What makes excellent Advocacy? Professionalism, Civility, and Diligence

AABA President Suzanne Burnett will moderate a distinguished panel of guests, including Justice Steven B. Gould of the Supreme Court of Maryland, Judge Donna M. Schaeffer of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Thomas M. DeGonia II, Maryland Bar Counsel, and Richard J. Berwanger, Jr. of Frost Law. The CLE panel will discuss on the topics of professionalism, civility, and legal ethics. The panel will provide valuable insight for lawyers on how to deliver strong and effective advocacy for your client while maintaining professionalism and high ethical and practice standards. Key topics included the importance of demonstrating civility during interactions with clients, opposing counsel, and the Court, being prepared, and exercising due diligence and protecting yourself and your client during a case.

Materials will be distributed electronically.

Richard Berwanger is a partner at Frost Law's litigation department and serves as the firm's General Counsel, focusing on general litigation and legal ethics matters. He represents businesses, professionals, and individuals in commercial, employment, estate, trust, and real estate disputes, as well as insurance coverage and attorney disciplinary matters. A graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude) and Merrick School of Business (M.B.A.), he is admitted to practice in Maryland, D.C., and federal courts. Active in his community, Richard serves on the boards of the Anne Arundel Bar Association and Partners in Care, Inc.

Hon. Steven B. Gould has served as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Maryland since September 2021, following his tenure as a Judge on the Court of Special Appeals from 2019 to 2021. He previously practiced law as a founding partner of Brown, Gould & Kiely, LLP, and held roles at several other firms. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.A., economics) and Boston University School of Law (J.D., cum laude), he is admitted to multiple state and federal bars. Justice Gould is also an adjunct associate professor at American University’s Washington College of Law and an active volunteer in community and legal education initiatives.

Tom DeGonia was appointed Bar Counsel in September 2023. He was formerly a partner at Ethridge, Quinn, Kemp, Rowan & Hartinger, focusing on criminal defense, civil litigation, and family law in state and federal courts. He previously served as a senior associate at Venable, LLP, managing multijurisdictional investigations, and as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Montgomery County, where he led a felony prosecution team. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla and a graduate of American University-Washington College of Law, he held leadership roles as Student Bar President and received multiple advocacy awards. Mr. DeGonia also served as President of the Bar Association of Montgomery County (2020-2021) and the Family Justice Center Foundation (2009-2021).

Hon. Donna McCabe Schaeffer has served as County Administrative Judge for the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court since April 2023, after being an Associate Judge since 2016. She previously practiced law at Council, Baradel, Kosmeri & Nolan, P.A., where she became a partner in 1997. A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University (B.A., cum laude) and the University of Maryland School of Law (J.D., with honors), she clerked for Judge James F. Couch, Jr. of the Maryland Court of Appeals. Judge Schaeffer is a member of several bar associations and committees and was recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Family Law by What’s Up Annapolis? magazine from 2009-2015.

Suzanne Burnett is a dedicated personal injury attorney and community leader based in Annapolis, Maryland. A graduate with honors from the University of Baltimore School of Law, she began her career as a Judicial Law Clerk before focusing exclusively on representing injured individuals. After five years as an associate trial attorney, Suzanne then moved to Potter Burnett Law where she was a founding partner and trial attorney of the Bowie, Maryland based personal injury and medical malpractice firm. In 2024, she co-founded, The Burnett Injury Group, where she dedicates her legal career to fighting for victims of negligence, primarily focusing on car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, serious premises liability, catastrophic injuries, sexual abuse, and nursing home abuse and neglect cases.

Recognized annually as a Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2013, Suzanne’s accolades include The Daily Record's “Top 100 Women” in 2023 and “Leading Women” in 2019. She is President of the Anne Arundel County Bar Association (2024–2025) and serves on multiple boards, including the Maryland Association for Justice and Maryland Hall for Creative Arts and the Maryland State Bar Association.

From Washington or Annapolis
Take state Route 50 east to exit 27, state Route 2 north (Governor Ritchie Highway) toward Baltimore. Stay on state Route 2 for about three miles. Turn right on West Campus Drive. At the three-way intersection, the building straight ahead is the Center for Applied Learning and Technology. Turn right, continuing on West Campus Drive. The first building on the left is the Cade Center for Fine Arts. The next building is the Florestano Building.

From Baltimore
From Interstate 695 take exit 2, state Route 10 toward Severna Park. Stay on state Route 10 until it ends at state Route 2 (Governor Ritchie Highway) and turn left. Follow state Route 2 south about five miles. Turn left on West Campus Drive. At the three-way intersection, the building straight ahead is the Center for Applied Learning and Technology. Turn right, continuing on West Campus Drive. The first building on the left is the Cade Center for Fine Arts. The next building is the Florestano Building.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

101 College Pkwy, 101 College Parkway, Arnold, United States