Legal experts from across the United States gathered in The Bahamas this week for the National Bar Association (NBA)Mid-Winter Meeting.

Founded in 1925, the NBA is the oldest and largest association of minority lawyers and judges. It represents approximately 44,000 lawyers, judges, law professors and law students and has more than 80 affiliate chapters throughout the US and around the world.

The organization seeks to advance jurisprudence, preserve the independence of the judiciary and to uphold the honor and integrity of the legal profession.

The conference is being staged through the collaboration of the NBA’s Judicial Council Division, the Young Lawyers Division, Small Firms/Solo Practitioners’ Division and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Held under the theme, “A Legacy of Service. A promise of Justice,” the meeting runs February 14-17 at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort.

It provides an opportunity for continuing legal education through seminars and panel discussion featuring industry and experts. It also provides an avenue for networking during downtime.

Sessions such as “Brand New Year, Brand New You: How to build your legal reputation through the brand called you” focus on ways to enhance practice areas and exceed colleague and client expectations.

On February 14, two local leading attorneys–Branville McCartney founding partner of Halsbury Chambers and Arthur Dion Hanna Jr, the director of the Legal Aid Clinic at the Eugene Dupuch Law School–spoke on the differences that exist between The Bahamas and US legal systems.

A third panel member was Bahamian-American attorney Machelle Sweeting, a special referee in the New York State Supreme Court and an administrative law judge with more than 15 years experience handling a broad range of criminal, civil and family law issues.

The panel discussed opportunities for legal partnership with Bahamian lawyers on appellate matters.

Attendees also have an opportunity to become involved in two outreach projects–one at C I Gibson Senior High School and the other St Cecilia’s Primary School.

tblair@dupuch.com