MEMBERS OF THE NH Bar’s Board of Governors for the 2001-2002 year represent a cross-section of the active membership of the Bar, coming from a variety of practice areas, educational backgrounds and parts of the state. This is the latest installment in a series of interviews with board members.

Years in practice: 27 years.

Areas of practice: Personal injury, workers’ compensation, small business, probate.

Bar activities: 2000-2001 NHBA president, also served in other positions on Bar’s Board of Governors, 1994-present; member, NH Bar’s CLE Committee, Committee on Cooperation with the Courts, Outreach Task Force and Futures Task Force.

Key issues facing the Bar Association and legal profession: The Bar should be focusing – as it has been – on working with the Legislature and other members of the profession to ensure that present judicial reform measures are crafted to improve the judicial system and preserve an independent judiciary as much as possible, while finding responsible ways of enhancing judicial accountability.

Areas or initiatives you would like to pursue as a board member: The Bar should also keep its eye on the future. Most individual members simply don’t have the time or inclination to study how trends inside and outside the profession are impacting the practice of law. It is up to the Bar to do this and to provide useable information and practical suggestions to help members deal with what could be significant changes in the delivery of legal services.

Years in Practice: 20 years.

Areas of practice: Usually civil litigation involving the United States; currently, civil litigation and federal criminal prosecution.

Bar Activities: Member, NHBA’s Federal Practice Section, Administration of Justice Committee, CLE Committee

Other Activities: Civil Chiefs’ Working Group, U.S. Department of Justice; instructor at multiple litigation and management courses at the National Advocacy Center, Office of Legal Education, U.S. Department of Justice.

Key issues facing the Bar Association and legal profession: Personally, I have long believed that the Bar Association must find ways to be relevant to certain sectors of the membership who may now view the Association as not relevant to their needs and concerns. The Association comprises many members, such as prosecutors, criminal defenders, municipal attorneys, government attorneys and others, who perceive that the Bar Association does not reflect their values or issues. We must strive to find ways to change that perception and to enhance the participation of these members in the activities of the Association. During my two stints on the Board of Governors, I have witnessed a commitment by the leadership to improve in this area, which is essential if we are to remain a vital organization. Although we have come a long way in reaching out to ensure understanding of the variety of concerns of the membership, we have not yet come to the end of the road and must redouble our efforts.

Areas or initiatives you would like to pursue as a board member: I would like to continue working to improve the relevance of the Association to government and other attorneys who do not practice in private firms. Such work would require encouraging participation and examining Association activities to ensure that they respond to the needs of all our members.

Years in practice: 16 years.

Areas of practice: Personal injury, workers’ compensation, family law.

Bar activities: Has been a member of various NHBA committees and sections; active participant in the Bar’s DOVE, Lawline and Pro Bono programs. Admitted to Massachusetts Bar in 1985.

Other activities: President of the board of directors for Dover Children’s Center; former county governor to NH Trial Lawyers Association.

Key issues facing the Bar Association and legal profession: Restoring faith in the judicial process and restoring integrity to the profession.

Areas or initiatives you would like to pursue as a board member: Public education on the judicial process, and on the relationship between the three branches of government.

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