e-Journal
08-23
Top: Team effort: MBA volunteers and staff with WBZ Call to Action staff.
Middle: MBA President Dick Campbell (middle) and MBA Task Force on Law, the Economy and Underemployment Chair Eric Parker (right) were guests on WBZ-AM NightSide with Dan Rea (left).
Bottom: MBA volunteers take calls.
Photos by Tricia Oliver.
MBA and WBZ team up to provide free legal advice to Bay Staters
Massachusetts residents looking for free legal advice were in
luck on Wednesday, Aug. 15. The MBA and WBZ Call for Action
collaborated to present the Ask A Lawyer call-in program. Nearly
150 residents took advantage of this free service and spoke to an
MBA volunteer attorney regarding their legal concerns or
questions.
Phones were staffed by six MBA volunteers, while WBZ and MBA
staff helped facilitate call-backs. The Ask A Lawyer was a regular
program from 1978 until 2005. The MBA and WBZ Call for Action have
revived the program to meet the growing legal needs of the
commonwealth's citizens.
"The Massachusetts Bar Association is proud to have worked with
WBZ radio to bring back this critical program," MBA President
Richard P. Campbell said. "The country's current economic crisis
has both pushed the need for legal help to an all-time-high and
made it harder for the average citizen to afford legal services. We
hope this program can help bridge that gap."
In the midst of the call-in program, Campbell and Eric Parker,
chair of the MBA's Task Force on Law, the Economy and
Underemployment, were in-studio guests on WBZ NightSide with Dan
Rea. Rea pledged on air to hold the program annually once
again.
MBA extends special thanks to volunteer attorneys Sheryl
Furnari, Esq., Scott Heidorn, Esq., Mary K Lee, Esq., Daniel
Occena, Esq., Stuart Rosnick, Esq. and Richard Sugarman, Esq. for
donating their time to participate in this public service.
WBZ Call for Action, in existence for 40 years, is a
non-profit telephone information, referral and action service
dedicated to resolving people's problems. A free service, it is a
member of the national organization, Call For Action, Inc.
MBA hosts Fourth Annual Summer Social on Boston's waterfront
Over 100 friends and members of the legal community joined the
Massachusetts Bar Association for its Fourth Annual Summer Social
on Thursday, Aug. 16.
The free social/networking event was held at Tia's on the Boston
waterfront.
Tell us why you belong to the MBA.
Win a free CLE.
Tell us why YOU belong to the MBA and be entered into a raffle
to win a free pass to the continuing legal education session of
your choice, excluding conferences, during the 2012-13 association
year.
To enter the raffle, e-mail us at
ibelong to share your story. E-mails must be received by Sept.
18, 2012. The winner will be chosen by random on Sept. 19.
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.
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Join the conversation to keep up to
date on the
latest iBelong news and offers:
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#iBelong2MassBar
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Top: Worcester students participate in a year-end appreciation day for the SJC's Judicial Youth Corps.
Bottom: MBA Treasurer Douglas K. Sheff (right) speaks with Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland (left) at the JYC event on Aug. 17.
Photos by Elizabeth O'Neil.
Supreme Judicial Court Judicial Youth Corps holds 2012 appreciation day
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland led the
year-end appreciation day held for the volunteers and student
participants of the Judicial Youth Corps. The Aug. 17 event was
held in the John Adams Courthouse in Boston, but recognized all
students participating in the Boston and Worcester programs.
Ireland has served as an advisor to and an ardent supporter of the
Judicial Youth Corps since it began in 1991 in Boston. The
Massachusetts Bar Association administers the Worcester portion of
the program. The Massachusetts Bar Foundation, the philanthropic
partner of the MBA, is the lead supporter of the Worcester
program.
LPM Tip
One form can keep your practice working -- even if you can’t
You are your practice. You may have staff or other assistance,
but your knowledge is indispensable to keeping your practice
running. You know what needs to be done, where information is
located, how things work -- the vital elements of running your
practice. If you were temporarily unable to work due to disability,
natural disaster, extreme travel delays or other challenges would
your practice survive? Would your clients get the service they
deserve? One form can ensure your practice keeps working, even if
you can't.
Wells H. Anderson ([e-mail info]), a consultant to law firms and
operator of Active
Online, a secure backup service for attorneys, created
this fillable .pdf form to help you record key information to
keep your practice running. His article on incorporating the form
into your practice,
"How a Key Technology Information Form Can Save Your Practice,"
suggests collecting information including:
- The passwords and login information for computers, your cell
phone and web-based services;
- Any information needed to access backup systems and restore
data;
- The locations of your electronic and paper files; and
- Instructions on how to generate critical information such as a
list of active cases, bills for outstanding work, records of
accounts receivable and client contact information. If you have the
ability, you might wish to record a video or screen shots of you
generating this information.
As you fill out the form, consider using the following practices
to maximize its utility:
- You needn't complete the entire form in one sitting. Just add
information during your normal work day. As you log into a computer
or website, record the password on the fillable .pdf.
- Once the form is fully or partially completed, store it in a
very secure location in your office. If you keep backup, paper
copies of vital information, like this form, take them offsite to
protect against a disaster in your office.
- You should also share the form with your backup attorney,
trusted colleagues or a responsible family member.
- If you encrypt the form you need to share the password with
whomever will use the form and tell him or her the location of the
electronic file.
- Revisit this form occasionally. Have you changed passwords,
implemented a new two factor authentication process, purchased a
new phone or signed up for a new service? You also want to confirm
that contact information is correct and that your backup attorney
or other responsible persons are still willing to assist you.
Tip courtesy of Scott L. Malouf (@ScottMalouf),
Law Office
Management Assistance Program (@MassLOMAP).
Published August 23, 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.
News from the courts
Notice for appointment of new magistrate judge; Public comment period opens for Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure amendments
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Notice for appointment of new
magistrate judge
The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the
appointment of a full-time U.S. magistrate judge for the District
of Massachusetts, serving in the central division, with a duty
station bin the Donohue Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse in
Worcester.
Application forms and more information on the magistrate judge
position in this court may be obtained from the Clerk of Court,
Sarah Allison Thornton, U.S. District Court, District of
Massachusetts, 1 Courthouse Way, Suite 2300, Boston, MA 02210. The
application form also is available on the court's website. Submitted
applications (original and 14 copies) shall be marked
"CONFIDENTIAL," signed by the applicant personally and must be
received before 5 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2012 to be considered.
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Public comment period opens for
Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure amendments
The public comment period has opened for several
proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and
Procedure, which govern litigation in the federal courts. The
comment period closes Feb. 15, 2013.
This year, when members of the bench, bar and public submit
their comments on changes to the appellate, bankruptcy, civil,
criminal and evidence rules -- they'll notice a revamped website for the Federal Rules.
"Our goal in the reorganization was a simpler, more logical
starting point for the bench, practicing bar, and public to access
the federal rules and forms. We have attempted to describe the
rulemaking process in plain language while providing
straightforward access to the rules, the work of the Judicial
Conference's Rules Committees, and other historical and archival
material," said Benjamin Robinson, of the Judicial Conference Rules
Committee Support Office.
To make information easier to find, the rules section is divided
into general categories:
effective,
pending and
proposed rules published for public comment;
about the rulemaking process and
records and archives of the rules committees.
Upcoming CLE seminar and program schedule
Learn why the iPad is quickly becoming the trial technology tool of choice at the Sept. 25 "iPad for Litigators" seminar.
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
Managing Your Work
Search Process: Getting Started -- Identification of Skills,
Experience and Professional Interests
Wednesday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m.- noon
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
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
Managing Your Work
Search Process: The Documents -- Resume, Cover Letters and Writing
Samples
Wednesday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.- noon
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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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.
Featured member benefit: MBA Mentoring Circles
Join a one-of-a-kind mentoring program that allows you to be both the mentor and mentee.
- Designed to offer MBA members an opportunity for confidential
advice and guidance;
- Each circle includes eight to 12 attorneys of various levels of
expertise (with two to three senior attorneys and five to eight
attorneys who have practiced for 10 years or less);
- Arranged by county;
- Scheduled to meet a minimum of four times a year; and
- Offers invaluable resources, networking tools and professional
growth.
The MBA's Mentoring Circles program will start a new session in
September 2012. Not in a circle? Register online at www.massbar.org/mentorcircles. Join today and
participate in this unique mentoring program.
Section News: Upcoming meetings and special section events
Attend the Animal Law Practice Group meeting on Sept. 4
Animal Law Practice Group
meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 4, 6-7:30
p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The first meeting of the 2012-13
Animal Law Practice Group is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 4 from 6
to 7:30 p.m. The meeting will focus on farm animal laws and
legislation. The panel will include Alexis C. Fox, state director
of the Massachusetts for The Humane Society of the United States
(HSUS).