Massbar Beat

April 2018 will be remembered as the month when lawmakers introduced the most ambitious reform of Massachusetts’ criminal justice system in decades. Signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker, the sweeping legislation was the result of a bipartisan compromise between Democrats and Republicans, with additional support from prosecutors, attorneys and advocacy organizations, including the MBA. “Criminal Justice Reform: The Latest on the New Law” educates legal professionals and the public about specific provisions contained in the bill, with expert analysis by MBA member attorneys Anthony J. Benedetti of the Committee for Public Counsel Services and Lee J. Gartenberg of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department. Hosted by Jordan Rich, the podcast examines fundamental changes related to the treatment of juvenile offenders, major reforms to the bail system, and the elimination of mandatory minimums for certain low-level offenses, among many other topics.

The second of a two-part series, attorney Thomas M. Bond, chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Judicial Administration Section, talks with host Jordan Rich about appearing as an attorney in state court (Superior Court, in particular) in Massachusetts. You'll learn about the benefits of having your case in state court, get an overview of some of the most important rules, and hear insights on courtroom etiquette. Massachusetts Bar Association members can also access related materials on the topic in the Judicial Administration library on My Bar Access: https://is.gd/MBA_CourtRules.

The first of a two-part series, attorney Thomas M. Bond, chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Judicial Administration Section, talks with host Jordan Rich about appearing as an attorney in federal court in Massachusetts. You'll learn about the benefits of having your case in federal court, get an overview of some of the most important rules, and hear insights on courtroom etiquette. Massachusetts Bar Association members can also access related materials on the topic in the Judicial Administration library on My Bar Access: https://is.gd/MBA_CourtRules.

Elder law is more than just estate planning. As the population ages and people live longer, many will encounter important legal issues that can affect their home, health and financial well-being. In this episode, host Jordan Rich and attorney Alex L. Moschella, the chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Elder Law Advisory Committee, answer some commonly asked questions and discuss the MBA's Elder Law Education Program (www.massbar.org/elderlaw). From wills and trusts to health care proxies, powers of attorney, reverse mortgages and long-term care options, learn which documents and strategies are available to help you take control of your future.

Each day people facing life-changing legal issues are going to court alone because they don't qualify for legal aid or cannot afford a lawyer. It's created a justice gap. But there are efforts under way to address these unmet legal needs. Host Jordan Rich talks with attorneys Len Zandrow of UMass School of Law's Justice Bridge Legal Center (www.justice-bridge.org) and Damian Turco of Lawyers for Affordable Justice (www.lawyers4aj.org) about how legal incubators like theirs are working to close the justice gap by pairing newer attorneys, or lawyers committed to representing clients at discount, with modest-means clients.

Ending a marriage is never an easy decision. But for those who have made the choice to divorce, there are several options available to work through the process. Host Jordan Rich talks with attorney Heidi R. Webb of Consilium Divorce Consultations about the lawyer-client relationship, the interplay between law and psychology, and the different paths available, from traditional divorce to mediation, arbitration, conciliation, collaborative law and limited assistance representation.

The holidays can be the most demanding time of year -- especially for those in the legal community. In this episode, host Jordan Rich talks with MBA Law Practice Management Chair Susan Letterman White (Law Office Management Assistance Program) and clinician Barbara Bowe, LICSW (Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers) about suggestions for lawyers and others in the legal community on how to handle holiday stress. This podcast discusses some of the topics covered at the Dec. 12, 2017, Massachusetts Bar Association CLE Program: "Holiday Game Strong -- Tools to Reclaim Joy this Season." https://www.massbar.org/events/cle-program?productId=6002&kitId=6006&view=month

New Massachusetts Trial Court Administrator Jonathan S. Williams talks with host Jordan Rich about the latest court technology and infrastructure improvements, self-represented litigants, and how he's working with other court leaders and the bar to advance the Trial Court's strategic mission to deliver "justice with dignity and speed."

Mediation, Arbitration, Collaborative Law, Ombuds ... what kind of dispute resolution (DR) option is right for you? Guest host Jordan Rich talks with DR professionals Brian Jerome and Michael Zeytoonian about the benefits of DR and about the FREE programs offered throughout Massachusetts during Conflict Resolution Week, Oct. 16-20. Be a #peacemaker and join us. Visit www.massbar.org/CRWeek for event info.

From New York City cab driver to complex civil litigator, attorney Christopher P. Sullivan of Robins Kaplan LLP in Boston brings a variety of life experiences to his new role as president of the Massachusetts Bar Association. In this interview with guest host Jordan Rich, hear about Sullivan's initiatives for the coming year and why he believes attorneys are needed in the community more than ever.

The Massachusetts Trial Court issued new Child Support Guidelines for the Massachusetts, which became effective on Sept. 15, 2017. In this episode, Attorney Fern Frolin of Mirick O'Connell, a member of the Trial Court's 2016-2017 Child Support Guidelines Task Force, talks with MassBar Beat host Jordan Rich about some of the major revisions that attorneys and families should be familiar with.

Part of our 2017 Access to Justice Award Series, this podcast features 2017 Rising Star Award Winner Claire Valentin, a staff attorney at the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts. inspired by her family's immigrant experience, Valentin advocates for unaccompanied immigrant children from Central America who flee their home countries seeking humanitarian protections in the U.S.

Part of our 2017 Access to Justice Award Series, this podcast features 2017 Rising Star Award winner Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies of Community Legal Aid in Worcester. She oversees Community Legal Aid’s medical-legal partnership with UMass Memorial Health Care, working with clinical partners and medical providers to help represent low-income clients seeking pro bono assistance with special education needs, disability and public benefits, guardianship, and housing.

Part of our 2017 Access to Justice Award Series, this podcast features 2017 Pro Bono Award for Law Firms winner K&L Gates. Firm partners Andrew Glass and Sean Higgins discuss the firm's work with the Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) program, where attorneys represent unaccompanied minors who have fled violent situations in their home countries. They also discuss their firm's work with the International Refugee Assistance Project to provide legal services on behalf of individuals from Iraq and Afghanistan. K&L Gates also partners with Veterans Legal Services to provide pro bono representation to veterans in need within the greater Boston area.

Part of our 2017 Access to Justice Award Series, this podcast features 2017 Legal Services Award honoree Brian Flynn, an attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services who has dedicated his career to advocating for low-income workers with disabilities and recipients of public benefits. Flynn believes it’s important to do "systemic advocacy," because the work he does for one client can potentially affect positive change on dozens more people in the same situation.

Part of our 2017 Access to Justice Award Series, this podcast features 2017 Pro Bono Publico winners Andrew Troop of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and his former colleague Christopher Mirick, who is now at Harvest Power Inc. While colleagues at Pillsbury Winthrop, Troop and Mirick worked together with Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) to achieve successful outcomes in two notable pro bono cases. In one case, the pair helped 15 Chinese immigrant workers recoup earned wages from a Boston daycare facility that tried to discharge its obligations in a failed bankruptcy claim. On a different matter, the lawyers earned a groundbreaking victory in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, which paved the way for a Chapter 11 sale of apartment buildings to a nonprofit organization, which will provide affordable housing for the next 50 years.

Part of our 2017 Access to Justice Award Series, this podcast features 2017 Defender Award winner Rebecca Jacobstein, a staff attorney in the Appeals Unit of the Committee for Public Counsel Services. Jacobstein has been relentless in the pursuit of justice for both her clients and thousands of others affected by the Sonja Farak drug lab scandal. While she will be the first to tell you that she’s not alone in this effort, Jacobstein says it’s situations like this that show the importance of having public defenders who act as a check and balance on the state.

Part of our 2017 Access to Justice Award Series, this podcast features 2017 Prosecutor Award Winner Kevin Curtin, a 22-year veteran of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, whose strong moral compass led him to stand up for global issues of justice through his work with the Massachusetts Bar Association and American Bar Association.

Learn about "Defamation," an interactive courtroom drama that encourages its audience to examine stereotypes and perceptions of bias in the play, the legal system and beyond. Hear from Boston-area high school students and lawyers who watched the play last fall during the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association's annual presentation of "Defamation." The Massachusetts Bar Association was a sponsor of the MBLA's program, and more recently has begun presenting a series of CLEs on eliminating bias in the legal system. Learn more about "Defamation" at www.defamationtheplay.com.

Homeless Court is a specialty court in Massachusetts that gives homeless individuals with minor infractions a chance to clear their records and get a new start. Leaders from the Massachusetts Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division had an opportunity to visit this "court of second chances" at the Pine Street Inn shelter in Boston. Listen in as they share observations, interviews and stories of hope from the presiding judge, the Pine Street Inn's Homeless Court coordinator, Homeless Court participants and the president of the Massachusetts Bar Association.