Statement of Candidacy

Serving and representing the Second Division as a Bar Commissioner would be a great honor. Although the Utah Bar was originally organized to regulate attorneys, the Bar can also be a great source of support to these same attorneys.

Solo practitioners and small law firms constitute the backbone of the legal practice in the Second Division. Following JD and MBA degrees, the majority of my 11 years of practice have been as a solo practitioner. Sixty percent of my practice involves litigation, with the remaining 40 percent consisting of transactional work.

Several years ago, the State Legislature found that there were significant unmet needs for legal services in the State of Utah. I believe that these unmet needs are not only a great opportunity, but also part of our responsibility as attorneys. I am dedicated to the delivery of quality legal services, to an ever broadening portion of our community, through

1. nurturing civility and professionalism in the practice of law;
   
2. continuing quality CLE (with a focus on practical applications);
   
3. developing systems and programs that improve the reach and efficiency of legal services;
   
4. supporting cost and time saving alternatives to litigation (e.g., mediation, arbitration, etc.);
   
5. enriching our communities through volunteer opportunities; and
   
6. informing the public of available legal resources.

The practice of law is varied and ever changing. The Bar, and the attorneys it represents, must continue to evolve and improve. The opportunity to represent someone as an attorney is an honorable profession; representing and working with the attorneys of the Second Division would likewise be a great honor. I look forward to representing the Second Division, and would greatly appreciate your support.

Trent D. Nelson is a solo practitioner in Kaysville, Utah, with a practice focused on juvenile law, family law, and estate planning. Mr. Nelson has been practicing for 11 years, including a two year judicial clerkship for the Judges in the Ogden Division of the Second District Court. Mr. Nelson has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from WSU, a law degree from BYU, and an MBA from USU. Mr. Nelson was the editor-in-chief of the BYU Journal of Public Law during law school.

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