PHILIP E. DIXON
hilip E. Dixon's yearning to practice law goes back to the 10th grade, while a student at Little Rock High School. His parents had instilled in him quite early on that they wanted him to be a professional man. "I was very poor in math, very poor in science and 1 didn't get the calling to be a minister. There wasn't much demand for Indian chiefs," Dixon said. His interest in politics in high school and in speech and debate in college cemented his desire for law. After finishing his undergraduate degree in social studies at Hendrix College in 1954. Dixon went directly into the Navy for active duty and then straight to law school. obtaining a law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Fayetteville. Now he stands ready to head an association with more than 3400 members and an annual budget of $460,000. With a history of support and service to bar associations. Dixon looks toward bettering the relationship between the Arkansas Bar Association and the state's local bar associations.
P
What will be the thrust of your year as president of the Arkansas Bar Association? One of my goals as president is to develop an even stronger relationship between the state bar and local bar associations. I think we're very blessed in Arkansas to have local bars which complement and supplement the state bar just as the state bar does those local bar associations. In New York. the Brooklyn local bar has 3500 members. They're sort of an association within themselves. They have their own programs, their own officers and so forth. To some extent. they may feel that they're competitive with the state bar association.
By Ruth Williams
That's not true in Arkansas. I think we work very nicely together. Each of us has our own place while being of assistance to the other. So, I ] absolutely want to have a ~ close relationship between ~ the state bar and the local ., bars and to let them know § what services we may have A that will be helpful to them ~ on the local level. .t What plans are in store for • improving the relationship f between the state bar association and local bar associations? We are planning this bar year, since 1988-89 is not a long-range planning year, a one-day seminar in Little Rock and we'll ask or invite an officer from each local bar association in the state to attend. We're going to provide some good information on those services which are available through the state bar association. We also hope to include in that meeting the committee chairs of the state bar association. There are 51 special committees of the state bar and 61 local and specialty bar associations listed in our "Organizational Directory." We simply want to let them know what we have available to help them in carrying out their tasks. I hope we'll have a handbook on bar services for those attending. I think it will be a