The Massachusetts Bar Association’s Leadership Academy held its third session of the year on Monday, Feb. 5, in a hybrid meeting titled, Civility, Social Media and D.E.I. in the Courtroom, the Office and Communications with Counsel. The meeting offered the 2023-24 Leadership Academy Fellows an opportunity to hear important insights on these topics from leaders who work in both the public and private sectors.
The panelists included Hon. Joseph Hurley, a Massachusetts District Court judge; attorney Sumbul Siddiqui, who is a Cambridge city councilor and former mayor of Cambridge; attorney Eileen Garrity, who is head of claims for One80 Intermediaries; and attorney Deepa Desai from Fisher & Phillips LLP. MBA Vice President Michael H. Hayden of Morrison Mahoney LLP served as moderator.
Leadership Academy Fellows learned about topics, such as the “Importance of Civility in Litigation,” where the panelists offered insights about civility in the courtroom, in the office and in communications between counsel. They also heard a discussion on the “Interplay Between Social Media and Work/Life Balance,” where the panelists examined how social media has impacted work/life balance in the private and public sectors, and also at law firms, since the pandemic. The third and final topic of the session looked at “How Can Leaders Encourage DEI,” at law firms, in the courthouse and in the public and private sectors.
Following the discussion, the Fellows had an opportunity to continue conversations on these important topics with panelists.
The MBA's Leadership Academy was developed to better prepare young attorneys to assume leadership roles at the bar, in their firms or organizations, and in government. Attorneys chosen to participate as Fellows have three-10 years of legal experience as a member of the bar and are active members of the MBA in good standing.