Community Outreach
Pro Bono Clinic
Four times each year, the Litigation Section undertakes the responsibility to staff an Advice and Referral Clinic at Bread for the City, in Southeast Washington, D.C. We see individuals who walk in with a variety of civil law issues. Problems are handled at the Clinic or referrals are made—either to another public service organization or to the Bar’s Pro Bono Program.
Youth Law Fair
The Litigation Section has been the primary sponsor of the annual Youth Law Fair for the past seven years, obtaining financial and other support from other sections of the D.C. Bar. This year, the Youth Law Fair will take place on March 24, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse. The Fair will focus on the security risks in social networking, and a representative from Facebook is expected to address the attendees. The Litigation Section is the primary sponsor of the Fair, which is intended to provide underserved youth in the District of Columbia with a positive, “hands–on” introduction to the judicial system and the law. In addition to a mock trial exercise, the Fair includes tours of courtrooms, judges’ chambers, and holding cells led by Superior Court Judges.
Last year’s Fair took place on March 19, 2011 and addressed the topic of cyberbullying.
Public Interest Trainings
This past year, the Litigation Section continued its highly successful program of subsidizing legal training for attorneys who provide free legal assistance to low-income people. In FY 2011–12, the section has committed up to $5,000 toward CLE programs for legal services attorneys. Under the program, the Litigation Section pays 80% of the fees associated with these valuable training programs.
In addition, in June 2011, the Litigation Section was able to offer substantial scholarships for legal services attorneys to attend the “Intensive Trial Skills” NITA training held at the Georgetown University Law Center.
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Membership and Financial
The Bar’s financial statements show the section with a positive balance.
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Other Programs
On May 18, 2011, the Litigation Section hosted an event entitled “No Limits: the Billion Dollar 2012 Campaign Landscape After Citizens United.” The event featured a panel of election law practitioners, who discussed the implications of Citizens United and its progeny for the 2012 election.
On October 19, 2011, the Litigation Section and its new Young Litigators Committee hosted an event entitled, “Bob Bennett: Reflections on a Career as a Trial Lawyer.” The event—a brown bag lunch—featured an interview and Q&A session with well–known trial lawyer Bob Bennett.
On October 26, 2011, the Litigation Section hosted a panel discussion entitled “False Claims Act Litigation and Investigations.” The panel featured an Assistant U.S. Attorney, a defense attorney, and a relator’s attorney. They addressed trends in qui tam litigation under the False Claims Act.
On December 12, 2011, the Litigation Section’s Young Litigators Committee held a holiday happy hour.
Coming soon
On January 25, 2012, the Young Litigators Committee will host an event featuring Associate Deputy Attorney General Rob Weiner.
We also have cosponsored, or are cosponsoring, numerous other programs with the other Bar sections.
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Judicial Reception
On October 11, 2011, the Litigation Section hosted its Twenty–Sixth Annual Judicial Reception at the Mayflower Hotel. The event was cosponsored by the D.C. chapter of the Federal Bar Association and drew a large crowd of D.C–based judges and attorneys.
We look forwarding to continuing these efforts and hosting a variety of other programs and events for the benefit of our members and the community in the new year.
Respectfully submitted, Michael D. Kass
Lucy E. Newton
Cochairs, D.C Bar Litigation Section
