e-Journal

Photograph by Jeff Thiebauth

The distinguished speakers and panelists at last year's Bench-Bar Symposium.

Four Superior Court judges and two MBA past presidents headline panel discussions at Oct. 11 Bench-Bar Symposium

Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall to deliver Annual Address to Legal Community

The MBA is proud to present the second annual Bench-Bar Symposium to take place at the John Adams Courthouse in Boston on Thursday, Oct. 11. Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall will deliver her Annual Address to the Legal Community at 2 p.m.

Panel discussions to focus on effective jury communication

Following the address, MBA President David W. White Jr. will moderate two panel discussions on jury communication. Each panel will feature four Superior Court judges and two attorneys. The first panel will focus on pre-trial issues, and the second will concentrate on jury instruction and post-trial contact with jurors.

Panelists include:

Hon. Peter W. Agnes Jr.

Hon. Carol S. Ball

Hon. Margaret R. Hinkle

Hon. Kenneth J. Fishman

Kathy Jo Cook, Esq., Keches & Mallen PC, Taunton

Kathleen M. O'Donnell, Esq., Marcotte Law Firm, Lowell

Andrew M. Perlman, Esq., Suffolk University Law School

Edward P. Ryan Jr., Esq., O'Connor & Ryan PC, Fitchburg

To reserve your space at this free event, R.S.V.P. to membership or call MBA Member Services at (617) 338-0530.

Photo courtesy of the InterContinental Boston.

Reserve your table/tickets for the MBA Gala Dinner at The InterContinental Boston on Nov. 1

Enjoy an evening on Boston’s waterfront on Nov. 1 at the recently opened InterContinental Boston. A 5:30 p.m. reception with your colleagues in the Massachusetts legal community will lead into the 6:30 p.m. MBA Gala Dinner. The dinner will feature keynote speaker Richard A. Clarke and the presentation of the MBA Legislator of the Year Award to State Rep. Michael A. Costello (D-Newburyport).

An engaging keynote

Richard A. Clarke, counterterrorism expert, on-air consultant with ABC News and bestselling author of “Against All Enemies,” served an unprecedented 11 consecutive years at the White House. Clarke worked for seven presidents and devoted three decades to combating the terrorist threat to America.

He currently serves as chairman of Good Harbor Consulting LLC, advising clients on a range of issues including corporate-security risk management, information-security technology, dealing with the federal government on security and IT issues, and counterterrorism. Clarke is also director of the Hart-Rudman Task Force on emergency responders.

Rep. Costello to accept Legislator of the Year Award

The Nov. 1 dinner will also feature the presentation of the MBA’s Legislator of the Year Award to Rep. Costello. The award is presented annually to a state or federal legislator who has distinguished him or herself in public service through outstanding contributions to the legal profession, courts and the administration of justice.

“We are pleased to bestow Representative Costello with this high honor at one of our signature events of the year,” said David W. White Jr.

According to White, Costello has been engaged in a number of matters of keen importance to the Massachusetts bar, including criminal law matters, bar advocate pay increases and improvements to the administration of justice.

Costello currently serves as the State Representative of the First Essex District. He was first elected to represent the City of Newburyport and the Towns of Amesbury and Salisbury in November 2002. Having served as a member of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary, Costello currently serves as a member of the House Committee on Ethics and chairs the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.

To purchase a ticket or reserve a table for the MBA Gala Dinner, [e-mail membership] or call (617) 338-0530.

Judges Allen Van Gestel and Edward M. Ginsburg featured at upcoming Expert Witness Symposium

The Mass. Chapter of the National Association of Certified Valuation presents...

The Business Valuation Expert Witness Symposium:

An educational event designed for Massachusetts attorneys and business valuation expert witnesses

Thursday, Oct. 18

8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Bentley College Pavilion, Adamian Commons, Waltham

*Luncheon and reception immediately following the symposium included.

COST: $250 per CVA or other valuation professional. Partner with a NACVA member and save $125.

Special luncheon speakers: The Hon. Edward Ginsburg and Hon. Allan Van Gestel 

Features two separate panels, each appearing twice during the day, for 1.25 hours each time, each consisting of a judge, two attorneys, and two business valuation experts.

Panel 1: Divorce and Family Court Issues 

Judge Edward Ginsburg

Mark Berson, Esq.

Donald Tye, Esq.

Les Gosule, CPA, CVA

Ray Palmer, CPA, CVA 

Panel 2: Equity and Business Court Issues

Judge Allan Van Gestel

Mark Coltin, Esq.

Mike Weisman, Esq.

Wayne Nichols, CPA, CVA

David Humphrey, CPA, CVA 

There will also be presentations on the nature of a business valuation, and on performance and reporting standards of the NACVA and other organizations of professionals who provide BV services. Question and answer sessions will follow each presentation and panel. A cocktail reception will follow at 5 p.m. in the Executive Dining Room. When registering, please note if you will attend the reception. 

Attendance is limited to 90 participants. Registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 8.

Click here for more details and a printable registration form.

"How to Start and Run" seminar and GPSSF Conference highlight fall CLE schedule

How to Start and Run a Successful Solo or Small-Firm Practice

Course #: LPA08
Thursday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sheraton Needham Hotel, 100 Cabot St., Needham

Join us for a comprehensive, one-day seminar that features practical advice on what you need to become a successful lawyer-entrepreneur.

• Do you dream of starting your own practice or “hanging your shingle”?
• Have the recent law firm mergers and shifts affected you?
• Are you re-evaluating your career and thinking about striking out on your own?
• Are you a law student with a plan to go straight into your own practice?

Our faculty of experienced lawyers will provide guidance and insight on every aspect of starting a law firm while sharing practice pointers on growing their own firms.

This lively program, which has been one of the most popular and valuable MBA seminars to date, includes a working, networking lunch for a chance to meet with colleagues who can help get you started.

General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Conference

Course #: GPA08
Thursday, Nov. 8, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn, Taunton

The MBA’s General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section is excited to announce the General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Conference, to take place on Nov. 8 at the Holiday Inn in Taunton. This popular conference will feature networking opportunities, prize giveaways and exciting new panels organized in collaboration with many other MBA section councils. Highlights of the conference include:

• Two distinguished panels of judges from the District Court and Probate & Family Court;
• A substantive panel discussion on what every practitioner needs to know regarding divorce, estate planning, trusts and inheritances and deeds;
• An employment law panel discussion of common employment law issues faced by legal practices; and
• A “technology shootout” session featuring live demonstrations of software programs that promise to streamline and enhance your practice. 

To register for either of these programs, call MBA Member Services at (617) 338-0530, [e-mail membership] or visit the CLE Web site.

Casemaker training debuts at Norfolk Law Library next Tuesday, Oct. 2

Training sessions also in Worcester on Oct. 15 and Andover on Oct. 18

The MBA will host Casemaker training in the public computer area at the Norfolk Law Library on October 2. Desktop stations will be available in addition to seating for attendees wishing to bring and use laptop computers. Laptop usage is made possible by available wireless internet access.

NOTE: Because space at Casemaker trainings is limited, online enrollment is not available. To register for a training session, call Member Services at (617) 338-0530 or toll-free at (877) 676-6500.

Casemaker Training
Course #: CASEG08
Tuesday, Oct. 2, 3:30–4:45 p.m.
Norfolk Law Library, 57 Providence Highway, Norwood

Casemaker has had many new features added, including: CaseCheck, an enhanced case law search results function, database availability for all 50 states, nationwide collections of combined Supreme Court and ethics opinions and more. Additionally, Casemaker Version 2.0 has been released, in testing phase. Casemaker Version 2.0 will eventually replace the current version of Casemaker. In the meantime, MBA members can access Version 2.0 to get a feel for the system, before it becomes the default searching option.

All attendees bringing laptop computers must have a wireless card or other means for achieving wireless connectivity. Neither the MBA nor the Norfolk Law Library is responsible for any connectivity problems that directly arise from issues unique to personal laptop computers.

For directions, click here, or call (781) 769-7483.

OTHER UPCOMING CASEMAKER TRAINING SESSIONS:

College of the Holy Cross, Worcester
Course #: CASED08 / CASEE08
Monday, Oct. 15, 10–11:15 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

Massachusetts School of Law, Andover
Course #: CASEB08
Thursday, Oct. 18, 2–3:15 p.m.

Sponsor: Massachusetts Bar Association
Price: $25

Limited seats available for MBA members for the Miami Heat game

Reserve your seats today

Don’t miss the marquee matchup of the year when the trio of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen take on Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat at the TD Banknorth Garden. Tickets are going fast so make sure to reserve your seats today.

Boston vs. Miami                      

Friday, Nov. 16., 7:30 p.m.

$75 each

Sec 5, row 26

We only have 10 seats left. To order now, [e-mail MBAdiscounts].

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