Product Description

Online Session Only
Due to the ongoing public health crisis, this session will be held online via Zoom. Register for the in-person session, as usual. You will receive an email invitation with login information and instructions for the virtual session as the program date approaches. Attendance requirements remain in effect for the online session and will be enforced.

Completion of your Rule 3:16 requirement—and much more

Observance of the highest ethical standards, proficiency in essential elements of law practice, civility, and engagement in the legal community are among the hallmarks of professionalism. MCLE’s dynamic Practicing with Professionalism faculty bring these principles to life.

SJC Rule 3:16 requires all newly admitted lawyers in Massachusetts to complete a mandatory professionalism course within 18 months of admission. Spend the morning with MCLE and build a foundation in  professionalism that will serve you throughout your career—and life.

Resource materials

A major advantage of taking the Practicing with Professionalism course at MCLE is the rich compilation of resource materials—provided in electronic format—over 1,000 pages of original articles from existing MCLE publications, and materials from a number of regulatory agencies and professional organizations.

These materials serve not only as a valuable online companion for the course, but also as a continuing resource for research and reference in daily practice.

Attendance Policy

Attendance at this program, per SJC Rule 3:16, is a post-admission requirement. Only those already admitted to the Massachusetts bar will receive credit for the course; anyone not yet admitted to the bar will have to retake the course after admission.

Attendance at the entire program is required. Registrants who join online after the course has commenced will not be credited as having attend the day's program, but must register for another course date.

Agenda & Materials

• 8:30 am - 9:00 am

  Check-In and Practicing with Professionalism Video Montage
• 9:00 am - 9:05 am

  Law as a Profession: The Relevance and Importance of The Practicing with Professionalism Requirement

  A member of the SJC's Standing Committee on Professionalism emphasizes the value of this course, and identifies attributes and the importance of professionalism in the practice of law, while also highlighting the historical significance of Massachusetts lawyers in upholding the rule of law.

  Ingrid C. Schroffner, Esq., University of Massachusetts/Amherst/ Medical Sch/Ctr Healthcare Finance , Shrewsbury
  
• 9:05 am - 9:45 am

  Professionalism in Developing, Managing, and Maintaining Relationships—And in Problem Solving
• • Your reputation takes years to build; start off right today: Civility in attorney-client relationships, attorney-to-attorney interactions, relationships with colleagues (including non-attorney staff), and communication with court and government agency personnel must be respectful and rooted in ethical principles.

  Kathleen M. O'Donnell, Esq., Law Office of Kathleen M. O'Donnell , Milton
  Michael P. Sams, Esq., Kenney & Sams, PC , Southborough
  
• • How to artfully balance the tension between zealous advocacy and the duty to conduct oneself civilly at all times; and how to diffuse difficult personalities

  Panel
  
• 9:45 am - 10:40 am

  Connecting with the Legal Community: Building your Skills, Reputation, and Network through Pro Bono Work, Continuing Legal Education, and Engagement with Bar Associations
• • Supporting Access to Justice and Pro Bono Service

  Susan M. Finegan, Esq., Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo, PC , Boston
  Bethany Yue-Ping Li, Esq., Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund , New York
  Cynthia T. Runge, Esq., Peridot Family Law LLC , Boston
  Payal Salsburg, Esq., Laredo & Smith LLP , Boston
  
• • Engaging in Bar Associations and Continuing Your Legal Education

  Michael Kippins, Esq., Lawyers for Civil Rights , Boston
  Michael James Merriam, Esq., Law Offices of Michael J. Merriam , Boston
  Christina Miller, Esq., Suffolk University Law School , Boston
  Victoria M. Santoro Mair, Esq., Sweeney Merrigan Law LLP , Boston
  Ingrid C. Schroffner, Esq., University of Massachusetts/Amherst/ Medical Sch/Ctr Healthcare Finance , Shrewsbury
  
• 10:40 am - 11:20 am

  Challenges and Opportunities of New Technology and Social Media

  Maximize the benefits of technology and social media in your practice and marketing, with civility, while steering clear of potential ethical traps and pitfalls.

  Matthew M. Yospin, Esq., Law Office of Matthew M. Yospin , Boston
  
• 11:20 am - 11:35 am

  Break
• 11:35 am - 12:20 pm

  Implicit Bias; The Importance Of Diversity and Inclusion in The Legal Profession; and Promoting Access To Justice

  Impact implicit biases have on the practice of law, including on attorney interactions, client representation, court access, and jury selection. What can lawyers do to address this problem and promote diversity within, and equal service from, the legal profession?

  Ingrid C. Schroffner, Esq., University of Massachusetts/Amherst/ Medical Sch/Ctr Healthcare Finance , Shrewsbury
  
• 12:20 pm - 1:05 pm

  Tools and Resources for Maintaining Your Professional and Personal Well-Being: A Better Practice and A Better YOU
• 12:20 pm - 12:35 pm

  Top 10 Tips for Avoiding Rookie Missteps that Can Lead to an Inquiry from the Office of Bar Counsel

  Kristy A. Lavigne, Esq., Office of Bar Counsel, Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers , Boston
  
• 12:35 pm - 1:05 pm

  Resources Abound: The Importance of Well-Being, and Tips for Caring for Yourself and Your Practice from Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL) and Its Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP)

  Rachel Casper, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL | MassLOMAP). , Boston
  Shawn Healy, Ph.D, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL | MassLOMAP). , Boston
  
• 1:05 pm - 1:15 pm

  Closing Remarks

  Kathleen M. O'Donnell, Esq., Law Office of Kathleen M. O'Donnell , Milton
  

Please Note

MCLE webcasts are delivered completely online, underscoring their convenience and appeal. There are no published print materials. All written materials are available electronically only. They are posted 24 hours prior to the program and can be accessed, downloaded, or printed from your computer.

Faculty