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NEWSLETTER
October 2014
In This Issue
Young Lawyers
1, 4, 7, 8
Section Updates
2
Dates to Remember
3
Annual Picnic
5, 6
MDEC Update
8
YLS Happy Hour
9
Chief Judge Barbara Letter
10
Brewery Tour
11
Volunteers Needed
11
CLE
12
Annual Awards
13
Community Calendar
13
Law Clerks
14, 15
Salvation Army Letter
Notes of Thanks
Judges Dinner
Member News
Classified Ads
16
17
18
19
20
Monthly Luncheon
October 7th at noon
Featuring Tim Maloney
Giving his annual legislative
update
Being a Young Lawyer
In Frederick County
By Ian Hitchcock
Being a young lawyer has traditionally been difficult. The
transition from law school to practice has any number of surprises
for those that have just passed the bar, including learning the
rules, learning opposing counsel, and navigating what type of
lawyer he or she wants to be known as.
However, when the economy took a hit, it became even harder for
young lawyers. The legal job market shriveled, while law school
attendance increased. This issue is being closely reviewed by the
Maryland State Bar and by the law schools in Maryland. Many
young lawyers just need experience to get their foot in the door
somewhere. There are a fair number of opportunities on law
school job databases for those that have 2+ years of experience.
Yet, there are hardly any for first year associates—and those that
are offered have starting full-time salaries at $40,000 a year or
less. Being a young lawyer in an “outer-county” is even more
difficult. Most people who find openings are former law clerks of
some sort or know someone to help them find a position.
Therefore, finding a way to advance a young lawyer's career has
similar difficulties.
Hoping to help out the members of the Young Lawyer's Society for
Frederick County and the collective conscious of the Maryland's
new lawyer difficulties, I conducted a 10-question survey in June
2014. I sent it out to members of the YLS email list and received
twenty responses by the time I collected the results.
Continued on page 4
The Bar Association
Of Frederick County, MD, Inc.
PO Box 3088
Frederick MD 21705-3088
301-663-1139 phone
866-735-1253 fax
[email protected]
www.frederickbar.org
Family Law Section
If you would like information about the Family Law
Section,
please
contact
Chris
Remsburg
at
[email protected] or Keith Schiszik at
[email protected].
2014 OFFICERS
President
Ian P. Bartman, 240-772-5115
President Elect
Paul Flynn, 301-668-7575
Secretary
Lorraine Prete, 301-694-6363
Assistant Secretary
Marshall Horman, 301-663-8100
Treasurer
Jennifer Rankin, 240-415-8979
Assistant Treasurer
Kelly McGill, 301-620-4333
Past President
Howard L. Metz, 301-668-2992
Business Law Section
The next meeting of the Business Law Section will be held at
noon on November 13, 2014, at the offices of Jeffrey
McEvoy, 8 W. 3rd Street in Frederick. Bring your own lunch.
For discussion will be recent Maryland, Delaware and
federal business law cases.
If you would like to be included in the Business Law Section
email list or would like more information about the Business
Law Section, please contact Frank Goldstein at
[email protected].
Executive Director
Jenny Bern
THE NEWSLETTER
The Bar Association of Frederick
County, MD, Inc. Newsletter is
published
monthly.
Articles
and
information to be included in the
newsletter must be submitted in written
or electronic format by the 15th of the
month preceding publication month.
Young Lawyers Section
Classified and display advertising are
available at a modest cost. Go to
ww.frederickbar.org for information.
Additional
information
regarding
luncheon sponsorships are available at
www.frederickbar.org.
If you would like information about the Young Lawyers
Section,
please
contact
Ian
Hitchcock
at
[email protected] or Tommy Gross at
[email protected].
The next meeting of the Young Lawyer Section will likely be
an evening casual meeting on October 15. More details
TBD.
Page 2
Dates to Remember
October 2014
Tuesday, October 7: General Membership Meeting and Luncheon. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll
Street, Frederick. Noon. Speakers: Tim Maloney giving his annual legislative update.
Thursday, October 9: Judges Dinner. Musket Ridge Country Club, Myersville. 5:00pm. Details on page 18.
Tuesday, October 14: CLE: Business Law for the Non Business Attorney. Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick.
4pm. Details on page 12.
A full calendar of 2014 events can be found on the Website.
Google Calendar: FrederickMDBar
Page 3
Being a Young Lawyer in Frederick County, Continued from page 1
Below are the responses and my analysis
When did you graduate from law school?
2009 and prior: 9 respondents
2010-2011: 4 respondents
2012 and after: 7 respondents
In what type of setting do you currently practice?
Public/Pro Bono/Government Agency: 7 respondents
Private Practice: 13 respondents
What do you expect your average (net) monthly earnings to be for the tax year 2014 (employed in a legal
setting)?
Less than $3,000: 3 respondents
$3,000 to $4,000: 6 respondents
$4,000 to 5,000: 1 respondent
$5,000 to $6,000: 4 respondents
$6,000 to $7,000: 4 respondents
$7,000+: 4 respondents
With these baseline demographics down, I also asked the following questions about these legal groups:
• Frederick County YLS (FC YLS)
• Maryland State YLS (MD YLS)
• Frederick County Bar Association (FCBA)
• Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA)
1. What is your level of Bar involvement--meetings, events, communications in general, general interest in
what is going on?
Not Involved // Minimal involvement (occasional meeting or event) // Casual Involvement (go to
events when feel like going, but not a priority) // Significant Involvement (try to be involved and attend
meetings if possible) // Very Involved (meetings and events are "can't miss" and actively volunteer for
more events)
2. In your own opinion, to what extent has your level of bar involvement impacted your current employment
or current employment opportunities?
Negative // No Impact // Slightly Positive Impact // Positive Impact // Very Positive Impact
3. In your own opinion, to what extent will your level of bar involvement affect future employment
opportunities
Negative // No Impact // Slightly Positive Impact // Positive Impact // Very Positive Impact
4. In your own opinion, to what extent does a person's level of bar involvement affect future employment
opportunities?
Negative // No Impact // Slightly Positive Impact // Positive Impact // Very Positive Impact
Continued on page 7
Page 4
Annual Picnic
Page 5
Annual Picnic
The Annual Picnic was once again graced with beautiful
summer weather, as 85 members joined together in Art
Boyce’s barn to enjoy the late summer evening. Between the
picturesque scenery, the good food, the easy conversation –
and the margaritas – a good time was had by all.
Page 6
Being a Young Lawyer in Frederick County, Continued from page 4
For those questions with 5 responses, I scored the “most negative” response a 1 and the “most positive”
response a 5.
FC
YLS
MD
YLS
FC
BA
MS
BA
FC
YLS
MD
YLS
FC
BA
MS
BA
FC
YLS
MD
YLS
FC
BA
MS
BA
FC
YLS
MD
YLS
FC
BA
MS
BA
Pub 3
1
3
1
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2.3
3.7
3.3
4
3.4
Priv
3.1
1.7
3.4
2.1
3
2.25 3.5
2.3
3.2
2.1
3.7
2.6
3.3
3
3.8
3.2
'09
2.6
1.7
2.8
2.1
2.8
2.5
2.6
2.9
2.5
3.25 2.9
3.6
3.25 4.1
3.5
10
to
11
3.5
1.25 3.75 1
3
1.75 3.5
1.75 3.5
1.75 3.75 1.75 3
2.75 3.5
2.25
12
3.6
1.1
3.6
1.4
3.1
1
3.4
1
3
2.1
3.6
2.6
3.6
3.3
3.9
3.4
3k
3.3
1.7
3.7
2
3.3
3.3
3.7
3.3
3
3.3
3
3
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.3
3k4k 3.3
1
3.2
1
3.2
2
3.3
2
3
2.2
3.3
2.3
3.8
3.2
3.8
3.3
4k5k 4
1
4
1
2
2
3
2
3
2
4
2
3
3
4
4
3.2
5k6k 3.25 1.5
3.75 1.25 3.25 1.75 4
1.75 3.75 1.75 4.25 1.75 3.35 1.75 3.75 3.25
6k7k 2.7
1
2.3
1.3
3
2
3
2.5
3
2
3
2.5
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.5
7k+
2.3
3.3
3.3
3
3
3.3
3
3
3
3.3
3
3.3
3
4
3.3
2.7
So that's a lot of data. Let's try to summarize it into some quick hits:
• Private attorneys are overall more inclined to participate in the above groups and feel it impacts their
present development more.
• Older young attorneys are more likely to be involved in state level organizations than local and
consider it more valuable to their development than the newer attorneys
• The attorneys who earned more are more active in state level organizations and to feel that the
organizations are more valuable to their development than the newer attorneys
• Overall, all respondents felt very strongly that bar involvement positively affects a person's
employment opportunities
Continued next page
Page 7
Being a Young Lawyer in Frederick County, Continued from previous page
Overall, the respondents are more involved in local bar organizations than state bar organizations and feel
that it has a positive impact on their future, with the Frederick County Bar Association scoring the highest
across all areas. It also appears that the more that a person is involved in a bar, the more likely it is to affect
their opinion of how it will influence them.
I found one result above all else that once again reinforced my pride to be part of the Frederick County Bar
Association. Respondents felt that involvement in the Frederick Bar Association was more important to a
peer’s success than involvement in the State Bar. Frederick County should be proud of the work that it has
invested in making the bar community something that people are proud of and want to be actively involved in.
State level associations need to do a better job of reaching out, because we have a lot of what we need right
here! Also, other local bar associations that want to have more activity should take away from this survey that
a successful local bar, will yield positive results in the long run to those that are invested in it.
Statewide MDEC Policies and Procedure Manual Volume 1 Released
Once the rollout of the Anne Arundel County MDEC pilot goes live on Oct. 14, all attorneys will be required to
e-file with the Odyssey File and Serve program, and electronic processing and management of court records
will be used by the clerks and other judicial personnel. When additional counties are added, the MDEC
system will apply to all new actions and proceedings, new filings in existing actions pending in those courts
on the applicable date, and all appellate proceedings seeking a review of a judgment or order entered in any
affected action.
Now is the time to become familiar with the requirements and procedure for e-filing regardless of your
jurisdiction. Volume one of the MDEC Policies and Procedures Manual can now be found online for review by
all attorneys and court personnel. The manual provides a detailed overview of the requirements, guidelines,
and procedures for using MDEC and specifically e-filing. Procedures will continue to be updated in future
volumes.
http://mdcourts.gov/mdec/pdfs/manual.pdf
Page 8
Young Lawyer Section Happy Hour
BAFC Members gathered at Reunion
Restaurant on West Patrick Street to meet the
newest law clerks and the other new, young
attorney members of the Bar Association of
Frederick County. It was a relaxing end to the
work week, and we thank the Young Lawyers
Section for organizing the event.
Page 9
Page 10
The Young Lawyers Section
Flying Dog Brewery Tour
All members are invited to attend!
November 22, 2014 @ 1:30 p.m.
Flying Dog, 4607 Wedgewood Blvd, Frederick, MD 21703
Cost: $5/person
*Limited space available. *Must be 21 or over. *Closed toe shoes required.
Interested? Email Carla Clarke to RSVP: [email protected]
Bring the $5 cover to the tour.
Expungement Workshop Volunteers Needed
Frederick
County Workforce
Services
is seeking volunteers for the next few months
of Expungement workshops.
The typical process is one hour of information
exchange and answering questions and a
second hour of one-on-one 10-minute
sessions with those job seekers who would
like to speak one-on-one with an attorney for
a total of two hours of your time. In the first
few workshops we experienced 4-8 job
seekers staying for one-on-one time and they
have found it very valuable.
If you can volunteer, please contact Latrice
Lewis at [email protected]
Page 11
Page 12
Annual Awards
At this year's Judges Dinner on October 9th, three awards will be given:
The Jerome Offutt Award recognizes one member who has contributed to the
advancement of professionalism and civility in the practice of law in Frederick County,
Maryland.
The James McSherry Memorial Award recognizes one member who has demonstrated
outstanding service to the Bar Association of Frederick County, Maryland.
The Gordon M. Cooley Award recognizes one member who has contributed to the cause of
legal services pro bono public in Frederick County, Maryland.
The BAFC Executive Committee is seeking nominations for these awards; nominations can
be submitted anonymously on the Website: www.frederickbar.org.
Community Calendar
Marital Property Mediation training will be offered at Montgomery College’s Germantown Campus
October 17-19. Students must have completed a 40-hour basic mediation course to enroll in this course.
Enrollment at www.montgomerycollege.edu.
Maryland Legal Services Corporation is holding their Annual Awards Reception on December 8th from 5:30
to 7:30pm at the Grand Historic Venue, 225 N. Charles Street in Baltimore. More information and
sponsorship at 410-576-9494 x1004.
Maryland Professionalism Center is co-hosting Maryland Law 20/20: A Vision. October 31, 2014 from 9am
to 2pm at the Judiciary Education and Conference Center in Annapolis. Symposium will feature keynote
speaker Paulette Brown, Esq., President-Elect of the American Bar Association, during lunch. Information
and registration at www.marylandprofessionalism.org.
Page 13
Meet this Year’s Law Clerks
Ellen Cobb graduated summa cum laude from Towson University
with degrees in English and anthropology in May of 2010. She
graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of
Law in May 2014. While at UB, Ellen was on the Law Review and served
as a Rule 16 student attorney in the Bronfein Family Law Clinic. Ellen
was also President of the UB Students Supporting the Women’s Law
Center and Vice President of the UB Students for Public Interest.
Ellen is Judge Nicklas’ Law Clerk.
Jim Howard currently serves as the law clerk for the Honorable Julie
S. Solt. Jim grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and attended high school
at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. After graduating in
2011 from Boston College, Jim attended American University,
Washington College of Law, where he received his JD. In law school,
Jim studied abroad in Europe, interned at the Prince George's County
Circuit Court, served as a senior editor on his school's criminal law
publication, and worked as a student attorney in the General Practice
clinic. Jim, in his spare time, enjoys watching the Orioles and Redskins,
cooking, and traveling.
Kyle Kane graduated from Boonsboro High School in 2007. He went
to Mount Saint Mary’s University, where he played baseball and
graduated with a degree in Philosophy in 2011. He graduated from
Notre Dame Law School in May. He is a huge sports fan and likes to
spend his free time on the golf course.
Kyle is Judge Adam’s Law Clerk.
Page 14
Kelly Lynch graduated Magna Cum Laude from James Madison
University with a BA in History, Phi Beta Kappa, in 2011. While at James
Madison, she played on the Varsity Women’s Golf Team, where she was
MVP in 2009. Kelly graduated Cum Laude from the University of
Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 2014. She is an avid Ravens
fan and loves to spend her free time horseback riding and playing golf.
Kelly is Judge Dwyer’s Law Clerk.
James “Dave” O’Donnell is the law clerk for the Honorable
Danny B. O’Connor of the Frederick County Circuit Court, having
been selected by his honor in February of 2014. He is admitted
to the Maryland Bar and received his J.D. from the University Of
Maryland School Of Law. While in law school, Dave was a
member of Maryland’s National Trial Team and received the
2013 University Of Maryland School Of Law’s Litigation and
Advocacy Award. During his last year, Dave participated in the
school’s mediation clinic and received over 200 hours of training
and experience in mediation.
Originally from Silver Spring Maryland, Dave and his family
moved to Paris, France in 1998 for four years before moving to
Zurich, Switzerland in 2002. Dave returned to the United States
for college and received his undergraduate degree in political
science from Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin in
2008. While in college, Dave was twice named top college
fundraiser in Wisconsin by the ALS Association for his charitable
work.
Prior to going to law school, Dave spent a year interning with
the private banking practice of Baker & McKenzie Zurich and
another year interning with Esprit Holdings Limited in Hong
Kong. A relative newcomer to the Frederick area, he currently
resides in Adamstown.
Page 15
Page 16
More Thanks from the Salvation Army
Day Camp
Page 17
Page 18
New Member Profile
Laura Duncan is from Woodsboro, Maryland, where she resides
next to other family members. She attended Frederick Community
College, earning an Associate’s Degree in Accounting. Ms. Duncan
graduated from Hood College with a B.A. in Business Management in
January 2007 and a Master’s in Business Administration in 2009.
During her first year of law school, Ms. Duncan worked as a legal
intern for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) in Washington, D.C. She
then worked as a student attorney in the UDC Low Income Taxpayer
Clinic, completing 464 hours in the representation of ten clients, and
in the UDC Juvenile and Special Education Legal Clinic. In her third
year, she traveled with Professor Waysdorf and other law students
to work at the Mississippi Center for Justice in Biloxi, Mississippi over
spring break. Ms. Duncan completed heir title work for the Katrina
Housing track under the supervision of attorney Reilly Morse.
In 2013, Ms. Duncan graduated from the University of the District of
Columbia (UDC) David A. Clarke School of Law in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Duncan began interning with Poffenbarger and Weddle in
February 2013, and was admitted as a member of the Maryland Bar
in June 2014. She now works as a criminal defense attorney in
Frederick County under the Maryland Appointed Attorneys Program
and as an Associate at Poffenbarger and Weddle.
Member News
Haugh & Winters will be relocating to 127 W. Patrick Street on October 30, 2014. All their contact
information remains the same; only their address will change.
Page 19
Classified Ads
OFFICE LEASE: Six large rooms across from Courthouse for lease. Rent: $795/month.
Call 240-394-0217.
100 NORTH COURT STREET: Directly across from City Hall. 2nd and 3rd floor space
available. In addition to the actual rented space, tenant is allowed reasonable use of the
main floor conference room and reception area.
2nd Floor: Individual offices can be rented as furnished or unfurnished. Two distinct
offices available. One is +/- 350sf and can be used as large office or conference room
(with gas fireplace). Second is +/- 180sf. Both have access to secretarial space and joint
use of kitchen and bathroom.
3rd Floor: Entire floor is available (1,650sf). Two offices, one large conference room with
gas fireplace, secretarial area, bathroom and kitchen.
Contact Jonathan Warner at 301-663-0202.
Page 20