Lawyers Journal
By Richard P. Campbell
I am the apostle of the obvious when I bark about the horrible
state of affairs in the law economy in the commonwealth, where
annually 2,500 newly minted lawyers compete for approximately 720
identifiable, paying jobs. Those new lawyers come to the
commonwealth from nine law schools resident in the
state1 and another seven law schools resident in the
contiguous New England states.2 The math is depressing
for those new lawyers: 16 law schools churn out more than 1,500
graduates who will likely be unemployed and may never have
satisfactory careers as full time practicing lawyers earning a
decent living. An exclamation point was added to this story
recently by a Boston College Law School job board posting. The
posting advertised a full-time associate position as a small Boston
law firm, paying $10,000 per year (i.e., less than the minimum
wage).
By Christina P. O’Neill
A year after she had to dive under her desk while her office
blew apart, Springfield attorney Andrea R. Reid and her law partner
Lynn Gaudet have gotten most of their logistical issues addressed.
Reid is now practicing out of an office-share location on State
Street. Gaudet's Fitchburg office was unaffected.
By Tricia M. Oliver
The final meeting of the House of Delegates for the 2011-12
association year took place at the University of Massachusetts
Boston on May 17. Among the business at the meeting, the delegation
voted to accept a report from the MBA's Task Force on Law, the
Economy and Underemployment entitled "Beginning the Conversation."
Delegates also heard from Massachusetts Judges Conference on a
long-overdue salary increase proposal for members of the bench. The
meeting concluded with the ceremonial passing of the gavel from MBA
President Richard P. Campbell to MBA President-elect Robert L.
Holloway Jr.
By Jennifer Rosinski
More than 800 members of the legal community gathered at the
Westin Boston Waterfront on May 31 for the Massachusetts Bar
Association's 2012 Annual Dinner, where Victoria Reggie Kennedy
gave an inspiring keynote address on the role of lawyers in society
and Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) was honored with the MBA
Legislator of the Year Award.
By Lee Ann Constantine
As summer begins, the pace on Beacon Hill continues to be
governed by a number of high profile conference committees.
Conference committees are appointed to forge compromise after the
House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill. At press
time, the committee charged with brokering a deal on the Fiscal
Year 2013 State Budget completed its work, while committees
continue to work towards compromise on legislation on habitual
offenders, foreclosure and health care reform.