The new fall issue of Trial Reporter, MAJ's journal is now available online. Members should have received their hard copy in the mail last week. In this issue, you'll find feature articles on the topic of Auto Negligence, including:

• Preserving and Presenting Evidence in Auto Accident Lawsuits, and Spoliation Principles, by Nathaniel Fick
• Negotiating with Insurers, by Michael Belsky, Shaun Owens, and Mitchell Rosenweig
• LegalTech: The Automobile Negligence Lawyer's Technology Toolbox, by John J. Cord
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Plus, the following:

• New Maryland Medicaid Subrogation Regulations, by Ron M. Landsman
• Frequently Asked Questions: Serving Local Agencies, by Irwin Weiss
• Assembling and Maintaining the Litigation Toolkit, by Robert Zarbin
• Maryland's Non-Economic Cap Charts, by Robert R. Michael
• Case Note: David v. Martinez, by Eric Stravitz
• Appellate Watch, by Cary J. Hansel, III
• President's Message, by Lawrence S. Greenberg
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Check it out, and share it with others! Trial Reporter is one of your member benefits and one of the most well respected legal journals in the state, and country.

MAJ Report – MAJ Kicks Off 2012-2013 CLE & Education Season

With the 2012 – 2013 CLE education season right around the corner, the Maryland Association for Justice Education & Programs Committee, chaired by Philip C. Federico, is excited to share just a sampling of what to expect in the coming months. These legal education opportunities have been designed to benefit every MAJ member. Regardless of your firm size, number of years in practice or area of expertise; we have a seminar for you!

MAJ is well known for our annual seminars, and this year will not disappoint. For 2012 – 2013, we are offering seven large seminars with intriguing topics to keep our members up-to-date on the latest legal developments. These full and half-day seminars are a great resource to our members and non-members alike. Many prominent attorneys, judges and experts are already slated to speak at numerous upcoming events, with their valuable handouts distributed at each seminar. As an additional benefit, attendees have ample opportunity to network with each other, as well as our sponsors and exhibitors.

And did you know MAJ is accredited to provide CLE credits in Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania?  If you are licensed to practice in those states, don’t miss out on the opportunities we offer to earn credits. Also, if you require CLEs in other states, we will even request CLE approval as needed.

We are kick starting this seminar season with our ever-popular Workers’ Compensation Seminar on September 27  at the Radisson Plaza in Baltimore City. The Commissioners have been contacted and are prepared to give valuable tips to attorneys. This full day seminar will also include lectures from physicians and other workers’ compensation attorneys. Check your mailboxes for the full agenda!

The Workers’ Compensation Seminar will be followed by the Social Media Seminar on October 8, 2012 at the Doubletree Hotel in Columbia. Learn about the ethics of internet marketing AND get your ethics CLE! This half day seminar will be a great opportunity for our solo practitioners to hear from Carolyn Elefant, author of Solo by Choice: How to Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be, about small firm management. This seminar will also examine use of electronic filing, something our paralegal members will want to take advantage of. 

In addition to our larger seminars, MAJ also holds several lunch-and-learn seminars annually. These seminars are typically held at the MAJ Office and present the opportunity for members to learn about a specific topic in a more intimate setting. Keep an eye out on MAJ’s Week Ahead for the next lunch-and-learn.

For the members who are looking to earn CLE credits while at the office, SeminarWeb is the perfect route to take. These seminars are announced every two months with speakers representing state trial lawyer associations nationwide. Each seminar is 75 minutes long and includes 10 minutes of question and answer time. Not only do MAJ members get to register for these seminars, but they have the opportunity to present topics using SeminarWeb, giving you the opportunity to receive national recognition for your key practice knowledge.

You can take advantage of MAJ’s Education and Program’s learning opportunities online or in-person. Find all the latest information about our events at www.marylandassociationforjustice.com. If you have any questions about upcoming events call the MAJ office at (410)872-0990 or email Allison Fields, MAJ Conference & Sponsorship Program Coordinator at allison@marylandassociationforjustice.com.

MAJ Announces 2012 Social Media Seminar

Social Media Seminar

October 8, 2012 • 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Doubletree Hotel, Columbia, MD       

Registration is open! The Maryland Association for Justice will be presenting a seminar dedicated strictly to social media and technology.  This half-day seminar will offer valuable information that you don’t want to miss.

Here is a preview of what the seminar has to offer:

• Judge Ronald A. Silkworth will be giving an in-depth explanation of  Maryland Electronic Filing, coming soon to a court near you. This is a great opportunity for both attorneys and paralegals to learn from the best about a system that is expected to go statewide, and to get answers to all of your questions.
• Hear from our experts on attorney websites and design by FindLaw, experts in online legal marketing.
• Get your Ethics CLE credits with Lydia Lawless from the AttorneyGrievance Commission as she discusses the ethics of internet marketing and social media.
• Trial Considerations: PowerPoint, Computer-Generated Evidence, and Admissibility
• Author and solo-lawyer Carolyn Elefant will discuss social media how-to: Facebook, Twitter and blogs for law firms.

REGISTRATION

Members Log-in to register
President’s Club       Eagle       Founder       Contributor     Regular Member     Law Student     Paralegal     New Admittee	$40 $50 $65 $140 $25 $50 $45
Non-Member	$195

For registration and additional program details, click here.

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

Carolyn Elefant has been on the front lines representing and assisting solo lawyers since opening up her own practice in 1993.  She recently published the 2011-2012 edition of Solo by Choice: How to Be the LawyerYou Always Wanted to Be.  Her website, MyShingle.com, is devoted to solos and solo-wannabes, and provides a wealth of resources and information related to small firm management.  Ms. Elefant is based in Washington, D.C. and works on energy regulatory and enforcement law, appellate work, and marine renewable energy.  Follow her on Twitter at @carolynelefant, and contact her by e-mail at carolyn@carolynelefant.com.

Questions? Call MAJ as 410.872.099. or visit our website at www.marylandassociationforjustice.com.