OARC Update

In recent months, our office has cautioned lawyers about the many scams that are circulating and putting you and your clients at risk. We’re revisiting this topic again, as our office has learned of another scam that is widespread, and was recently perpetrated against Colorado lawyers.
 
In this latest scam, known as the “phantom hacker” scam, an imposter pretending to be a legitimate source contacts the would-be victim of the fraud and convinces or attempts to convince the individual their funds are at risk and should immediately be moved to a “secure” account. When the imposter is successful, the unwitting victim complies with the imposter’s instructions and is scammed out of their funds.
 
For more details regarding this scam and what to watch for, see this Public Service Announcement from the FBI: "Phantom Hacker" Scams Target Senior Citizens and Result in Victims Losing their Life Savings (ic3.gov)
 
Our office addressed the topic of financial scams in our September Newsletter last year: “When Things Seem ‘Off’: Are You About to be Scammed?” and in our recent September newsletter “Be On the Lookout” 
 
Diligence, caution and taking a moment to pause when confronted with one of the scenarios we discuss could make the difference. The moral here: proceed with extreme caution.
 

“State of the Solo" Survey Currently Open
 
Are you a solo practitioner wishing the legal profession better understood your practice or was more responsive to your needs?  Check out the "State of the Solo" survey.  This survey is being conducted by Law Week Colorado with the co-sponsorship of Gene Commander Inc.  Among the many informative questions being asked are two that can help the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel make policy and rule suggestions:

• What would be the most useful resources to help you have a more sustainable law practice?  
• What rule or regulation changes would help you have a more sustainable practice?

Please complete the survey if you are a solo practitioner!

Important CLE compliance reminder
 
Nearly 5,000 Colorado attorneys who must comply with their CLE requirements this year have not yet done so.  If your three-year compliance period ends 2023, now is the time to make a plan for compliance by December 31, and to enter your credits by January 31, 2024. 
 
Here are the key links:
To check your transcript and enter credits, click here 
 
Attorneys must have 45 credit hours, which includes a minimum of 2 hours of Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (“EDI”) credits and a minimum of 5 hours of ethics or legal professionalism credits.  To review the rules, regulations and forms, click here. 
 
To find EDI-accredited courses, click here and under either the Live or Home Study Courses tab (depending on which you want to take), click on the EDI column heading until courses are sorted by the number of EDI credits given.  If you know part of the course title or provider name, you also can enter those search terms in the search fields provided. You also can click on “Export” to get a searchable spreadsheet of all courses.

Note that a course covering both the Rules of Professional Conduct and diversity in the profession might not give attendees both ethics and EDI credit.  That is because each hour of a course may receive either ethics or EDI accreditation, but not both for the same hour. To ensure the course you are taking satisfies the credits you are seeking (regardless of how it is advertised), check our website to confirm the accreditation.
 
The Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel has a free lawyer self-assessment online CLE program that qualifies for 3 ethics credits if fully completed.  Click here for more information.

Registration Reminder
 
Annual registration for attorneys begins December 1. Our office is preparing to send out annual registration statements.  Postcard reminders will be mailed the last week of November. Now is a good time to calendar the February 28 deadline to timely register without late fees.
 
Registration fees for most lawyers are increasing this year for the first time since 2014.  They will be: 

• $395 for attorneys who have practiced more than three years
• $160 for inactive attorneys under age 65
• $190 for attorneys in their first three years of practice (no change from 2014 levels)
• Free for inactive attorneys age 65 or older

Bar Cards for Inactive Attorneys 65 and older
Inactive attorneys 65 and older, please note that during the 2024 registration period your bar card will only be provided upon request. If you are an inactive attorney, age 65 and older and wish to receive a bar card, please email the Office of Attorney Registration at attorney_registration@coloradosupremecourt.us to request your bar card for 2024. If you have already sent an email requesting a bar card, nothing further is required. Please do not send more than one email request.
 
NOVEMBER
 
Nov. 14 and 15 Ethics Revue by the Law Club, CBA-CLE, Clock Tower, Denver (Jessica Yates)

Nov. 30 Ethics Review for Prosecutors, 1^st Judicial District Attorney’s Office (Jessica Yates and Justin Moore)
 
DECEMBER
 
Dec. 1 Late application filing deadline for February 2024 bar exam

Dec. 6 New Judge Orientation, Working with Attorneys, Denver (Jessica Yates)

Dec. 7 Update and Colo. RPC 3.8(d), Colorado Municipal League, Denver (Jessica Yates)
 
Dec. 8 Trust Account School, webinar (Margaret Funk and Justin Moore)

Dec. 8 Ethical Issues for New Lawyers, Court Orientation, DBA Young Lawyers Division, Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse (April McMurrey)

Dec. 18 Practicing with Professionalism, CBA-CLE webinar

JANUARY
 
Jan. 8 Practicing with Professionalism, CBA-CLE webinar
 
Jan. 9 Trust Accounting & Rules of Professional Conduct, Legal Entrepreneurs for Justice Bootcamp, Denver (Justin Moore)