e-Journal
10-25
MBA News
MBA, others call for independent investigation in wake of alleged evidence mishandling at DPH lab
Yesterday, the Massachusetts Bar Association along with the
Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the American Civil
Liberties Union of Massachusetts called on Attorney General Martha
M. Coakley to appoint or call for the appointment of an independent
investigator in the crisis involving the William Hinton State Drug
Laboratory.
"As unimpeachable as the Office of the Attorney General is, an
institution that prosecutes drug cases, supports the State Police
unit that investigates drug cases and also supports drug
prosecutions by district attorneys will be perceived as having a
stake in the investigation's outcome," the letter states. Click here to
review the letter.
Following the delivery of the letter to Coakley, the signing
parties received multiple media inquiries. To review the MBA's
press coverage, click here and look under "LATEST NEWS."
Comments from MBA Chief Legal Counsel and Chief Operating Officer
Martin W. Healy were included in articles and segments featured
in/on The Associated Press, The Boston Globe,
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, State House News Service,
WBZ radio, WBUR-FM and Channel 5 WCVB-TV.
Denise Shear, Esq.
October is pro bono month
Volunteer spotlight: MBA member Denise M. Shear has volunteered with Western Massachusetts Dial-A-Lawyer program for the past 12 years
Massachusetts Bar Association member
Denise M. Shear has volunteered with the Western Massachusetts
Dial-A-Lawyer program for the past 12 years, providing free legal
services to callers during the bi-annual event. A graduate of Roger
William Roger Williams University School of Law, Shear was first
encouraged to volunteer for Dial-A-Lawyer by fellow attorney David
Ostrander when she joined Ostrander Law Office in
Northhampton.
"A lot of callers may be worried about an attorney's legal fees,
and wonder whether their issue even requires legal counsel," Shear
said. "Being able to run it by an attorney helps them decide how to
proceed forward -- whether it be through legal recourse, or just
letting it go."
Shear fondly remembers when she provided advice to a distraught
caller on the brink of foreclosure. Shear referred the caller to
the Springfield Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, which
coincidentally referred the caller to Ostrander Law Office, a
participant in their pro-bono program. The caller became Shear's
client, and immediately recognized her voice on the other end of
the phone line during their first conversation. Shear has been able
to help the client remain in her home.
"It instilled in me, from the very beginning of my career, that
volunteer service is a part of this profession and a duty," Shear
said.
In addition to the Western
Massachusetts Dial-A-Lawyer program, Shear also volunteers her time
participating in the Mary Ellen Carpenter Financial Literacy
Program and numerous other programs.
"I am setting an example for my children … this is part of what
you do -- you help others," Shear said.
Shear is currently an associate at Ostrander Law Offices, where
she specializes in consumer bankruptcy law and debtor/creditor
representation.
October has been proclaimed Pro
Bono Month by Gov. Deval L. Patrick, for the fourth year. In
addition, the American Bar Association has declared Oct. 21-Oct. 27
at Pro Bono Week. The MBA urges members to expand their pro bono
efforts to help those who need legal services.
Next week's Sixth Annual Public Law Conference to feature a keynote by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman
Register for the Nov. 1 conference, which will focus on the intersection between private lives of public employees
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The Sixth Annual Public Law Conference
for state and local government attorneys will focus upon the
intersection of the private lives of public employees. State law,
regulations and employer policies impose limitations upon what
public employees can do, both "on" and "off the clock." But such
regulation often raises questions of the employee's First Amendment
and privacy rights, among other thorny issues. How far can -- or
should -- the government, as employer, go in regulating employee
conduct? This question is the heart of this year's conference.
Divided into two panel discussions, the program will include a
review of various legal restrictions upon public employee activity,
such as the state Conflict of Interest Law, as well as
consideration of the various competing interests that arise when
the government as employer attempts to restrict or regulate
employee conduct, from both the public employer and public employee
perspectives.
The conference keynote speaker is the
Hon. Timothy S. Hillman, of the U.S. District
Court for the District of Massachusetts. In addition to serving as
both a state and federal court judge, Hillman's career has included
serving as counsel for several cities and towns. Recently appointed
Inspector General Glenn A. Cunha will also
participate as a panelist.
Click here
to view the conference brochure.
Price:
MBA member paralegals, law students, recent admittees: $40; MBA
members: $80; and nonmembers: $160.
Registration:
For more information, or to register, call Member Services at
(617) 338-0530 or click here.
The Massachusetts Bar Association's fourth annual Tiered Community Mentoring Program on Oct. 25.
MBA's Tiered Community Mentoring Program kick-off focuses on importance of networking
Networking can open up doors of opportunity that would otherwise
remain closed, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L.
Ireland told participants at the kick-off of the Massachusetts Bar
Association's fourth annual Tiered Community Mentoring Program. The
Oct. 25 event was held at the John Adams courthouse in Boston.
"Those of you who are here are making the right choice," said
Ireland, a long-time supporter of programs that introduce young
people of diverse backgrounds to the possibility of careers in the
law. "This is great opportunity. Take advantage of it."
The program, the idea of Norfolk Probate and Family Court First
Justice Angela M. Ordoñez, matches up practicing lawyers with
students from high school, college and law school. The program was
honored with the 2011 ABA Partnership Award from the American Bar
Association because of its commitment to diversity.
MBA President Robert L. Holloway Jr., who called the program
terrific, shared how networking has helped him advance his career
and build his business.
Program alum Loren Forbes, a student at UMass Boston interested
in pursuing a career in law, said his experience shaped his
education path. "Use the program. It does work," he said.
The kick-off included an overview of its requirements,
introductions of the teams and a lesson on the art of networking
from Mandie LeBeau, Esq. , the director of career services at New
England Law | Boston.
LPM Tip
Telling stories that resonate
Listening to the presidential debates reminds me of the
importance of good story telling. Telling good stories that
illustrate what you do is one of the best ways to make yourself
memorable. Romney and Obama were at their best when they told vivid
and simple stories about individuals. They were at their weakest
when they lapsed into detailed policy discussions.
While I wrote about good story telling
earlier in the year, it is such an important point that I am
returning to it.
One of the big challenges in selling legal services is that it
can take months (or years) before your referral sources actually
have the opportunity to refer work to you. Therefore, it is
important to find creative ways to ensure that someone in your
network will think of you when they hear about a problem that you
can solve. Telling good stories is a great tool to accomplish
this.
But what makes a story "good"?
Simply put, a good story (for marketing purposes) holds the
attention of the listener. It also positions you in a way you want
to be known.
So a long winded story told with excruciating detail is
generally not an effective tactic for making yourself memorable.
Distill the story to its basic facts and choose something that
highlights the kind if work you want to be known for.
Note, in some instances this will not be the work that you are
most proud of. Remember, you are marketing, not documenting. Choose
a case you are proud of; but make sure it is a good example of the
work you want in the future. You may be very pleased with yourself
for the results you achieved in a child custody case. But if you
don't want to handle child custody cases, then find another case
which describes your advocacy skills.
Tip courtesy of Stephen Seckler, president, Seckler Legal
Consulting and Coaching.
Published October 25, 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 Cynthia E.
MacCausland.
Tell us why you belong to the MBA
Thomas J. Barbar enjoys meeting practitioners from all over the commonwealth. Courtney C. Shea has found the MBA has helped her grow and develop as an attorney. Share why you belong.
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.
Thomas J. Barbar, Deutsch, Williams,
Brooks, DeRensis & Holland PC, MBA member since 2002 (above,
left)
"In my role as a member and later co-chair of the MBA's Family Law
Section Council, I enjoyed meeting practitioners from counties all
over the commonwealth and participating with them in pragmatic
discussions and educational seminars.
An unexpected benefit was being labeled a leader in the field of
family law, which provided me with leverage in successfully
settling many of my more acrimonious cases.
In addition, being part of an MBA delegation that welcomed
visiting family court judges from Slovenia was a reminder of the
breadth of our profession; and has led to my planning a visit to
Slovenia."
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Courtney C. Shea, Looney &
Grossman, MBA Member since 2010 (above, right)
"The MBA has afforded me the
opportunity to grow and develop as an attorney. As a member of the
Young Lawyers Division, I am able to represent the needs and views
of young attorneys by proposing ideas to the MBA House of
Delegates, aid in planning events and CLEs beneficial to young
attorneys, and give back to my community through volunteering
events.
Additionally, my participation in the MBA's Mentoring Circles
program and networking events has enabled me to build relationships
with experienced practitioners who have offered advice and guidance
as I progress in my career."
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
LinkedIn
Need conference room facilities?
Take advantage of your MBA membership and rent an MBA conference room today
MBA members may rent conference rooms at our headquarters in
Boston's Downtown Crossing or at the MBA's satellite Western
Mass. office in Springfield, located directly across from the
Hampden County Courthouse. Both locations are equipped with
complete audio-visual capabilities, comfortable accommodations and
other practice-centered amenities and conveniences.
Click here to
download a room reservation form.
Questions? Contact MBA Member Services at (617)
338-0530.
Photograph by
Joe Caci
The MBA's Lawyer Referral Service booth at the New England 50 + Expo.
LRS and new public website showcased at popular event for seniors
The Massachusetts Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service was
featured at the New England 50 + Expo that attracted more than
2,500 seniors. The two-day, weekend event was held on Oct. 20-21,
2012 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough and served as
an ideal platform for the MBA to showcase the recently launched,
public-geared website www.masslawhelp.com and the
MBA's LRS.
For more information on how LRS
membership
can help expand your clientele, click
here.
Note the newly updated marketing materials designed for www.masslawhelp.com and the
LRS program.
Upcoming CLE seminar and program schedule
Register for the Nov. 8 "11th Annual Western Massachusetts Bankruptcy Conference," for important updates and issues relevant to both new and experienced bankruptcy practitioners
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
Sixth
Annual Public Law Conference 
Thursday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
11th
Annual Western Massachusetts Bankruptcy
Conference
Thursday, Nov. 8, 4-7 p.m.
Western New England University School of Law, 1215 Wilbraham Road,
Springfield
How to Draft a Trust that
Works
Thursday, Nov. 15, noon-4 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Juvenile & Child Welfare Legal Chat
Series
Friday, Nov. 16, 1-2 p.m.
NOTE: There is no on-site attendance for Legal Chats.
10th Annual In-House Counsel
Conference
Friday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., 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.