One of the most common complaints lawyers have relating to the practice of law is the deterioration of civility within the practice. The Arizona Supreme Court, based on a recommendation by the State Bar Board of Governors, recently took an important step in response to concerns expressed by the members of this bar, to enhance the level of professionalism among Arizona's legal community. The Court approved a rule change requiring all State Bar members to participate in our Professionalism Course. The Bar aspires to sensitize attorneys to those basic tenets of professionalism that our clients, the judiciary, the public, and we, as lawyers have a right to expect of our profession.

In recommending this action to the Court, the Board of Governors is committed to ensure that the conduct of lawyers in this state should not be limited to the minimum standard of the ethical rules, rather by the higher calling of professionalism associated with upholding the honor, spirit, dignity, and ideals of the profession. We seek to achieve this aspirational goal of restored civility through this course. This step places Arizona in the forefront among professional bar associations in responding to the concerns expressed by our members and elevating the standards of our profession and the esteem in which the public holds us.

The Supreme Court Rules, as amended, require that all active members of the State Bar complete the State Bar Course, or an approved equivalent, by no later than June 30, 2004. New admittees have been required to complete this course within their first year of practice since 1992, and will not be required to repeat it. In addition to the State Bar, other organizations, such as county or local bar associations or specialty sections may receive approval to present offerings of the Professionalism Course utilizing the Course curriculum and materials developed by the State Bar over the last seven years. Completion of the Course, whether offered by the State Bar or by an alternative provider, will count towards the existing MCLE Ethics requirements

Although the final deadline for complying with this new Rule is not until 2004, the Board of Governors was authorized to set interim deadlines by which members falling in specified categories must comply. You must ascertain your own compliance date and complete the course within that time frame. We urge each of you, however, to enroll in a Professionalism Course at your earliest opportunity, and well in advance of your personal compliance date. The next offering of the State Bar's Professionalism Course in a session open to all active members is on Thursday, September 24, 1998 at 8:30 a.m. at the Phoenix Civic Plaza.

We appreciate your support of this effort to improve the state of this honorable profession.

Very truly yours,

Robert Van Wyck, President

New State Bar Professionalism Course Requirement

• On April 22, 1998, the Arizona Supreme Court amended its Rules 33(f)(9), 34(e)(1) and 45(a) to adopt a requirement that all active members of the State Bar complete the State Bar Course on professionalism or an approved equivalent.

• New admittees who have previously completed an approved Professionalism Course within a year of their admission, in accordance with existing requirements, need not do so again.

• The completion of this Course is a one-time requirement, and the hours will count toward the existing MCLE Ethics requirements.

• The Board of Governors has established a Compliance Schedule, set forth below, which establishes interim dates by which categories of active members, determined by the first initial of their last name on June 30, 1999, must satisfy this new requirement.

COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE