We are pleased to offer a comprehensive array of seminars, which
have received consistently excellent reviews from attorneys throughout
the state. The following seminars can be presented through your
local bar association, or privately for your firm. All seminars
qualify for CLE ethics credits when presented through your bar association,
unless otherwise noted.
In-house seminars are generally not offered with CLE credit. If
your firm is interested in an in-house seminar for CLE credit, contact
us for an explanation of how this can be arranged. We are also happy
to discuss design and presentation of a seminar customized to the
unique needs of your firm.
Presentation length of seminars will vary based on topic. Some seminars
listed have time ranges, as they can be presented in short or long
versions, to meet your needs. It is recommended that the longer
version be utilized whenever possible, in order to cover the full
gamut of issues on the topic.
The majority of seminars are created for attorneys, but key staff
members will benefit from attending seminars on selected topics.
One seminar is suitable primarily for staff.
Our training programs on Microsoft software are not listed here.
They include Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Windows and Internet
Explorer, and Access. Contact us to discuss your needs in this area.
| Seminar
Title |
Description |
Suitable
For |
Time |
| 50 Finance Tips in 60 Minutes |
The truly successful practice is also a profitable
one. This session will move beyond thinking just about billable
hours and receipts and will help you better understand the
financial health of your practice. Gain a better appreciation
of where your money comes from, where it goes, and most importantly,
how you can keep more at the end of the day. |
Attorneys |
1.0 hrs
[Note:
Not yet submitted for CLE in PA] |
| 50 Marketing Tips in 60 Minutes |
This course will tell you
how to chart your course from the dream, to the plan, to making
it happen. Not all marketing initiatives have to be expensive.
Most tips presented will work for solo and small firm practitioners. |
Attorneys |
1.0 hrs
[NOTE:
No CLE]
|
| Associates: How You Can Get The Technology You
Want |
This course is designed for new attorneys, and
focuses on how to work within the framework of a large or
mid-size firm to get the technology they want. |
Newly admitted and young attorneys |
1.0 hrs |
| Benchmarking |
How to use compensation and other surveys of
law firm economics; anti-trust considerations of exchanging
information
|
Attorneys, Bookkeepers, Office Managers |
1.0 hrs
|
| Best Practices for Financial and Procedural
Management |
Law firms are unique business organizations
whose Rules of Professional Conduct both guide and dictate
many aspects of day-to-day management. This course will examine
the interrelationship and requirements for trust accounting,
engagement agreements, client communications, and proper management
of retainers.
Financial planning, forecasting and budgeting will be analyzed
as essential tools of the well-managed firm, and examined
for differences based on areas of practice.
Accounting department staffing, training, and procedures
will be reviewed from a perspective of solid fraud prevention
and malpractice avoidance. This course will provide real
life stories of actual cases of fraud, explain how fraud
occurs, and offer practical advice on how to protect the
firm and its clients.
Ensuring the firm gets paid for its services encompasses
a methodology from intake through completion of the matter.
This course will cover proper management of the matter from
beginning
to end, to ensure the firm carefully selects clients, services
clients based on client expectations, manages matters well,
and keeps the client informed and involved. The strategy
of suing for fees will be discussed in detail, including
the exposure for countersuits for malpractice.
Properly establishing procedures to handle such issues
as client intake, end of engagement, conflict checking,
financial reporting, records management and so forth will
ensure that work flows smoothly through the office and that
the firm does not commit ethical blunders or commit more
serious mistakes in its day-to-day operations. This session
will explore methodologies to keep your firm on track in
these areas as well
|
Attorneys, Bookkeepers, Office Managers |
1.5 – 4.0 hrs
NOTE: Each version of this course which is shorter than 4.0
hours will have some areas of coverage omitted. The shorter
the course time, the more areas which are omitted. Feel
free to ask for a detailed course description of a shorter
version,
|
| Bills Out, Money In and Accounting for the Bottom
Line: Effective Financial Management Technology |
Why you should automate your accounting and
billing; Financial reporting; Cash v. accrual; Using your
system to improve financial performance of the firm. |
Attorneys, Bookkeepers, Office Managers
|
1.0 – 1.5 hrs
[Note:
Not yet submitted for CLE in PA] |
| Capturing More Time and Billing it Too |
You can dramatically increase your annual earnings
by capturing just 15 more minutes per day. So why isn’t
everyone doing it? Capturing all your time is just not as
easy as it sounds. And what about alternative billing? Is
it a realistic option that will work for your practice? This
session offers practical tips, tricks and techniques that
will allow you to better manage, capture, enter, charge and
collect for your valuable and limited time every day. |
Attorneys |
1.0 – 1.5 hrs |
| Client Service & Marketing within Ethical
Boundaries |
In today’s competitive times, law firms
must do more than practice law well. They must know how to
properly define client service, and deliver it consistently
in such a way as to surpass the expectations of clients. Everyone
at the firm, including staff, must be educated in this process.
In addition, firms must invest time and effort in assisting
young lawyers in developing the proper skills with the same
zeal that they invest in developing the lawyer’s technical
skills. In today’s environment, attorneys dropped into
a sink-or-swim environment are sure to drown.
This course will cover
| • |
Defining client service —the essential
elements from the client’s perspective |
| • |
Delivering superior client service —ensuring
your procedures support your goals |
| • |
Developing sensitivity to client needs
—raising the firm antenna to tune into client
discontent |
| • |
Avoiding irritants which lead to malpractice
claims and/or lost clients |
| • |
Achievement benchmarks during a lawyer’s
career |
| • |
The ethical restrictions that apply to
marketing efforts — Rules 1.4, 7.1, and 7.3 in
particular |
|
Attorneys
[Note: a version of this seminar which is suitable for staff
is available.]
|
1.5 – 2.0 hrs
|
| Closing Your Practice |
It takes time and careful planning to properly
sunset your practice. There are ethical and financial considerations,
and lots of practical decisions and notifications to be made.
This course will walk you through the many steps to take into
consideration. |
Attorneys |
1.0 hours |
| Disaster Prevention & Preparedness |
Disaster comes in many forms, including natural
disasters and sudden illness or death of key partners. Is
the firm adequately prepared? This course discusses the steps
to take to protect the firm and its clients. |
Attorneys, Office Managers |
1.0 hrs
|
Efficiently and Effectively Administering Your
Practice
(long version - recommended)
|
This fast-paced session covers the three essential
areas of administering a practice: people, technology, and
procedure management. People represent a law firm’s
greatest asset. The seminar will discuss strategies for successful
recruitment, retention and training. Technology enables a
firm to achieve today’s leverage, as well as improve
practice efficiencies and avoid mal-practice exposure. This
seminar will discuss the minimum technology platform a law
firm should utilize; and discuss additional possibilities
for those ready to take the next step. Properly estab-lishing
procedures to handle such issues as client intake, trust accounting
and fraud prevention, end of engagement, conflict checking,
records management and so forth will ensure that work flows
smoothly through the office and that the firm does not commit
ethical blunders or commit more serious mistakes in its day-to-day
operations. This session will explore methodologies to keep
your firm on track in these areas and more. |
Attorneys, Office Managers |
1.5 - 2.5 hrs
NOTE: Each version of this course which is shorter than 2.5
hours will have some areas of coverage omitted. The shorter
the course time, the more areas which are omitted. Feel
free to ask for a detailed course description of a shorter
version
|
| Email: Etiquette and Ethics |
This course will walk you through the etiquette
of email use, and explain the ethical issues of which you
need to be aware, including client confidentiality and security
of email messages. |
Attorneys, Office Managers |
1.0 hrs |
| Fraud Prevention |
This course will provide real life stories of
actual cases of fraud, explain how fraud occurs, what an attorney’s
ethical obligations are, and offer practical advice on how
to protect the firm and its clients. |
Attorneys, Office Managers |
1.0 – 1.5 hrs |
| Get a Grip! Effectively and Efficiently Administering
Your Practice While Making the Most of Your Time |
Managing mountains of information, while coping
with the relentless daily responsibilities of servicing your
clients, can be a stressful and daunting task for any attorney.
Those who succumb to the stress are likely to make errors
and perhaps commit malpractice. This fast-paced session addresses
the many new and persistent challenges you are likely to face,
and explores the tools readily available to help you meet
those challenges head-on and stay on top of your game. This
session covers procedure management in depth to help you improve
practice efficiencies and avoid malpractice exposure. . Properly
establishing procedures to handle such issues as client intake,
trust accounting and fraud prevention, end of engagement,
conflict checking, records management and so forth will ensure
that work flows smoothly through the office and that the firm
does not commit ethical blunders or commit more serious mistakes
in its day-to-day operations. |
Attorneys, Office Managers |
2.0 hrs
|
| Getting Paid I |
How to ensure you get paid for the work you
do including a proven methodology from intake to closing to
increase cash flow and decrease bad debt. |
Attorneys, Bookkeepers, Office Managers |
1.0 hr
|
| Getting Paid II – Advanced Concepts |
This course picks up where Getting Paid I leaves
off. It will cover details on how to create an automated receivable
follow-up program, taking credit cards, liens on files, reporting
to credit bureaus, the pros and cons of suing, and more.
|
Attorneys, Bookkeepers, Office Managers |
1.0 hr
|
| Honing Your Internet Skills |
This intermediate session is designed for the
practitioner already experienced in surfing the web. The class
will cover slightly different search techniques and tools,
and reveal how to access the “deep web”. |
Attorneys |
1.0 – 1.5 hrs
|
| Improving Staff Relations |
A good number of malpractice claims result from
staff errors. Good communications between attorney and staff
are essential. This course will examine the most common complaints
from both attorneys and staff, and provide sound suggestions
for the changes to make which will have the greatest positive
impact both on interpersonal relationships, and on the accuracy
of client work. |
Attorneys,
Office Mgrs |
1.0 hrs
|
Introduction to Law Firm Automation
|
An “ABCs” course for beginners,
covering hardware, software, networking, and other concepts |
Attorneys |
1.0 – 1.5 hrs |
| Knowledge Management |
What it is and how to implement it in a law
firm; the technology and organizational management techniques
that are required to ensure preservation and proper deployment
of essential information to increase productivity, profitability,
and value to a lawyer and law firm. |
Attorneys, Office Managers, IT Managers |
1.0 hrs
|
Making the Most of Your Time
|
Managing mountains of information, while coping
with the relentless daily responsibilities and details necessary
to properly service your clients can be a stressful and daunting
environment for any attorney. Those who do not effectively
and efficiently use their time in an organized manner make
more mistakes, miss deadlines, frequently disappoint clients,
and may ultimately face disciplinary problems and/or malpractice
claims.
This fast-paced session addresses the many new and persistent
challenges you are likely to face. It examines the factors
which may hold you back from operating efficiently. And it
explores the techniques and tools readily available to help
you meet those challenges head-on and stay on top of your
game.
[This course is suitable for office administrators and managers
in addition to attorneys.]
|
Attorneys |
1.0 – 1.5 hrs. |
| Partner Compensation Plans |
A look at the various types of plans, the strengths
and weaknesses of each, what works and what doesn’t,
origination credits, managing partner compensation, and more. |
Attorneys |
1.0 – 1.25 hrs |
| Records Management and Retention |
Ethical requirements and what to do with old
client files; development of a records management policy –
how and why. In the wake of Zubulake I thru VI, it is important
to have an understanding of how to manage both electronic
and paper documents. |
Attorneys, Office Managers |
1.0 hrs
|
| Strategic Planning |
Developing a successful methodology for analyzing
and implementing change at the firm. |
Attorneys, Office Managers |
1.0 hrs |
Survival 101: Emergency Planning for Your Law
Practice
(a/k/a Practicing Dead
or Alive)
|
Disasters come in all forms, from natural to
man-made to technological. This course will identify the potential
risks your firm faces. You will learn the three steps your
firm must take to formulate a plan to help you prevent disasters,
or recover your ability to service your clients quickly following
one. The course focuses in detail on how to continue
to run your office while you are sick, injured or disabled,
or how to run your practice as part of the administration
of your estate. This course provides practical information
and forms which can be put to immediate use at your firm. |
Attorneys,
Office Mgrs
|
1.5 - 2.0 hrs |
| Technology Planning |
Why and How to develop a technology plan
|
Attorneys |
1.0 hrs |
| Technology: A to Z |
Designed to transform the Luddite to a technology-friendly
user, this session starts with the basics in hardware and
software, and progresses to the use of high tech tools. |
Attorneys |
2.0 hrs
|
| The Art and Science of Setting and Raising Rates |
There are a variety of methods to use in setting
billing rates. This course will explore the various methodologies,
along with their strengths and weaknesses. How and when to
raise rates becomes more art than science; the best practices
for doing so will be covered. |
Attorneys |
1.0 hrs
|
| The Minimum Technology Platform for a Solo or
Small Firm Practitioner |
What is the right technology, and how do you
determine what investment in technology is cost effective?
This in-depth course covers planning, budgeting, hardware,
software, and networking issues. |
Attorneys |
1.5 – 2.0 hrs |
| The Paperless Office |
Can an office really be paperless? Why would you want to
be? This course will cover the hardware, software, and incremental
steps to get there. |
Attorneys, Office Managers |
1.0 – 1.5 hours |
| The Role of Staff in Client Service and Marketing |
This course is specifically designed to enhance staff understanding
as to how to properly define client service, and deliver it
consistently in such a way as to surpass the expectations
of clients.
This course will cover
| • |
Defining client service |
| • |
Delivering superior client service |
| • |
Developing sensitivity to client needs |
| • |
Avoiding irritants which lead to malpractice
claims and/or lost clients |
| • |
How staff are the source of first and
last impression |
| • |
The unique role staff can play in the
success of the firm |
|
Staff |
1.0 – 1.5 hrs |
| The Top Legal Technologies |
What are the top technologies employed by law firms? Is
your firm using the tools available to build leverage and
effectively service clients? What should you be aware of that
is on the horizon? The contents of this course change as the
technology employed in firms and globally changes and evolves.
At a minimum this course will cover
| • |
Knowledge management systems (document
management, document assembly, case management) |
| • |
Telecommunications (video conferencing,
unified messaging, vmail) |
| • |
Internet (web sites, blogs, RSS feeds,
eNewsletters, eSurveys) |
| • |
Email |
| • |
Imaging (scanning, image management, paperless
office, OCRing) |
| • |
Security (spam, scumware, viruses) |
| • |
Voice recognition |
| • |
Digital dictation |
| • |
Remote access |
|
Attorneys |
1.5 – 2.0 hours |
Tools for Courtroom Presentations and Litigators
a/k/a High Tech Presentation Tools
|
This seminar is designed to enhance awareness of the available
tools for attorneys to use to create effective presentations,
and to function effectively when out of the office. Some practical
“road warrior” tips and tricks will be included
to use when Murphy’s Law takes effect. Actual samples
of exhibits which utilize varying tools will be shown. |
Attorneys |
1.0 –2.0 hrs
(ethics OR substantive credit)
|
| Understanding Your Professional Liability Insurance Policy
Options |
Are there really differences between one policy and another?
Yes. Policies can differ in seemingly minor ways, which can
become significant when a claim occurs. The application and
reporting processes can be different from one insurer to the
next. And sometimes the underwriting perspectives can make
significant premium differences. This program will highlight
the similarities and differences in policies and services.
Discussion will include insights on strategies to lower your
annual premium. |
Attorneys |
1.0 hrs |
| Welcome to Reality |
This course is designed to acquaint new attorneys with the
many challenges they will face when establishing their practice
or joining a law firm. Topics covered include: Capturing the
billable hour; Financial Basics, Learning how to market; The
role of technology; Working with staff; and Opening your own
practice. |
Newly admitted attorneys |
1.0 – 2.5 hrs |
| You Can’t Always Be Superwoman |
The confluence of pressures from home and work can derail
even the most dedicated and zealous among us. For some women,
the stress of continually trying to balance roles at work
and home becomes too great — sometimes difficult choices
must be made to sacrifice one role to benefit the other. This
course will discuss the coping and management strategies which
can make the difference between experiencing emotional nuclear
meltdown, or achieving the superwoman status of one who manages
the conflicts and demands of home and office and “has
it all.” |
Female attorneys |
[Note:
no CLE credit]
|
