As I reflect on the first nine months of my term as president of the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA), I am deeply proud of the progress we have made in our initiatives for the year: strengthening the rule of law, promoting civility and professionalism, advancing legal technology, expanding practical skills training, engaging large firms and corporate counsel, and driving a robust strategic planning process for MSBA’s future. These months have confirmed what I believed at the outset—that when Maryland’s legal community comes together with focus and resolve, we can deliver practical skills-focused and other programming that is a value-add for our members and for the people we serve.
Advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Legal Technology
Our AI and legal technology efforts are moving from vision to implementation, with multiple initiatives either completed or well underway. We are on track to debut an AI certification program at the Legal Summit, aligning cutting‑edge training with our signature event. Throughout the year, MSBA has been incorporating AI content into webinars and CLE programs, including offerings featuring Judge Grimm and other experts, helping members navigate both the opportunities and risks of emerging tools.
We launched our AI Insights & Resources Hub and continue to enhance it with curated content and practical guidance. At the same time, we created Templates for a Law Firm Policy on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for law firms and legal departments, providing members with a concrete starting point for responsible adoption. These efforts collectively position MSBA as a leading resource on AI and legal technology for Maryland practitioners.
Promoting Civility and Professionalism
Civility and professionalism remain central to this bar year, not as abstract ideals but as daily practice. We have continued to publish regular president’s blog posts on civility, with at least two dedicated pieces this term that highlight the lawyer’s role in maintaining trust, respect, and constructive dialogue in a polarized environment. We are also showcasing the expertise of MSBA members through features and content that model the professionalism we seek to promote.
Delivering Practical Workshops and Tools
One of our goals this year has been to provide more hands-on, skills‑based programming that lawyers can immediately apply in their practices. Our sell-out Anatomy of a Trial workshop and other trial‑focused programs—including mock-trial exercises, opening statements, cross‑examination, and writing courses—have attracted strong engagement and positive feedback, reinforcing MSBA’s role as a home for practical training. Additional offerings, such as Witness Examination - Strategies & Techniques, Transforming Legal Settlements: How Science is Changing Emotional Distress Compensation, and The Three Binders Every Litigator Needs: Organizing for Peak Trial Performance are scheduled or available on demand, further strengthening our litigation skills portfolio.
We are also broadening practical tools beyond trial work. The Employment Law Institute had strong attendance—the highest since COVID-19 for this program—and is available on demand, expanding access to members statewide. New publications, including the Maryland Recordation Tax and Transfer Guide (a micropublication), Maryland Landlord-Tenant Law: The Essential Guide, and Protective & Peace Order Cases in Maryland: A Practice Manual, are now available for sale or presale and are designed to provide concise, Maryland‑specific resources that practitioners can use in daily practice. Family Law University and related discovery‑focused programs are in progress, offering focused education in another high‑need practice area.
In addition, we are advancing initiatives that support lawyers at key transition points. In partnership with the judiciary and the State Board of Law Examiners, work has begun on a Maryland‑specific bar exam review project. And, if you are moving toward retirement, check out the micropublication, How to Close a Law Firm. These newly released or upcoming publications ensure that Maryland practitioners have practical, jurisdiction‑specific guidance at critical moments in their careers and practices. These projects complement our civility focus by supporting lawyers in making informed decisions throughout the lifecycle of their practice.
Engaging Large Firms and Corporate Counsel
Our outreach to large firms and corporate counsel continues to deepen MSBA’s connections across the profession. We have added large firm members to key committees, including CLE, Advocacy, the AI & Legal Technology Task Force, and Strategic Planning, ensuring that leadership from Big Law has a meaningful voice in shaping MSBA’s work. A broader engagement with firms of all sizes and managing partners is underway, reflecting a deliberate strategy to demonstrate the value of MSBA membership to regional and national law firms based in Maryland.
On the programming side, our Managing Partner Roundtables have launched, including at least one fully completed roundtable and the next in progress, providing a confidential forum for firm leaders to discuss shared challenges and opportunities. A Managing Partner email discussion group is up and running as a communication tool exclusive to managing partners, and we are continuing to build the value proposition for that network. For corporate counsel, a Legal Summit track and focused marketing to in‑house lawyers are underway, along with the development of a “General Counsel Playbook” to support this important and growing segment of our membership. If you are new to your in-house counsel position, be sure to check out this new publication, which is in final editing as of this writing.
Strengthening the Rule of Law
Our commitment to the rule of law is reflected in both litigation‑related advocacy and broader public education. MSBA participated in U.S. v. Russell at both the trial and appellate stages through amicus briefs, which concluded after the DOJ withdrew its appeal, reinforcing our role as a principled voice on issues affecting the integrity of the justice system. The Innovations in Tiered Legal Services initiative continues as an ongoing task force, advancing ethical, practical ways to expand access to justice.
We are also engaging with partners and policymakers on rule‑of‑law issues that matter deeply to Marylanders. Rule of Law: The Legal Profession's Role Supporting the Rule of Law, a webinar MSBA coordinated in partnership with the University of Baltimore School of Law, is scheduled for April 7, 2026, with marketing underway. MSBA’s advocacy on judicial security continues through focused efforts during MSBA Lobby Day, participation in ABA Days, and discussions with federal legislators, ensuring that the safety and independence of the judiciary remain front and center. New educational outreach on immigration enforcement—including a common oath statement initiative and Habeas Corpus education by A2JC—is also progressing, combining policy advocacy with public and member education.
Strategic Planning for MSBA’s Future
A central focus of this bar year is building a strong strategic foundation for MSBA’s next chapter—covering membership, governance and finance, intellectual property, and advocacy—and we are now finalizing POD reports and recommendations based on their work. We will develop a strategic planning report at the upcoming retreat in March, and our Board of Governors will vote on it in May.
We are also engaging the broader membership in shaping MSBA’s trajectory. We circulated a stakeholder survey, designed to gather input across segments of the bar, which we will discuss at our Strategic Planning Retreat in March. All of these steps aim to ensure that MSBA remains nimble, inclusive, and aligned with the evolving needs of Maryland’s lawyers.
Looking Ahead
Nine months into this bar year, the progress reflected in our initiatives is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers, staff, and partners across the state. From AI and legal technology to civility, practical skills, rule‑of‑law advocacy, and strategic planning, each project—completed, in progress, or newly launched—demonstrates our shared commitment to a profession defined by service, excellence, and innovation.
As president, I remain grateful for the trust you have placed in me and inspired by the energy you bring to this work. I invite every member of MSBA to stay engaged in these initiatives, share your feedback, and continue to lend your time and talent as we move into the final months of this bar year. Together, we are building an association—and a profession—that is ready to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.