The Litigation Section has been active in planning and executing a variety of activities and other contributions to the community. Details of our activities follow below.
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.
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Youth Law Fair
The Litigation Section has been the primary sponsor of the annual Youth Law Fair for the past eight 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 9, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse. This year’s theme is “BullyProof!” 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 24, 2012 and addressed the topic of security risks in social networking.
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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 2012, the Section contributed $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 May 2012, the Litigation Section was able to offer $2,400 in scholarships for D.C.–area legal services attorneys to attend an intensive NITA trial skills training.
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Membership and Financial
The Bar’s financial statements show the section with a positive balance.
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Public Statements
On October 10, 2012, the Litigation Section, along with the Courts, Lawyers, and the Administration of Justice Section, issued a Public Statement Regarding the Video Visitation Policy of the D.C. Department of Corrections.
Other Programs
On January 3, 2013, the Litigation Section and its Dispute Resolution Committee sponsored a panel event entitled, “The Role of the Corporate Ombuds: A Partner for Risk Mitigation and Conflict Prevention.” The event had been rescheduled from the fall of 2012.
On November 13, 2012, the Litigation Section and its Young Litigators Committee hosted an event about ethics issues facing young litigators, featuring experts on ethics and litigation from law firms, the Board of Professional Responsibility, and the D.C. Bar.
On April 26, 2012, the Litigation Section and its Women Litigators Committee held a panel discussion entitled “Women Litigators: What We Do Right.” A panel of female litigators and judges discussed their experiences and characteristics of effective and persuasive advocates. An informal reception followed.
On February 21, 2012, the Litigation Section and its Young Litigators Committee hosted a brown bag lunch event with Antonia Hernandez, the former president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
On January 5, 2012, the Litigation Section and its Young Litigators Committee hosted a roundtable discussion with Associate Deputy Attorney General Rob Weiner.
In addition, the Young Litigators Committee hosted a number of popular networking events.
The Litigation Section also has cosponsored, and is cosponsoring, numerous other programs with the other Bar sections.
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Judicial Reception
The Litigation Section is planning to hold its Twenty-Seventh Annual Judicial Reception on Thursday, February 28, 2013, in the D.C. federal court atrium. We are excited to report that this event will be cosponsored this year by the Criminal Law and Individual Rights Section. The sections expect that combining the civil and criminal sides will generate increased interest from both attorneys and judges. The event also will likely be co-sponsored by other D.C.–based bar associations and bar association chapters.
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
Kathleen R. Hartnett
Cochairs, D.C Bar Litigation Section
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