This program will describe a subordinate lawyer’s tendency to obey authority figures, identify specific problem that occur in both the civil and criminal contexts as result of this tendency, explore the many legal ethics issues that consequently arise, and offer insights into how to deal with this problem, which ultimately has ethical, legal, and malpractice dimensions.

This unique program will teach each attendee how to build a carefully crafted business plan. By the end of the second session, every participant should be well on the way to completing a unique business plan for a successful practice.

This first session of the New Massachusetts Guide to Evidence, chaired by Appellate Court Judge R. Marc Kantrowitz, the head of the SJC Advisory Committee which wrote the Guide, will provide an overview of the Committee’s work, and a focus on Articles 400 (Relevancy), 500 (Privileges), 600 (Witnesses), 800 (Hearsay) and troublesome evidentiary issues.

This program, happening six weeks after the effective date of January 1, will focus on implementation challenges and the more complex practice issues.

The Brown Bag Luncheon is intended to ease the transition from law school to practice. These discussions may provide solutions to practice problems, as well as an opportunity to discuss new law and develop practice strategies.

The second session of the New Massachusetts Guide to Evidence, chaired by former SJC Justice John M. Greaney, delves into challenging evidentiary issues including admissibility, opinion and expert testimony (Article 700), complex hearsay issues, including Crawford and its progeny, and real, demonstrative, and documentary evidence. All litigators will benefit from the in-depth look at thorny evidentiary issues by our expert panel of judges, lawyers, and academics.

Gain sophisticated insight on today’s immigration practice issues: national speakers cover the H-1B lottery, Service Center procedures, NVC & consular case processing, business concerns, EOIR practice and more.

Alimony considerations in a divorce or separate support case present difficulties for practitioners in formulating what would be a fair and reasonable award under current law. In response to this issue, the MBA and the BBA have formed a joint Alimony Task Force that has been working on developing proposals for alimony standards.

This program is designed for Elder Law attorneys whose clients struggle with financial and clinical needs as the elder strives to remain at home or in an assisted living facility.