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Kraig Long: Making It Happen – Social Impact Report 2018-19

At its core, the center seeks to informs current and ongoing solutions to the challenges we all
facilitate the intellectual discourse legislative attempts to reform face.” Going forward, Long sees
necessary to develop solutions to the bail system in Baltimore. optimism—and opportunities.
critical—yet admittedly complex— “We want to be the impetus “There are so many ways for us
social challenges, seeking out for progress.” as lawyers and citizens to make
root causes, rather than simply an impact in society, beyond just Fran Brinker:
treating symptoms. “We know And Long sees another big sponsorships—we can proactively
the issues that are affecting opportunity for synergy—this partner with organizations like
our communities—there are no time, between the center and the the Ethics Center, providing
mysteries there. What our leaders well-regarded law firm he now manpower and other resources, Changing a Life’s Direction
don’t have, though,” says Long, “is calls home. “One of the great and really focusing on a communal
the full picture with all the data things about Miles & Stockbridge approach to these challenges.”
around those issues. That’s the is that the firm doesn’t silo Firm Lawyer Leads Dedicated Expungement
gap the center hopes to address, diversity and inclusion issues— Both the Judge Alexander Team into New Realities
both in the short and long terms.” they aren’t ‘over there’ some- Williams, Jr. Center for Education
where. They permeate everything Justice & Ethics and Miles &
Currently, for instance, the we are, what we do and how we Stockbridge will be on the
center is building on the work counsel. We recognize ourselves frontlines of these debates—as
of its earliest focus, and has as part of our community, will Long, at the center of both,
provided supporting data that and want to be a part of the making it happen.” ■
simple twist of fate or when she works, teaches or to research the organization
circumstance. A left turn mentors along the front lines of that had been the subject of the
A when one should have— expungement law—in short, the article and volunteer her services
could have—gone right. Some- mechanism by which individuals by cold-call. “I was instantly struck
times there are small choices can have criminal arrests by the opportunity to maybe
along the way—good or bad (and sometimes convictions) make a difference in people’s
or somewhere in between— removed from their public lives,” Fran recalls today.
that dictate the course of a record—usually in the hopes of
life. Sometimes the ripples attaining gainful employment She worked with the
from a past indiscretion can and to ensure they are attractive organization and was trained in
bear down on a person’s to potential professional suitors. the process. Almost serendip-
present circumstances; they itously, commercial litigator
may have grown and changed, Brinker first became exposed Hutch Robbins put together an
but the constraints on their to the issue several years back, expungement seminar through
opportunities have not. We are when she read an article in the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers
perhaps not so alien from one newspaper focusing on a small Service (MVLS) that was held
another; a left instead of a right, organization working to help in the Miles & Stockbridge
and any of us could be living a individuals in the Baltimore Baltimore office. There were
completely different life. community to expunge their intrinsic benefits for Fran to
criminal records, when applicable begin working through MVLS,
It is this mindset that drives and appropriate. The issue including a robust infrastructure
Miles & Stockbridge bond and immediately not only piqued her and support system—but most
tax lawyer Fran Brinker today interest, but inspired her enough importantly, she could more

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