THE
ADVOCATE VOLUME 35, NUMBER 2 - Winter 2021
CLICK HERE TO READ THE
WINTER ISSUE!
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Message from the Chair 4 Committee and YLS Updates 4 Diversity and Inclusion Committee 5 Recap: The 13th Annual Section Summit 6 Education Committee 7 Public Service Committee 7 Wills for Heroes 8 Riding the Circuits 8 Baltimore City 10 Prince George’s County 12 Announcements 12 Prince George’s County Bar Association Spring Membership Meeting 13 Annual Charity Event
2
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR BY ELIZABETH ROSEN, SECTION CHAIR (EMROSEN09@GMAIL.COM) Wishing everyone a healthy and happy New Year! The MSBA’s Young Lawyers Section has been working hard to provide great programming to our membership. Please stop by the Young Lawyers Section Events & Projects page of the MSBA website to see what we are up to. We started 2021 by celebrating another successful year of support for the Special Olympics’ Polar Bear Plunge. The Public Service Committee went above and beyond, nearly doubling their fundraising goal. It is the tremendous spirit and commitment to empowering our communities that makes the MSBA’s Young Lawyers Section so special. While we are certainly awaiting the day that it is safe for us all to gather together, we are working hard to provide innovative, pertinent, and useful content. Upcoming events span topics from first time home buying, to meditation, to hanging out your shingle. If you have suggestions or ideas, please reach out. We welcome your feedback.
Not to be missed is this year’s 30th annual charity event happening Friday, April 23rd. This year’s beneficiary is the Community Law Center. The Center is a legal services organization for nonprofits throughout the state of Maryland that provides learning opportunities and direct legal representation for neighborhood-led groups, community associations, grassroots organizations, and small nonprofits in Maryland. We are transitioning to a virtual event, and it promises to be one to remember. Local foodie favorite Gertrude’s will be catering food and beverage items and we will have fantastic music bingo for entertainment. We look forward to providing an exciting opportunity for fun and socialization, along with great prizes and silent auction items. Tickets will be available online soon, so get yours and join us in acknowledgment of the Community Law Center’s incredible work. While we continue fighting the pandemic, please stay safe and know that the Young Lawyers Section is here for you!
3
COMMITTEE UPDATES DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE Justice, Justice, You Shall Pursue BY AVIGAYIL PEARLMAN (MSBA YLS DIVERSITY & INCLUSION COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR) When I wrote this article on the first night of Hannukah, we were entering into a holiday season unlike any other in living memory. The second decade of the second millennium was drawing to a close, and many of us had seen our hopes for change, growth, development, and progress warp into feelings of helplessness, agony, depression, and defeat. Over the last several years we watched with bated breath and sinking hearts the repeated incidents and tragic results of overt racism and outright brutality experienced throughout our country by people of color; the pain, courage, and strength of women coming out to publicize and even confront those engaged in unrepentant serial acts of sexual harassment and assault; the torture and despair experienced by desperate immigrants seeking a better life for their young families in their quest for the American Dream; and the struggle of families and communities to cope with the invisible COVID foe—a struggle made more difficult and more deadly for our neighbors experiencing the proven disparate impacts in that fight caused by race, ethnicity, and poverty.1 The holiday decorations that abounded
during the celebrations of Hannukah (also known as “The Festival of Lights”), Kwanza, and Christmas brought to mind many a cliché that struck me as poignantly appropriate at the time (and still today), but none more so than that of the “light in the darkness.”2 Especially since late last year, when on the eve of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), we lost one of our greatest lights: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg came by her sobriquet “The Notorious RBG” honestly and with the greatest of dignity and grace; a true harbinger of change and an unwavering advocate of truth, justice, and equality throughout her legendary career. She was a beacon of light and a titan of our time. The mantra of many a legal professional and social justice advocate, including Justice Ginsburg, is “Justice, Justice, You Shall Pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). In Hebrew, it is “Tzedek, Tzedek, Tirdof” (“ ”) and appears in the portion of the Old Testament where instructions are given for the composition and implementation of a judicial system. Justice Ginsburg had this quote in four places within her chambers and called them “ever-present reminders
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/health-equity/race-ethnicity.html With multiple vaccines in the offing, perhaps a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ as well.
1
2
4
of what judges must do ‘that they may thrive.’”3 There are many interesting and fascinating interpretations and suggestions for why the word “justice” (simultaneously translated to mean “righteousness”) is repeated, but the one that resonates most with me personally is that the imperative is not just to support or safeguard justice, but to actively engage in its pursuit.4 The more complete the darkness, the greater the impact a single light will have. While truth and justice are our brightest lights during the darkest of times in general, diversity and inclusion are our strongest lights to combat against the darkness of ignorance, prejudice, and discrimination in particular. The outrage felt by so many has become the catalyst
to light the fire of change…now we need to fan the flames. Last year’s historic voter turnout illustrated the power of community, the power of persistence, and the dedication of the American people to social justice. Now is a time for awareness, understanding, and above all inclusivity. We must all add our voice to the chorus of “no more,” “not fair,” and “this is not justice” because progress can only be achieved through the proliferation of enlightenment and education, which requires action. We must encourage the pursuit of justice by sparking diversity and inclusion, letting them catch, and fanning those flames into a light that will spread throughout a generation and beyond.
My Own Words, Ruth Bader Ginsburg with Mary Hartnett and Wendy W. Williams (2016). https://www.huffpost.com/entry/justice-justice-you-shall_b_3631173
3
4
Recap: The 13th Annual Section Summit BY: ELENI VANRODEN BICKLEY, ESQUIRE During the week of November 9, 2020, the Maryland State Bar Association kicked off their inaugural Legal Excellence Week. This culmination of social events and CLEs was held virtually and was open to all members of the Bar Association. Members who paid for the MSBA Passport were able to register for the entire week’s events without any additional cost, while members without the Passport determined their level of participation by selecting to attend all events or choosing, à la carte, which
events interested them most. Young Lawyers Section members, as well as members of other Sections, were even given a discounted rate for registration, which provided additional incentives to attend events. For those wishing to participate but unable to attend an event or CLE live due to scheduling conflicts, everything was recorded and made available for registrants. The Young Lawyers Section held its 13th Annual Young Lawyers Section 5
Summit on Friday, November 13, 2020. The virtual roundtable panel discussion was entitled “North, South, East, West – Conversation with Young Lawyers from the 4 Corners of Maryland” and was comprised of young lawyers practicing in Alleghany, Harford, Charles, Calvert, and Worcester counties. All members of the Bar were invited to bring their lunches and attend for networking and discussion. Discussion topics included networking techniques, the changes to legal practices and to local rules in light of COVID-19, and anticipated changes to the legal profession in the future
based upon technology advancements. The panel also touched on updates regarding the MSBA, and attendees were able to get perspective from Victor Velazquez, the Chief Executive Officer of the MSBA. Attendees shared their own experiences, and all who attended enjoyed the ability to “see” colleagues from various areas of the state. While nothing beats networking and catching up in-person, this was a great way to still enjoy each other’s company safely and responsibly.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE The Education Committee and Civil Justice, Inc. co-sponsored: Hanging Out Your Shingle and Common Mistakes Young Solo Attorneys Make, which was held virtually on February 22, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The presentation focused on issues such as marketing, the logistics of setting up a firm (finding an office, accounting-Quickbooks, finding good support staff, etc.), how to properly handle payments (escrow v. operating), the challenges of owning your own practice, things the panelists wish they knew before they started their own practice, and common mistakes the Office of Bar Counsel sees from young solo attorneys and what not to do. Panelists: Jessica Boltz, Esq. (Assistant Bar Counsel, Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland, Office of Bar Counsel) Divya Potdar, Esq. (Principal, Diva Law, LLC) Jane Santoni, Esq. (Partner , Santoni, Vocci & Ortega, LLC) Jamaal Stafford, Esq. (Founder, Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, LLC)
6
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE During the months of December and January, the MSBA Young Lawyers Section took part in the first ever Virtual Polar Bear Plunge! Due to the pandemic, Plungers “beared” the cold at home instead of in the Chesapeake for the first time. Team MSBA had nine members and, while aiming to raise $1000, ultimately raised more than $1800 for the Maryland Special Olympics! The Team looks forward to returning to the Chesapeake next January and thanks all donors for their generosity this year.
Left: Team MSBA Polar Bear Plunge Captain Amy Rappole mid-plunge. Right: MSBA Young Lawyers Section President Liz Rosen feeling good after her snowy plunge.
Wills For Heroes Wills For Heroes is currently working with Wills for Heroes National to update estate planning document templates, and is looking into updating releases, training materials, and computer software. The committee is also working to create updated templates to be
sent to Wills for Heroes National to be processed. If you have ideas or would like to volunteer, please contact Bill Kiniry at: william.kiniryiii@dlapiper.com or (410) 580-4623 or Victoria Lucido at: vlucido@bagleyrhody.com or (315) 5209912.
7
RIDING THE CIRCUITS Baltimore City
On December 5, 2020, seven volunteers sorted roughly 700 gifts (including toys, books, coats and hats) for approximately 175 children in shelters and resource centers. It was a great holiday alley party!
8
Check out our upcoming events: • March 8 at 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – YLD Breakfast with the Bench with The Honorable John Leidig, an Administrative Law Judge. • March 11 at 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Marie Mattes, Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch, will share her advice on investing, budgeting, paying off debt, and gaining financial independence for young attorneys. Admission is free for BABC members and non-members. To register, CLICK HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. • March 16 – Pathways to Leadership for Women: The Women Who Led The Bar Association of Baltimore City event rescheduled from last spring. The program will show a brief video presentation, followed by a panel discussion from women who have led the BABC during the past 34 years talk about why they undertook leadership positions and how you can achieve the organizational and professional success that they have achieved. Panelists include: Elizabeth Sachs, Esquire Daughter of the Late Sheila K. Sachs, Esquire, President, 1987-1988; The Honorable Alison L. Asti, Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, President, 19941995; The Honorable Pamila J. Brown, District Court of Maryland for Howard County, President, 1997-1998; Katherine Kelly Howard, Esquire, Regional Management, Inc., President, 2003-2004; The Honorable Joan Bossmann Gordon, District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City, President, 2005-2006, Mary Alice Smolarek, Esquire, Wright, Constable & Skeen, LLP, President, 2009-2010; The Honorable Lynn Stewart Mays, Circuit Court for Baltimore City, President, 2010-2011; Cynthia L. Leppert, Esquire, Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber, P.A., President, 2013-2014; Kelly Hughes Iverson, Esquire, Goodell, DeVries, Leech & Dann, LLP, President, 2018-2019; and The Honorable Dana M. Middleton, Circuit Court for Baltimore City, President, 2019-2020 who will also serve as our Panel Discussion Facilitator. To register, CLICK HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information on how to join the program. This program is generously supported by The Bar Association of Baltimore City, Baltimore Bar Foundation, Inc., The Library Company of the Baltimore Bar, and the Women's Bar Association of Maryland, Inc. This program is generously sponsored by CRC Salomon. • April 30 – Breakfast with the Bench with The Honorable Elizabeth Kessler, a federal immigration judge
9
Prince George’s County On February 4, 2020, the Prince George’s County Bench to Bar Committee presented a webinar on direct examination. The Honorable Karen Mason of the Prince George’s County Circuit Court and Sam Danai of the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office shared tips on the art of direct examination. One such tip: a successful direct examination requires careful preparation by the attorney and preparation of the witness. This preparation encompasses a variety of sub-topics, including discovering and understanding the witness’ strengths and weaknesses in both presentation and content of testimony; presenting some background information about the witness in order to personalize him/her to the fact finder; thinking strategically about witness order to build the story of the case; accounting for technical witnesses who can lose the attention of the jury, or strengthen weak witnesses by presenting stronger witnesses before or after. Another tip: active listening is key, as it allows for the litigator to engage more conversationally with the witness during testimony and allows the litigator to explore, or avoid, follow-up questions. Being overly wedded to a scripted list of questions without paying proper attention to answers can cause the litigator to miss helpful avenues of examination, or lead the litigator down detrimental paths. As society becomes more accustomed to visual presentation of information, the successful litigator is mindful of utilizing visual evidence during direct examination. This engages the fact finder and allows the witness to reiterate testimony by providing the information and then providing it again through explanation of the exhibit. Litigators should be familiar with any existing courtroom technology and technology that the litigator can bring into the courtroom for visual presentation. Moderator Carol Coderre encouraged all those who participated to remember not to collapse under the anxiety a technology failure might cause. When a technology issue arises, take a deep breath, attempt to fix the issue, and move along. The Committee looks forward to continuing the presentation of trial nuts and bolts with the next webinar, which will cover the topic of cross examination.
10
Check out our upcoming events: EVENT: Prince George’s County Policy Reform Working Group DATE: Thursday, March 4, 12:00 p.m. DESCRIPTION: Brown Bag Lunch, Speakers: Delegate Alonzo T. Washington & The Honorable Maureen M. Lamasney EVENT: Goldstein Criminal Law Seminar DATE: Saturday, March 20, 10:00 a.m. DESCRIPTION: Topics Include: Pre-Trial Release: Options for Incarcerated Individuals; State’s Attorney’s Office New Policies on Bail Reviews and Marijuana Possession; DUI/DWI; Training the Expert; Discussions on Juvenile transfers & Waivers and Circuit Court Criminal Coordinating; Legislative Update: Impact on Criminal Cases; and others; Speakers: The Honorable Nicholas E. Rattal, The Honorable Peter K. Killough, the Honorable Robert W. Heffron, Jr., Lenny Stamm, Esq., Jason Abbott, Esq., Chief Jeffrey Logan and Assistant Division Chief, LaNelle Sydnor-Pringle EVENT: Spring Membership Meeting DATE: March 30, 2021, 6:00 p.m. DESCRIPTION: Daubert and Electronic Discovery, Speaker: The Honorable Judge Paul W. Grimm. See the flyer in the “Announcements” section for further details and registration information.
11
ANNOUNCEMENTS
12
The Activities Committee is excited for this year’s Annual Charity Event benefiting the Community Law Center on Friday April 23, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., which will be held virtually in light of anticipated COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. We will have a silent auction, food and drinks provided by Gertrude’s, and live entertainment, most likely in the form of music bingo with prizes. We hope to see everyone there!
13
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE For questions or comments about The Advocate please contact any member of the Publications Committee: Monica Basche Chelsea Crawford Chaz Ball Paul H. Farmer, Jr.
mbasche@browngold.com CCrawford@browngold.com cball@sbwlaw.com pfarmer@gjblawfirm.com