The Polk County Bar Association invites you to join us in supporting activities to benefit the Bar and the community. The PCBA Board and its committees are working to improve the practice of law, offer legal assistance to those in need, and provide some fun social activities for members. Membership in a PCBA Committee gives you a unique opportunity to get involved and make a difference.
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Bench & Bar Committee – Co-Chairs Hon. Jeffery Farrell and Drew Gentsch. The Bench and Bar committee is composed of lawyers and judges who work together on matters affecting the delivery of legal services in Polk County. The committee addresses issues such as facility needs, communication and changes in procedure. Annually the committee sponsors a Bar Association luncheon to recognize the efforts of the judges. Receptions to celebrate new judges and retirements have also been sponsored by the committee. Promoting civility and professionalism through other events and social activities is another important task of the committee so that the positive relationship between the bench and the bar is enhanced.
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CLE Committee – Co-Chairs Sean Corpstein and Michael J. Streit. The CLE committee provides speakers for a Spring and Fall seminar which satisfies all CLE requirements for the year at no cost to members.
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Family Law Committee – Co-Chairs Ashley Tollakson and Donna Miller. The Family Law committee consists of Polk County family law attorneys. The committee gets together every 4-6 weeks, with the Polk County family law judges, to discuss family law related issues. These issues include legislative updates, mediation and collaborative law, PCBA VLP, custody evaluations and what is “happening” on the 4th floor (family law court). The committee also tries to assist the judges in establishing administrative procedures and policies.
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Fee Arbitration Committee – Chairperson Fred Anderson. The Polk County Bar Association Attorney Fee Arbitration committee is made up of attorneys appointed by the PCBA to arbitrate fee disputes between clients and attorneys. While constituted by the PCBA, the committee entertains complaints from the entire state of Iowa.
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Golf Committee – Co-Chairs Ryan Sheahan and Abigail Wallace. The annual Bench and Bar Golf Outing is planned by the committee. The goal of the golf outing is to raise funds for the Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project by soliciting sponsorships and other donations.
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In-House Practice Committee – Co-Chairs Corrin Hatala and Courtney Wilson. This committee offers CLEs, networking opportunities, and discussions of needs and interests that are unique to in-house counsel attorneys.
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Judicial Independence Committee – Chairperson Bill Miller. Established in November of 2010, this committee’s focus is on advancing the PCBA’s commitment to eliminating politics from the selection and retention of Iowa’s judges. The committee is charged with taking all appropriate steps to ensure that the integrity of the judicial retention process is maintained.
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Law Day Committee – Chairperson Laura Lockwood. The Law Day committee plans activities for the observance of Law Day. For the past several years, the committee has held an annual poetry and visual arts competition for grades K through high school students in Polk County.
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Membership Committee – Co-Chairs Kirk Schuler and Jeffrey Kappelman. This committee encourages and recruits attorneys for membership to the Polk County Bar Association. An integral part of the Committee’s responsibilities includes developing ideas and hosting events to promote membership and participation within the Bar Association. In addition, the committee works to inform and educate the general public about the roles attorneys play in the community and the various services attorneys provide.
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Small Firm/Solo Practice Committee – Co-Chairs Christina Thompson and Elizabeth Kellner-Nelson. This Committee provides CLE and other information unique to solo and small firm practices.
Join a committee and make a difference!
