House wraps up fiscal year 2013 budget debate

The House of Representatives wrapped up debate on its $32.4 billion FY13 budget plan late last night. The House added $110 million back into the budget during the three-day debate, including $6 million for the Trial Court and an additional $1 million for the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation -- bringing MLAC's funding to $12 million.

The House budget funds the Trial Court at $560 million for 2013, $8 million below Gov. Deval Patrick's recommendation. Additional funding is essential to address critical court system operating needs. The Massachusetts Bar Association will continue to advocate for an adequately funded justice system throughout the budget process. As you know, the court system is serving approximately 42,000 people, who enter the courthouses each day, with more than 1,300 fewer court personnel since July 2007. Court backlogs are increasing; many clerks and registers have had to reduce public hours of operation, except for emergencies; and, there is an insufficient number of court officers, which also increases security risks and causes disruptions and delays.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee will release its budget proposal in May and the measure will then be debated by the full Senate. Each branch will then appoint three members to a joint conference committee to reconcile both budgets. The conference committee will produce one final conference budget to be sent to both branches for an up-or-down vote, without further debate. The enacted budget will then be sent to Patrick for his review and approval. Patrick may approve the budget, in part, by making a number of vetoes to the document. Fiscal year 2013 begins on July 1, 2012.

Join our growing list of MBA 2012 Annual Dinner sponsors

The May 31 event will feature keynote speaker Victoria Reggie Kennedy, the presentation of the Legislator of the Year Award to House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and the annual Access to Justice Awards.

The Massachusetts Bar Association will hold its 2012 Annual Dinner on Thursday, May 31 at the Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston. The event will feature a keynote address by Victoria Reggie Kennedy, the presentation of  the Legislator of the Year Award to Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and the annual MBA Access to Justice Awards.

Attend this annual event as a sponsor. Sponsorship opportunities to consider include:

• Platinum Sponsor ($5,000)
  Table for 10, full page ad in dinner program, firm logo projected at the dinner, sponsorship level recognition in Lawyers Journal and displayed on MBA website
• Gold Sponsor ($3,500)
  Table for 10, 1/2 page ad in dinner program, firm logo projected at the dinner, sponsorship level recognition in Lawyers Journal and displayed on MBA website
• Silver sponsor ($2,500)
  Table for 10, 1/4 page ad in dinner program, firm logo projected at the dinner

Click here to view our current sponsors.

Click here to register for the MBA's 2012 Annual Dinner online. For a printable PDF outlining sponsorship opportunities and table reservation information, click here. For additional information, call (617) 338-0543.

From left to right: Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray and Massachusetts Secretary of Education S. Paul Reville.

MBA to host Monday's “Gateway Cities” forum in Worcester

Lt. Gov. Murray, Education Secretary Reville among featured speakers

Following the success of its debut forum in Dartmouth on Jan. 26, the Massachusetts Bar Association will host its second Gateway Cities forum in Worcester next week, on Monday, April 30, beginning at 5 p.m. in the Jury Room at the Worcester Trial Court, 225 Main St., Worcester.

Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray and Massachusetts Secretary of Education S. Paul Reville will be featured on a speaking panel comprised of leaders who have long worked with the issues impacting the state's Gateway Cities. Other panelists include:

• Michael F. Collins, MD, chancellor of University of Massachusetts Medical School and senior vice president for Health Sciences for UMass;
• Massachusetts Sen. Harriette L. Chandler (D-Worcester);
• Massachusetts Sen. Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury);
• Benjamin Forman, research director, MassINC; and
• Craig L. Blais, president, Worcester Business Development Corporation.

Following brief presentations from the panel, the remainder of the event will be devoted to an open discussion.

Those interested in attending should R.S.V.P. to Gwen Landford at (617) 338-0694 or [e-mail glandford].

Register for the Second Annual General Practice, Solo & Small-Firm Symposium on May 10

Prepare for the future now by strengthening your business plan, embracing advances in technology and more.

Attend the Second Annual General Practice, Solo & Small-Firm Symposium on Thursday, May 10 from noon to 5:30 p.m. at Lombardo's in Randolph. Prepare for the future now by strengthening your business plan, embracing advances in technology and more. Panels include:

• 11:30 a.m.: Registration
• Noon-1 p.m.: Running our Law Practices on the Run: Safely and Ethically (Working Lunch)
• 1-2 p.m.: Serving Our Clients in the Modern Legal World: Business Models for the Future
• 2-2:15 p.m.: Networking Break
• 2:15-3:30 p.m.: Fundamental Ethical Issues--Protection for All
• 3:30-4:45 p.m.: Judges on Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration
• 4:45-5:30 p.m.: Networking-- New Ideas and Approaches
• 5:30 p.m.: Networking Reception

The GPSSF Conference has been pre-approved for CLE credits in New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Price:
MBA members: $100; Non-members: $150.

Registration:
For more information, or to register, call Member Services at (617) 338-0530 or click here.

Start a LinkedIn discussion, share a comment, or like an existing post between now and May 4 for a chance to win a pass to the conference.

Photograph by Tricia Oliver

From left to right: Boston Bar Association President Lisa C. Goodheart; Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland and Massachusetts Bar Association President-elect Robert L. Holloway Jr.

SJC hosts annual meeting with bar leadership

On Monday, April 23, the Supreme Judicial Court and Trial Court leaders hosted 50 leaders of statewide, county and local bar associations to provide updates on funding and the long range strategic planning process.  

Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland welcomed the bar leaders and thanked them for their continued support of the judiciary's efforts to obtain needed resources and enhance the delivery of justice. He highlighted the leadership of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Boston Bar Association on the issue of court funding.  

At the meeting, Robert L. Holloway Jr., president-elect of the MBA, and Lisa C. Goodheart, president of the Boston Bar Association, shared personal experiences on ways court understaffing has affected them and urged their colleagues to take action this week during the House budget debate (see related article on finalized House budget).

Chief Justice for Administration & Management Robert A. Mulligan provided an overview of the status of Trial Court funding for Fiscal Year 2013. He outlined operational challenges in providing security and full public access at many court divisions as a result of staffing shortages. He thanked bar leaders for their assistance through the fiscal crisis and asked them to advocate on behalf of the courts as the FY13 budget process continues in the Legislature.

"E-mail legislators with what you see," Mulligan said. Newly appointed Court Administrator Harry Spence also addressed the bar leaders.

Shifting focus, Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice Robert J. Cordy updated the group on the recently launched court strategic planning process. He indicated that input from the bar will be important in assessing the current state of the courts and identifying a realistic future vision. He encouraged meeting participants to engage their members in providing input throughout the process.

"This is not a time to back away from the challenges that lie ahead," Cordy said. Cordy explained that Cynthia Robinson-Markey, the legal counsel to the chief justice of the Boston Municipal Court, was serving as the court's project manager.

Featured member benefit: Red Sox Ticket Lottery

Enter to win tickets to see the Boston Red Sox play the Baltimore Orioles on June 5.

The MBA is currently offering tickets to see the Boston Red Sox play the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on Tuesday, June 5 at 7:10 p.m. Tickets are $52 each. Due to high demand, the MBA will use a lottery method to distribute tickets to members.  

To enter the lottery, please [e-mail MBATickets] by Tuesday, May 15 at 5 p.m. Please include:

• Your name;
• Phone number; and
• Number of tickets you are requesting.

There is a four ticket limit per person and each member is allowed only one lottery entry. After Tuesday, May 15, the MBA will no longer accept entries and will conduct the lottery drawing.

All winners will be contacted directly by MBA Member Services via e-mail by Friday, May 25 for payment.

Due to the large number of entries anticipated, only members whose names are drawn will be contacted.

Bottom (from left to right): Hon. Mark Wolf, chief judge of the U.S. District Court and Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullen.

MBA to honor the Hon. Mark Wolf and Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullen at May 10 Excellence in the Law event

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and the Massachusetts Bar Association will honor the best of the legal profession at Excellence in the Law on Thursday, May 10 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, 138 St James Ave., Boston.

The MBA will bestow the Daniel F. Toomey Excellence in the Judiciary Award to the Hon. Mark Wolf, chief judge of the U.S. District Court; and the Excellence in Legal Journalism Award to Pulitzer-prize winning Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullen. The ceremony will also honor Diversity Heroes, Emerging Legal Leaders, Excellence in Pro Bono, Marketing, Firm Administration and Operations. Click here to learn more about the honorees.

Click here to register for the Excellence in the Law event.

YLD Networking reception draws crowd

Members of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division gathered for a special networking reception on April 25 at Lir in Boston.

The event, which was co-sponsored by the American Bar Association, provided members with an opportunity to mingle with fellow new attorneys.

Nominate a colleague for a 2012 Volunteer Recognition Award

Submit your nominations by tomorrow, April 27

The Massachusetts Bar Association is continuing with its tradition of giving Volunteer Recognition Awards to volunteers who deserve special recognition for their exemplary contributions to the association.

Please nominate one or more MBA volunteers who have gone above and beyond with impressive work to advance the organization's mission, programming, publications and /or  other initiatives. In your submission, state why you feel the individual deserves this extra recognition.

Your nominations will be reviewed by the Volunteer Recognition Committee, which will then submit final recommendations to MBA leadership for approval. The awards will be presented in July by MBA President Richard P. Campbell.

Submit your nominations to [e-mail volunteerrecognition] before Friday, April 27.

Upcoming CLE seminar and program schedule

Attend the May 3 "Latest in the Law: Personal Injury and Insurance Law Update" for information on the most critical insurance case developments in the last 12 months.

To register for the following programs, call MBA Member Services at (617) 338-0530, [e-mail membership] or visit the CLE Web site. Scroll down for program details, including dates and registration details.

Recorded session available for purchase after live program through MBA On Demand.

Real-time webcast available for purchase through MBA On Demand.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

MUPC Basics: An Overview of the New Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code
Friday, April 27, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Massachusetts School of Law, 500 Federal St., Andover

Law Practice Management Section Educational Series: IOLTA -- The Nuts and Bolts
Wednesday, May 2, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

Latest in the Law: Personal Injury and Insurance Law Update
Thursday, May 3, 4-7 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

Health Law Legal Chat Series: Session III
Friday, May 4, noon-1 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

UPCOMING CONFERENCES

Criminal/ Immigration Law Training Conference
Wednesday, May 9, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

General Practice, Solo & Small-Firm Conference
Thursday, May 10, noon-5 p.m.
Lombardo's, 6 Billings St., Randolph

33^rd Annual Labor & Employment Law Spring Conference
Friday, May 18, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Colonnade Hotel, 120 Huntington Ave., Boston

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Unable to attend these seminars? Purchase the recorded session available after the live program through MBA On Demand and watch the presentation from the comfort of your home or office.

To view a listing of current programs offered on MBA On Demand, click here.

Section News: Upcoming meetings and special section events

Attend the May 1 Municipal Law Practice Group meeting and Health Law Section Council meeting. Join in the May 2 Labor & Employment Central Mass. meeting with MCAD and the Animal Law Practice Group meeting on pet trusts. The Public Law Section Council meeting is May 3. The Juvenile & Child Welfare Section Council meeting will feature Chief Justice Edgerton of the Juvenile Court on May 9.

Municipal Law Practice Group meeting

Tuesday, May 1, 5-6:30 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

The next meeting of the Municipal Law Practice Group is scheduled for Tuesday, May 1 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The guest speaker will be Appellate Tax Board Commissioner Richard Chimielinski.

To R.S.V.P., click here.

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Health Law Section Council meeting

Tuesday, May 1, 5:15-6:45 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

The next meeting of the Health Law Section Council is scheduled for Tuesday, May 1 from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. All section members are invited to attend.

To R.S.V.P., click here.

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Labor & Employment Central Mass. meeting with MCAD

Wednesday, May 2, 12:30-2 p.m.
Community Legal Aid, 405 Main St., Worcester

All Labor & Employment section members are invited to attend a Labor & Employment Section Council meeting on Wednesday, May 2 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Community Legal Aid, 405 Main St., Worcester. The guest speakers are Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination Commissioner Jamie Williamson and MCAD Deputy General Counsel Yaw Gyebi. Williamson and Gyebi will speak about recent employment discrimination cases and procedural issues at the commission.

To R.S.V.P., click here.

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Animal Law Practice Group meeting

"Pet trusts"
Wednesday, May 2, 6-7:30 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

The next meeting of the Animal Law Practice Group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 2 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The Animal Law Practice Group invites you to learn about the new pet trust statute in Massachusetts, how it will be modified if the MUTC is passed, and planning provisions available to anyone interested in setting up a pet trust in Massachusetts. Liza Connolly, an attorney from Rackemann Sawyer & Brewster, who concentrates her law practice in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, trust administration and related tax matters, will speak. Connolly was instrumental in passing the new trust law.

As always, the ALPG welcomes and encourages all viewpoints and looks forward to an interesting discussion.

To R.S.V.P., click here.

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Public Law Section Council meeting

Thursday, May 3, 5:30-7 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

The next meeting of the Public Law Section Council is scheduled for Thursday, May 3 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. All section members are invited to attend.

To R.S.V.P., click here.

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Juvenile & Child Welfare Section Council meeting

Guest speaker: Hon. Michael F. Edgerton, chief justice, Juvenile Court
Wednesday, May 9, 5:30-7 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

The next meeting of the Juvenile & Child Welfare Section Council is scheduled for Wednesday, May 9 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The guest speaker will be the Hon. Michael F. Edgerton, chief justice, Juvenile Court.

To R.S.V.P., click here.

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