Congratulations to Michael C. Hodes and David N. Pessin on receiving the Maryland Bar Foundation’s 2010 Legal Excellence Award. Mr. Hodes and Mr. Pessin received the Excellence Award for the Advancement of Public Understanding of the Law. The awards were presented at a reception on December 2 at the Governor Calvert House in Annapolis, Maryland.
The Maryland Bar Foundation is a non-profit charitable corporation that was organized to foster and maintain the honor and integrity of the profession of the law, improve and facilitate the administration of justice, and promote the study of the law and the continuing education of the lawyer. Membership as a regular Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation is limited to not more than 2.5% of the MSBA membership and invitations are extended only after nomination by a current Fellow and endorsement by the Board of Directors of the Foundation.
Mr. Hodes obtained his undergraduate degree in Communications from Penn State University where he honed his already natural ability to engage an audience, draw them in and keep them listening. He graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1975 and soon thereafter founded the Towson based law firm where he continues to practice today, Hodes, Pessin & Katz, P.A. (HPK). After establishing his legal practice, the natural progression for Mr. Hodes was to combine his two degrees and start reaching out to the public – teaching them about the law, and specifically his area of choice – wealth preservation, estate planning and elder care law. Mr. Hodes did this mainly through AM radio, occasional television appearances, seminars, teaching positions and by becoming actively involved in many community organizations, foundations and boards.
Mr. Pessin graduated from the University of Maryland in 1977 and the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1981. Soon after graduating from law school, he joined HPK and worked closely with Mr. Hodes. Mr. Hodes introduced Mr. Pessin to radio, and Mr. Pessin continues to host his own radio show, “Planning Perspectives,” on WCBM today. Mr. Pessin is also a highly sought after speaker on estate planning and elder care law and is an adjunct profession at the University of Baltimore School of Law.
