e-Journal
08-16
Gateway City Update: Sec. of Education announces key programs to educate Gateway Cities’ youth
One of MBA President Richard P. Campbell's objectives for the
2011-12 association year was involving the Massachusetts Bar
Association as part of conversations related to the commowealth's
Gateway Cities -- those mid-sized cities whose residents are
experiencing significantly higher rates of unemployment and a
stalemate in social, economic and civic innovation. A recurring
theme at two forums hosted by the MBA on this topic was the need to
close the education gap in those communities.
This month, in a letter from Secretary of Education Paul
Reville, Campbell was informed that the FY13 state budget provides
the support necessary to implement two components of the state's
Gateway Cities Education Agenda: $3 million to support enrichment
academies for English language learners and $500,000 to establish
Career Academies.
Writes Reville, "This funding will give educators and other
stakeholders in our Gateway Cities an important opportunity to
enhance existing efforts, implement new strategies, and strengthen
partnerships across communities. These grant programs, coupled with
ongoing initiatives of the Patrick- Murray Administration,
represent another step forward for Massachusetts."
Click here for the letter from Sec. Reville.
Click
here for the latest report issued on Gateway Cities by MassINC,
"Building Vibrancy: Creative Placemaking Strategies for Gateway
City Growth and Renewal."
MBA President Richard P. Campbell (top) speaks about the MBA's public awareness campaign on the importance of court funding at the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in Chicago earlier this month.
Photos by Marsha Kazarosian.
MBA initiatives showcased at ABA Annual Meeting
The Massachusetts Bar Association public awareness campaign on
the importance of court funding was prominently highlighted at the
American Bar Association Annual Meeting in Chicago earlier this
month.
MBA President Richard P. Campbell and MBA Vice President Marsha
V. Kazarosian both presented on the topic throughout the multi-day
event. Various aspects of the campaign -- including videos and
scaled-down replicas of MBA billboards -- were also on display.
Campbell served as a member of the panel devoted to the topic at
the National Conference of Bar Presidents. The panel was moderated
by incoming ABA President Laurel Bellows. MBA's efforts were also a
key part of the discussion at a dinner hosted by the ABA Commission
on the Proper Funding of the Judiciary.
Kazarosian participated on a panel co-chaired by nationally
known attorneys David Boies and Ted Olson. She also took part in
the NCBP diversity workshop entitled Pipeline to the Profession, at
which she discussed the MBA's mentoring programs aimed to expose
minority students to the legal profession.
In addition, as a member of the newly established ABA Commission
on the Future of Legal Education, Campbell also participated in
that group's inaugural meeting. The MBA Task Force on Law, the
Economy and Underemployment was referenced throughout the
meeting.
Featured member benefit: Casemaker upgrade provides state-of-the-art search capabilities
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New Casemaker features include:
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LPM Tip
If you want happy clients, try offering solutions
As lawyers, we are risk managers. An important part of our job
is to identify the risks associated with different courses of
action. Our clients come to us because they want to know what they
should do in a particular situation. While offering our clients an
analysis of risk is certainly an important aspect of good
lawyering, most clients also want to know your opinion. That is why
they hired you.
When you consult a doctor about a health issue, you expect the
doctor to present you with the treatment options and the risks
associated with each plan of action. But most of us also want the
doctor to render an opinion of which option is best. You may end up
seeking out other opinions and researching options on your own.
Ultimately, you may decide not to follow the doctor's advice. But
you appreciate the fact that the doctor is trying to help you make
an informed decision by giving you his or her opinion.
People hire lawyers so they can sleep better at night. If all
you do is present your clients with a laundry list of what can go
wrong, most clients are likely to be dissatisfied. They are not
going to sleep better because you have done nothing to narrow their
options. Presumably, you have a lot more experience dealing with
the matter at hand (or at least the legal risks associated with the
particular transaction or controversy).
So let your clients know what you think they should do. They may
not follow your advice, but they will respect you for having an
opinion and they are more likely to turn to you in the future.
Tip courtesy of Stephen Seckler, president, Seckler Legal
Consulting and Coaching.
Published August 16, 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.
Upcoming CLE seminar and program schedule
Get practice insight at the Sept. 21 "How to Start and Build a Successful Immigration Law Practice."
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.
Taxation Practice Series
Learn more about the tax aspects of various transactions.
Seminars include:
To
view a listing of current programs offered on MBA On Demand, click here.
News from the courts
Probate and Family Court announces new guardianship form and procedure
Chief Justice Paula M. Carey recently announced the
release of form MPC 829 Notice of Intent to Admit to a Nursing
Facility for Short Term Services and MPC 955
Instructions, for completing and filing the form. The form
is available for use on or after Monday, Aug.
27.
The new form is a result of the recent amendment to section
5-309(g) of G. L. c. 190B (Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code). See
Section 42 of Chapter 140 of the
Acts of 2012.
Section News: Upcoming meetings and special section events
Attend the Aug. 22 Probate Law Section Council meeting. Join in the Aug. 23 Immigration Law Section Council meeting. Register for the Sept. 14 Chronic Pain Informational Session.
Probate Law Section Council
meeting
Wednesday, Aug. 22, 5:30-7
p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The first meeting of the 2012-13
Probate Law Section Council is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 22
from 5:30 to 7 p.m. All section members are invited to attend.
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Immigration Law Section Council
meeting
Thursday, Aug. 23, 5:15-6:45
p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The first meeting of the 2012-13
Immigration Law Section Council is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 23
from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. All section members are invited to
attend.
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Chronic Pain Informational
Session
Friday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m.-5
p.m.
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts Armory,
Faneuil Hall, Boston
MBA members are invited to attend the
Department of Industrial Accidents, Office of Health Policy's
Chronic Pain Information Session on Friday, Sept. 14. This is an
all-day seminar and there is no admission charge. The registration
deadline is Friday, Aug. 31 and space is limited. Click here for the proposed agenda.
To register, contact
Hella Dalton at [e-mail Hella.Dalton] or (617) 617-727-4900 Ext:
310.
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