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Lawyers Journal

The MBA's bi-monthly newspaper includes association news, practical columns and Section Review articles.

Issue September 2004

Small firm, big picture

Photo by David Gordon
MBA President Kathleen M. O'Donnell is planning a number of projects to reach out to small firm and solo practitioners as well as the public.

From her fourth-floor office, Kathleen M. O'Donnell enjoys hearing the noises that accompany working in the heart of downtown Lowell, from the chatter of teen-agers milling about at the end of the school day to the bustle of people moving through the city.

O'Donnell has become accustomed to an energetic environment by working in the Marcotte Law Office. There, she and her colleagues help numerous clients deal with a variety of legal issues all while facing the challenges that arise in running a law practice.

MBA goes to bat for bar advocates

While much of Massachusetts enjoyed a relatively cool spring and summer, attorneys across the commonwealth who accept court appointments for indigent defense cases were in the heat of battle of the issue of fair compensation for the work they perform. And MBA members, from past president Richard Van Nostrand and new president Kathleen O'Donnell on down through the ranks were on the front lines supporting the bar advocates' cause.

Long road leads to anniversary fee defeat

In a major victory for members of the bar and for all citizens of the commonwealth, the state legislature on July 30 voted to defeat Gov. Mitt Romney's final attempt at imposing so-called "anniversary fees" on court cases pending across the state.