THE ADVOCATE Newsletter of The Baltimore County Bar Association VOLUME XXIX, NO. 8
April/May 2020
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Hon. Michael W. Siri It’s Tuesday, I am sitting in my backyard being warmed by a firepit, as 10 pounds of pork belly sit in my smoker cooking nice and slowly at 225 degree and I would rather be at work. COVID-19’s effect on the personal and professional lives can be felt throughout our county, our state, our country and the world. While the Baltimore County Bar Association does not have the ability to assist on a national or international level, our mission has and continues to be to serve our members and our community on a local level.
We have been working to keep our members updated with twice weekly emails with information affecting the practice of law in Baltimore County and Maryland. We have been providing virtual CLEs with topics covering substantive law to self-care during these difficult times. We have organized social events, such as online BINGO, with the sole purpose of creating a little light during these difficult times.
Hopefully, these efforts have assisted you and your practice. As we look forward to the eventual reopening of the courts, the BCBA intends to serve as a conduit of information. The conduit shall include the exchange of information and ideas between our members our bench. The Circuit and District Courts for Baltimore County continue to prepare for the eventual reopening of the courts with the help of the BCBA. A necessary component in preparing for the reopening of the courts include input from practitioners. The BCBA and its members needs to assist in identifying potential pitfalls and issues which affect the operation of the courts, the lawyers before the courts, and the parties litigating in court. The concerns should be sent via email to CourtConcerns@BCBA.org and, upon receipt, will be forwarded to the District and Circuit Courts for consideration.
Inside This Edition Annual Charity Bench/Bar Update Black Tie Banquet Bollinger Portrait Unveil. Calendar of Events Civil Law Update County Council Update Court Notices Family Law Kahl Portrait Unveiling Law Library Member Ads Member News MVLS Professionalism
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Hon. Michael W. Siri
The Baltimore County Bar Association is here to serve you – our members. Let us know what else we can do to help you during this time. May you remain healthy and safe until we are able to see each other in person. Judge Michael W. Siri BCBA President, 2019-2020
THE BALTIMORE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S STATEMENT ON RACIAL INEQUALITY Over the past few weeks, our nation has been confronted with issues of racial bias and police brutality that have existed well before the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Travon Martin, or Freddie Gray. Now more than ever, we are being confronted with several truths that must be acknowledged in order for us to move forward. Racial bias and systemic racism continue and these biases undermine the public’s confidence in our judicial system. The Baltimore County Bar Association stands for justice and fairness for all people in our community. In order for our justice system to work, everyone must be treated fairly and all laws must be applied equitably. To achieve racial equality, we must work to end systemic racism. The legal community has a long history of fighting for civil rights and bringing about positive change; but we must not forget that the legal system also has been used as a tool of oppression. We must ensure that our members know that the Baltimore County Bar Association stands along with them and are committed to implementing necessary change. The Baltimore County Bar Association believes that Black Lives Matter. We stand in solidarity with all members, coworkers, and clients, including persons of color. We stand in solidarity with all who demand justice and an end to police violence. We stand against racist rhetoric and actions. We also support those individuals gathering across the country in peaceful protests. As individuals throughout America gather in a unified voice to seek THE ADVOCATE
systematic change to eliminate racism, promote equality, and end the use of undue and excessive force by law enforcement officers, the BCBA supports those individuals exercising their First Amendment rights. We are vehemently opposed to the use of force to disperse peaceful protesters. We acknowledge the overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers, State’s Attorneys, and judicial officers who are performing their jobs with honor, fairness, and integrity. Now is the time for us to work together with those allies to ensure accountability across the board. And, we insist that in every instance, the rule of law prevails. The Baltimore County Bar Association needs your help as we confront these issues. Earlier this year, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee was formed to promote diversity amongst our members, within our community, and throughout our profession. This is one step BCBA has taken towards the commitment for change. As lawyers, we are uniquely suited to utilize our skills and expertise towards furthering justice and equality. We do this by providing legal services to individuals in need and our pro bono committee assists with coordination of pro bono opportunities. We urge anyone interested in serving on either committee to contact Rachel Ruocco at rruocco@bcba.org. The Baltimore County Bar Association will continue to work for justice and equality for all of people. We welcome your assistance in this noble and necessary effort.
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C ALENDAR
2019-20 Officers President Pres-Elect Secretary Treasurer
Hon. Michael W. Siri Jay D. Miller Stanford G. Gann, Jr. John G. Turnbull III
Executive Council Lisa Y. Settles Sondra M. Douglas Richard Grason VI Robert K. Erdman, Jr. Tyler J. Nowicki Michelle D. Siri Rebecca A. Fleming, Immediate Past President
Adam E. Konstas Committee Chair
Michael S. Barranco Committee Vice -Chair
Contributing Writers Fred Allentoff William Alcarese Michael Barranco Tracee Fruman Ari Kodeck Adam Konstas Snheal Massey Mary Sanders
The Advocate is a monthly publication of the Baltimore County Bar Association informing its members about current events relating to law. Articles do not necessarily reflect the official position of the BCBA and publication does not constitute an endorsement of views expressed.
E VENTS
April 2020 20. Working Remotely in the Law & Video Communications During the Time of of COVID -19 & Beyond, 11am, Zoom 24. Expungements: What You Need to Know, 12pm, Zoom 30. Emotional Resilience During the COVID -19 Pandemic, 1pm, Zoom 30. Virtual Bingo, 8pm, Zoom
Whitney E. Wilder, Young Lawyers’ Chair
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OF
May 2020 1. 6. 6.
11. 13. 19.
21. 21. 26. 28. 28. 28.
Virtual Law Day Historical Committee Meeting, 5pm, Zoom Professionalism Committee, Virtual Wellness Series: Wellness Wednesday with Wendy, 11am, Zoom Professionalism Committee, Virtual Wellness Series: Managing Children at Home While Working Remotely, 11am, Zoom Circuit Court Townhall Webinar, 4pm, Zoom Professionalism Committee, Virtual Wellness Series: Stress Eating: Strategies to Help Put You in the Driver’s Seat When Life Throws You Off Course, 10am, Zoom Professionalism Committee, Virtual Wellness Series: Avoid the Slouch & Slump; Work from Home Ergonomics, 11am, Zoom District Court Townhall Webinar, 4pm, Zoom Professionalism Committee, Virtual Wellness Series: Flow & Strengthen Yoga, 3pm, Zoom Professionalism Committee, Virtual Wellness Series: Stretching for Stress Relief, 11am, Zoom COVID-19: Assessing the Impact on Real Estate Values Webinar, 12pm, Zoom Virtual Bingo, 8pm, Zoom
The contents of advertisements are the responsibility of the advertisers and are not recommendations or endorsements by The Advocate. Publication deadline: 10th of the month preceding publication.
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COURT NOTICES
The Circuit and District Court of Baltimore County continue to operate with essential personnel, including judges. Click on the following link to Circuit Court for guidance on the current operations of the Circuit Court, including criminal, family, juvenile, and guardianship matters. Click on the following link for guidance on the current operation of the District Court, including bail reviews, bench warrants, body attachments, emergency evaluation petitions, and quarantine and isolation violations. Additionally, emergency matters will be reviewed by the District Court to determine whether the matter must be heard in person, by remote electronic participation, be scheduled after the emergency period ends, or may be decided without a hearing: protective orders, criminal competency, contempt hearings related to peace or protective orders, matters involving locally incarcerated defendants, and motions regarding ERPOs, protective orders, and peace orders. Information on the operations of other jurisdictions in Maryland can be found here. Approximately 15 clerks in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County’s Clerk’s Office are performing their duties remotely, leaving approximately 25 clerks working daily at the courthouse. As a result, some telephone calls are not immediately addressed because of the decrease of onsite clerks. To better respond to inquiries from attorneys and parties, the Circuit Court for Baltimore County has established group email addresses for specific departments, including
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Assignment, Civil, Criminal, Family, Juvenile, and Records. A clerk will be devoted to monitoring all incoming emails to reply and provide any necessary assistance. The group email addresses are as follows: Assignment ccbaltcoclerkassignment@mdcourts.gov
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Civil – ccbaltcoclerkcivil@mdcourts.gov Criminal – ccbaltcoclerkcriminal@mdcourts.gov Family – ccbaltcoclerkfamily@mdcourts.gov Juvenile – ccbaltcoclerkjuvenile@mdcourts.gov
Records – ccbaltcoclerkrecords@mdcourts.gov The first-floor front lobby of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County contains two drop boxes – one for Land Records and one for the Clerk’s office. The drop boxes are checked twice a day for delivery to the appropriate department. Finally, a public access computer from Land Records may be accessed at the corner Information Desk on the first-floor front lobby of the Circuit Courthouse. Printing of any documents requires a HECON key. If an individual does not have an issued HECON key but wishes to print documents, contact the Land Records Copy Center at 410-8872657 to obtain a temporary HECON key. The individual must surrender their Driver’s License until payment for the documents have been made.
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A link to the entire Start-Up Plan for the Circuit Court for Baltimore County Following COVID-19 Emergency Closure can be found by visiting www.bcba.org and clicking on COVID-19 Updates.
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BENCH/BAR UPDATE By Fred Allentoff
Now, it should come as no surprise that much of the meeting was devoted to a discussion of logistics and plans then being contemplated to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 virus upon the administration of justice. Leaving that meeting, no one could have foreseen that within twenty-four hours, contemplation had turned to action and life as we knew it was about to change dramatically. One can only hope that by the time this article appears, the threat of contagion has passed; that those who were infected have fully recovered, that the loss of life was minimized; and that shelves are once again filled with toilet paper and paper towels. Consequently, there is little benefit or need to enunciate plans which were trumped (no pun intended) by the gravity of the situation and the consequent emergent action by our elected officials and the judiciary. As such, I will turn to other matters. Judge Kathleen O. Cox announced that the application process for the Family Magistrate position resulting from Magistrate Gilbert’s approaching retirement has begun. It was her hope that interviews would soon be underway to enable a start date in May. Meanwhile, although approved for additional judicial positions on the Circuit Court, funding for those positions have not been approved. As such, the Court will remain at 20 judges for now. She also reported that there is a backlog of foreclosures but she is hoping for the approval of two full time positions to assist with this. The Court is also looking to increase self-help staffing, which requires both additional financial assistance as well as a place to house the staff. As the bar library is outdated and under-utilized there is some thought being given to use of that space. Following up on concerns voiced by our member, Harry Chase, Esquire, Judge Dorothy Wilson and District Court Administrator Maria Fields informed the committee that efforts are underway to resolve issues of handicap accessibility posed by the doors in the new Catonsville courthouse. Adjustments are being made and should be resolved shortly.
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Julie Ensor, Clerk of the Court, advised that her staff in the clerk’s office have volunteered for training on updates to MDEC which will soon be released. In response to concerns regarding the revised visiting hours for attorneys at the Baltimore County Detention Center, Gregory Gaskins of the Baltimore County Office of Law reported that the hours were adjusted after review of the professional visiting log and in consideration of safety, security and operational matters. However, should the new hours pose a problem for attorneys seeking to visit, then special arrangements may be made upon attorney request by contacting Major Robert Alford (410-412 -3405), the Shift Captain’s Office (410-512-3235 or 3211) or the Shift Supervisor (410-512-3232,3229 or 3205).
Family Magistrate Wendy Schenker noted that the recently adopted Rule relating to parenting plans did not mention whether it was applicable to cases pending at that time or only to cases filed subsequent thereto. As such, it has been determined that Rule 9204.2 and the Joint Statement of the Parties Concerning Decision-Making Authority and Parenting Time shall apply to ALL cases involving these child related issues, regardless of when the case was filed. She also announced that in honor of Magistrate Gilbert and his retirement, a Happy Hour has been scheduled for April 28th from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the Charles Village Pub. Debra Schubert reported that Harford County recently had its first bench/bar meeting where discussion was had regarding Circuit Court assignments as cases are not going as hoped. Additionally, in some cases exhibits are not being filed and/or orders are not being included. She also reported that attorney appearances are being stricken too quickly and in some cases, prior to the submission of QDRO’s or similar orders in domestic actions. She noted that there are inconsistencies among the Magistrates in how hearings are being conducted. Finally, postponement requests in
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BENCH/BAR UPDATE By Fred Allentoff
criminal cases are being denied unless the request states that there was an actual discussion with the Assistant States Attorney. Although other programs and events have been scheduled, given the reality of the present situation and the strong likelihood that they will not proceed as planned, I urge all of you to check the BCBA calendar of events. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled to be held on April 9, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. in the Judicial Conference Room.
2020-2021 COMMITTEE REGISTRATION AND COMMITTEE PLANNING MEETINGS President-Elect Jay D. Miller and the officers and atlarge members of the BCBA Executive Council would like to thank you for being a member of the Baltimore County Bar Association. In order to serve you better, we want to hear from you. During the months of June, July and August most of our committees will hold planning meetings where they will be discussing their committees’ goals and programming for the 2020-21 Bar Year. Due to the court closures and social distancing measures being observed throughout the summer, all committee planning meetings will be held via Zoom.
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Please check our online calendar frequently as new planning meeting dates are being added daily. If you are unsure of which committees you are currently on or if you would like to be added to one or more committees, contact Rachel Fuller at rfuller@bcba.org. If you are new to a committee and plan on attending a planning meeting, please reach out to the committee chair to let them know. You can read committee descriptions on pages 24 and 25 and you will find list of the 2020-21 committee chairs on pages 22 and 23.
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BAR WARS
By Adam E. Konstas On Thursday, February 27, 2020, the BCBA membership packed what was formerly known as the Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille in Towson, now known as the Backyard Uptown, for the second annual Bar Wars Trivia Night. The second installment of this fun event proved to be a great success and drew a record crowd of BCBA members and friends. Showtime Trivia and BCBA attorney member Elizabeth Herndon emceed the event, which featured 18 teams and over 170 players who were treated to a challenging array of trivia questions that could stump even the most seasoned members of the bar. Although each team gave a valiant effort, and many laughs were shared by all, the Public Defenders’ Team “Get Out of Jail Free” took home the 1st place prize. The State’s Attorney’s Team “Just Us” took second place, and “Royston Rockers” from Roytston, Mueller, McLean and Reid took third. The huge turnout also translated into a tremendous fundraising success, as all entrance fees and 20% of all food and beverage sales were donated to the Y of Central Maryland. The BCBA thanks all of the teams and participants for their enthusiasm and wit, The Backyard Uptown for being such great hosts, and Showtime Trivia for donating their quizzing expertise. Cheers!
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98TH ANNUAL BLACK TIE BANQUET
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JUDICIAL PORTRAIT UNVEILING CEREMONY FOR JUDGE LAWRENCE R. DANIELS By Michael Barranco
On January 17, 2020 the judicial portrait of the Honorable Lawrence R. Daniels was unveiled in a ceremony held in Courtroom 2 of the Baltimore County Circuit Court. Presiding over the ceremony was the Honorable Kathleen Cox, Administrative Judge of the Baltimore County Circuit Court. On behalf of the Judicial Portrait Committee, Harry L. Chase welcomed those assembled for the unveiling. The Hon. John F. Fader, II spoke of his good fortune of sharing a chambers suite with Judge Daniels for a number of years. Judge Fader noted that in addition to Judge Daniels’ service as a judge, he served on many committees of the Maryland Judiciary and served in many capacities in the MSBA and BCBA, including serving as President of the BCBA for the 1997-98 term. Judge Daniels was also active in the Justinian Society. Judge Fader also noted that Judge Daniels served in the Army JAG Corps in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. Judge Fader most fondly recalled he and Judge Daniels both serving in the cast of the Leonard Jacobson Folies put on by the BCBA. The portrait was then unveiled by Judge Daniels and his wife of thirty-eight years, Beverly Anne Daniels. The portrait was painted by artist Christopher Toplyn, who happens to be Judge Daniels’ cousin. Judge Daniels’ has jokingly noted that he repeatedly urged the artist to give him more hair in the portrait. The portrait was fully funded by Judge Daniels’ family. A response from the bench was delivered by Judge Patrick Stringer. Judge Stringer spoke of “Larry’s THE ADVOCATE
Legacy” as a judge. Judge Stringer noted that trial lawyers uniformly recall that it was always (and remains) a pleasure to appear before Judge Daniels. He is known for being respectful, kind, considerate, patient and never irritable. Judge Stringer also commented on how Judge Daniels understood the importance of cases to the party litigants and attorneys, and noted that Judge Daniels had the courage to make tough decisions in difficult cases. From his own experience as a lawyer appearing before Judge Daniels, Judge Stringer found that Judge Daniels was always well prepared for the cases he was presiding over, and was well versed in the rules and the law. Judge Stringer noted, however, that Judge Daniels was always open minded and willing to be educated by the lawyers in the case before thoughtfully deliberating. Judge Stinger observed that Judge Daniels was “genuinely interested in what lawyers and litigants had to say.” Judge Stringer believes that Judge Daniels truly “felt blessed to be a judge.” Judge Stringer noted that Judge Daniels always kept a note on his bench that read “remember who put you here, and why.” Judge Stringer believes that Judge Daniels has always remembered that a higher authority put him on the bench and he understood he was a servant of the people. Judge Stringer noted that they both share an affinity for their alma mater, Johns Hopkins University. Both Judge Daniels and Judge Stringer played football for Hopkins, and although their years at Hopkins did not overlap, they shared many of the same coaches from whom they learned many good life lessons. Judge Daniels addressed those assembled and stated that he felt very humbled to have his portrait hung in the courtroom in which he presided for many years, along with the portraits of other judges from whom he had learned his craft. He expressed his gratitude to his family and former colleagues on the bench, and noted how much he still enjoys serving as a judge. Since “retiring” from the Circuit bench,
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JUDICIAL PORTRAIT UNVEILING FOR JUDGE LAWRENCE R. DANIELS By Michael Barranco
Judge Daniels has continued sit throughout the Maryland Courts with the motto “have gavel, will travel.” The ceremony was well attended by members of the bench and bar, including two of Judge Daniels’ former law clerks, The Honorable Rob Thompson, Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County and Richard Grason, VI. Following the ceremony, a reception was held at Carlo’s Italian Bistro. Judge Daniels was born in New Haven, Connecticut on August 27, 1947 and raised in West Haven, Connecticut, where he attended Notre Dame High School. His “Maryland life” began when he attended The Johns Hopkins University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969 (majoring in history). He attended the University of Connecticut School of Law and obtained his law degree (J.D.) in 1972. Judge Daniels served as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate for several years, including an active duty stint in Honolulu, Hawaii and later in the U.S. Army Reserves retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was admitted to Connecticut Bar in 1972, Hawaii Bar in 1974 and Maryland Bar in 1977. In 1979 he and Paul W. Grimm (now U.S. District Judge) opened the law firm of Daniels and Grimm. Judge Daniels later became partners with Stanley Hellman and Paul Redmond in Towson. Before being elevated to the Circuit Court, Judge Daniels served as an Associate Judge of the District Court of Maryland in Baltimore County from February 3, 1989 to December 20, 1993. He then served as an Associate Judge of the Baltimore County Circuit Court from December 21, 1993 to October 31, 2009. Judge Daniels and his wife have four daughters and “dote” on their three wonderful grandchildren. When not on the bench and spending time with his family, Judge Daniels practices akido (a Japanese martial art) and holds a black belt. THE ADVOCATE
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LAW DAY 2020 By Tracee Fruman
As soon as the Law Day Committee learned of this year’s theme, Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment at 100, it began to plan an event befitting the historical significance of the centennial anniversary of women’s right to vote. This year’s theme is meaningful not only because it expanded representative democracy, but because it paved the way for countless other constitutional movements that continue to this day. The original plans for Law Day included breakfast at the Valley Mansion and remarks from Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, Maryland’s first African American Speaker of the House of Delegates and first female Speaker. At the noon event, the planned keynote speaker was Linda Singh, Major General (Ret.) of the Maryland National Guard and the first African American Adjutant General of the Maryland Military Department and first female Adjutant General. Unfortunately, COVID-19 had other plans for Law Day. Not to be deterred, the committee persevered and presented the Baltimore County Bar Association’s first Virtual Law Day. The Law Day Committee, with the technical assistance of Rachel Ruocco and her daughter, Olivia, created a video to highlight those aspects of Law Day that we could still enjoy from a distance. BCBA President, the Honorable Michael W. Siri gave his opening remarks and shared the history of Law Day, which was established in 1958 by President Dwight. D. Eisenhower. Tracee Fruman, Chair of the Law Day Committee, announced the winners of the Law Day Award and the Judith P. Ritchey Award, which are typically presented at the THE ADVOCATE
noon event. This year, the Law Day Award recipient is the Honorable Kathleen Cox and the Judith P. Ritchey Award recipient is Mary Roby Sanders. We look forward to healthier times when we can present Judge Cox and Ms. Sander with their respective plaques to commemorate this honor. Ms. Fruman also announced the winners of the Law Day essay contest. Max Abubaker, a 9th-grader at Towson High School, was the first-place winner and he read his winning essay in the Law Day video. The secondand third-place winners, Cassidy Kahn and Reed Spaulding, are also 9th-graders at Towson High School. Also recognized in the video is the Park School of Baltimore’s Mock Trial team, which won 1st place for the Third Judicial Circuit. Congratulations to all of the deserving and distinguished award winners! Virtual Law Day also included a video message from Speaker Jones, who spoke of the advances that women have made in making their voices heard in Maryland state government, exemplifying how women have never lacked the ability to effect change, only the opportunity. Speaker Jones reminded everyone to vote in the upcoming election. The virtual Law Day video can be viewed on the BCBA’s YouTube Channel. You can find it by searching ’Baltimore County Bar Association Law Day 2020’. Thank you to the Law Day Committee, Rachel Ruocco, Judge Siri, Speaker Jones and everyone who contributed to make Virtual Law Day a success.
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REMAINING PROFESSIONAL DURING A PANDEMIC By Ari Kodeck
As a member of the Attorney Grievance Commission’s Peer Review Committee, this author keeps the rules of professional responsibility handy. If a mere four months ago, someone were to suggest that we shelter in place, have little to no contact and have limited access to the courts, most of us would laugh at the thought. Alas, here we are. This pandemic caused a monumental shift in how we conduct ourselves as attorneys and as citizens.
important emphasis on communication, the word appears within the rules approximately 41 times. Although that emphasis is directed towards an attorney communicating with a client, no less important is the communication between attorneys and the tribunal.
Paramount in the Rules of Professional Conduct (“RPC”), attorneys, as members of the legal profession, are “citizen[s] having special responsibility for the quality of justice.” (Rule 19300.1[1]). Despite the current situation, attorneys must practice civility, act compassionately and with an understanding that we are living in interesting and novel times.
During this pandemic, we hear phrases like “pay it forward” and social distancing. “Paying it forward” is a euphemism for karma and charity. Social distancing refers to physical distancing between groups of people. Now more than ever, we should practice paying it forward when communicating with opposing counsel. Be empathetic to the situation and constraints on the parties and attorneys as we work through the pandemic. Physical distancing does not require us to limit communication through various formats.
No less important, communication is the pillar of our profession. Whether the attorney litigates, negotiates or advocates, these tasks cannot be accomplished without communication. The RPC place such an
As we stand ready to ease restrictions and resume the “new normal,” it behooves the practitioner to remain empathetic and understanding as citizens with special responsibilities to the quality of justice.
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TIPS FOR TRANSITIONING YOUR LAW FIRM TO A REMOTE LOCATION By Snehal Massey & Mary R. Sanders
COVID-19 has thrust our profession, along with the entire world, into a tailspin, forcing us to advance our processes and technologies without giving us advance notice or an option. Fortunately as lawyers we are naturally adaptable, and we are lucky that the practice of law lends itself to easily function in a digital/remote workspace. In 2020 we are fortunate to have many options that are both user friendly and affordable to help us run our practices seamlessly, even during this constantly changing climate. Now that your team will be working remotely, it is important to be open and transparent with your team members. Clear communication has never been more important than at a time like this. That communication should include your expectations regarding work flow, as well as check-ins on the health and safety of your team members. During these uncertain times, your team will not only appreciate your transparency and honesty, it will be reassuring to them to be sure of something in a world of unknowns. Next establish clear policies for your staff and clients and communicate these policies to make sure everyone is on the same page. Let the public know you are still open for business and available to meet their needs. Your current and prospective clients will not be concerned where you are working as long as you remain available and continue to provide the same level of service they expect from you. Virtual meetings If you establish that your physical office is closed to clients, how will you meet with clients and prospective clients while complying with THE ADVOCATE
the CDC requirements to maintain appropriate social distance? Fortunately, there are an array of video conferencing options to help you continue to meet with your clients and team virtually. Platforms such as Zoom, GoToMeeting, Skype, Google Hangouts, are just a few options that enable you have face-toface meetings virtually and affordably. An important feature of these platforms is that many of them allow you meet with multiple people – you can conduct regular team meetings, have four-way meetings, mediations, and now even court appearances virtually. All these platforms are intuitive and user friendly. They even have screen sharing options to allow you to collaborate on documents in real time with your clients, team, or the Court. Phone Access
One of the most important aspects of working remotely is how to continue to answer phone calls remotely. Whether you have a VOIP phone system or hardwired phone system, your phone service provider should be able to forward your calls from your business line to another number. This allows all calls made to your business line to be answered remotely to ensure continuity for your clients. A bonus feature to having a VOIP system is that most VOIPs have apps that allow you to make calls from your cell phone while masking your cell phone number as your business line. If you do not have a VOIP system, apps such RingCentral or Grasshopper will mask your cell phone number as your business line, at a reasonable cost. Printer/Scanner/Fax With the increase of efiling, many firms have already made a shift to be more paperless. Now that you are working remotely, it’s likely you will be more paperless than you anticipated. While some may have compact scanner/printer/fax machines, it’s
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TIPS FOR TRANSITIONING YOUR LAW FIRM TO A REMOTE LOCATION By Snehal Massey & Mary R. Sanders
likely many do not have all three at your home office. Programs such as Adobe Scan and Fax are apps that convert photos into PDFs to email and/or fax digitally directly from your phone. Additionally, any Microsoft Office based document can be saved as a PDF file, which eliminates the extra step of printing and scanning Word documents.
Document Storage Use cloud based programs such as DropBox, Google Drive, or OneDrive to share documents electronically with clients or opposing counsel – this will not only reduce your postage costs but it will also eliminate the waiting period for receipt of documents, since the files are delivered almost instantly.
The Baltimore County Bar Association now has a YouTube channel! Follow us and receive notifications when we post a video. Virtual programs and events hosted by the BCBA will be recorded and posted to our channel. This is a great way to access information presented if you are unable to ‘attend’. If you have any questions on how to access our channel, contact Rachel Ruocco at rruocco@bcba.org.
Team collaboration
Establish how, and how often, you will communicate with your team. Just because your team is socially distant shouldn’t mean you are working in silos thankfully, today’s technology allows us to be connected more than ever before. To maintain collaboration and teamwork while you are apart, strive to conduct regular virtual team meetings. Use platforms such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Hangouts Chat to collaborate with your team. Additionally, these platforms have instant messaging capabilities for individuals or groups – to communicate instantly with your team. Finally, if you happen to have any downtime while working remotely, use it to your advantage to tamp down your never-ending to-do lists. Update (or create) your marketing plan, revamp your website, start a blog on your website, update your bio, explore the technology mentioned here to help automate your practice, revise your budget to include additional technology, attend webinars, etc. After COVID-19 is long over, it is very likely that our profession and every other profession will be utilizing technology much more in normal everyday tasks. Now is the time to prepare for what is sure to become a more permanent “new normal.” THE ADVOCATE
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FAMILY LAW - OUR FAMILY WIZARD By William F. Alcarese, Jr.
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FAMILY LAW - PARENTING PLAN WORKSHOP By Alexis L. Holiday
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JUDICIAL PORTRAIT UNVEILING FOR JUDGE THOMAS J. BOLLINGER By Adam E. Konstas
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JUDICIAL PORTRAIT UNVEILING FOR JUDGE THOMAS J. BOLLINGER By Adam E. Konstas
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MVLS EXPANDS HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION PROJECT
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The Bar Association Lawyer Referral office is currently closed, but the Lawyer Referral & Information Service is still fully operational. Please direct the public to call 410-337-9100 Monday—Friday from 9:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
The 2020-2021 Lawyer Referral & Information Service Panel Application will be available now so please renew now. If you are considering joining Lawyer Referral for the first time and have any questions, Contact Rachel Fuller at rfuller@bcba.org. All current panel members will receive the new application via email. Remember...You can join or renew at any time!
BALTIMORE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION HISTORICAL COMMITTEE
Do you have old photos of past Baltimore County Bar Association events and programs? We would love to have them! Please email Rachel Ruocco at rruocco@bcba.org to coordinate. Do you have a favorite memory of the Baltimore County Bar Association you would like to share? Or maybe a funny story? Email those too. The BCBA Historical Committee is hard at work on a yearbook to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Baltimore County Bar Association and your photos and stories will make great additions.
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MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
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CIVIL LAW UPDATE By Ceecee Paizs
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MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
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MEMBER NEWS WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
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YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! Contact Rachel Ruocco at rruocco@bcba.org or 410-337-9103 for advertising rates and to place your ad. THE ADVOCATE
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Signature Sponsors The Baltimore County Bar Association continues its Signature Sponsor program, which enhances the opportunities for our sponsors, as well as our members. This singletier program provides more engagement between our sponsors and our members. Each Signature Sponsor can host an event during the year, thereby reducing the cost of the event for members while providing added benefits. Sponsorships help the Bar Association maintain its current dues level despite the increasing costs of providing top-shelf legal education programs, social events, networking opportunities and Bar Office services available in the County Courts Building. If you know of a business that would be interested in one of these limited sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rachel Ruocco (410) 337-9100 or rruocco@bcba,org).
Paul E. Alpert, Retired Judge Available for Mediation and Arbitration Former Judge of District Court, Circuit Court and Court of Special Appeals
410-484-2088
For the last 12 years, Insight Network Consultants has offered managed IT services and phone solutions as a competitive advantage. Whether you have 5 employees or 100+, we have you covered. Call Insight and you will always get to our support staff on the first ring.
410-INSIGHT Www.insightnc.com
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Baltimore County Bar Association
Presort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1262 Baltimore, MD
100 County Courts Building 401 Bosley Avenue Towson, MD 21204-4491 410-337-9103-Telephone 410-823-3418-Facsimile www.bcba.org
Member Advertisements TOWSON. 2536.
Nicely furnished office space with parking, half block from circuit court. Pete McDowell 410-960-
TOWSON. Furnished office available in beautifully appointed suite in the heart of Towson. Use of conference room and other amenities. Contact Susan at 410-583-7007. TOWSON. Second floor office for rent with space available for admin/secretary. On site parking with shared conference room. Email nfick@neurolaw.com or call 410-321-5000 if interested. TOWSON. Small firm in Towson looking for an experienced part-time legal assistant/secretary two to three days a week. Any experienced candidates should contact Robert Jacobson at 410-583-8883.
TOWSON. 303 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, Towson across Bosley Avenue from the Circuit Court Building, three offices with bathroom on the second floor, 3rd floor four offices available, conference room, bathroom and kitchen on first floor, free parking space available, rent negotiable $50 to $100 less than comparable spaces. $400-$500 per office, great satellite office with possibility of overflow work. Contact Joe Glass at 410-823-4214 or 410-790-1980. CATONSVILLE. Office Space for Rent. Catonsville, 1002 Frederick Road, 2nd floor office. Private entrance, semi private restroom, use of conference room and kitchen on first floor. Free parking. Would be a great satellite office. Please contact Lou Weinkam, Jr. at 410-744-3256 ext. 103. TOWSON. 309 Allegheny Avenue. 2nd floor offices with private restroom, 3 regular offices, partially furnished, 1 executive office (can be made into five offices) fully furnished. Private restroom. Tenant will have available to them a conference room, print/scan/fax center and kitchenette on 1st floor. Additionally, 2nd floor has 2 private entrances, 5 free parking spaces, and approximately 800 sq. ft. of combined dry/secure storage on 3rd floor and basement.
TOWSON. Sublease available one block from courthouse. Space in excellent condition. Spacious conference rooms, 34 offices, reception area, copy/supply room, and kitchen. Sublease until August, then take on new lease. Rent negotiable. Contact towsonfirm@gmail.com to schedule a tour or get more information. TOWSON. Office for Rent: $990/month for one office with reception area right off the elevator. Located in Towson within walking distance to courthouse. Newly renovated and furnished. $1,200 to add an additional office connected to entire suite. Includes electric, internet and one parking space. For more information email doug@dbmcommunications.com or call 410-825-7400.
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