COMING IN THE DECEMBER BAR BULLETIN
Board of Governors Approves Governance Compromise
2012 Legislative Preview
MSBA Approves New Member Discount For Payroll Software
Top Tech Gifts for the Holidays
And more!
And if you missed the November Bar Bulletin...
MSBA WORKS TO ENHANCE TIES WITH LOCAL, SPECIALTY BAR ASSOCIATIONS
Underscoring its commitment to promoting unity throughout the state’s legal profession, the MSBA is expanding its existing stable of programs and services designed to foster strong ties between the Association and local and specialty bars across the state. Read the complete article.
MSBA STAYS CURRENT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
Recognizing both the proliferation of its members on social media networks like Facebook and Twitter, as well as the attendant demand for news and other information as it happens, the MSBA has established a presence on various platforms to keep its members apprised of up-to-the-minute news affecting the Association as well as the state’s entire legal community. Read the complete article.
Read the entire November Bar Bulletin. The Bar Bulletin is published on the 15th of each month, with the deadline for any given issue being the 20th of the preceding month. Send your news, announcements and inquiries to Bryan Nichols.
VERIZON EMAIL USERS
The MSBA email discussion list manager is reporting that list messages are having difficulty reaching Verizon.net users. We have contacted Verizon and reported the problem and hope to have it resolved soon.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Henry E. Dugan, Jr.
MSBA President
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Dead as a Doornail
“Marley was dead: to begin with”.
Thus began the exposition of Dickens’ theorem that you could learn a lot from a dead man. On one level virtually everything we know we have learned from dead men. Still, for certain, there is nothing quite like death to make one focus on what it means to be alive.
Not unlike Scrooge perhaps we would all do well as we approach the new year to step back from our work-a-day world – the world we really do have “too much with us” – and contemplate our own ghosts of past, present and future.
What in our past do we remember most fondly? What have we done in our lives that we are most proud of accomplishing? Are there some ideals in our contemplation of those accomplishments that may have slipped away, or at least slipped down several notches, because of our daily burdens? Why did we choose the vocation of law? What were we intending to accomplish with our lives in the practice of law? Where did the rest of mankind fit in to our goals – were they simply potential sources of income for our own material self aggrandizement or did we intend to help others, to perhaps do good while doing well? Did we recognize that our intelligence was a gift that we did nothing to earn and that we may have had educational or social opportunities and simply at times dumb luck that carried us forward? Our ghost of years past is punctuated by many question marks but it all boils down to basically one question mark – What was our philosophy of life in law? We always had one but did we ever stop to formulate it? Or did we simply pragmatically and non-reflectively carry on one day at a time?
The ghost of our present lawyer year faces us with the obligation of contemplating how we measure up to that past that we just thought about. Are we happier now in our lawyer life? Are we and our immediate world better off now because of our legal life? Really stop and think for a minute about YOUR loved ones – spouses, children, parents, brothers and sisters. Have you balanced your legal life in such a way as to be all that you really want to be in their lives? How about friends and colleagues – are those relationships reflective of what you want your philosophy of Life in Law to be? And then there is all of the communities of which YOU are a part – are they better off because of your existence? Is there a large lacunae in your universe composed of faceless throngs of those less fortunate – physically, psychologically, intellectually, educationally, socially, morally and materially – where you the lawyer could make a difference be it ever so slight? Every lawyer is an army of one in our constitutional society and every great step forward is accomplished by one lawyer one case at a time.
Time – if only we have enough time – but lo our future ghost of years, year, month, day, hour, minute, second approacheth. If the spectre of non-being were not enough, the frightening visage of a life’s opportunities wasted should weigh more heavily than Marley’s chains. If the business of man is mankind, what is the role of the lawyer within that business? Will the meaning of our life dry up with the tears shed at our funeral and dissipate with the disposal of our accoutrements to those who never knew us at some anonymous auction? Yes, the ghost of the future, our future, our ultimate future, is certainly the most dread inspiring of all. When you see your name, your date of birth and your date of death inscribed in bronze or marble and know that whatever may or may not be after death, the accomplishments or lack thereof of your life is FINAL – dead as a doornail.
But AWAKEN, you are still alive and you can still make a difference in the lives of other people – any other people – your wife, husband, children, mother, father, sister or brother to begin with. How about true friends – have you been there whenever they needed you? What great potential for good exists within our many communities whether civil, religious, scholastic, social or professional. As lawyers we have organizational and communication skills that are needed everywhere. May I suggest that on a collegial level you become more acutely engaged with your fellow lawyers in bar association activities. You will be happier and more fulfilled in the practice of law if you are as so many studies have suggested.
Of course you could directly employ your legal skills volunteering to represent some of that “faceless throng” of mankind that cries out for understaffed and over faced pro-bono services. The Bar offers not only many opportunities to connect you with such needy members of our society, but offers as well training in performing these services in legal fields presently beyond your ken. If fear of not performing such pro bono services adequately or appropriately still concerns you, giving financial support so that others can do so is a wonderful way for any lawyer to contribute to the business of mankind.
Finally, let it be said of you from the dawn of this day forward that you became “as good a friend, as good a lawyer, and as good a person, as the good old Maryland Line knew, or any other good old city, state or country in the good old world.”
YOUR OPINION COUNTS
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LEARN IN 60 MINUTES?
Since October 12, there have been six free Wednesday Webinars which have been on a variety of practice management and technology topics. The sessions, from noon – 1:00 PM, have thus far been put on by some MSBA endorsed vendors.
Our goal is to continue with vendors but also with MSBA staff and members on whatever topics our members would like to hear. In an effort to give members what they want to hear, please let us know what topics you would like to hear presented. Also, if you would like to volunteer to do a webinar, please forward your name and topic. Send all suggestions to Pat Yevics.
PLEASE NOTE: These are only for practice management and law office management technology. They are NOT for legal specific topics which are done either by our sections or CLE Department.
Register today!
MSBA EVENTS
Saturday, February 18, 2012, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Conference Center, Sheppard Pratt, 6501 North Charles Street, Baltimore MD
Flyer - Registration
MSBA ANNUAL MEETING
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Mark your Calendar Now!
2012 ANNUAL MEETING
Wednesday, June 13th - Saturday, June 16th
Ocean City, Maryland
Information for the Headquarters Hotel and several overflow hotels and condos will be available beginning Friday, January 13, 2012
COURT NEWS
COURT HOLIDAYS FOR REMAINDER OF 2011 AND 2012
Dates for 2012 Maryland Court holidays are now available on line. For the 2011 holidays, please note that Court Offices will be closed on Friday, December 23, Monday, December 26, Friday December 30 and Monday, January 2, 2012.
36TH ANNUAL ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMISSION REPORT AVAILABLE
The 36th Annual Report of the Attorney Grievance Commission, July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011, is now available online.
ONLINE DONATIONS TO LEGAL SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE PRO BONO & IOLTA REPORTING PROCESS
In January 2012, for the first time, lawyers licensed in the state will have the option of donating to a legal services program online as they complete their required Lawyer Pro Bono Legal Service & IOLTA Compliance Reports. Rule 6.1 on Pro Bono Publico Legal Service provides that a lawyer also may discharge the professional responsibility set forth in this Rule by contributing financial support to organizations providing legal services to persons of limited means.
All Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) funded programs, as well as MLSC, qualify. A list of programs is included in the packets that will be mailed in January as well as on the reporting page allowing for online donations. Pledges will also be tracked so they can be included in the next cycle of the reporting process.
JUDGE BARRY G. WILLIAMS TO HEAD BALTIMORE CIRCUIT COURT’S CRIMINAL DIVISION
Judge Marcella A. Holland, administrative judge for the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, has announced the appointment of Associate Judge Barry G. Williams to head the court’s Criminal Division, effective January 2, 2012.
More Court Information
LEGAL NEWS
CONGRATULATIONS TO MLSC AWARD WINNERS
On Monday, December 5, 2011, the Maryland Legal Services Corporation honored its 2011 Award winners. The MSBA congratulates all the awardees and the wonderful work they do. We are especially proud of recently-retired MSBA Director of Communications, Janet Stidman Eveleth who received an Award of Special Recognition for her journalistic excellence in her coverage of legal services issues during her 24-year tenure.
In addition to Janet, the following received awards:
Arthur W. Machen, Jr. Award : M. Natalie McSherry of Kramon and Graham PA, and Mitchell Y. Mirviss of Venable LLP
Benjamin L. Cardin Distinguished Service Award : Debra Gardner, legal director of the Public Justice Center
William L. Marbury Outstanding Advocate Award: Michelle L. Swift: pro bono program manager at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service.
Herbert S. Garten Public Citizen Award: Maryland People’s Law Library, which has been maintained by the Maryland State Law Library since 2007.
More Award Details
MSBA CLE EVENTS
We had a robust CLE program calendar throughout 2011, and the MSBA CLE Department will continue serving our sections wishing to present programs for the benefit of their members. If you missed any of our mostly sold out 2011 programs through November, you can catch many of them during our “2012 Winter CLE Film Festival” in January. Many thanks to the Family Law Section and the Litigation Section for our sold out December programs “Divorce Tax Workshop” and “Deposition Practice & Procedure.”
Keep an eye on the MSBA website www.msba.org for upcoming 2012 live programs such as Hot Tips in Family Law, 40 Hour Mediation Training, an all new series from Chuck Borek in April “Accounting and Finance Boot Camp for Lawyers”, the Business Law Section’s annual “Business Law Institute”, “Practical Approaches to Guardianship”, and, of course, Hot Topics in Elder Law.
Happy Holidays! Thank you again for your continued support and, of course, thank you to our fine volunteer faculty that make the exceptional CLE programs offered by this office possible.
2012 WINTER FILM FESTIVAL
2011 Family Practice Update Webcast (Rebroadcast)
Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
3 CLE Credits
How to Settle Cases With Insurance Companies Webcast (Rebroadcast)
From the 2010 Maryland State Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Conference
Thursday, January 5, 2012, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
1 CLE Credit
Proof of Injury in Low Impact Accidents (Rebroadcast)
From the 2010 Maryland State Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Conference
Friday, January 6, 2012, 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
1 CLE Credit
Representing Children in the Juvenile Court Webcast (Rebroadcast)
Tuesday, January 10, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Handling Drinking and Driving Cases in Maryland Webcast (Rebroadcast)
Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Ethics and Professionalism for the Maryland Lawyer Webcast (Rebroadcast)
Thursday, January 12, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Preparation and Trial of a Personal Injury Case Webcast (Rebroadcast)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The Nuts and Bolts of Social Security Disability Law Webcast (Rebroadcast)
Thursday, January 19, 2012, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Registration opening soon for:
January 3, 2012:
Webcast “Contesting and Defending Wills, Revocable Trusts and Intervivo Transfers”
February 2, 2012:
Webcast “Fiduciary Litigation in Maryland”
February 7, 2012:
Webcast “Using and Drafting Trusts”
April 10, 2012, 9: 00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.:
“Rights and Responsibilities of Being a Trustee” – Columbia, MD
April 18, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
“2012 Business Law Institute”- Columbia, MD
New Series-Accounting and Finance Boot Camp for Lawyers
April 4, 2012:“Accounting Principles for Lawyers”
April 11, 2012: “Analyzing Financial of Public Companies: What Every Lawyer Should Know”
April 18, 2012: “A Lawyer’s Guide to Financial Instruments”
LIVE PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Divorce Tax Workshop
Thursday, December 8, 2011 – Columbia, MD
Details
Deposition Practice & Procedure
December 15-16, 2011, 8:00am-5:30pm,
University of Baltimore- Thumel Business Center
11 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202
Details
PRO BONO RESOURCE CENTER OF MARYLAND, INC.
PRO BONO ATTORNEY TRAINING PROGRAMS
Training programs are offered at no cost or a reduced fee in exchange for a pro bono commitment in the topical area. Once an attorney takes a free or reduced fee training course, PBRC refers the attorney to a Maryland pro bono legal referral program for fulfillment of the pro bono commitment.
More information/registration or contact Kiah Elmore or (410) 837-9379; (800) 396-1274.
For pro bono training programs and volunteer service opportunities, join PBRC’s E-Bulletin
MSBA CLE COURSES
The MSBA and PBRC are offering free and discounted slots for a selection of MSBA CLE courses. Volunteer attorneys are eligible for one of three (3) free slots in exchange for accepting a pro bono case referral from a recognized pro bono legal services program. Staff legal services attorneys may register for one of three (3) discounted slots offered at 50% off the regular course cost. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Listing of eligible courses and registration.
ON-LINE TRAINING
PBRC also offers free and reduced fee on-line trainings that can be viewed at a time and place convenient for attorneys. A wide variety of topics are covered including foreclosure prevention, consumer bankruptcy, criminal records expungement, veterans’ disability benefits, immigration and special education.
UPCOMING LIVE TRAINING CLASSES
GENDER-BASED ASYLUM LAW
Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Miles & Stockbridge, P.C., 10 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
Sponsored by Tahirih Justice Center and Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland
SECTION AND COMMITTEE NEWS
SECTIONS GEARING UP FOR 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Every year each Section appoints one person to be its Legislative Liaison and during the Legislative Session that one person will receive a weekly email profile of proposed legislation relevant to the Section. The liaison is responsible for distributing the email to the Section Council for discussion. The Maryland Legislative Session begins January 11, 2012.
The Section may take a position to monitor, support or oppose a particular bill after it has communicated its position to Richard Montgomery, Director of Legislative Relations, or Carol Tuohey, Legislative Assistant. It is vitally important that the MSBA have feedback from Sections on proposed legislation as the Sections are the experts in their subject areas.
If you want to keep up to date with legislation related to your practice area, it is critical that you join a section and communicate with your council members.
List of Sections and Section Chairs, or join a Section.
The application for the 2012-2013 Fellows Program will be available shortly on the Leadership Academy Website. Details about the program, the list of Fellows Alumni and past projects are also available on the Website.
The Leadership Academy is designed to nurture and develop talented young lawyers who have been identified from a competitive pool of applicants as having superior leadership potential. These potential leaders participate in a twelve month program where they attend targeted training programs, MSBA Events and Conferences, and develop and implement a Public Service Project. In return, the MSBA gains a diverse pool of qualified, trained and tested young lawyers who are prepared to immediately serve the MSBA on Committees and in Sections. This bar year the Leadership Academy celebrates its fifteenth anniversary, and as part of that celebration, we will highlight a few current Fellows and Fellows Graduates every month.
The Leadership Academy is designed to nurture and develop talented young lawyers who have been identified from a competitive pool of applicants as having superior leadership potential. These potential leaders participate in a twelve month program where they attend targeted training programs, MSBA Events and Conferences, and develop and implement a Public Service Project. In return, the MSBA gains a diverse pool of qualified, trained and tested young lawyers who are prepared to immediately serve the MSBA on Committees and in Sections. This bar year the Leadership Academy celebrates its fifteenth anniversary, and as part of that celebration, we will highlight a few current Fellows and Fellows Graduates every month.
We would like to congratulate and acknowledge those Leadership Academy Alumnae who are currently serving as a President of a local or specialty bar association, or as a Chair of a MSBA Committee or Section, as many Leadership Academy alumnae have done in the past.
Debra M. Davis, 1999-2000, President of the Prince George’s County Bar Association,
Eun Jeannie Cho, 2000-2001, Chair, MSBA Asian American Bar Committee
Adam Sean Cohen, 2000-2001, President of the Bar Association of Baltimore City
J. Wyndal Gordan,2000-2001, President of the Monumental City Bar Association,
Alice Chong, 2000-2001, President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Maryland, and Co-Chair of the MSBA Program Committee
Alison Leonard-Leach, 2001-2002 Chair of the MSBA Correctional Reform Section
John J. Murphy, III, 2002-2003 Co-Chair of the MSBA Planning Committee,
Rich Gibson and Chad Spenser, both 2005-2006, Co-Chairs, MSBA Membership Committee
Erek Barron,2005-2006, Chair of the MSBA Young Lawyers Section
Shannon McClellan,2006-2007, Co-Chair,MSBA Citizenship/Law Related Education Committee,
Tracey Steedman,2007-2008, Chair, MSBA Construction Law Section
If we have inadvertently missed anyone, please contact Lisa Hall Johnson so they can be acknowledged in future issues.
Next, as continued from the October Bar Brief, here are a few current Leadership Academy Fellows:
Makeba Gibbs
Makeba Gibbs was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received her B.A. from Eastern Michigan University and her JD from Widener University School of Law. Following law school she clerked in the DC Superior Court. She has worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Charles County Maryland for the past 6 years where she has tried numerous Circuit Court jury trials where charges have ranged from theft to assault, armed robbery, kidnapping, murder and various CDS crimes. In her leisure time she enjoys reading, writing and traveling.
Barbara C. Gilmore
Barbara Gilmore graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor of Arts in Government & Politics. She received her JD from the University of Maryland School of Law. She is currently associate attorney at Schlachman, Belsky & Weiner, P.A.'s Upper Marlboro, MD office where she focuses her practice on wills, personal injury, family law, and workers compensation. Prior to her current position, Ms. Gilmore practiced at a general practice law firm in southern Maryland.
Craig R. Haughton
Craig Haughton is a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law, summa cum laude, where he served as Business Editor of the University of Baltimore Law Review. Mr. Haughton received his undergraduate degree from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is an associate in the Commercial and Business Litigation Department at Tydings & Rosenberg LLP. Before joining Tydings & Rosenberg LLP, Mr. Haughton served as a law clerk to The Honorable Glenn T. Harrell, Jr. of the Court of Appeals of Maryland.
More information from the Leadership Academy Committee about our amazing Fellows and Fellows Graduates, and about our 15th Anniversary Celebration, is forthcoming.
SECTION AND COMMITTEE EVENTS
Webinar: Where in the World is Collaborative Practice? (and why should you care?)
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 12:00 noon
Details & Registration
2011-2012 One Bar|One Community Public Service Project
Again this year, the Young Lawyer Section is having its One Bar/One Community Public Service Project. You do not be a member of the section to participate. Give as much time, effort, donations as available. Below is the list of the projects. Those with additional flyers have links.
Further, the MSBA YLS has partnered with Be the Match National Bone Marrow Program. Throughout the year, we will schedule a registry drive; however, getting registered is as simple as requesting a kit online. Thousands of patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases depend on the Be the Match Registry to find a match to save their life. If you cannot make it to any other event for One Bar|One Community Program, please consider being a part of the National Marrow Donor Program.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Michael W. Siri or Gwendolyn Tate.
Special Needs Law Study Group
Thursday, December 15, 2011, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
The Meeting House (The Quad Room) Oakland Mills, MD
Webinar:"The American Invents Act--the new patent law"
Thursday, December 15, 2011, 12 noon - 1:00 pm
Details | Registration
Program & Luncheon
Wednesday, December 21, 2011, 12 noon
Whole Conference Room, MSBA Headquarters
Guest speaker will be Douglas F. Gansler, Attorney General of Maryland
Details
Meeting: Guest Speaker, Therese Goldsmith, Esq., Commissioner, Maryland Insurance Administration
January 9, 2012, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Ober Kaler, 100 Light Street, Baltimore
Light dinner will be provided.
Outreach Program
Monday, January 9, 2011, 6:00 pm
Sheraton Columbia Hotel, 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, MD 21044
Details
What Does a Construction Attorney Need to Know About MOSH and OSHA Inspections: Is this Really Just a MOSH Pit?
Thursday, January 19, 2011
Details to follow. Contact David Gilliss or Nicole Lentini with any questions.
If You Have Employees, You Have Personnel Problems-What Solo and Small Firms Need to Know
Friday, January 27, 2012, noon- 1:00 PM
Free for Solo Section Members; $25.00 for non-Solo Section Members
Presenter: Adele Abrams, Law Offices of Adele L. Abrams, P.C.
Register
Escrow Account Management and Pitfalls to Avoid
Thursday, February 2, 2011, 6:00 p.m.
Sheraton Columbia Hotel, 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, MD 21044
Details
SAVE THE DATE...
MSBA's 21st Annual Charity Event
Friday, March 23, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Pier 5 Hotel, Baltimore, MD
Charity will be Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation which serves critically ill children and their families.
Contact Julia Carolan for more details
Spring Dinner
Monday, April 16, 2012
Loews Hotel Annapolis, MD
More Details: TBA
MSBA OR OTHER LEGAL RELATED EVENTS
Domestic Violence Law Training
December 9, 2011, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Commerce Park Drive Annapolis 21401
Details/Registration
Open House! Holiday cheer
Thursday, December 15, 2011 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
67 Franklin Street, Annapolis, MD
RSVPs appreciated to Terri Eckert
Details
Women’s Caucus Seminar 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011 9:00 am – 12:45 pm
Moot Court Room, University of Baltimore School of Law Baltimore, MD
Details
4th Annual Clarity International Conference
May 21-23, 2012
The National Press Club Washington DC, US
The conference will focus on learning from, and encouraging, activity responding to the US Plain Writing Act.
Clarity International is an association promoting plain legal language
Co-sponsored with Center for Plain Language and the American Society of Legal Writers
More Details Flyer
Public Interest Career Fair
Thursday, February 16, 2011 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center - Atrium 11 W. Mt. Royal Ave. Baltimore, MD 21201
Details
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