e-Journal
02-21
Gov. Deval L. Patrick
May 9 Annual Dinner to feature Gov. Patrick as keynote speaker
The Massachusetts Bar Association is pleased to announce that
Gov. Deval L. Patrick will deliver the keynote address at its
Annual Dinner set for Thursday, May 9 at the Westin Boston
Waterfront.
"We are honored to have Gov. Patrick address the Massachusetts
legal community at our hallmark event of the association year," MBA
Chief Legal Counsel and Chief Operating Officer Martin W. Healy
said. "His perspective and accomplishments gained through his years
as corporate counsel and leadership positions in both state and
federal government are admirable and will make for a highly
relevant keynote address."
In addition to the keynote address, the event will also feature
the presentation of the Annual Access to Justice Awards.
Patrick was first elected as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts'
governor in 2006 and was re-elected to a second term in November
2010. Committed to expanding opportunity and prosperity in
Massachusetts, the Patrick administration has maintained or
expanded the state's investment in critical growth sectors, despite
challenging economic times. Under Patrick's leadership, the
commonwealth has become as a global leader in biotech, bio
pharmaceuticals and IT and a national leader in clean energy -- the
home to the country's first offshore wind farm.
As governor, Patrick committed the commonwealth to renewing its
aging and neglected infrastructure and oversaw the expansion of
affordable health care insurance to over 98 percent of
Massachusetts residents. The Patrick administration also
accomplished major reforms that had eluded decades of other elected
leadership, reforming the state's pension systems, ethics laws and
transportation bureaucracy.
A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Patrick
began his legal career clerking for a federal judge and went on to
become an attorney and business executive, rising to senior
executive positions at Texaco and Coca-Cola. In 1994, President
William Jefferson Clinton appointed Patrick as assistant attorney
general for civil rights, the nation's top civil rights post.
To purchase tickets or tables
of 10 or to find out more on sponsorship opportunities, visit www.massbar.org/AD13 or call (617) 338-0530.
Tables of 10 are $1,500 and individual tickets are $150
each.
MBA seeks nominations for 2013-14 officer, delegate positions
Nominations are due tomorrow, Feb. 22
The Massachusetts Bar Association is currently accepting
nominations for officer and delegate positions for the 2013-14
membership year. Nominees must submit a letter of intent and a
current resume to MBA Secretary Martha Rush O'Mara by 5 p.m. on
Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 to be eligible.
To submit a nomination, mail or hand
deliver the information to:
Massachusetts Bar Association
Attn: Martha Rush O'Mara, 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.
To review the Nomination &
Election procedures, click
here.
News from the courts
JNC seeks applications; SJC seeks Worcester County judges' evaluations
JNC seeks applications
The Judicial Nominating Commission seeks applications for six new vacancies, one
at the Superior Court, four at the District Court and one at the
Boston Municipal Court. Application deadlines include:
- The Superior Court on Friday, March 1;
- The Clinton and Fitchburg District Courts on Thursday, March
28;
- The Holyoke and Northamption District Courts on Thursday, April
11; and
- The Boston Municipal Court on Thursday, April 25.
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SJC seeks Worcester County judges'
evaluations
The Supreme Judicial Court's Judicial
Performance Evaluation program is an important tool for enhancing
judicial performance and the quality of the judicial branch. Judges
of the district, superior, housing, probate and family and juvenile
courts in Worcester County will be evaluated starting Monday, Feb.
25 by attorneys, court employees and jurors.
Any attorney who receives a questionnaire should take the time to
complete it, as the more responses received, the more helpful the
judicial evaluations will be. The evaluation program is the best
opportunity for attorneys to offer opinions of the members of the
judiciary.
Attorneys who have appeared in these courts during the last two
years, according to court records, will receive questionnaires.
Attorneys will receive an e-mail requesting them to log into the
court's website to complete the evaluation electronically.
As required by statute, the electronic system keeps the
evaluations confidential and anonymous. If there is no
attorney's e-mail on record, then a paper questionnaire will be
mailed.
Results will be transmitted to the judge, the chief justice of
the judge's court department, the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Judicial Court and the Chief Justice of the Trial Court.
Featured member benefit: Lawyer Referral Service
Want to expand your client base? Join the Lawyer Referral Service
The Massachusetts Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service, one
of the largest referral services of its kind, helps connect members
of the public with an attorney in their area who has the knowledge
they need. Join or renew your LRS membership today.
The LRS promotes the legal skills of its members through:
- Masslawhelp.com, offered as an MBA public
service;
- Campaigns on radio stations and MBTA platforms and commuter
rail trains;
- Search engine advertising; and
- Flyers and posters in public buildings, including courts and
city halls.
NOTE: Instant
referrals coming soon. Receive real-time referrals straight to your
inbox from MassLawHelp.com. Additional benefits to include
web-based case management options.
RENEW OR JOIN TODAY:
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. Click here for more
information.
Learn to successfully navigate a difficult job market with the "Managing Your Work Search Process" series
Register for eight, FREE programs on optimizing your professional strengths
Join in an eight session series, "Managing Your Work Search
Process," designed to provide unemployed lawyers with information
and support, in a challenging legal marketplace.
Learn to
successfully navigate a difficult job market. Sponsored by the
Massachusetts Bar Association and Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
Inc., this series will provide strategies to help you optimize your
professional strengths. Topics include tips on networking and
information interviews, improving your marketability, how to
utilize social media and resume and cover letter writing
samples.
All "Managing
Your Work Search Process" programs will be held at the MBA,
20 West St., Boston. Session topics to be
announced.
NOTE: This series is free
of charge and limited to 40 participants. Pre-registration
required. Attendance at all sessions requested.
- Session I: Getting Started -- Identification of
Skills, Experience and Professional Interests,
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m.-noon
- Session II: Wednesday, March 13, 10
a.m.-noon
- Session III: Wednesday, March 27, 10
a.m.-noon
- Session IV:Wednesday, April 10, 10
a.m.-noon
- Session V: Wednesday, April 24, 10
a.m.-noon
- Session VI: Wednesday, May 8, 10
a.m.-noon
- Session VII: Wednesday, May 22, 10
a.m.-noon
- Session VIII: Wednesday, June 12, 10
a.m.-noon
To register:
Contact Patricia Anne Olier at [e-mail polier] or (617)
338-0596.
For more information:
Call Nancy Brown, LICSW at (617) 482-5004, [e-mail nancyb], or
go to www.lclma.org.
Connect, share and collaborate on My Bar Access
Participate in discussions on the March 5 Civil Litigation "Winning Closing Arguments" program, a Family Law review on the HBO "Don't Divorce Me!" documentary and more.
The Massachusetts Bar Association has launched My Bar Access,
which replaces the section/division portion of the MBA website.
Visit http://access.massbar.org/ today to join the
conversation.
Check out posts on:
- Part III of the LifeCycle of a Business series on employment
matters and business litigation; and
- Information on the advantages of incorporating in
Delaware.
Participate in ongoing member group discussions,
including:
- An overview of the March 5 Civil Litigation education program,
"Winning Closing Arguments;" and
- A Family Law review on the HBO documentary "Don't Divorce Me!
Kids' Rules For Parents On Divorce."
The following simple steps can instantly connect you with fellow
members:
- Login and agree to terms: Sign in
using your MBA user name and password and sign the Code of
Conduct.
- Create your profile and settings: Include your
bio and photo and customize the frequency and format of your
notifications (your profile info from LinkedIn may be pulled
over).
- Start connecting: Post blogs, discussions
(listservs) or upload a resource library entry for your
section(s).
Resource materials -- including "Getting
Started on My Bar Access" and "How to Use My Bar Access" -- posted
in various areas throughout the site, can help users with
questions. Following a review of those resources, members who need
further help should contact the My Bar Access Help Desk at
[e-mail mybaraccess].
LPM Tip
In search of lost time: Tracking and recording time
Tracking and recording time is one of those daunting tasks that
no one ever warned you about in law school. Regardless of your
billing structure, you should be tracking and recording your time.
If you bill by the hour, it is essential that you keep accurate
records of your time. Failing to track time can add up. Say you
bill at an hourly rate of $300. Missing a mere six minutes a day
decreases your bottom line by about $30 a day, resulting in a total
loss of approximately $7,500 a year. Even if you do not bill by the
hour, keeping your time can assist in calculating flat fee case values.
In a typical day, most attorneys are bombarded with a variety of
matters. You are constantly required to switch gears throughout the
day, from your office to court to a client's office, from telephone
to email to document drafting and more. If you still sit down at
the end of each week to reconstruct and record your time for that
week, you are both wasting time and losing money. It may be nearly
impossibly to recall one day's events, let alone weeks on end. Here
are some tips to track and record time:
- Make a habit of tracking and recording your time
contemporaneously. Don't wait until the end of the week or even the
end of a day.
- Use a computer to track and record your time. Microsoft Word
and Excel are two simple solutions for manual recording. But,
better yet, use a computer program that automatically tracks and logs your time.
- If you do track your time manually, keep your time tracking
document open on your computer, available on your mobile device, or
otherwise easily accessible to you all day long.
- To avoid double entry (i.e. you track manually and your
assistant inputs records into a billing program), input your time
directly into a time and billing program, or into a program that
can export your time logs into your billing program.
- Use time tracking programs or apps that are compatible with your mobile
device, phone, and e-mail. Automatic trackers can track and log
phone conversations, texts, e-mail and more.
Although rolling out a new system may take time and resources,
you will not only save time and money in the long run, but you will
also avoid those daily/weekly time tracking frustrations. Don't
waste your precious time searching for lost time, instead make
changes in your time tracking and recording processes now.
Tip courtesy of Heidi Alexander, Law Office Management Assistance
Program.
Published February 21, 2013
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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.
Upcoming CLE seminar and program schedule
Hear valuable insight from the bench and learn from top litigators' mock closings at the March 5 "Winning Closing Arguments" 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
Managing Your Work Search Session
I
Getting Started: Identification of Skills, Experience and
Professional Interests
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m.-noon
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Probate Issues Resolved Under the MUPC 
Answers to the informal probate process, at last
Thursday, Feb. 28, noon-4 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Winning Closing Arguments
All-star panel of top litigators puts Michael Jackson,
Star Wars and the Boston Red Sox on trial
Tuesday, March 5, 4-7 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Lifecycle of a Business Part IV: Mergers
& Acquisitions & Bankruptcy
Tuesday, March 12, 5-7 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Juvenile CORI Reform Roundtable
Wednesday, March 13, 4-6 p.m.
MBA, 20 west St., Boston
Juvenile & Child Welfare Legal Chat
Series
Friday, March 15, 1-2 p.m.
NOTE: There is no on-site attendance for Legal Chats.
Law Firm Business Plan Workshop
Wednesday, March 20, 2-5 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.
Join the MBA's Member-Get-A-Member campaign
Refer a colleague and be rewarded.
Join in the Massachusetts Bar Association's Member-Get-a-Member
campaign. As a current member, you are the greatest testimony to
the value of an MBA membership and we ask for your participation in
recruiting at least one new member this association
year.
Take this opportunity to help expand the MBA's network of legal
professionals statewide and strengthen our association's preeminent
voice in the legal profession. Share your personal and professional
MBA experiences and why you belong to the MBA with a colleague and
be rewarded. See why
others belong.
For every new member you recruit, you will be entered into
our raffle for the following prizes:
- Grand prize: $500 AMEX gift card
- Second prize: $250 AMEX gift card
- Third prize: $100 AMEX gift card
To be eligible, you must be identified as the source of the
referral on the membership application.
Section News: Upcoming meetings and special section events
Join in the Feb. 26 Business Law Section Council meeting featuring Scott Foster, Esq., a founder of Valley Venture Mentors. Attend the Feb. 26 Access to Justice Section Council meeting. The Feb. 27 Municipal Tax Practice meeting will include a real estate update. The Taxation Law Section Council meets Feb. 28.
Business Law Section Council
meeting
Featuring Scott Foster Esq.,
a founder of Valley Venture Mentors
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 6-7:30 p.m.
MBA's Western Mass. office, 73 State St., Springfield
The next meeting of the Business Law Section Council is
scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The guest
speaker for this meeting will be Scott Foster, a partner at
Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas LLP, who is also a founder of
Valley Venture Mentors. VVM, a nonprofit organization, offers
professional mentoring support to entrepreneurs. Foster will speak
about the personal and community benefits that have come from this
new endeavor and address ways in which business attorneys and other
business professionals, can organize to provide pro bono support to
emerging enterprises. All section members are invited to
attend.
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Access to Justice Section Council
meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 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. 26 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. All section
members are invited to attend.
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Municipal Tax Practice Group
Real estate
update
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 5-7 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The next meeting of the Municipal Tax Practice Group is
scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. The guest
speakers for this program are Donald P. Bouchard, senior vice
president of Lincoln Property Company and Emmet T. Logue, president
of Hunneman Appraisal and Consulting Company. Bouchard and Logue
are two prominent members of the Massachusetts real estate
appraisal community and will discuss the current real estate market
conditions with regard to valuation, appraisals and
marketability/feasibility for industrial and commercial/retail
buildings, vacant land and other special purpose properties. Both
Bouchard and Logue have testified extensively at the Appellate Tax
Board. All section members are invited to attend.
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Taxation Law Section Council
meeting
Thursday, Feb. 28, 5-6:30
p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The next meeting of the Taxation Law Section Council is
scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. All section
members are invited to attend.