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Recap: GP|Solo 2007 Fall Meeting and
National Solo & Small Firm Conference |
Thanks to everyone who made this year’s Fall Meeting and the National Solo & Small Firm Conference such a success!
Over the weekend of October 4-6, 2007, more than 250 solo & small firm lawyers assembled at the Hyatt Regency Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia, PA, for the GP|Solo Division's Fall Meeting and the Second Annual National Solo & Small Firm Conference.
 Past Chair John Macy is a dead-ringer for Ol’ Ben. By all accounts, the event was not only productive but great fun too. Thursday night, attendees were greeted by none other than the greatest Philadelphian, Benjamin Franklin. By the time people figured out Ben was actually Past Chair John Macy, the Mummers had already struck up the music again, providing a festive atmosphere for our Welcome Reception.
On Friday we enjoyed a “Night at the Museum” with an exclusive private tour of the National Constitution Center and scavenger hunt. The museum was followed by the elegant Difference Makers Awards Dinner, at which many admirable recipients were honored for their commitment to making a difference in the profession and in their communities.
Other highlights included the Division's law student program at Temple University's Beasley School of Law, where experienced GP|Solo members shared their “keys to the kingdom” for getting a law job with over 70 interested students some of whom traveled from distant states.
 The two-day National Solo & Small Firm Conference was chocked full of useful tips and valuable networking opportunities for more than 250 attendees from all over the country. Many attendees are already making plans to attend the Third Annual National Solo and Small Firm Conference next fall in Santa Fe, NM. The Division also held a series of productive administrative meetings, capped off by the Division’s Council Meeting.
Below we've included some photos from the weekend. Thanks again to everyone who came, and I look forward to seeing you at our future meetings: Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on February 7-10, 2008; New Orleans at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on May 1-4, 2008 (during Jazz Fest!), and the ABA Annual Meeting in New York City at the Westin Times Square on August 7-10, 2008.
Sincerely,
Keith B. McLennan
Chair, General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division
» Visit the Recap Online «
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Difference Makers Awards Dinner &
Night at the Museum |
At our Difference Makers Awards Dinner on Friday evening, October 5th, at the National Constitution Center, we honored six lawyers who have made a difference to the Bar, the Community, Pro Bono and Breaking Barriers. In a crowded field, this year’s winners were:
- William T. Robinson III (Florence, KY) for Community Service
- C. Dale McClain (Worcester, PA) for Service to the Profession
- Wendy Demchick-Alloy and Mary Coyne Pugh (Montgomery County, PA) for their work with the Child Advocacy Project
- Harvey F. Strauss (Maple Glen, PA) as Co-Director of Legal Aid for Southeastern PA
- Judge Pamila J. Brown (Ellicott City, MD) for Breaking Barriers
The evening began at 4:30pm with our Night at the Museum including an exclusive tour of this magnificent new facility and testament to our most vital document. We then convened a reception at the Center to loosen up the awardees and the crowd for Philly's hottest blues band, Blues Anatomy. After an elegant dinner, the awardees shared their heartfelt stories and received their well-earned Difference Makers Awards.
 Difference Makers Award Recipients: Wendy Demchick-Alloy and Mary Coyne Pugh (Montgomery County, PA) William T. Robinson III (Florence, KY) C. Dale McClain (Worcester, PA).  Gary L. Anderson presents the Difference Makers Award to Judge Pamila J. Brown (Ellicott City, MD) for Breaking Barriers.  Harvey F. Strauss (Maple Glen, PA), Co-Director of Legal Aid for Southeastern PA, receives a Difference Makers Award from GP|Solo Division Chair-Elect Robert A. Zupkus.
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| Law Student Event: How to Get a Job in a Small Firm |
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In GP|Solo, we're fortunate to have a good number of law student members, and we didn't forget you at our Fall Meeting! We held a special presentation at Temple University's Beasley School of Law on Thursday night (October 4th) entitled How to Get a Job in a Small Firm. This unique opportunity brought in more than 70 students from all over the country to hear a panel of leaders in the solo & small firm community speak about their experiences.
 GP|Solo Members Speak at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law: Keith B. McLennan, Alan A. Fowler, William T. Hogan, III, Patricia A. Sexton, Elio F. Martinez, Jr., and Laura V. Farber all shared their wisdom on the profession.  Patricia A. Sexton speaks to law students at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, while Laura V. Farber and William T. Hogan, III, sit on the panel of experienced solo and small firm lawyers.
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| Second Annual National Solo & Small Firm Conference |
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The accolades for this year's National Solo & Small Firm Conference are already pouring in on SoloSez, GP|Solo's listserve for solo and small firm attorneys.
There was a ton of really useful information, and the seminars and other activities were interesting and enjoyable.
- Mitch
As a solo starting out, besides getting good information that will help me right away, I heard about little future gotchas that I should watch out for that easily paid for the expense of the weekend. If you didn't get to this one, try to get to the next one.
- Craig
I have attended many ABA meetings over the years and this one definitely was a "cut above" the rest. Great people & a very useful program. My only complaint is that.....well, I can't think of one. Well done and thanks to all for all the obvious hard work that made it possible!!
- Wayne
CLE materials from the conference are available for download [19MB]. A specific date is still being worked out for next year's conference, but it is planned for fall 2008 in Santa Fe, NM.
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| GP|Solo Council at 2007 Fall Meeting |
On Saturday, October 6, Chair McLennan convened the GP|Solo Division Council Meeting to close the administrative portion of the 2007 Fall Meeting. This year four new Council Members-at-Large were inducted.
 New GP|Solo Council Members-at-Large: Jennifer J. Ator (Miami, FL), Bruce E. Hopson (St. Louis, MO), Division Chair Keith B. McLennan, David Levesque (Damariscotta, ME) and George C. Johnson (Columbia, SC).
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| Calling All Writers: Law Students & Young Lawyers |
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The GP|Solo Division is launching an e-newsletter specifically for law students!
We're looking for law students and young lawyers who have a way with words and think they might have something to share with the 17,000 other law students in GP|Solo.
We know (from first-hand experience!) how busy law students are and how much you already have to read. That's why this newsletter will feature short, interesting pieces (no more than 500 words), and even simple bulleted lists and top-ten lists.
If you want to write an article or get involved (and we know you do), then just shoot an email over to Alan Fowler at alan@fowler.org.
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| Register Now for the ABA 2008 Midyear Meeting |
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The ABA 2008 Los Angeles Midyear Meeting registration website is currently open. If you're attending, register now for the weekend of February 7-10, 2008.
This year the GP|Solo Division Headquarters will be at the Beverly Hilton, located at 9876 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California 90210 (Tel: 310-274-7777, Fax: 310-285-1313). Room rates: Deluxe King Single/Double $236, Deluxe Junior Suite $316, Executive One-Bedroom Suite $366.
Some hotel amenities at the Beverly Hilton:
- A high-profile corporate address in the city of your choice to target the right clients
- Mail forwarding service allows you to use our address as your own
- A local phone number and receptionist to answer & transfer calls to your instructions
- Meeting rooms for important client meetings & depositions
- Administrative support
- Choose from over 350 locations in the U.S.
- Programs starting at just $175 per month
- As a GP|Solo member get your first month for FREE!
» Register Now! «
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| Save the Date: New Orleans in May! |
 Photo courtesy of Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World The GP|Solo Division is headed down to the Big Easy this May 1-4, 2008, for the Division's 2008 Spring Meeting.
The Division will be reserving a block of rooms at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in the city’s historic French Quarter, and we'll provide more information for how to register and reserve your room closer to the date. In the meantime, save the date and practice your dance steps, because this year's Spring Meeting coincides with the famous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival!
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| ABA Journal Features GP|Solo Members |
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Maybe you recognized some friendly faces on the recent cover of the ABA Journal? In the October 2007 issue on the "pulse of the legal profession," the smiling faces of some of GP|Solo's leadership appeared, including Lloyd D. Cohen, Bruce E. Hopson, Benes Aldana, Richard A. DeMichele Jr., and Chuck Driebe.
» View the ABA Journal Cover Online «
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| GP|Solo Book Spotlight |
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This book provides a helpful introduction to the basics of estate planning. It is written with an eye toward the needs of general practitioners and those who are seeking to develop a specialty in the estate-planning field. For this reason, the text is written in a user-friendly manner that provides basic text treatment of the subject along with cautions, examples, and planning pointers clearly denoted throughout the book. The cautions point out problem areas that must be considered to avoid an unwanted tax or other problem. The examples supplement the text and illustrate the point being discussed. The planning pointers show how to use the tax laws to benefit the tax and other planning needs of your clients. Also included on CD-ROM are numerous will and trust forms. These forms are annotated to make it clear why particular provisions are included in the will or trust. There are also cross-references between the text and the forms.
Price: $99.95
GP|Solo members: $89.95
» Find out about other GP|Solo Books «
» Visit the ABA’s Solo & Small Firm Web Store «
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