e-Journal
08-02
Legislative News
Legislature wraps up formal session
The Legislature wrapped up the formal portion of its session
late Tuesday night. The last days and hours of the session were
filled with issues of importance to MBA members.
FY13 Court Budget
These past few weeks the Massachusetts Bar Association worked to
obtain a legislative override to a gubernatorial veto of the
Court's FY 2013 budget. The override passed in the waning hours of
the session and will add $10 million back into the Court's budget
and avoid up to 300 layoffs of court probation employees.
Workers Rights
The MBA-supported Workers Right to Know bill was passed by the
House and Senate and is now pending on Gov. Deval L. Patrick's
desk. The legislation, of particular importance to the Workplace
Safety Task Force, requires employers to provide temporary workers
with written notice of key details of their work assignments and
the legal protections available to them. The MBA is urging Patrick
to sign the legislation. Click here to see the
MBA's letter. Click
here to see the bill.
Medical Malpractice Reform
The MBA was instrumental in the historical and successful work
with the Massachusetts Medical Society and Massachusetts Academy of
Trial Attorneys in developing an administrative process that
protects patients and allows medical professionals to express
remorse for their errors. The culmination of two years of advocacy
by the MBA resulted in the inclusion of an administrative procedure
that protects patients in the omnibus health care bill enacted on
Monday and now pending on the Patrick's desk. The MBA successfully
lobbied the Legislature to reject a number of medical malpractice
reform measures that were part of the larger health care reform
debate. Click
here to see the bill.
Mandatory Sentencing
Patrick signed the so-called Habitual Offender bill this morning
in a private bill signing at the State House. He signed the measure
despite the Legislature's rejection of amendments proposed by him
that would have granted judicial discretion in sentencing repeat
offenders. The final bill included changes long-sought by the MBA
in the area of reducing school-zone criminal penalties in drug
related offenses and increased parole opportunities for non-violent
mandatory drug offenders; it is estimated that over 500 individuals
will now be eligible.
Click here to see the bill.
Tell us why you belong to the MBA
Learn why Maurice LaRiviere Jr. belongs.
Engaging conferences. Inspiring pro bono work. Welcoming
networking events. You belong here, at the Massachusetts Bar
Association.
Tell us why YOU belong. E-mail us at
ibelong to share your story and be entered to win a FREE
2013-2014 MBA membership. E-mails must be received by Dec. 31,
2012. A winner will be selected on Jan. 14,
2013.
The MBA offers the legal community a wide array of professional
development and volunteer opportunities. See why others
belong.
NOTE: All testimonials shared by e-mail, mail and phone may
be published in various MBA publications, posted on the MBA web
site and its social media platforms, printed on marketing materials
and used in advertising or for other related endeavors.
"I have truly liked being a member of the
association for the services it provides, including LRS and
membership benefits."
-- Maurice LaRiviere Jr., Law Office of Maurice LaRiviere Jr.,
Haverhill. Member since 1990.
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New issue of Lawyers Journal available
The August issue of Lawyers Journal has been mailed and
is available online.
It features an article about an amicus brief, co-authored by MBA
Health Law Section Council member Lorianne Sainsbury-Wong, which
was mentioned in the recent U.S. Supreme Court's landmark health
care decision on the Affordable Care Act.
It also includes:
- An overview of the MBA's productive 2011-12 association year
under President Richard P. Campbell;
- Profiles of the upcoming 2012-13 MBA officer Slate;
- A volunteer spotlight piece on MBA Volunteer Recognition Chair
Grace Bacon Garcia; and
- Section Review articles on "The impact of Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc. v. Dukes on 93A claims" and "Fundamental
reconsideration of juvenile offenders."
Click here to view the
August issue.
LPM Tip
Find your affinity group and your business relationships will grow
One of the great challenges in selling professional services is
finding effective ways to stay connected to potential clients and
referral sources. A good starting point is to identify some
activity you enjoy (i.e. one that puts you in contact with the
people you want to meet). It doesn't matter if it is sports,
politics, religion, community work, the arts, music or some unusual
hobby. Having outside interests makes it easier to build your
referral network because it gives you a more natural way to connect
with people.
Are you passionate about politics? Work on a campaign. Is there a
non-profit cause that is meaningful to you (e.g. providing legal
services to the indigent)? Or perhaps you care about an initiative
being worked on by the Massachusetts Bar Association or some other
law related group. Find a way to volunteer. Are you strongly tied
to a religious community? Get active on a committee in your church
or synagogue. Maybe you are passionate about a sport. If so, there
are undoubtedly others who feel the same way and you should get to
know them through a club.
Of course some activities tend to be more solitary than others. If
that is the case, then look for a group to join where you can share
your passion with like-minded individuals.
Being a part of some group that brings together people with common
interests will greatly increase the likelihood you will create the
referral relationships you need to grow your practice. The
important thing is YOU are passionate about the activity, the cause
or the belief system. There is no social glue that is stronger than
a common set of interests, beliefs or experiences.
It is conventional wisdom that when you meet someone for the first
time, politics and religion are poor topics of conversation. But
the bonds we create through shared belief systems and shared
passions are amongst the strongest bonds we create in life. As a
result, the relationships we develop through these affinity groups
are very good places to try to cultivate business referrals. Alumni
groups can also be a place where you can benefit from these natural
bonds. These can be alumni groups from schools you attended, camps
where you spent your childhood or employers where you once worked
(even better if some dramatic event caused the employer to go out
of business or merge with another company).
So find your affinity group and get active. Your involvement will
make it much easier to stay connected over time and ultimately,
your referrals will grow.
Tip courtesy of Stephen Seckler, president, Seckler Legal
Consulting and Coaching.
Published August 2, 2012
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To learn more about the Law Practice Management
Section, which is complimentary for all MBA members,
contact LPM Section Chair Thomas J. Barbar or Vice
Chair Stephen
Seckler.
Trial Courts seek law clerk applicants
The Massachusetts Trial Courts are seeking applicants to serve
as law clerks in the Superior, Land, Juvenile and Probate &
Family courts.
Click here
for application and deadline information.
Upcoming CLE seminar and program schedule
Get helpful practice tips and review significant cases at the "Public Construction Law Update" seminar on Sept. 12
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 FALL PROGRAMS
How to
Handle a Residential Real Estate Closing 
Tuesday, Sept. 11, 3-7 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Public
Construction Law Update
Wednesday, Sept. 12, 4-6 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Trust
Administration for Disabled Minors and Adults
Wednesday, Sept. 19, noon-4 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
How to Start and Build a Successful Immigration Law
Practice
Friday, Sept. 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
iPad for
Litigators
Tuesday, Sept. 25, 4-6:30 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Representing the OUI
Client
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 4-7 p.m.
Massachusetts School of Law, 500 Federal St., Andover
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Have free time this summer? Catch up on the MBA educational
programs you missed this year at www.massbar.org/OnDemand.
The MUPC Demystified
Get in-depth knowledge of the MUPC, exactly how it works and
instruction on the new probate forms.
To
view a listing of current programs offered on MBA On Demand, click here.
Featured member benefit: Red Sox Ticket Lottery
Enter to win tickets to see the Boston Red Sox play the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 21
The MBA is currently offering tickets to see the Boston Red Sox
play the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park on Tuesday, Aug. 21 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, Aug. 7 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, Aug. 7, 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, Aug. 10 for payment.
Due to the large number of entries anticipated, only members
whose names are drawn will be contacted.