This year’s programming focuses on the intersection of human-centered lawyering and the "Second Wave" of AI integration. In an era where technology is moving from experimentation to everyday infrastructure, Maryland attorneys must fully leverage the tools of the future while doubling down on the empathy and ethics that define our profession.

MEMBER PRICE: $159 | NON-MEMBER PRICE $209

*Enjoy Early Bird Pricing Through September 8, 2026.

Continuing education credit will be offered for surrounding MCLE states (Credit hours will be updated, please stay tuned).

Agenda

9:00 AM | Opening Keynote: The Future-Proof Lawyer
Topic: Beyond the Hype—Mastering the "Second Wave" of AI.
As we approach 2027, the novelty of generic AI has worn off. This session explores how solo firms are using legal-specific AI agents for autonomous document review and predictive litigation analytics. We’ll discuss the shift from "billable hours" to "value-based pricing" in an era of hyper-efficiency.

10:30 AM | Ethics & AI: Navigating Rule 19-301.1
Topic: Duty of Competence and "Human-in-the-Loop" (HITL) Requirements.
Maryland Bar Counsel discusses recent disciplinary trends involving AI hallucinations and the ethical mandate for attorney verification.
Key Issues: Protecting client data in LLMs, the ethics of AI-generated billing, and the new SB 936 (2025) requirements regarding algorithmic discrimination in legal tools.

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM | Lunch

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM| Modernizing Your Small Firm: A Working Lab for Managing Partners
You didn’t go to business school, but you now run a business. This working session is designed for the managing partner who is juggling people, profitability, and constant change in a small firm environment. In this three-hour, highly interactive workshop, you will:

• Map your current firm structure: who does what, how decisions are made, and where work really happens
• Examine your “people strategy” through a business lens: roles, accountability, and risk when key staff hold all the institutional knowledge
• Pressure-test your financial model: how your staffing, billing, and compensation choices actually drive (or erode) profit
• Identify one concrete modernization initiative for your firm (e.g., staffing redesign, compensation tweak, process/tech change) and outline a realistic implementation plan

Please note: This is not a CLE lecture. Expect short teaching segments, table discussions with peers facing similar challenges, and guided exercises using your own firm as the case study. Participants must complete a brief pre-session survey so content and working groups can be tailored to firm size and role.

4:00 - 5:00 PM | Networking Happy Hour

Unable to attend the live program? The program will be recorded and will be available on-demand.  Pre-purchase the on-demand program today!  

*Please note, this program will be available 2 weeks after the live event concludes.

MEMBER PRICE: $159 | NON-MEMBER PRICE $209

*Enjoy Early Bird Pricing Through September 8, 2026.

The Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) is committed to making its online and in-person services, products, and events accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. To request an accommodation, please complete this form.