Q&A: Incoming MSBA president seeks to grow membership, promote inclusivity

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By week’s end, the Maryland State Bar Association will have a new president.

The transfer of power from 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, a solo practitioner since 1988 who focuses his practice on criminal defense and representing injured parties in personal injury cases, will take on the role.

Santini serves on the MSBA’s board of governors and is a member of the bar association’s solo and small firm practice section. He has also previously served as chair of the Baltimore County Bar’s diversity and inclusion committee 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 grow MSBA membership and promote inclusivity.

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, the operations [and] the culture of MSBA. I was able to build relationships with the stakeholders, the committees, the sections, and familiarize myself with the ongoing projects.

Anna Sholl, our executive director, and Jason DeLoach, who is our outgoing president, presented me with the opportunity to [discuss] their goals and priorities for the upcoming 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 the organization which is surrounded by balanced talent, dedication and passion with respect to the law. With respect to my challenges, I look at it not as much of a challenge, but I look at it as an opportunity to effect positive change in the Maryland legal community.

For example, the Supreme Court of Maryland is considering whether or not to implement minimum CLE requirements for attorneys. As the court continues to consider [whether] a mandatory CLE may be implemented in Maryland, the MSBA continues to advocate for attorneys seeking implementation by innovative, attorney-friendly and flexible manners to include reciprocity in accreditation from other states. Additionally, MSBA believes in the traditional CLE, but many of the highly qualified bar association programs and activities that MSBA members are already engaged in are to increase their general knowledge and connect 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 insight and skills to assist me [in] becoming president of the MSBA. As a solo practitioner, I handle a wide range of legal matters in different practice areas and that gives me diverse experiences [to] equip me to understand the challenges facing the legal profession and the need of practitioners in different fields.

TDR: What are your goals for your year as president, and what would you like to see change?

Santini: I am going to set five goals for this upcoming year. One is total inclusion of MSBA … We need to improve [and have] more participation in MSBA. I will work with MSBA staff to visit various venues and all of the venues in the state and hold forums to show prospective members the benefits of MSBA membership and to demonstrate why MSBA is the voice of the profession.

Another goal is judicial security … A judicial officer must be neutral, detached, and free from danger in dispensing justice in our state. The MSBA will continue with the judiciary to participate in the new legislative task force, which shares this goal. We were successful in passing the Judge Wilkinson legislation this term, which we’re very happy about.

A third goal that 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 to examine how best to champion this issue.

Another issue that’s important to me is eliminating the constitutional age for judicial retirement in Maryland. A person’s age alone should not determine [their] capacity to serve our state. A judicial vetting process should determine a candidate’s worthiness to serve the public. Working with MSBA and its committees and board of governors, we will explore the potential opportunities to advance this important issue as part of our advocacy work.

The other issue that’s really important to me is lawyer assistance. 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 assist attorneys, their staff and families in dealing with the stresses by these addiction and other mental health issues. When we go to every venue in the state, my intention is to explain these services to the legal community and the benefits that MSBA will provide them.

I welcome the opportunity to lead the organization and I invite all Maryland attorneys to be part of this year’s plan.