May 4-7, 2006
Kansas City, Missouri
The InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza

Our Spring meeting pages have been updated and now includes descriptions of our CLE.

Some highlights of this meeting include:

Thursday: The Opening Reception will include a private tour of the Negro League Baseball Museum with the legendary Buck O’Neil, and the best of KC style BBQ and live jazz at the American Jazz Museum.

Friday: ABA President-Elect Karen Mathis will lead a plenary session in the morning on her initiative for the 2006-07 bar year. The topic will be, "Mainstreet Lawyers — The Glue that Holds Society Together." The evening will feature a dinner at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art honoring military lawyers and a Swearing-In ceremony to the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Deadline for advance registration for the meeting is April 28.

Find out more about the Spring Meeting

Our schedule

We are now accepting nominations for our Solo & Small Firm Practitioners, Bar Project, and Bar Leaders Awards:

• Donald C. Rikli Solo Lifetime Achievement Award
• Sole Practitioner of the Year Award
• Annual Sole Practitioner Merit Award
• Annual Small Firm Practitioner Merit Award
• Solo and Small Firm Project Award
• Annual Bar Leader Award

Find out more about each of these and apply online on our Awards page.
Deadline is May 31, 2006.

In this session, you will learn about how the latest in legal-specific software can increase your firm’s profitability, efficiency, and client satisfaction. 

Practice Builders is a new GP|Solo Teleconference series with an innovative approach to CLE. In addition to a traditional teleconference, there will be a follow up question and answer session on Solosez and a Monday morning "to do" list.

Find out more about this CLE opportunity

Solosez is celebrating its 10th birthday this year!

During its first few months, the list started out like like kids at a junior high school dance, each afraid to be the first ones on the dance floor. Fast forward to the present where Solosez is the ABA's busiest list with over 2,100 solo and small firm subscribers.

We plan to mark the occasion at the Spring Meeting, so be sure to come and claim your piece of birthday cake!

For a taste of what Solosez has to offer, check out the popular threads on Solosez's website. Last month's threads were:

• Answering the Phone
• Remote Access
• Stocks With Beneficiaries
• Ways to Increase Income
• What Is the Greatest Lawyer Novel of All Time?
• What's In a Firm Name?

Diversity Fellows Program

The Division's Diversity Committee and Membership Board identifies and nominates four lawyers of color who will be appointed by the Chair-Elect to funded fellowship positions within the Division, effective during the following bar year.
The application deadline April 28, 2006.

Find out more and apply to the Diversity Fellows program

Young Lawyers Fellows Program

GP|Solo Division is pleased to announce its inaugural Young Lawyers Fellows Program! This program provides leadership opportunities for young lawyer with the opportunity to become actively and integrally involved in the Division’s meetings and committees.
The application deadline is May 31, 2006

Find out more about the Young Lawyers Fellows Program.

Attention all members, the Bylaws Committee is recommending that the Division Bylaws be changed.  Please download and review the revisions to the Bylaws (MS Word) and email genpractice@abanet.org with your comments, questions and suggestions.

Last month we asked you for suggestions for links to articles on work-life balance, games, and any other diversions, and you didn't disappoint! So if you feel like your life is all work and no play, or just want to take a break, stop by our Quality of Life resources page.

PS: A big thank you to everyone who contributed their suggestions.

ABA TECHSHOW
April 20-22, 2006
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers
Chicago, IL
GP|Solo members save $100!
Choose "Program Promoter" registration and specify code PP127.

ABA Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law
National Conference on the Employment of Lawyers with Disabilities
May 22-23, 2006
Renaissance Washington Hotel
Washington, D.C.
GP|Solo is proud to be a Silver Sponsor of this conference.

Topics Include:

• Is Disability Diverse or Just Different?
• Does It Pay to Hire Lawyers with Disabilities?
• Best Practices in Law Firms

Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession
National Conference for the Minority Lawyer
June 22-23, 2006
Philadelphia, PA
This unique two day program for litigators, business lawyers, in-house counsel, solo practitioners, and government lawyers will include practical training to help you:

• Improve your presentation techniques to promote success
• Facilitate a better understanding of diversity
• Market yourself by building your credentials
• Learn how to successfully transition your career

Member Achievements

Congratulations to Justin Sher who's article, "Lock it Up," from the December 2005 issue of GPSolo magazine, was featured in a recent issue of "Your ABA"

National Arbitration Forum Contest Winner

Congratulations to Zuzana Stepanek who won an iPod by entering a contest for our law students sponsored by the National Arbitration Forum. Students another opportunity is coming your way really soon!

This month we are offering you a chance to win the incredibly popular eBook, How to Build a Law Firm Brand.

Stand out in today's marketplace by identifying your law firm with a brand.

To enter, we ask that you fill in a short survey about yourself and what you think of our website.

The deadline is April 30, so enter now!

New Orleans, New Law: Community Revival with Technology
May 22-23
Sheraton Hotel on Canal Street
New Orleans, LA

There will be a free two-day legal technology session to teach attorneys about the tools they could be using to get them back on their feet. The first day will have sessions on purchasing hardware and software and will culminate with a panel of local judges speaking on the state of the courts. The second day will feature sessions on mobile technology such as wifi and PDA usage which proved essential to those attorneys who survived Katrina as well as a session on using Web based technology to revive and maintain your practice.

Find out more about New Orleans, New Law: Community Revival with Technology

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