This month all Georgia lawyers have a new resource for online legal research as a benefit of membership in the State Bar of Georgia. The Member Benefits Committee compared  Fastcase to the online research site that was previously provided to Georgia Bar members, and found Fastcase better in several significant aspects. Here are links to the Fastcase website, blog and user manual.

This helps to level the playing field for solo and small firm lawyers with tight budgets.

Ken Shigley is also president-elect of the State Bar of Georgia.  He is also author of Georgia Law of Torts: Trial Preparation & Practice and a Certified Civil Trial Advocate of the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has been listed as a "Super Lawyer" (Atlanta Magazine), among the "Legal Elite" (Georgia Trend Magazine), and in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He practices law at the Atlanta law firm of Chambers, Aholt & Rickard, and has broad experience in catastrophic personal injury, spinal cord injury, wrongful death, products liability,  brain injury and burn injury cases.  This post is subject to our ethical disclaimer.

Originally posted at Atlanta Injury Law Blog . Please visit http://www.atlantainjurylawblog.com/ .

The votes are in so it's official. On June 19, 2010, I will become President-elect of the State Bar of Georgia, and on June 4, 2011, I will be sworn in as State Bar President, taking my place in a line that goes back to 1884.

It's a serious responsibility, but I will take care not to take myself too seriously.

Originally posted at Atlanta Injury Law Blog . Please visit http://www.atlantainjurylawblog.com/ .

The votes are in so it's official. On June 19, 2010, I will become President-elect of the State Bar of Georgia, and on June 4, 2011, I will be sworn in as State Bar President, taking my place in a line that goes back to 1884.

It's a serious responsibility, but I will take care not to take myself too seriously.

Originally posted at Atlanta Injury Law Blog . Please visit http://www.atlantainjurylawblog.com/ .

The votes are in so it's official. On June 19, 2010, I will become President-elect of the State Bar of Georgia, and on June 4, 2011, I will be sworn in as State Bar President, taking my place in a line that goes back to 1884.

It's a serious responsibility, but I will take care not to take myself too seriously.

Originally posted at Atlanta Injury Law Blog . Please visit http://www.atlantainjurylawblog.com/ .

This week I mailed letters to members of the State Bar of Georgia Board of Governors announcing my candidacy for president-elect of the State Bar of Georgia. On Friday, I enjoyed a lunch meeting with the Rome Bar Association.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to see how things get done in the State Bar. And I have seen how good ideas can be thwarted despite years of hard work. 

To accomplish anything of lasting practical significance for the legal profession and the public, it is essential to prudently discern what is both worthwhile and feasible, focus on clear priorities, use limited time wisely, delegate effectively, and emphasize teamwork and continuity.  If granted a year at the helm, that is what I will seek to do.

Currently I serve as treasurer of the State Bar, a position that enables me to get a highly detailed view of the Bar's operations, in addition to serving on the Executive Committee. Previously I served as secretary, as a committee chair, section chair, and a decade on the Board of Governors.

Nominations will be made at the Board of Governors meeting on January 9, 2009, with the election in the spring. If elected, I will be president-elect from June 2010 to June 2011, and president from June 2011 to June 2012.

No other candidates have come forward at this point. However, until the nominations are closed I will continue to prepare for a another competitive statewide campaign, building upon lessons learned in the election as secretary of the State Bar two years ago.

Originally posted at Atlanta Injury Law Blog . Please visit http://www.atlantainjurylawblog.com/ .