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By the end of the week, the Maryland State Bar Association will have a new president.
The transfer of power from the outgoing president to the president-elect, who spent the past year preparing for the top job, takes place each year at the close of the MSBA’s annual legal summit in Ocean City.
Raphael J. Santini, an independent practitioner since 1988 who focuses his practice on criminal defense and the representation of injured parties in personal injury cases, will assume this role.
Santini serves on the MSBA board of directors and is a member of the bar association’s small business and individual practice section. She also previously served as chair of the diversity and inclusion committee of the Baltimore County Bar Association and is a member of the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association.
In an interview with The Daily Record, Santini outlined his goals for the MSBA and his plans to help increase MSBA membership and promote inclusion.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
The Daily Record: What did you take away from your year as president-elect?
Santini: In my year as president-elect, I was presented with a comprehensive understanding of the organization and a closer look at the structure, operations (and) culture of MSBA. I was able to build relationships with stakeholders, committees, sections and become familiar with ongoing projects.
Anna Sholl, our CEO, and Jason DeLoach, our outgoing President, presented me with the opportunity to (discuss) their goals and priorities for the coming year and identify areas of growth, improvement and innovation within the MSBA.
TDR: What are some of the components and challenges of leading the MSBA that people may not recognize?
Santini: As president-elect of the MSBA, I feel immense pride in being able to represent an organization that is surrounded by balanced talent, dedication and passion for respecting the law. Regarding my challenges, I do not see them as a big challenge, but rather as an opportunity to make positive change in the Maryland legal community.
For example, the Maryland Supreme Court is considering whether or not to implement minimum CLE requirements for attorneys. As the court continues to consider (whether) a mandatory CLE can be implemented in Maryland, the MSBA continues to advocate that attorneys pursue implementation in innovative, friendly, and flexible ways to include reciprocity in other states’ accreditation. Additionally, MSBA believes in traditional CLE, but many of the highly qualified bar association programs and activities that MSBA members already participate in are aimed at increasing their general knowledge and connecting with the profession.
TDR: How do you anticipate your experience as a solo practitioner will have prepared you for this role?
Santini: My experience as a solo practitioner provides valuable knowledge and skills to help me become an MSBA president. As a solo practitioner, I handle a wide range of legal matters in different practice areas and this provides me with diverse experiences to prepare me to understand the challenges facing the legal profession and the needs of professionals in different fields.
TDR: What are your goals for your year as president and what would you like to see change?
Santini: I’m going to set five goals for next year. One is full inclusion of MSBA… We need to improve (and have) more participation in MSBA. I will work with MSBA staff to visit multiple locations and locations across the state and hold forums to show prospective members the benefits of being an MSBA member and demonstrate why MSBA is the voice of the profession.
Another objective is judicial security… A judicial officer must be neutral, impartial and free from danger in dispensing justice in our state. The MSBA will continue with the judiciary to participate in the new legislative working group, which shares this goal. We were successful in passing Judge Wilkinson’s legislation this term, which we are very happy about.
A third goal I have is to have permanent qualified language and disability interpreters in every district court in our state. … As president, I plan to collaborate with the MSBA committee and board of governors to address this critical issue as part of our advocacy efforts and examine how best to advocate on this issue.
Another issue that is important to me is the elimination of the constitutional judicial retirement age in Maryland. A person’s age alone should not determine his or her ability to serve our state. A judicial vetting process should determine a candidate’s suitability to serve the public. Working with MSBA and its committees and board, we will explore potential opportunities to advance this important issue as part of our advocacy work.
The other issue that is really important to me is the assistance of an attorney. The Lawyer Assistance Program is there to help. I firmly believe that the MSBA is our brother’s keeper. The MSBA Lawyer Assistance Program provides a network of therapists who help attorneys, their staff, and their families deal with the stress of these addictions and other mental health issues. As we go to all parts of the state, my intention is to explain these services to the legal community and the benefits that the MSBA will provide them.
I appreciate the opportunity to lead the organization and invite all Maryland attorneys to be part of this year’s plan.
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