I am honored to lead MSBA into its next chapter. I hope to inspire all of you to work collectively with us and give your best this Bar Year, which began on July 1, so that together we can achieve the initiatives I outlined at my induction.
I. PROMOTING THE RULE OF LAW
In these challenging times, our commitment to upholding the rule of law is more crucial than ever. We, as lawyers, are the guardians of our liberties. We will, therefore, launch a statewide town hall discussion to educate the public on the importance of an independent judiciary and the role of lawyers in safeguarding democratic principles. We must defend judges at all times from partisan political or personal attacks. There is no greater or more honorable profession than being a lawyer or judge, and both deserve the highest respect. We can’t have a strong democracy without a strong independent judiciary and well-trained lawyer advocates.
My Initiatives for the 2025-2026 Bar Year
II. CIVILITY AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS
As leaders in our communities, we must teach others to respect one another’s ideas and feelings. We don’t have to agree with everything someone says or does, but we should respect and defend their right to express these views. We will launch initiatives to promote civility in the legal profession and develop the next generation of legal leaders. These programs will focus on ethical practice, professional courtesy, and effective communication.
III. STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION
To chart the MSBA’s course for the future, we will convene a Strategic Planning Session, bringing together diverse voices from across our membership to define our priorities and goals for the next five years. The Strategic Planning Session will include these three items:
A. Attracting Corporate Counsel & Large Firm Attorneys
To strengthen our association, we will focus on engaging corporate counsel and attorneys from large firms. Their point of view has often been overlooked. We will create tailored programs and networking opportunities to address the unique challenges faced by in-house lawyers and large firm attorneys, fostering a more inclusive MSBA and one that reflects our lawyer population in Maryland.
B. MSBA as Maryland’s Premier CLE Provider
Continuing legal education is the cornerstone of professional excellence. We must make sure that all of our members have the necessary tools for a successful and effective practice. We will expand our CLE offerings, leveraging both in-person and virtual platforms to provide accessible, cutting-edge training for all attorneys who practice in Maryland.
C. Embracing Legal Technology
There is no greater challenge today than the advancement of technology in all phases of our lives, including within the legal profession. MSBA’s Artificial Intelligence Taskforce has been doing tremendous work for over a year now, including publishing An Overview of Ethical Considerations for Attorney Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence Technologies so that our members are aware of the ethical concerns of AI.
We will be expanding the scope of the AI Task Force’s work and renaming it the Legal Technology Task Force. It will identify new and emerging technology and, through articles and programming, educate our members on its use and how it will make their practices more efficient and effective. We will also seek to work with the judiciary to ensure that all courtrooms are equipped with the latest technology. The practice of law is constantly changing, and we want to make sure that the MSBA is a leader in educating our members so that they are prepared to adjust and embrace each change.
There’s a lot going on in our state, in our organization, and in the world, so we have a lot to do this year. As we embark on this journey together, let us remember that our strength lies in our unity and our shared commitment to justice. The MSBA has a proud 129-year history of connecting and empowering Maryland's legal community. Together, we will build on this legacy, ensuring that our association remains a beacon of excellence, innovation, and integrity in the legal profession. I look forward to serving you and working alongside each of you in the year ahead.
Marisa A. Trasatti, President
