This year’s programming focuses on the intersection of human-centered lawyering and the "Second Wave" of AI integration. In an era where technology is moving from experimentation to everyday infrastructure, Maryland attorneys must fully leverage the tools of the future while doubling down on the empathy and ethics that define our profession.

MEMBER PRICE: $159 | NON-MEMBER PRICE $209

*Enjoy Early Bird Pricing Through September 8, 2026.

Continuing education credit will be offered for surrounding MCLE states (Credit hours will be updated, please stay tuned).

Agenda

9:00 AM - 9:10 AM| Welcome & Introductions: M. James Faison, Esq., Faison Law Group & Chair of MSBA Solo & Small Firm Section

9:10 AM - 10:30 AM| Opening Keynote: Beyond the Hype—Mastering the "Second Wave" of AI.

AI is not the future: That future is firmly here. Nearly four in five lawyers report using AI, while eight in 10 report efficiency gains. Still, as AI use grows, so do its risks. Fake case citations, data security concerns, client protection needs, and disclosure failures present risks that today's attorneys can't afford. 

This keynote shares tangible tips to use AI following similar principles you've sworn to uphold as an attorney, such as surfacing case law, generating first drafts, and providing plain-language explanations for clients. You'll learn which tasks AI excels at, how to assess which tools to try, how to keep client details safe, and how to use AI at scale. All advice ties back to using AI ethically, showing how today's lawyers can use AI in alignment with their mission.

Lauren Maffeo, Senior Program Manager, AI Innovation Lab, Maryland Department of Information Technology

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM | Break

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Ethics & AI: Navigating Rule 19-301.1 and the Duty of Competence

Maryland Bar Counsel discusses recent disciplinary trends involving AI hallucinations and the ethical mandate for attorney verification. The duty of competence and “Human in the Loop” requirements under Rule 19-301, protecting client data in LLMs, the ethics of AI generated billing and the new SB 936 requirements regarding algorithmic discrimination in legal tools will also be covered.

Thomas DeGonia, Maryland Bar Counsel

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM| Modernizing Your Small Firm: A Working Lab for Managing Partners

You didn’t go to business school, but you now run a business. This working session is designed for the managing partner who is juggling people, profitability, and constant change in a small firm environment.

Ginny Bonifacino, Esq., Nazareth Bonifacino Law Benefit LLC

Natasha Nazareth, Esq., Nazareth Bonifacino Law Benefit LLC

Rachel Platt, PLATTinum Consulting

In this three-hour, highly interactive workshop, you will:

• Map your current firm structure: who does what, how decisions are made, and where work really happens
• Examine your “people strategy” through a business lens: roles, accountability, and risk when key staff hold all the institutional knowledge
• Pressure-test your financial model: how your staffing, billing, and compensation choices actually drive (or erode) profit
• Identify one concrete modernization initiative for your firm (e.g., staffing redesign, compensation tweak, process/tech change) and outline a realistic implementation plan

This is not a CLE lecture. Expect short teaching segments, table discussions with peers facing similar challenges, and guided exercises using your own firm as the case study. Participants must complete a brief pre-session survey so content and working groups can be tailored to firm size and role.

4:00 - 5:00 PM | Networking Happy Hour

Unable to attend the live program? The program will be recorded and will be available on-demand.  Pre-purchase the on-demand program today!  

*Please note, this program will be available 2 weeks after the live event concludes.

MEMBER PRICE: $159 | NON-MEMBER PRICE $209

*Enjoy Early Bird Pricing Through September 8, 2026.

The Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) is committed to making its online and in-person services, products, and events accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. To request an accommodation, please complete this form.