Recently President-Elect John Gontrum and I attended the Conference of Bar Presidents at Solomans Island, Maryland. This conference brings together the bar association leaders from all jurisdictions of Maryland to review items of interest and to discuss matters affecting bar associations and their members.

After two days of meetings and discussions it is clear to me that the BCBA is at the top of the class as far as legal and social events provided to its members. Almost every time an idea or suggestion was presented at any group meetings, the BCBA had already implemented it. These included continuing legal education seminars, committee lunches and dinners, speakers on topics effecting the legal profession and/or bar association members, legal aid through lawyer referral and pro bono, banquets, softball teams, bowling, etc. The BCBA Annual Black Tie Banquet was the envy of all bar associations because of our members participation.

One new idea presented at the Conference of Bar Presidents regarding raising funds for bar associations included obtaining of grants from the Maryland State Bar Association and the American Bar Association for worthy projects and for bar association committees such as our Young Lawyers Committee. Heather Martin, our Executive Director, is following up on this.

Another suggestion implemented by other bar associations both to raise funds and further the legal profession was to allow law students to become bar association members at reduced rates. At the last Executive Council meeting admitting of law students to the BCBA was considered. Discussions included law student participation in the BCBA legal and social activities but no voting privileges and no admittance to the BCBA Annual Black Tie Banquet.

This law student membership suggestion has been referred to the Membership and Admissions Committee and the Constitution and Bylaws Committee for further review and will be revisited.

Have a happy holiday.