e-Journal
02-23
Mark your calendars: 2012 MBA Annual Dinner set for Thursday, May 31
Dinner to include annual Access to Justice Award presentations and honor Legislator of the Year Awardee DeLeo
The Massachusetts Bar Association is proud to announce it will
be holding its 2012 Annual Dinner on Thursday, May 31 at the Westin
Waterfront Hotel, 425 Summer St., Boston. The event will feature
the presentation of both the annual MBA Access to Justice Awards
and the Legislator of the Year Award to House Speaker
Robert A. DeLeo.
A popular annual event, the MBA's Access to Justice Awards will
honor five attorneys and one law firm for their efforts in
providing exemplary legal services to the public.
DeLeo (D-Winthrop) will be honored with the MBA's Legislator of
the Year Award, which is given to a distinguished Massachusetts
politician who has made an exceptional contribution to the
improvement of the administration of justice. House Speaker since
January 2009, DeLeo's accomplishments include spearheading
legislation that will transform the management of the state's
courts by hiring a professional business administrator to oversee
all of its business aspects. That bill, applauded by the MBA, for
being both bold and thoughtful, was signed into law by Gov. Deval
Patrick this past summer and is in the process of being
implemented.
Look for more event details on www.MassBar.org and in
Lawyers Journal.
Join the MBA at Court Advocacy Day on March 19
Court and bar leadership ask attorneys to push for adequate court funding
The Massachusetts Bar Association
invites you to participate in Court Advocacy Day on Monday, March
19 at the Grand Staircase inside the Statehouse. Beginning at 11
a.m., the event will help reiterate the need for adequate funding
to sustain the critical needs of the Massachusetts Court System.
The event will open with a brief speaking program, after which
attendees will be encouraged to meet with their local
legislators.
An effort of the MBA and Boston Bar Association along with county
and specialty bars, the event complements the MBA's ongoing
awareness campaign on this topic.
"I encourage all bar members and the greater legal community to
support this cause in urging our legislators to approve necessary
funding for our courts," MBA President Richard P. Campbell
said.
The event will include speaking remarks from:
- Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland;
- Chief Justice for Administration and Management Robert A.
Mulligan;
- MBA President Richard P. Campbell; and
- Boston Bar Association President Lisa Goodheart.
The MBA and BBA organized a similar grass-roots lobbying effort
in 2009.
Member Appreciation Reception
Network with MBA and Worcester County Bar members on March 29
Join the Massachusetts Bar Association and Worcester County Bar
Association at a Member Appreciation Reception and Networking
Event from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Citizen, 1 Exchange St.,
Worcester.
This event will feature passed hors d'oeuvres. Cash bar
available.
Space is limited; R.S.V.P. today.
LPM Tip
Becoming successor counsel
If a potential client comes to you for a second opinion or
because they are dissatisfied with their current lawyer, it's
always a good idea to find out:
- How many prior attorneys have worked on the case and who they
are? It's OK to be the second counsel. But you have to be concerned
if the client has been through two or more lawyers before you ...
either they are difficult to get along with or have unreasonable
expectations about the outcome.
- What were the reasons for changing counsel in the past? Did the
lawyer fire the client for nonpayment or failing to cooperate? Do
the client's complaints about prior counsel seem legitimate or made
up?
- Have prior counsel been paid? If not, why do you think you'll
be treated differently?
Tip courtesy of MBA Law Practice Management Section
Council Member Pat
Fernandez, who practices family law in North Andover, Mass. She
is a graduate of Wellesley College and Yale Law School.
Published February 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.
MBA co-sponsors "Bullying and the Law: Policies, Programs and Best Practices"
Conference features keynote speaker Dean B. Eggert, Esq. on March 16 at Harvard Law School
The Massachusetts Bar Association is proud to co-sponsor
Bullying and the Law: Policies, Programs and Best Practices on
Friday, March 16 at Harvard Law School, 1563 Massachusetts Ave,
Cambridge.
The conference features keynote speaker Dean B. Eggert, Esq.,
who will explain the law's response to bullying in the cyber age,
by reviewing and seeking to harmonize the legislative and judicial
responses to the new challenges presented by the bully and her
avatar.
In addition, conference attendees will have the opportunity to
attend workshops including educators, attorneys, school counselors,
resource officers, nurses, other school climate leaders and
community members.
Registration deadline is Thursday, March 1.
Registration fees cover conference attendance, e-materials
via flash drives, continental breakfast, lunch and certificate of
attendance listing appropriate professional development credit
hours. Law students may attend the program for a reduced
rate of $100.
Click here for a full
schedule and for additional registration and conference
information.
MBA Past Presidents and current leadership at the 2011-12 Past Presidents' Dinner on Nov. 17.
MBA seeks nominations for 2012-13 officer and delegate positions
Submit nominations to MBA Secretary by Friday, Feb. 24
The Massachusetts Bar Association is currently accepting
nominations for officer and delegate positions for the 2012-13
membership year. Nominees must submit a letter of intent and a
current resume to MBA Secretary Robert W. Harnais by 5 p.m. on
Friday, Feb. 24, 2012 to be eligible.
To submit a nomination, mail or hand deliver the information
to:
Massachusetts Bar Association
Attn: Robert W. Harnais, MBA Secretary
20 West St., Boston, MA 02111
If you have any questions about the nomination process, call MBA
Chief Operating Officer Martin W. Healy at (617) 988-4777.
Click
here for nomination and election procedures.
News from the courts
MBA President Campbell to provide opening remarks at UMASS Boston Appeals Court sitting
A panel of three justices of the
Massachusetts Appeals Court will hear oral arguments in six appeals
in a special session to be held on the campus of University of
Massachusetts Boston. The sitting, part of the Appeals Court's
educational outreach program, is open to the public.
MBA President Richard P. Campbell, Esq., an alumnus and a member
of the UMASS Board of Trustees, will welcome the court in a brief
ceremony at the start of the session.
Oral arguments for each case take approximately 30 minutes.
Seating is on a first come, first served basis. The SJC Rule for Cameras in the Courtroom will
apply.
Immediately following the session, members of the panel, Chief
Justice Phillip Rapoza, Hon. Scott Kafker and Hon. William Meade,
will conduct an informal question and answer period for students on
general topics related to the role of Massachusetts Appeals
Court. (Pending matters will not be discussed.)
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Upcoming CLE seminar and program schedule
Learn how to conduct a civil jury trial at the Feb. 29 "Fundamentals of a Civil Jury Trial" 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 PROGRAMS
Fundamentals of a Civil Jury Trial: Courtroom
Conduct and Procedures
Wednesday, Feb. 29, 4-7 p.m.
Massachusetts School of Law, 500 Federal St.,
Andover
Divorce Basics: A View from the Bench and
Bar 
Thursday, March 1, 4:30-7 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Law Practice Management Section Educational Series:
Marketing Madness/Ethical Marketing
Wednesday, March 7, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Responding to Disaster -- FEMA Eligibility and
Reimbursement
Tuesday, March 20, noon-2 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Legal Chat: Handling Short Sales
Tuesday, March 20, 4-5 p.m.
NOTE: There is no on-site attendance for Legal Chats.
How to Conduct an Open Meeting Law
Training
Wednesday, March 21, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Law Practice Management Section Educational Series:
Marketing Madness -- Developing a Marketing Plan
Wednesday, March 21, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Conveying Real Estate Under the MUPC
Thursday, March 29, 9-11 a.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
It's Confidential -- Privilege Law in
Massachusetts
Thursday, March 29, 4:30-7 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Taking on the Anti-Bullying Law From All
Angles
Friday, March 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
SAVE THE DATE
33rd 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.
Featured member: MBA Celtics Dinner Packages
If you're looking to impress your clients or friends, purchase a
Celtics Dinner Package.
Your group will be treated to a pre-game dinner at a TD Garden
restaurant and four great seats to a sold-out game. Plus, you can
surprise your guests with a pre-game photo at Center Court.
Click here to see the schedule and pricing for
dinner packages.
Packages start at $1,200 (four tickets) and pricing varies based
on location and opponent. To discuss available packages,
contact the Premium Sales Department at (617) 854-8061 or
[e-mail bburnard].
Section News: Upcoming meetings and special section events
Join in the Feb. 28 Access to Justice and Business Law Section Council meetings. Attend the March 1 Public Law Section Council meeting.
Access to Justice Section Council
meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 28, 6-7:30
p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The next meeting of the Access to
Justice Section Council is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 6 to
7:30 p.m.
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Business Law Section Council
Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 28,
6-7:30 p.m..
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The next meeting of the Business Law
Section Council is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 6 to 7:30
p.m. All section members are invited to attend.
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Public Law Section Council
meeting
Thursday, March 1, 5:30-7
p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The next meeting of the Public Law
Section Council is scheduled for Thursday, March 1 from 5:30 to 7
p.m. All section members are invited to attend.