Upgrading the lawyers' lounge in the New Haven courthouse and negotiating better discounts for members are just two of the projects on the agenda of Julia Baldini, the new executive director of the New Haven County Bar Association.
Baldini, who joined the bar association staff in January and was named executive director in April, has taken over for Carolyn "Carrie" Witt, who was the executive director for 17 years. Witt died in December.
"My background is in non-profits and membership services," said Baldini, a former executive director of the Derby Historical Society and membership coordinator at Real Art Ways in Hartford. "I started working in museums 10 years ago."
Hamden lawyer Shari-Lynn Cuomo Shore, who was on the hiring committee that selected Baldini for the executive director position, has worked very closely with the new executive director.
"So far, in her short time with the association, Julia has balanced our budget, revamped many of our office systems, and planned and executed many successful events. We are working closely to add many new benefits to having a membership with the New Haven County Bar Association," said Shore, who acknowledged that Baldini has "very big shoes to fill" in replacing the well-respected Witt.
"Julia has been working with [the membership] committee to create a private lounge for New Haven County bar members when they are at the courthouse," Shore continued. "We are also working on a member benefit card that will allow members to receive discounts at local establishments. The hope is that this will increase the appeal of being a New Haven County Bar Association member and therefore we will build a bigger and better membership base."
Couches And Wi-Fi
Baldini said that the lawyers' lounge — on the seventh floor at Superior Court in New Haven – is currently in a "sad-looking state" and is little used. By this fall, couches will be added, as well as a table, chairs, a water cooler and Wi-Fi access. Plans call for naming the lounge after Witt.
The goal, said Baldini, is to give lawyers a comfortable place to get away, relax and return emails. Baldini notes that lawyers are not in court as much as they used to be because of the elimination of short calendar and the emergence of e-filing. A well-used lounge would allow lawyers more face time with colleagues.
"People are looking for meaningful connections," she said. "One of the important things in the future is those face-to-face connections."
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