here for details.

DISCLAIMER: The CBA provides links to various sources of information in Columbus Bar News Bytes eNewsletter purely for the convenience of readers. The opinions expressed by the authors are their own, and the CBA is not responsible for reliance on any such information.