Registration has begun for the Massachusetts Bar Association's Annual Conference 2005, set for March 3-5, 2005, at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel in downtown Boston.
The theme for this year's conference is "Lawyers: Champions of Justice. Protectors of Liberty." For practicing attorneys, sitting judges and law students, this is your best opportunity all year to increase your legal knowledge, make new contacts, kick-start your practice or career while having fun with colleagues from across the state. With more educational programs and speakers than ever, new seminars on law technology and practice management, career development programs and an increased role for MBA sections, this year's conference is packed with reasons to register.
And what better reason to register now than being able to take advantage of several great discounts on registration, include a $50 "early-bird" discount on the Full-Conference Pass. For complete details on pricing options, see page 11.
Among the many highlights of Annual Conference 2005 are:
• Calvin C. Johnson, Jr., who spent 16 years behind bars in Georgia for a rape he did not commit, will deliver the keynote speech at the Annual Dinner on Friday, March 4. Johnson was freed from prison after the Innocence Project helped overturn his conviction. His acclaimed autobiography, "Exit to Freedom," recounts his horrific experience and the reality of racism in the criminal justice system. Johnson is a co-founder of the Georgia Innocence Project.
• Kenneth Feinberg, Special Master to the federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, will serve as guest speaker at the annual Access to Justice Awards Luncheon on Friday, March 4. Feinberg is one of the nation's leading experts in mediation and alternative dispute resolution, and is managing partner and founder of The Feinberg Group, LLP, with offices in Washington, D.C., and New York City.
• "Recent Developments in the Law" seminars in 13 practice areas. (Friday, March 4)
• New "Briefings" discussion forums on 11 "hot topics" in the law. (Friday, March 4)
• New programs on law practice management issues and career advancement and development. (Thursday, March 3)
• Bench/Bar Forums - Judges and lawyers share ideas and information on "Affording Justice: Preserving and Expanding Legal Representation for Individual Citizens." (Saturday, March 5)
• Tech Talk mini-seminars on law-practice topics. (Thursday & Friday, March 3 & 4)
• Special low pricing options for new lawyers, bar advocates, legal-services and government attorneys, and law students.
• Early registration discount - Save $50 off the full-conference registration fee by registering before Jan. 31, 2005.
Whether you are a general practitioner or a specialist, solo attorney, bar advocate or government lawyer, in-house counsel, legal administrator or law student, the MBA's Annual Conference 2005 is your best opportunity for professional development, business practice updates and networking with peers.