e-Journal
03-08
Speaker DeLeo to be honored for efforts in overhauling court management
2012 MBA Annual Dinner set for Thursday, May 31
Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) will be honored by the
Massachusetts Bar Association for his efforts in pushing for bold
court management reforms. DeLeo, who has represented the
19th Suffolk District since 1991, will be presented with
the Legislator of the Year Award at the MBA's 2012 Annual Dinner on
Thursday, May 31 at the Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St.,
Boston.
The MBA Legislator of the Year Award is presented annually to a
state or federal legislator who has distinguished him or herself in
public service through outstanding contributions to the legal
profession, courts and the administration of justice.
In April 2011, DeLeo filed landmark legislation, in
collaboration with the Supreme Judicial Court, that overhauls court
management. The bill, signed into law last August, included hiring
a non-judicial court administrator.
The legislation was in line with recommendations made by court
management experts over the past 30 years, including the MBA's 1976 Res Gestae, 1991 Harbridge House Report and 2003 Court Reform Study.
In addition to the Legislator of the Year Award, the MBA will
present the annual MBA Access to Justice Awards.
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.
Featured member benefit: Lawyer Referral Service
Expand your client base as an MBA LRS member; check out the new www.masslawhelp.com
The Massachusetts Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service, one
of the largest referral services of its kind, has launched a new website to
help connect members of the public with an attorney in their area
who has the knowledge they need.
The user-friendly website, offered as a public service of the MBA,
provides the public with answers to the most common legal questions
in the areas of family law, labor and employment, estate planning,
real estate, consumer protection, personal injury, criminal law,
personal finance, business, individual rights, government benefits
and services and immigration.
The website also makes it easy for the public to contact
the MBA's LRS to find an attorney.
Go to www.masslawhelp.com to view the new public
site, or to sign up to become a member of the MBA's LRS. Also, link
the LRS site to your website to provide your clients with answers
to frequently asked questions, as well as how to prepare for their
first meeting with an attorney. The website replaces the MBA's past
practice of distributing printed client pamphlets.
RENEW YOUR LRS MEMBERSHIP OR
SIGN UP NOW
Current LRS members can avoid any interruption in their
membership by renewing before the March 31 deadline. The cost of
joining the LRS is either $100 or $150 depending on how long you
have been admitted to practice. Just one LRS referral can cover the
cost of your annual membership in both the MBA and the LRS.
For more information, click here.
March 19 Court Advocacy Day: your presence is needed to send a strong message
Bar participation will help to ensure Mass. courts receive funding needed to provide basic services to public
The Massachusetts Trial Court has
requested $593.9 million worth of funding in FY 2013 to ensure the
quality of justice is not further jeopardized for the citizens of
the commonwealth. To support the court system in their funding
request, the Massachusetts Bar Association and Boston Bar
Association invite the full legal community to join their efforts
at Court Advocacy Day on Monday, March 19 at the Statehouse.
"I encourage all bar members and the greater legal community to
join us on March 19 and continue to support this cause in urging
our legislators to approve necessary funding for our courts," MBA
President Richard P. Campbell said.
According to the recently released "
Justice in the Balance" budget overview, the
court system can "no longer provide the level of service state
residents need and deserve."
To strengthen the message of the need for funding that allows the
Trial Court to provide basic services, the March 19 lobbying event
will begin at 11 a.m. at the Grand Staircase inside the Statehouse.
The event will open with a brief speaking program, after which
attendees will be encouraged to meet with their local
legislators.
In addition to Campbell, featured speakers will include:
- Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland;
- Chief Justice for Administration and Management Robert A.
Mulligan; and
- BBA President Lisa C. Goodheart.
To familiarize yourself with your local representative or senator,
click
here.
The March 19 event complements the MBA's ongoing awareness
campaign on this topic. Information packets will be provided to
event attendees to reference when they meet with their local
legislators to underscore the need for the $593.9 million worth of
funding.
MBA President Richard P. Campbell.
MBA president appointed to UMass School of Law's Dean Search Committee
MBA President Richard P. Campbell has been appointed to the
search committee for a new permanent dean of the UMass School of
Law at UMass Dartmouth. The law school, which opened in 2010, is
the first and only public law school in Massachusetts, and has
presented itself for provisional candidacy with the American Bar
Association.
UMass School of Law appointed an interim dean to replace Robert V.
Ward Jr., who resigned in October 2011.
Campbell was also appointed to a five-year term on the
University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees in 2011 by Gov. Deval
Patrick. As a board of trustees appointee, Campbell helps govern
the University of Massachusetts system. Campbell received his BA
from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1970.
In addition to Campbell, the search committee includes:
- Professor Frances Rudko, UMass School of Law, chair;
- The Hon. Phillip Rapoza, chief justice, Massachusetts Appeals
Court;
- John Quinn, Esq., director of Graduate Public Service, Center
for Civic Engagement;
- Professor Tesfay Meressi, associate dean, College of
Engineering;
- Professor Ralph Clifford, UMass School of Law;
- Professor Justine Dunlap, UMass School of Law;
- Professor Dylan Malagrino, UMass School of Law;
- Shannon Grindrod, student, UMass School of Law;
- Venoal Fountain, student, UMass School of Law Student;
- Ann Walsh-Folino, director, Graduate Academic Resources, School
of Law; and
- Clare Poirier (non-voting member), assistant chancellor, Office
of the Chancellor.
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
Act like an environmentalist when you market your practice
Many attorneys find it difficult to carve out time for
marketing. When they have billable work, they find it hard to
justify doing non-billable work. But marketing is most effective
when it is done all the time, not just during your slow
periods.
So how do you balance periods of busyness with the need to market
all the time? The answer lies in one word: recycling. If you
look for ways to recycle your work product, your marketing will
become more efficient.
If you adopt a recycling mindset, you will realize that there are
many ways to repurpose the work you are already doing. If you adopt
this "environmental" approach, you will find it a lot easier to
create content that you can share in a number of ways.
For example, if you work on a brief that raises an issue which you
think may be of interest to others, write an article on the
subject. From there, you can develop a client seminar. Other
possibilities include writing up a client alert, creating a
checklist or putting together a tip sheet.
Social media offers many new ways to repurpose your client work.
Once you have created content, use social media to distribute your
practice tools (or let the world know that you are happy to share
the checklist you created).
By not starting from scratch, you will be able to make the most of
the limited time you have for reputation building. And by starting
out with real issues facing real clients, you are more likely to
write about things that matter to other prospective clients.
Tip courtesy of Stephen Seckler, president, Seckler Legal
Consulting and Coaching.
Published March 8, 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.
Miss the MBA's "MUPC Demystified" five-part series?
Watch the programs anywhere, anytime via MBA On Demand
The MUPC substantially overhauls the practice of estate
administration and will take effect in 2012.
If you missed the Massachusetts Bar Association's dynamic "MUPC
DeMystified" five-part series, the programs are now available via
MBA On Demand for you to watch from the comfort of your home,
anywhere, anytime. Programming includes:
- Part I: Informal Probate and Appointment Proceedings;
- Part II: The 'Ins and Outs' of Formal Probate Proceedings;
- PART III: Powers and Duties of the Personal Representatives and
Options for Closing Estates;
- PART IV: Remedies and Protections under the MUPC; and
- PART V: Estate Planning under the MUPC Drafting Wills and
Trusts.
The "MUPC DeMystified" series is designed to provide probate
practitioners (as well as those who aspire to be) with an in-depth
knowledge of the MUPC, exactly how it works, as well as provide
instruction on the new probate forms that will be issued by the
court.
Click here
to purchase the five-part series.
Interested in additional MUPC
information? Register for the MBA's MUPC Basics: An Overview
of the new Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code Conference on Friday,
April 27 at the Massachusetts School of Law.
Upcoming CLE seminar and program schedule
Learn about the FEMA eligibility and reimbursement process at the March 20 "Responding to Disaster" program.
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
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
Life Cycle of a Business Part 1: Forming a Business
& Protecting Assets
Wednesday, March 21, 5-7 p.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.
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.
NOTE: The
registration deadline for this conference has been extended from
Thursday, March 1 to Monday, March 12.
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.
Section News: Upcoming meetings and special section events
Join in the March 13 Family Law Section Council meeting. Attend the March 14 Immigration Law, Law Practice Management and Juvenile & Child Welfare Law Section Council meetings.
Family Law Section Council
meeting
Tuesday, March 13, 5:30-7
p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The next meeting of the Family Law
Section Council is scheduled for Tuesday, March 13 from 5:30 to 7
p.m. All section members are invited to attend.
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Immigration Law Section Council
Meeting
Wednesday, March 14,
5:15-6:45 p.m..
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The next meeting of the Immigration
Law Section Council is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14 from 5:15
to 6:45 p.m. All section members are invited to attend.
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Law Practice Management Council
Meeting
Wednesday, March 14,
5:15-6:45 p.m..
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The next meeting of the Law Practice
Management Section Council is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14
from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. All section members are invited to
attend.
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Juvenile & Child Welfare Law
Section
Council Meeting
Wednesday, March 14,
5:30-7 p.m..
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The next meeting of the Juvenile &
Child Law Section Council is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14 from
5:30 to 7 p.m. All section members are invited to attend.
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News from the courts
U.S. Courts for the First Circuit bankruptcy judge position; Chief Justices deliver testimony to Joint Committee on Ways and Means; SJC approves new Rule 1:19 governing electronic access to the courts; J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center officially opens in Salem
U.S. Courts for the First Circuit
bankruptcy judge position
The First Circuit Court of Appeals is
seeking applicants for a bankruptcy judge position for the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Rhode Island
headquartered in Providence.
Attorneys with broad or specialized
litigation or commercial experience are encouraged to apply,
whether or not such experience is in bankruptcy law.
Interested applicants may obtain an
application from the Circuit Executive's Office, from the
bankruptcy court clerk for the District of Rhode Island, or by
accessing the Court of Appeals' Website. The term of office
is 14 years and the current salary is $160,080. Applications are to
be received by Friday, April 20. EOE.
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Chief Justices deliver testimony to
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice
Roderick L. Ireland, Appeals Court Chief Justice Phillip Rapoza,
and Trial Court Chief Justice for Administration & Management
Robert A. Mulligan presented testimony on Feb. 28 to the Joint
Committee on Ways and Means on Fiscal Year 2013 funding for the
Judicial Branch.
The Chief Justices addressed the
severe reductions in personnel throughout the Judicial Branch. They
emphasized the need for adequate resources to serve the public and
praised the commitment of court employees to deliver justice under
very challenging circumstances.
Click here to view testimony and a 2012
Justice in the Balance report.
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SJC approves new Rule 1:19
governing electronic access to the courts
The Supreme Judicial Court has
announced the approval of a new SJC Rule 1:19 governing electronic
access to the courts. The court order amends the former Rule 1:19
governing cameras in the courts and replaces it with the new rule,
effective on July 1, 2012. After the new rule has been in operation
for a year, the court will review it to determine whether further
revisions are needed.
The new Rule 1:19 is designed to recognize the changes in
technology and journalism since the original rule was promulgated
and to maintain the necessary order and decorum in the
Massachusetts courts.
Click here to view the major changes to SJC
Rule 1:19.
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J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center
officially opens in Salem
State and local officials participated
in the official opening ceremony of the J. Michael Ruane Courthouse
in Salem on Feb. 28. Massachusetts Bar Association President-elect
Robert Holloway Jr., a local practitioner, extended the bar's
appreciation for the new state-of-the-art courthouse.
Click here to learn more.