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Section Spotlight

Issue April 2010

Individual Rights & Responsibilities open meeting
Guantanamo Bay: Opened - Closed, Why and When
Thursday, April 8, 4-6 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

This open meeting presentation will explore the legal issues relating to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as well as legal, ethical and political principles relating to detainees. A panel will explore whether and to what extent Guantanamo Bay should be opened or closed. The faculty will suggest what role citizens and legal practitioners can have as to the legal and political process.

Panelists include: Frank A. Smith III, program co-chair, Law Office of Frank A. Smith III, Boston; Jonathan Mannina, program co-chair, Legal Assistance Corp. of Central Mass., Worcester; Fausto Da Rocha, executive director, Brazilian Immigrant Center, Allston; Kevin Powers, Rodgers Powers & Schwartz LLP, Boston; and Shiva Karimi, Law Office of Shiva Karimi, Boston.

Topics include:

  • Representation of detainees;
  • The legal, ethical and political issues involved in representation of detainees;
  • The role of citizens and lawyers as to Guantanamo Bay; and
  • Selected syllabus of Supreme Court decisions regarding detainees.

How to Represent Claimants (employees) at Unemployment Insurance Hearings
Thursday, April 8, noon-3 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

The Labor & Employment, Civil Litigation and Access to Justice sections and Young Lawyers Division are proud to co-sponsor this training seminar, which will be provided by Greater Boston Legal Service's Employment Law Unit and the Volunteer Lawyers Project.

The program is free of charge. Given the current economic climate, there is an enormous need for claimant representation at unemployment hearings. Legal Services, however, cannot not meet the demand for representation, so, all attendees are strongly encouraged to become a member of the Volunteer Lawyers Project pro bono panel and agree to take one pro bono unemployment insurance case over the next year. All volunteers must be licensed to practice law in Massachusetts.

Training topics will include:

  • How to represent a claimant at an unemployment hearing;
  • Basic procedures for initial unemployment determinations; and
  • Practical information about conducting direct and cross examination and witness preparation.

Juvenile & Child Welfare Section Council open meeting
Featuring Chief Justice Michael F. Edgerton
Wednesday, April 14, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston

The Juvenile & Child Welfare Section Council will host an open meeting on Wednesday, April 14, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the MBA, 20 West St., Boston. The guest speaker will be Chief Justice Michael F. Edgerton of the Juvenile Court Department. All section members are invited to attend.