With the support of Hon. John G. Turnbull II and Hon. Alexandra N. Williams, Administrative Judges of the Circuit and District Courts, respectively, the Young Lawyers Committee is happy to resume Chamber Chats for the benefit of young lawyers who are members of the Baltimore County Bar Association. This program was initiated in 1989, and ran for several years. The following is a brief explanation.

What is it?   

A Chamber Chat is an informal monthly breakfast or lunch meeting between a small number (8-12) of attorneys and a judge (different judge every month) taking place in the judge’s chambers.  The attorneys should bring a breakfast or lunch, and will spend 45 minutes with the judge speaking informally on a topic of the judge’s choice.  Normally the attorneys will be able to ask some non-case related questions. In addition, a member of the Baltimore County Bar Association Professionalism Committee (who is an experienced attorney) will attend the Chamber Chats.

 

Chamber Chats will serve to build collegiality between the bench and bar.  Attorneys will be personally introduced to judges in a non-adversarial environment.  Young attorneys' exposure in this informal setting will allow them to be more comfortable in front of the judges during adversarial matters, while maintaining a high level of respect between the bench and the bar.  Additionally, judges will be able to speak candidly and may be able to shape the way attorneys interact with each other and with the court.

 

Each month a different judge will volunteer to host the 45-minute informal Chamber Chat.  Any member of the Baltimore County Bar Association Young Lawyers Committee will be able to participate on a first-come, first-serve basis.  However, until interest moderates, the bar will be asked to hold off participating a second time. Members outside of the Young Lawyers Committee will only be permitted if there are not enough young lawyers participating.

 

Where would it be advertised?  

The Chamber Chats would be noted monthly in The Advocate under the Young Lawyer’s Committee heading with a short explanation of the program, the name of the judge and the person to contact to participate.  Further, the Chamber Chats will be advertised on the Baltimore County Bar Association’s webpage.

 

A volunteer from the Young Lawyer Committee would contact the judges to arrange a schedule.  A judge would only be asked to participate one time each year.  Attendees would sign up through the Baltimore County Bar Association’s webpage (www.bcba.org).  As space is limited, participants must receive a confirmatory email before being admitted to the Chamber Chat.  A short list would be kept in case attorneys cancel.  The volunteer attorney would assist the judge in setting up the chambers, would be present to explain the purpose and to introduce the judge, and would assist with any required clean up.

 

Why would only 8-12 attorneys participate every month?  

The main concept of an informal “chat” could only be served if the number participating is kept small.  This will allow personal interaction between the judge and the attorneys, and would enable the chat to serve the important purposes listed above.

 

How would the Chamber Chats be fairly administered considering the small number of slots available? 

In Baltimore County, participants registering via BCBA’s webpage will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, with a small number of back-up names taken.  Those that were not able to be scheduled will be told to register again after the next Chamber Chat has been scheduled.  Names will not be taken in advance of the next Chamber Chat.  Those that are scheduled to participate will be asked not to schedule again until interest moderates. This way, all attorneys who wish to participate will be able to participate.