Seminar Descriptions and Schedule
9:30 a.m.
A demonstration of the virtual law firm model by Nakia Gray of Nakia Gray Legal, P.C.
10:00 - 10:50 a.m.
21st Century Law Firm
Presenter: Nakia Gray, Nakia Gray Legal, P.C.
During this session you will learn:
- What a virtual law practice is (and what it's not);
- Essential tools you need to run a virtual law practice;
- The exact resources and applications I use daily to run my virtual law firm; and
- Tips on how to use technology to get more done in less time.
Top Technology Tools to Streamline Your Law Practice
Presenter: Nicole (Niki) Black, MyCase
During this seminar you will learn about new and innovative tools that will help you streamline your law practice. By using these cloud technologies and mobile apps you'll be able to reduce the amount of time you spend running your practice and spend more time doing what you do best--practice law. By thoughtfully implementing these emerging technologies, you'll save time and money, making you a more effective and more responsive lawyer.
Slides are not available for Top Technology Tools to Streamline Your Law Practice
10:15 - 11:15 a.m.
Get Paid for the Work You Do (Without Losing Your Law License)
Presenter: Daniel Schumack, Schumack Ryals, PLLC
Lawyers are exposed to unique risks when a client does not wish to pay for services rendered. Lawyers routinely face disciplinary investigations, and sometimes lose their licenses for doing things that would be both legal and normal in other job sectors (such as impounding files because the customer has not paid or spending the customer's down-payment before performing any services). Even when a lawyer has done nothing wrong, the mere act of suing to collect for a lawyer's work creates a high risk that the client will respond with a bar complaint or a malpractice counter-claim in hopes of obtaining a discount on the bill. This course covers (i) things your peers may be doing to get paid that are actually disciplinary violations; and (ii) great (and ethical) ways to improve the odds you will get paid for services rendered without triggering a bar complaint or a malpractice claim.
10:30 - 11:20 a.m.
A Day in the Life of a Commercial Real Estate Lawyer
Presenter: J.J. Sherman, The Law Office of J.J. Sherman, P.C.
During this presentation, Ms. Sherman will share advice and insights into practicing commercial real estate law - purely on the transactional side. She will address; what to expect throughout the life cycle of a real estate deal (from term sheet to post-closing); how to market your commercial real estate law practice; fee structures; and much more!
11:00 - 11:50 a.m.
Fee Sharing the Right Way
Presenter: Hope C. Todd, District of Columbia Bar
In October 2015, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals amended D.C. Rule 7.1 to prohibit the payment of referral fees. Come to this interactive session to learn the answers to such burning questions as: Can lawyers in different firms still refer cases to one another? Can they share legal fees? What if one lawyer only refers the case to the second lawyer, but does no other work? Can a lawyer pay her paralegal for bringing in clients to the firm? And what about online marketing and lawyer referral services -- can a lawyer share fees with them? This session will help you navigate the D.C. Rules and legal ethics opinions on referrals and fee sharing arrangements to keep you out of ethical hot water.
Fastcase 101: An Introduction to Fastcase 7
Presenter: Erin Page, Fastcase
This program provides an introduction, and general overview of the features available with Fastcase 7 for new users and for previous users of Fastcase 6. The overview will include unified search, the tag cloud and other Fastcase 7 innovations.
Slides are not available for Fastcase 101: An Introduction to Fastcase 7
11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
The Ransomware Epidemic and How to Protect Your Law Firm
Presenters: Sharon Nelson and John Simek, Sensei Enterprises Inc.
By now, most lawyers know that ransomware is an epidemic -- encrypting their files, holding them hostage and demanding a ransom for the decryption key. Our presenters will tell you some true life stories of law firm ransomware incidents. Ransomware is scary, but there are ways to protect yourself against it by using technology and policies, by training your employees not to be duped by phishing e-mails, and by implementing a backup solution that will allow you to recover from a ransomware attack losing little or no data and without paying the ransom. You'll also learn how to position yourself to pay a ransom in bitcoin (the cybercriminal's currency of choice) if you find yourself a victim. Do you have to report a ransomware attack under data breach notification laws? Well, it depends -- learn why at this seminar.
People Pleasing! A Slippery Slope of Good Intentions
Presenter: Denise Perme and Niki Irish, D.C. Bar Lawyer Assistance Program
Are you the one people count on to take on that last minute assignment? Do you find yourself saying yes when you really should say no? Do you feel compelled to help others even at your own expense?
Being a people-pleaser has an upside (others tend to like you!) and a downside. Unfortunately, the downside can land you in a painful place. People pleasing –going out of your way to make other people happy and meet their needs above your own - can have a negative impact on your career and professional happiness. You may feel overwhelmed, overworked, unappreciated and ultimately resentful. It is possible to change this dynamic and start a new path toward balanced relationships with others.
This informative program will explore how to identify patterns of people-pleasing and ways to overcome these tendencies. You will begin to develop the skills to assert yourself appropriately and learn how to prioritize your own needs. Bring your questions, and plan to starting making the changes needed to decrease stress and resentment and increase your happiness both personally and professionally.
Lunch 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Building a Data-Driven Law Firm
Presenter: Jack Newton, Clio
Data has the power to transform industries. Before last year, the legal profession never used real-world data to capture industry insights. Eye-opening knowledge acquired from Clio's 2016 Legal Trends Report showcased that lawyers may not be as productive as they think.
The average utilization rate for lawyers was just 28%. Assuming an eight hour work day, lawyers only bill 2.24 hours of time to their clients. The data also revealed that the average firm collects payment on only 1.5 hours of billable time per workday.
How can lawyers make up the lost six hours of time each day? Is technology the answer? Can lawyers increase their productivity and in turn their profitability?
Mr. Newton will demonstrate Clio, and highlight some ways Clio can help recover some of those lost hours.
1:40 - 2:30 p.m.
Conflicts of Interest: You Can't Be Everyone's Friend ... or their Lawyer Either!
Presenter: Claude E. Ducloux, LawPay
During this session we will discuss:
- Theories and law of conflicts of interest;
- The ABA Model Rules, which have been adopted by many jurisdictions;
- "Encounter Points" when lawyers must be particularly careful; and
- Training your staff to identify and prevent conflicts as well as remedying the situation when a conflict arises.
What Small Firm Lawyers Need to Know about Malpractice Insurance
Presenter: Greg Cooke,USI Affinity
Selecting malpractice coverage is important for lawyers in a firm of any size. How much coverage is needed? How much should it cost? How does the cost of defense affect the premium and coverage? How can a fee dispute affect coverage? What happens if the lawyer changes providers? This informative program will explore topics and issues such as where malpractice claims originate, malpractice insurance policies, how to determine appropriate coverage, and selecting a carrier, policy, and broker.
Cybersecurity for the Small Law Firm
Presenter: Rick Kabra, Ph.D., CosmoLex Cloud, LLC
Confidentiality is at the heart of every attorney/client relationship. It's something no lawyer can take for granted and that's why protection of client information, whether its kept locally or in a cloud system, is something that every lawyer needs to assess, and reassess, on an ongoing basis as technology evolves.
- Slides are not available for Cybersecurity for the Small Law Firm
2:00 - 2:50 p.m.
Business Development with LinkedIn
Presenter: Tasha (TC) Cooper, LawyersLaunchPad.com and UpwardAction, LLC
Attend this program with TC Cooper and learn strategies for integrating LinkedIn into your business development. This session will cover effective ways to use LinkedIn groups, status updates, LinkedIn search features and paid advertising to become recognized and influential in your practice areas. This is an intermediate level program, Watch the D.C. Bar's YouTube channel for LinkedIn basics with TC.
2:40 - 3:30 p.m.
The State of Digital Marketing for Lawyers
Presenter: Seth Price, Price Benowitz LLP
Digital marketing provides a great set of tools for lawyers to reach potential clients. The difficulty is that the digital marketing world is always changing. While some strategies remain effective, new developments can make old approaches obsolete or even counterproductive. In this session, Seth Price covers what's new, what works, and what's coming.
Big Data: New Insights
Presenter: Ed Walters, Fastcase
Big data provides opportunities for new legal analytics and experiential displays of the law. Fastcase CEO, Ed Walters, will discuss how the integration of technology can expedite lawyer workflow and provide new insights into familiar legal topics.
- Slides are not available for Big Data: New Insights
A Day in the Life of a Lawyer Representing Non-Profits
Presenter: Benjamin Takis, Tax-Exempt Solutions, PLLC
It is common for lawyers practicing in the District of Columbia to encounter the law of nonprofit organizations at some point in their careers, whether through pro bono projects, service on a board of directors, or other professional engagements. During this presentation, Benjamin Takis of Tax-Exempt Solutions, PLLC will guide attendees through the tools and resources; areas of law; and other practice issues you need to know to provide effective representation to nonprofits and tax-exempt entities.
- Slides are not available for A Day in the Life of a Lawyer Representing Non-Profits
3:00 - 3:50 p.m.
Social Selling for Lawyers
Presenter: Tasha (TC) Cooper, LawyersLaunchPad.com and UpwardAction, LLC
Social selling shrinks the gap between access to your services and the exact time your ideal client is looking for them. The "catch phrase" social selling is all about using the power of the internet to build credibility, become more influential and be the number one resource that comes to mind when your ideal client is thinking about your practice area. TC Cooper will share tips for developing an informative and engaging social presence through content that brings your ideal clients to you, just when they think they need someone like you.
3:30 - 4:20 p.m.
Common Website Pitfalls and How to Avoid Disciplinary Proceedings
Presenter: Emily Wood, Smokeball
This session will help solos and small firm lawyers evaluate their website presence. We will discuss how to optimize your website to be mobile friendly and focus on search engine optimized (SEO) content tailored to your practice area. Attendees will walk away with knowledge of applicable ethics opinions and rules of professional conduct as they apply to lawyer websites.
Tax Planning for Lawyers: 7 Costly Mistakes To Avoid -- Lessons From A Top Professional
Presenter: Kim Bey, Bey & Associates, CPAs, PC
Kim Bey, a top tax professional in Washington D.C., has served on the D.C. Bar's Practice Management Service Committee for almost four years. She has more than a decade of tax advisory experience and has helped hundreds of clients. This seminar consists of powerful lessons she has learned from hard-won knowledge in assisting legal and other professionals to take a proactive approach to tax savings and wealth management.
"Attorneys work very hard for their money" she says. "Yet in most cases it has been found that they omit adequate tax planning, opting instead to handle their wealth building at tax time. This leads to stress and typically loss of revenues -- situations that could have been avoided."
This seminar will help attendees avoid common mistakes, by showing them successful actions they can take to keep more of what they earn.
To receive more information about this program, including program materials, please contact the speaker directly at [email protected].
