President’s Message

Dear Members of the Bar Association of Norfolk County:

Thank you for the honor of allowing me to serve as President of the Bar Association of Norfolk County (BANC) this year. I hope to carry on the tradition of all the great presidents who served before me. I would like to recognize and say a special thank you to Past President Diane Jeffers for the incredible leadership and guidance she provided last year.

I would also like to give a warm welcome to all our new members and a special thank you to our returning members. My involvement with the Bar Association began many years ago when I joined shortly after graduating law school. Over the years, I have been fortunate to benefit from all the Bar Association has to offer and have developed some wonderful friendships through the events it has provided. My hope is that our members, new and old, also see the benefit of being part of one of the oldest Bar Associations in the country. Your membership is what allows us to thrive as a Bar Association and to provide free legal services to those in need.

Our Bar Association prides itself on our commitment to giving back to the community. We offer six free legal clinics a year at both the Quincy and Dedham District Courts. We have many attorneys who volunteer their time and expertise to answer legal questions and provide guidance to those in need of assistance. I would encourage all of you to consider volunteering at one of our legal clinics this year. There are many people who have nowhere to turn and often times just need someone to listen to their story. As attorneys, we can be the person to sit with them for a few minutes, listen to what happened to them, and provide guidance on what their next steps should be.

Our Norfolk County Conciliation Program is busier than ever. Through the conciliation program our attorneys provide alternate dispute resolution to litigants with cases pending in the Norfolk County Probate & Family Court. We hold free annual trainings for attorneys to become conciliators and our only request is that they volunteer to participate in one conciliation per year. Our conciliators have had a profound impact on the lives of those whose cases they have helped resolve. If you are involved in the practice of family law, please consider becoming a trained conciliator.

We also have a thriving Lawyer Referral Service. Our bar association continues to refer cases to our members through our referral program. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up, and we will send you referrals in your area of expertise.

We have several events planned for this upcoming year including social networking events, volunteer opportunities, and seminars. I would encourage you to come join us at one (or all!) of our events. These events give you the opportunity to make new friends and contribute to our community.

We have updated our e-mail format to keep everyone informed of the work we do at BANC and of the events coming up. The new e-mail format has improved communication and participation among our members. We will continue publishing a short, seasonal, digital newsletter with updates on our bar association activities and those of its members. To ensure you receive our updates, please be sure to update your contact information, particularly your email address, and return the form to our office. We also now accept payments using Venmo @norfolkbarassn and through our website at www.norfolkbarassn.org.

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our tireless Executive Director, Jackie Fagone. Should you have any questions about how to become more involved, how to become a member (or renew your membership), or about any of the wonderful opportunities the bar association provides, please do not hesitate to reach out to either of us. admin@norfolkbarassn.org

I look forward to a great year with our members and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.

Sincerely,
Sabrina Bonanno
President

The Bar Association of Norfolk County, founded in 1797 is said to be the oldest Bar Association in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The objectives of the Association are to further the cause of justice; to sustain and improve the law and its administration; to ensure conformity to a high standard of professional duty; to make the practice of law efficient in the administration of justice; and to promote the professional, educational, and social interests of the Bar.