Pilot Membership Initiative

1. Pilot Membership Initiative Special Committee on Military Law Membership Subcommittee Maryland State Bar Association

2. Categories of Membership • MSBA has two (2) basic membership categories: • Attorney Member • Associate Member

3. Benefits of Membership • As noted on the MSBA’s website, “as an Attorney Member of the Maryland State Bar Association, you are entitled to discounts on car rentals from the leading companies, discounts on fax machines, express mail, and long distance telephone service and much much more.”

4. Member Services & Benefits • ABA Publications • Advanced Business System Office Equipment • Baltimore Office Supply Printing Services • Car Rentals (Avis, Budget, & Hertz) • Credit Card Processing • Web Sites Through Esqsites123.Com • Meeting Bridge Conference Calling And Web Conference • Financial Services (Bank of America Credit Card, Credit Line, & Professional Services Account) • Legal Education (MICPEL) • Life, Disability, & Dental Insurance • Magazine Subscriptions • Office Depot • Professional Liability Insurance • Postini Anti-virus Protection And Spam Filtering • Shipping (Dhl Express) • T-mobile Service

5. MSBA Services • Annual Meeting & Exhibit Show • Annual Report • Bar Bulletin • Bar Journal • Courthouse Identification Badges • Electronic Bar Briefs (EBB) • Ethics Hotline • Ethics Opinion • Fastcase • Law Day • Law Office Management Administration (LOMA) • Lawyer Assistance Program • Lawyers' Manual • Legislative And Governmental Relations • Mailing Lists • Media Relations • Mentor Program • Online Services • Public Awareness Brochures • Publications/Newsletters • Sections Memberships • Travel Programs

6. Attorney Member • New Admittees • Attorneys Admitted to Bar Less Than 5 years • Attorney Admitted to Bar More Than 5 years

7. Attorney Member • New admittees who have not been previously admitted to any bar will receive the first eight months of their membership in the MSBA and three sections plus the Young Lawyers Section free of charge. • Annual dues for attorneys admitted to any bar less than five years are $75.00 and for attorneys admitted to any bar five years or longer dues are $125.00. • MSBA calendar year runs from July 1st thru June 30th.

8. Associate Member • Law Student $25.00 • and must attend a Maryland accredited law school. • Paralegal/Legal Assistant $50.00 • and must be sponsored & employed by an active MSBA member. • Law Firm Administrator $75.00 • and must also be sponsored & employed by an active MSBA member. All associate members received all MSBA benefits except the Lawyer's Manual. However, these members are prohibited from serving on the Board of Governors and may not participate in voting for BOG representatives.

9. Pilot Membership Initiative • Establishing a new category of membership • Affiliated Member • An Affiliated Member is not entitled to receive any member benefits and services, or any MSBA services, except for participation on this committee’s list server. • Annual MSBA dues for all Affiliated Members are free or at a reduced cost of $25.00. However, all Affiliated Members must pay committee dues to cover committee-related administrative expenses.

10. Pilot Membership Initiative • An Affiliated Member is not to be reimbursed by this committee or the MSBA for costs and expenses related to service on this special committee. • An Affiliated Member is prohibited from serving on the Board of Governors and may not participate in voting for BOG representatives. • By serving on this committee, Affiliated Members who are attorneys licensed in other states will not be subjected to Maryland laws, regulations, rules and policies concerning the practice of law.

11. Pilot Membership Initiative Potential Membership Prospects • Current MSBA members • Attorneys (Non-MSBA Members, MD Licensed) • Military Community (Non-MSBA Members & Licensed in Another State) • Active Duty, Reserve, & National Guard • Civilian Military Attorneys • Law Students

12. Pilot Membership Initiative • GOAL: Increase membership on this committee to 50 MSBA members and 25 Affiliated Members. • OBJECTIVE: • Recruit MSBA members from the U.S. Armed Forces, the Maryland Defense Force JAG Detachment and other such entities; • Recruit Non-MSBA members who are licensed in Maryland and other States; • Recruit UoB & UoM law school graduates and retirees who are serving or served in the U.S. Armed Forces. • Recruit Law Students from UoB & UoM who have an interest in Military Law and possibly the Judge Advocate General Corps. • ACTIONS: This committee must submit a proposal to the MSBA’s Membership Committee regarding its Pilot Membership Initiative.

13. Pilot Membership Initiative Components of Special Committee • Educational Component • Establishing a venue for discussing, exploring, and informing the Association on substantive military law issues. • Legal Assistance Component • Providing legal assistance to military members and their families. • Legislative Component • Exploring the impact the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) will have on Maryland.

14. Pilot Membership Initiative PROS • No increased cost or expense to the MSBA. • Increasing awareness of and membership in the MSBA. • Establishing liaisons with the State of Maryland military community of Legal Offices for outreach efforts. • Educating the legal community and general public about Military and Veterans Affairs. • Partnering Affiliated Members who are law students with other members of the MSBA and military community. CONS ?????????