Maryland Bar
Bulletin
Publications :
Bar Bulletin |
June, 2004 |
MD LEGAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY GATHERS FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE
By Janet Stidman Eveleth
On May 20, Maryland’s legal
services community gathered in Baltimore to participate in the sixth
annual Maryland Legal Services Partnership Conference. This event,
sponsored by the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, Inc. (PBRC),
attracted a record crowd, as over 240 attorneys, judges and others
involved in the delivery of legal services convened to examine key issues
surrounding pro bono service in the state.
“Maryland is unique in its effective delivery of legal services,”
proclaimed Mark Scurti, PBRC President, as he opened the conference.
Scurti has always been impressed with Maryland’s spirit of collaboration
and believes this is the main reason that “our state serves as a legal
services model across the country.”
“The focus of pro bono
awareness in Maryland has never been higher,” he continued. “As a result
of the new pro bono rules, we have seen an increase in attorney donations
and attorney volunteerism, and we expect this to continue.” However, he
cautioned that “we still have a long way to go to ensure access to justice
for all.”
MSBA President Harry S.
Johnson told the audience how proud MSBA was to co-sponsor this
outstanding conference. He spoke of the American Bar Association and
MSBA’s support of Legal Services Corporation funding and the steadfast
support of Maryland’s delegation in the U.S. Senate and Congress.
“Maryland is a visionary, evidenced by the legal services coalition we
have formed to make it work.”
After State Court
Administrator Frank Broccolina offered greetings on behalf of Chief Judge
Robert M. Bell, Court of Appeals of Maryland, and the Judiciary, prominent
lawyers and judges led workshop discussions on everything from affordable
housing, the pursuit of public interest law, local pro bono planning and
advocacy for children to the judicial view of effective persuasion.
Afternoon sessions focused on the impact of divorce litigation,
non-traditional advocacy, benefits for clients, raising the next
generation, immigration law and “Civil Gideon.”
One of the highlights of
the day-long conference was a dynamic address by luncheon keynote speaker
Justice Rosalie Abella of the Ontario Court of Appeals. Abella spoke on
justice in society today. “It is my fervent belief that the commitment of
the legal services community upholds our justice system…you are the ones
who give people access to justice,” Abella said. “We must deliver justice
to a society that is increasingly feeling injustice. There is no justice
without rights, and no rights without justice.”
“Our conference was a
tremendous success,” states Sharon E. Goldsmith, PBRC’s Executive
Director. “It was a great collaborative effort. This effort is meaningful
because every aspect of the legal services community comes together. We
had representatives from legal services providers, the organized bar, law
schools, the Judiciary and the private bar. This collective group shared
ideas and information and developed strategy to address the challenging
issues that affect our clients.”
