The Advocate | Winter 2022

THE

ADVOCATE VOLUME 36, NUMBER 2 - Winter 2022

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SPRING ISSUE!

THE ADVOCATE Young Lawyers Section Council Maryland State Bar Association EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Jessica Gorsky, Chair Kerri Smith, Chair Elect Lauren Lake, Treasurer Avigayil Pearlman, Secretary Emmanuel Fishelman, Member At-Large Elizabeth Rosen, Past Chair BOARD OF GOVERNORS REPRESENTATIVES Jessica Gorsky Chris Jennison Josephine Bahn Christian Noble STANDING COMMITTEES ACTIVITIES CO-CHAIRS Emily Greene & Ashley Fellona ABA REPRESENTATIVE Chris Jennison DISASTER RELIEF CHAIR Kerri Smith DIVERSITY COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS Maya Zegarra, Jasmine Caesar-England, & Beatrice Thomas EDUCATION CHAIR Rima Kikani FAMILY FRIENDLY CO-CHAIRS Lauren Macari & Adam Rutherford LAWYER WELLNESS CHAIR Genna Hoy LEGISLATIVE CHAIR Josephine Bahn MEMBERSHIP / LAW STUDENT OUTREACH CO-CHAIRS David Risk, Justin Wallace

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 5

Message from the Chair Committee Updates 5 Education Committee

6 Open Meeting Committee 7 Wellness Committee

9 Public Service Committee 11 Membership Committee

12 ABA Update

13 Wellness Sidebar

13 6 Step Crockpot Lasagna

14 20-Minute Italian Wedding Soup 15 Easy Italian Meatballs

16 Work Smart Be Smart: Don’t “Bail” on your mental health – 9 Simple Ways to Deal with Stress at Work for the Busy Lawyer 19 First Annual Wellness Challenge

20 Riding the Circuits 20 Baltimore City

21 Frederick County 22 Howard County

24 Prince George’s County

NOMINATING CHAIR Jon Huddleston OPEN & ANNUAL MEETING CO-CHAIRS Greg Waterworth & Eleni vanRoden Bickley

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POLICY CHAIR Emmanuel Fishelman PRO BONO / WILLS FOR HEROES CO-CHAIRS Victoria Lucido, Bill Kiniry, & David Scull

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

PUBLICATIONS CHAIR Heather Krick

BY JESSICA M. GORSKY, SECTION CHAIR (JGORSKY@WTPLAW.COM)

PUBLIC SERVICE CO-CHAIRS Christian Noble, Amy Rappole & Garrett Mannchen

Greetings,

SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR Kyle Anthony STRATEGIC PLANNING CO-CHAIRS Kerri Smith & Avigayil Pearlman TECHNOLOGY CO-CHAIRS TJ Keilty III & James Miller YLS SUMMIT CO-CHAIRS Kerri Smith & Lauren Lake CIRCUIT REPRESENTATIVES Jeff Sadri, Anne Arundel Rachel Samakow, Baltimore City Adam Konstas, Baltimore County Sierra Mitchell, Calvert/St. Mary’s Spencer Cropper, Lower Shore Madonna Lebling, Upper Shore Denise Brown, Frederick Michelle Dauksha, Howard Shua Tajammul, Montgomery Mike Reiter, Prince George’s David Arnold, Western Shore Daniel Santos, UB Law Camilla Thorpe, UMD Law The Advocate is published quarterly by the Section of Young Lawyers of the Maryland State Bar Association, 520 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201.

The opinions exercised in this publication are those of the authors and should not be construed to represent the opinions of the Section of Young Lawyers or Maryland State Bar Association ©2022 Maryland State Bar Association, Inc.

I would like to begin by wishing everyone a wonderful new year, I hope everyone had a joyful and safe holiday season.

Our Section Council worked diligently to put on interesting, unique and diverse programming in 2021 and it is our continued goal to make sure 2022 will bring nothing less than the quality programming, helpful resources and networking connections that our members have come to expect.

As a bit of a highlight reel of our 2021 programming, back in August, our Technology Committee hosted a fascinating virtual panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI) as Evidence; in September, our Public Service Committee hosted a Volunteer Harvesting Event at Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Claggett Farm; in October our Wellness Committee hosted a virtual intimate roundtable discussion with the Maryland Lawyer Assistance Program and our Education Committee hosted an event on Employer Vaccination Mandates as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; in November we held our first Open Meeting of the year during which we learned how to make beautiful charcuterie plates; and in December we closed out 2021 with a holiday themed how-to mixology event.

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Kicking off 2022, YLS will be lending its support once again to the Special Olympics’ Polar Bear Plunge and we encourage all our members to join our efforts to support the cause.

Additionally, this winter, our Wellness and Family Friendly committees will be teaming up to host a virtual panel event on parenting and raising young families while lawyering through a pandemic, and our Membership Committee is planning to host a virtual bingo event with fun prizes for attendees. Stay tuned for more details on these events to come through our Section listserv updates.

Additionally, as we prepare for Spring, please make sure to also mark your calendars in anticipate of our Spring Open Meeting which will be taking place this March during the MSBA’s Legal Excellence Week, as well as our YLS Annual Charity event in support of Lawyers’ Campaign Against Hunger (LCAH) through the Maryland Food Bank which will be taking place on April 22, 2022 at Gertrude’s Restaurant in the Baltimore Museum of Art. The Maryland Food Bank is committed to expanding food access while providing the estimated 1 in 3 food-insecure

Marylanders with resources to help build pathways out of hunger, and for over 30 years the LCAH has been pivotal in helping support the MFB’s efforts. For more information on LCAH, please check out their website here.

All of our Section Council chairs have been working so diligently to plan a wide array of events and activities this year, despite the continued challenges of the pandemic. We welcome all of our members to check out the exciting events and activities offered by YLS on msba.org and through our Section’s listserv on MSBA Connect. To help us better serve you, we encourage our members to contact us with feedback and suggestions for what we can be doing to better advance the needs of our Section. Please feel free to email your suggestions and feedback to me directly at jgorsky@wtplaw.

As we enter this new year, we are so excited for what 2022 has in store for YLS. On behalf of all of us on Section Council, thank you to all our members for allowing us to continue to serve you and your needs.

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A DISCUSSION ON EMPLOYER VACCINATION MANDATES Education Committee: Chair, Rima Kikani

On October 26, the Education Committee hosted a timely virtual panel discussion around employer vaccination mandates. Panelists Janice Rockwell, Jeffrey Sadri, and Sarah Sawyer discussed the rights of employers to impose vaccination mandates, compliance with HIPAA, how employers can require employees have proof of vaccination, employees’ rights and exemptions they can request, what employees need to prove for exemptions, and the emergency order on mandates.

The panel discussion included a Q&A session where the panelists discussed the issues in imposing these mandates, employers mandating proof of vaccination from visitors, and the effects of the mandate.

For more information, attorneys are welcome to contact our panelists:

Janice Rockwell, Esq. Janice B. Rockwell, LLC 121-A North Court Street Frederick, Maryland 21701 Main: (301) 631-0900 Fax: (301) 631-0997 Jan@rockwelllaw.com

Jeffrey Sadri, Esq.

Ellison Sadri, LLC 2086 Generals Highway | Suite 201 Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Main: (410) 974-6000 Direct: (443) 321-8744 Fax:(410) 224-4590 jsadri@eslawgroup.com eslawgroup.com

Sarah Sawyer, Esq.

Offit Kurman 300 East Lombard | Suite 2010 Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Main: (410) 209-6400 Direct: (410) 209-6413 Fax: (410) 209-6435 Sarah.Sawyer@offitkurman.com Offitkurman.com

Join Us! Join YLS Council and get involved in one of our committees.

Contact Chair, Jessica Gorsky (JGorsky@wtplaw.com) for more details if you are interested.

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CHARCUTERIE “HOW-TO” AND YOU Open Meeting Committee

The YLS met virtually for their bi-annual Open Meeting to learn the ancient art of charcuterie board creation in preparation for the Fall and holiday seasons. Members and their families learned new tricks and good practices for making beautiful, fun, and most importantly, delicious charcuterie boards of any shape. Thanks to Brie & Board for instruction and everyone who joined us. We hope to see you at the Spring Open Meeting.

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MSBA YLS WELLNESS COMMITTEE Chair: Genna Hoy

This year, the Wellness Committee is taking a more holistic approach to wellness and will be bringing focus to mental and emotional wellness as well as financial and parental/family health and wellness.

This Fall, the Wellness Committee provided the following for YLS members: 1. LAP Roundtable • On Monday, October 18, the MSBA YLS Wellness Committee hosted an intimate virtual meeting with experienced lawyers from the MSBA Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP).

• The meeting consisted of an introductory portion from Kate Sinclair and Elizabeth (Beth) Hill with wellness exercises and core information about LAP’s services. Kate and Beth then led the discussion on their personal mental health journey as lawyers and the struggles they have experienced.

• The format then turned to a roundtable discussion with prompted questions to provide engagement between participants. The event was well-received with provoking dialogues and supportive affirmations and conversations on lawyer wellness and personal struggles some of us have faced!

• What is LAP? The Lawyer Assistance Program is available to all lawyers in Maryland and is committed to providing assistance to lawyers, judges, and law school students facing substance abuse, addiction, or mental health complications. LAP offers assessment, referral, short-term counseling, and continued support to ensure long term success. The recent expansion of the Lawyer Assistance Program offers a network of counselors across the entire state. Contact us for more information. Our services are free and confidential.

• Stay tuned for more information on another session in Spring!

2. The week of Halloween, the Wellness Committee highlighted an organization in Maryland, “I Support the Girls”, to help provide quality ‘treats’ and donate to those in need. “I Support the Girls” collects items for homeless youth, women, and refugees to include feminine wellness items such as maxi pads, new bras and underwear, face masks, toiletries, household supplies. Interested in learning more? Please visit the website for information on donating money or where to send your donated items.

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3. The weekly Peloton “Biking with Barristers” is back! Every Wednesday evening join fellow lawyers and ride a LIVE class after work. The class will be the first LIVE class that starts at 6p.m. or whichever first LIVE class that starts right after 6p.m. (for example, if the LIVE classes on Wednesday evening are 5:35 and 6:30pm, the class will be the 6:30pm class). This will give everyone time to get home from work and clip in. Check the schedule on your app and add it to your schedule as a reminder! To ride along, simply click on “add tags” under your profile settings and find #MSBAYLS, join the ride, and send high fives!

If you are unsure of which LIVE class, please feel free to message (gennahoy@outlook.com).

If you do not have a Peloton bike, you can still join with whatever stationary bike you do have at a lower monthly cost for access to the Peloton app! Peloton also offers a free 30 (right now 60!)-day trial, as well as special pricing/month for students, first responders, military and veterans (and their immediate families), educators, and medical providers.

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PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE The YLS Public Service Committee participated in the Living Classrooms Foundation’s Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. YLS members were able to drop off food for Baltimore families in need at both Beltsville and Baltimore City contactless drop-off points. The Living Classrooms Thanksgiving Food Drive was ultimately able to provide almost 400 full Thanksgiving meals and 100 extra bags of fixings.

Full meals included: • 1 Turkey • 2-3 cans of Corn • 1 pack of Cornbread or Biscuit Mix • 2-3 cans of Cranberry Sauce • 1-2 packs of Gravy Mix • 2-3 cans of Green Beans • 1-2 boxes of Instant Mashed Potatoes • 1-2 boxes of Stuffing Mix • 1-2 boxes of Dessert Mix (please include icing if needed) • 2-3 cans of Fruit (in water or own juice, no syrup) • 1 Pie Crust • 2 cans of Pie Filling • 1 Reusable Grocery Bag (for bagging items) • 1 disposable turkey Roasting Pan Programs that received meals include: Ascend through Music, Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students (BUGS); Fresh Start; Park House Community Center; Broadway Overlook Community Center; UA House Community Center; Safe Streets Belair-Edison & McElderry Park; POWER House Community Center; Project SERVE; and Workforce Development Programs.

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MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE UPDATE On December 16 the Young Lawyers Section Membership Committee hosted a virtual holiday mixology event. The event featured a mixologist from UnMuddled Bartending who provided a presentation on holiday cocktails, including a stepby-step demonstration of how to make a maple cinnamon old fashioned, spiced apple cider mule, and winter spiced gold rush.

An ingredients list for each of the three cocktails were provided to attendees ahead of time, and those ingredients included unique seasonal cocktail ingredients such as cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, honey and even maple syrup.

Many attendees wore “ugly sweaters” to celebrate this holiday season. The interactive event allowed the mixologist to answer several questions from attendees offering alternative ingredients and suggestions for how to adjust amounts for personal taste.

The YLS Membership Committee thanks everyone who attended the mixology event and wants all MSBA members to know that the Membership Committee is hosting a Virtual Bingo event in February. All attendees will be provided themed game boards to use for the event, and prizes will be provided to winners of each round. Look out for details for this event soon!

Connect!

All YLS members are automatically signed up for the YLS Section in the Connect platform. Use the email (young-lawyers-section-(yls).connect.msba.org) to send a message to the Section through Connect without logging in to the MSBA website.

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ABA TO CONVENE YOUNG LAWYERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR FEBRUARY CONFERENCE By: Chris Jennison, ABA Representative

After almost two years of virtual conferences, the ABA has announced that it intends to hold its Midyear Meeting in person in Seattle, Washington, from February 9-14, 2022. In addition to meetings of the “big bar,” the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) of the ABA will be convening young lawyers from around the country for its biannual Assembly.

There is no registration fee associated with the Midyear Meeting; however, all attendees and guests must be registered for the meeting and submit a proof of vaccination or negative COVID test to receive a name badge and onsite meeting access.

The ABA YLD Assembly is the principal policy-making body of the ABA YLD, where young lawyers debate different resolutions. Resolutions start as ideas for ways to improve the profession.

Resolutions are sometimes called reports with recommendations. The YLD reviews, debates, and votes on Resolutions written by young lawyers and other ABA groups, particularly those that affect young lawyers and the Division. If a resolution is approved by the Assembly, it becomes Division policy.

If appropriate, that resolution will then be sent to the ABA House of Delegates for consideration of approval as ABA policy. Past resolutions are on topics like whether the GRE should be allowed

for law school admission; whether legal employers should provide paid family leave; and whether student debt should be dischargeable in bankruptcy.

The MSBA has eight young lawyer delegate seats in the YLD assembly.

By the time you’re reading this, those seats may or may not have already been delegated. If you’re interested in serving in a delegate role at this or another meeting, please let me know (chris.s.jennison@gmail.com)!

In addition to the Assembly, which will meet on Saturday, February 12, 2022, there will be a number of CLEs and trainings available throughout the conference. The Spirit of Excellence Award will also provide an opportunity to recognize and reflect upon the significant progress that has been made toward diversity in the profession, and the significant work that remains to be done.

The funds raised at this event support the programs implemented by the ABA’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession to ensure that diverse lawyers enter and stay in the practice of law, which benefits the profession and those it seeks to serve.

Stay tuned for a recap of the meeting and information about the YLD Spring Meeting (Atlanta, GA, May 5-7, 2022) in coming issues of The Advocate!

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Wellness SIDEBAR: Be Smart Eat Smart

MAKE AN APPEALING MEAL!

Winter Themed Fast, Easy, and Heathy Dinner Recipes for the Busy Lawyer

6-Step Crock Pot Lasagna Ingredients • 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey or ground sausage; or vegetarian version, I substitute spinach!

• 1 onion chopped and 1 garlic clove • 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and oregano • 28-ounce jar/can tomato sauce • 1 egg • 16 ounces of ricotta cheese (or substitute cottage cheese) • Box of uncooked lasagna noodles • 1 bag of shredded mozzarella cheese and ½ cup of parmesan cheese Instructions 1. Brown the meat you are using with onion and garlic (if you are using meat – if not, move to step 2).

2. Heat the tomato sauce and spices and cook long enough until warm. Add the meat (if applicable).

3. Combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and mozzarella cheese in a bowl; add the spinach (if applicable).

4. Spoon a layer of the sauce onto the bottom of the slow cooker then add a layer of uncooked lasagna noodles to completely cover the sauce (break to fit). Top with the cheese mixture.

5. Repeat step 4 until all ingredients are used up. Top with the parmesan cheese.

6. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours.

Notes • Use a crockpot liner or spray with spam prior to layering to prevent sticking and for easier clean up.

• At work all day so need more than 4 hours? Buy a mechanical light timer and set it to come on 4-5 hours later! Just fill and adjust your times appropriately! Same as a time delay on modern ovens!

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20-Minute Italian Wedding Soup As it gets colder out, a hearty and healthy soup is a great go-to!

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • •

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 ⅓ cups chopped yellow onion ⅔ cup chopped carrot ⅔ cup chopped celery 2 tablespoons minced garlic 6 cups unsalted chicken broth 6 ounces orzo, preferably whole-wheat 1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh oregano ½ teaspoon kosher salt 24 cooked chicken meatballs Easy Italian Chicken Meatballs (see associated recipe) • 4 cups baby spinach • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese Instructions 1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add broth, cover and bring to a boil. Add orzo, oregano and salt; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is just tender, about 9 minutes.

2. Stir in meatballs and spinach; cook until the meatballs are heated through, and the spinach is wilted, 2 to 4 minutes.

3. Serve sprinkled with cheese and drizzled with the remaining 3 tablespoons oil.

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Easy Italian Meatballs Ingredients • • • • • • • •

¾ cup fresh breadcrumbs ¼ cup low-fat milk 1 large egg, lightly beaten ⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese ¼ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley 2 large cloves garlic, grated ½ teaspoon ground pepper Ground beef/turkey/chicken

Instructions 1. Position a rack in the oven 8 inches from the heat source; preheat broiler to high. Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

2. Combine the meat you are using with the breadcrumbs, milk, egg, cheese, parsley, garlic, and salt and pepper in a medium bowl; gently mixing until just combined.

3. Form the mixture into 24 meatballs, about 1 tablespoon each. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet. Broil until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of a meatball registers 165 degrees F, 9 to 10 minutes.

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Wellness SIDEBAR: Be Smart Work Smart

DON’T “BAIL” ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH – 9 SIMPLE WAYS TO DEAL WITH STRESS AT WORK FOR THE BUSY LAWYER Excerpt by Elizabeth Scott, PhD from The Verywell Mind

Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

According to a survey of more than 2,000 full-time U.S. employees, more than half find themselves stressed during at least 60 percent of the workweek. Work stress can also have significant health consequences that range getting more colds and flus to potentially serious illness such as heart disease. For lawyers, stress at work is common, no matter what area you practice.

A realistic approach to combating stress at work is adopting coping strategies; try the following stress management techniques if you are finding it hard to cope with stress during the day.

Start Your Day off Right After scrambling to get yourself ready (and if you have them, your kids fed and off to school), dodging traffic and combating road rage, and gulping down coffee in lieu of a healthy breakfast, many people arrive to work already stressed. This makes them more reactive to stress in the workplace.

When you start off the day with planning, good nutrition, and a positive attitude, you might find that the stress of your job rolls off your back more easily. **see the Fall 2021 edition of The Advocate on tips for breakfast on the go!

Be Clear on Requirements A known factor that contributes to job burnout is unclear requirements for employees. If you don’t know exactly what is expected of you, or if the requirements for your role keep changing with little notice, you might become extremely stressed.

If you find yourself never knowing if what you are doing is enough, it may help to 16

have a talk with your supervisor. You can take the time to go over expectations and discuss strategies for meeting them.

Stay Away from Conflict Interpersonal conflict takes a toll on your physical and emotional health. Conflict among co-workers can be difficult to escape, so it’s a good idea to avoid conflict at work as much as you can. Don’t gossip, don’t share too many of your personal opinions about religion and politics, and steer clear of “colorful” office humor. When possible, try to avoid people who don’t work well with others.

Stay Organized Even if you’re a naturally disorganized person, plan ahead to stay organized; this can greatly decrease your stress at work. Being organized with your time means less rushing in the morning to avoid being late as well as less hustling to get out the door at the end of the day. Keeping yourself organized can also mean avoiding the negative effects of clutter.

Be Comfortable Another surprising stressor at work is physical discomfort, often related to where you perform most of your daily tasks (such as your desk). You might not notice you’re stressed if you’re sitting in an uncomfortable chair for just a few minutes, but if you practically live in that chair when you’re at work, you might have a sore back and be more reactive to stress because of it.

Even small things like office noise can be distracting and cause feelings of lowgrade frustration. Do what you can to create a quiet, comfortable, and soothing workspace, and ask your supervisor about getting a standing desk or a balance ball chair.

Forget Multitasking Multitasking was once heralded as a fantastic way to maximize one’s time and get more done in a day. However, people eventually began to realize that if they had a phone to their ear and were making calculations at the same time, their speed and accuracy (not to mention sanity) often suffered.

There is a certain “frazzled” feeling that comes from splitting your focus, and it doesn’t work well for most. Instead of multitasking to stay on top of your tasks, try another cognitive strategy like chunking.* *Chunking is setting aside chunks of time to focus on one specific task while minimizing interruptions and grouping similar tasks together (like checking all email at once rather than throughout the day) to focus on then all at once during a specific chunk of time.

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Walk at Lunch Many people feel the effects of leading a sedentary lifestyle. Combat the physical and mental effects of work stress by getting some exercise on your break. If your schedule allows it, try taking short exercise breaks throughout the day. This can help blow off steam, lift your mood, and get into better shape.

Keep Perfectionism in Check Being a high achiever might make you feel good about yourself and help you excel at work but being a perfectionist can create problems for you (and those around you).

You might not be able to do everything perfectly, every time—especially in a busy, fast-paced job. A good strategy to avoid the perfectionism trap is always striving to just do your best and making time to congratulate yourself on your efforts. You may find that your results are better, and you’ll be much less stressed at work.

Listen to Music on the Drive/Ride Home Listening to music offers many benefits and can be an effective way to relieve stress before, during, and after work. Playing an uplifting song while you make breakfast can help you start the day off feeling better prepared to interact with the people in your life. Likewise, combating the stress of a long day with your favorite music on the drive home can help wind down and be less stressed when you get there.

For more tips on a healthy mind, tune in to The Verywell Mind Podcast or check out Verywell Mind online; it is an award-winning, trusted, and compassionate online resource that provides guidance to improve mental health and find balance.

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FIRST ANNUAL MSBA YLS WELLNESS CHALLENGE 2022!

For the next five months, beginning Monday January 3, 2022 through Monday June 6, 2022, the task, if you choose to accept it, is to complete the below Challenge Card featuring 25 simple and fun wellbeing activities. The Challenge is a voluntary effort to focus on mental, physical, and emotional health. Participants will use the below card to complete the activities that encourage personal wellbeing: nutrition, exercise, sleep, hydration, etc. There will be a celebratory event with possible prizes (TBD) at the end of the Challenge at the MSBA Annual Event in Ocean City for all participants.

Start a new fitness class (or check out our Peloton group!)

Go for a 15-minute walk at lunch once a week

Clean out and organize your office or that cluttered closet/ drawer

Write 3 notes of gratitude to yourself once a month

Perform a random act of kindness

Have a game night with family/ roommate instead of TV

No screen time for the last hour before bed for a week!

Enjoy an outdoor activity with someone

Take an in-person or virtual coffee break with a colleague

Listen to a favorite album – dancing encouraged!

Listen to a new Podcast

Reach out to a family member or friend you haven’t talked to in a while & catch up

Take a stretch break for 10 minutes at your desk once a day

Get 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep three nights in a row

Cook and eat dinner at the table with your family/ roommates 1x a week

Eat breakfast every day for one week

Try a new healthy recipe (check The Advocate for ideas!)

Drink 8 glasses of water a day for one full month

Exercise for 30 minutes 3x a week for an entire month

Donate or volunteer for a good cause

Bring healthy snacks to work

5 servings of fruit & veggies for 3 days

Send a message to a colleague on something you admire about them / congratulate them on a job well done

*FREE SPACE* (choose your own wellness activity)

Read an entire book for FUN

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RIDING THE CIRCUITS Baltimore City

Rachel Samakow, Representative Recap of 2021 Programming to Date: September September YLD Welcome back Happy Hour: The Bar Association of Baltimore City (BABC) Young Lawyers Division (YLD) kicked off the bar year with our first in person event since covid at Hotel Indigo. The YLD enjoyed catching up over cocktails and welcoming new members IRL. Public Service Program at the Maryland Food bank: with spots for this event limited due to covid considerations, there were more member volunteers than spaces available. The YLD enjoyed being able to give back to the community with this in person program.

October Volunteer Clean at Cylburn Arboretum: YLD members spent the day with the groundskeeping crew preparing the arboretum for winter weather, enjoying volunteering and hot apple cider.

YLD Second Annual Yappy Hour: The YLD hung out with their furry friends at Checkerspot Brewing Co. complete with a dog costume contest. While the official win went to an adorable bumblebee, as everyone spent the evening surrounded by puppies, it’s fair to say everyone was a winner.

November YLD Breakfast with the Bench: Over virtual coffee and conversation with the Honorable Robert Taylor, Jr., and the Honorable Catherine Chen, who discussed the unique challenges the courts have faced due to covid and invited members to share their thoughts.

December BABC Annual Holiday Party: The YLD helped to secure auction items, donations, and more for the BABC’s main fundraiser to sponsor the Children Living in Shelters Holiday Party. Not only do members get to spend an evening celebrating the holiday season together but will help keep the holiday cheer going by volunteering at the Children Living in Shelters party, set for December 14th. To volunteer with us, sign up at this link!

To join the BABC YLD, register here: Join or Renew | Baltimore City Bar Association (baltimorebar.org)

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Frederick County

Denise Hicks Brown, Representative

BAFC President Janice Rockwell, BAFC Executive Director Maegan Cooper (and her daughters) April Dixon, Clark Adams, Chelsea Kadish

October In October, YLS members gathered at First Fruits Farm in Freeland, Maryland, for the BAFC’s 2nd Annual Gleaning Event. In just over two hours, approximately 200 volunteers from various organizations harvested 60,000 pounds of Kennebec potatoes! An additional 50 volunteers harvested pumpkins in nearby fields. First Fruits Farm is the largest fresh produce provider to the Maryland Food Bank, which distributes to local food banks, homeless shelters, and soup kitchens.

At the end of the morning’s work, the volunteers left with a smile on their faces, a sense of gratitude and accomplishment, and a pumpkin to take home!

November In November, members of the YLS of BAFC donated food items and served

Carin Golze, Ian Bartman, Kelly Lynch, April Dixon, Brooke Gomulka, Elizabeth Stup

Above left: Kelly Lynch, Andrew Murphy, Kyle Kane.

Above right: Charlie Smith, Kristin King, Brooke Gomulka, Tyler Cejka

April Dixon, Trevor Addie-Carter

to-go meals at the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner with the Salvation Army, serving 466 residents of Frederick.

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Also in November, the YLS of the BAFC hosted its final happy hour of 2021 at Cucina Massi in downtown Frederick.

The covered outdoor patio and warm fall temperatures made for a perfect setting for members to gather to enjoy cocktails and conversation. Courtesy of Minnesota Lawyers Mutual, three YLS members received door prizes, including gift cards and sweet holiday treats!

December In December, the YLS of the BAFC partnered with Frederick County Public Schools through Ballenger Creek Elementary School to collect Christmas presents for children in need. YLS donated gifts totaling over $1,500 to 8 children! The gifts included winter coats, shoes, pants, shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, socks, gloves, hats, arts and crafts, puzzles, dolls, sports items, gift cards, and more! YLS also donated stockings, stocking stuffers, and gift wrapping supplies. This meaningful and joyful project reminds us to appreciate our many blessings this holiday season.

The YLS of the BAFC is pleased to announce the 2022 YLS Executive Committee as follows: • Chair: Brooke Gomulka - Assistant State’s Attorney for Frederick County • Chair-Elect: Rada Machin -The Machin Law Firm • Secretary: Clark Adams - Powell, LLC • Treasurer: Monique Nettleford-Bruce Maryland Legal Aid • Philanthropy Chair: Garrett Byron The Poole Law Group

• Circuit Representative Liaison: Denise Hicks Brown - Conklyn & Kemp Law Firm • Social Chair: William Sasse - Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Richard Sandy • Immediate Past Chair: April Dixon – McCurdy, Dean & Graditor, LLC

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Howard County

Michelle Dauksha, Representative Ice Cream Happy Hour – In lieu of the annual Crab Feast, HCBA held an Ice Cream Happy Hour on September 30, 2021 at The Common Kitchen in Clarksville Commons. The outdoor event was well attended, and individuals enjoyed local beers, sangria, and ice cream. Members brought non-perishable food items that were donated to the local food bank.

Membership Meetings – We have had three (3) luncheons this fall, with the following speakers: Judge William V. Tucker, Tim Maloney, and Howard County State’s Attorney, Richard H. Gibson, Jr. We look forward to future luncheons continuing to be in-person, with a virtual option as well.

Holiday Party – HCBA partnered with Howard County Women’s Bar Association and the Waring Mitchell Law Society for our annual holiday party on December 16, 2021. The event was held at The Meeting House in Columbia. It was great to see many new and old faces – so many that we reached the COVID-19 capacity.

Special thank you to our sponsors: Offit Kurman; Mulinazzi Law Office; Hermina Law Group; Davis|Agnor|Rapaport|Skalny; Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink; Weinberg & Schwartz, L.L.C.; Vallit Advisors; and KING HALL. The proceeds from ticket sales were donated to National Family Resiliency Center (NFRC) and the proceeds from the raffle were donated to VOICES for Children.

Seeking Submissions The Advocate is seeking submissions for our next issue.

Are you looking for a publication opportunity? Do you have an interesting story to share about your practice - a lesson learned or a practice pointer? Have you been trying to spread the word about your last pro bono case? Or do you just have an article that you would like to get published? The Advocate is your opportunity to shine!

Is there an upcoming event you would like other young lawyers to know about?

Is there an unsung hero in your legal community whose story you want to share?

Submissions can be any length…from a blurb of a few sentences to a scholarly article. The only requirement is that the subject relate to young lawyers in Maryland in some way.

We look forward to your submissions!

The deadline for the next issue is April 1, 2021. Please direct all questions to Heather Krick (hlkrick@gmail.com).

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Prince George’s County Michael Reiter, Representative

On November 4, 2021 a webinar was held as part of the ongoing, Bench to Bar Panel Discussion. The focus of the Zoom webinar was “Depositions”, with The Honorable William Snoddy, Prince George’s County Circuit Court, and Kraig Long, Esq. as speakers. This was an informative Zoom webinar providing perspectives from both the bench and practicing attorneys with helpful insight into best practices regarding depositions.

A National Adoption Day virtual Ceremony was held on November 18, 2021 hosted by the Honorable Sheila R. Tillerson Adams and The Honorable Judy Woodall.

The ceremony was held to celebrate new adoptive families and the finalization of adoptions of many children finding homes. The ceremony featured Judge Makeba Gibbs, Circuit Court for Charles County, who is an adoptive parent, as the speaker.

A violin solo was also performed to honor families and guests on the momentous occasion. The annual ceremony continues to be a truly special event year in and year out.

Also on November 18, 2021, the Annual Memorial Service was held via Zoom to remember those members of the community we lost in the past year.

On November 13, 2021 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Community Legal Services, PGCBA, in partnership with Shiloh Baptist Church of Landover, MD hosted a free virtual expungement clinic to help those in need. This was the Fourth Annual clinic provided to help those who may experience impediments finding a job or housing due to something on their record.

On December 7, 2021, Prince George’s County hosted its annual holiday party, with both Zoom and in-person options. It was an exciting time for all involved with simultaneous entertainment, including Bobby McKey’s Live Duel Piano Show and a virtual silent auction. The Bar also has accepted drop-offs of unwrapped toys to provide to Toys for Tots, an organization that provides toys to children in need for an enjoyable holiday season.

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PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE For questions or comments about The Advocate please contact any member of the Publications Committee: Heather Krick Beatrice C. Thomas

hlkrick@gmail.com beat.campbell@gmail.com