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We’ve just returned from the Division’s 2006 Fall Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Pfister Hotel where we hosted numerous programs and events. Below are a few highlights:

National Solo and Small Firm Conference

The Division hosted the 1st National Solo and Small Firm Conference with over 25 hours worth of CLE presented by a group of nationally renowned speakers. CLE topics and speakers included:

• Plenary Sessions
  • 60 Top Practice & Tech Tips, Gadgets & Websites in 60 Minutes (Ross Kodner & Kira Zaporski)
  • Top 10 Ways Small Firms Commit Malpractice and How to Avoid Them (Ross Kodner, Todd Scott & Brian Anderson)
• Track One- Technology for the Small Firm
  • Word Processing Isn’t Dead! Tap the Hidden Power of Word and WordPerfect (Dora Pontow & Sandy Bautch)
  • ProLaw, TimeMatters, Practice Master & Amicus Attorney: Top Four Features of the Big Four (Nerino Petro, Andy Simpson & Todd Scott)
  • PDF Your Practice- The Lawyer’s Complete Guide to Acrobat and PDF (Rick Bornstein)
  • That $&*%!@(# Technology! Digital Problem-Solving for All of Us- Bring Your Questions! (Nerino Petro & Ross Kodner)
  • Buying and Financing Law Office Technology: How to Buy Right and Spend Smart (Ross Kodner & Aaron Rittmaster)
  • My Favorite Utilities: It’s the Small Things That Count (Ross Kodner, Dan Coolidge & Aaron Rittmaster)
  • Practice Anywhere, Any Time: Tips & Tools for Mobile, Wireless and Home-Based Lawyering (Paul Unger, Dan Coolidge & Jeff Allen)
• Track Two- Litigation for Small Firms
  • Tools for Trial: Top Litigation Technology Tips and Techniques (Brian Hermanson & Paul Unger)
  • E-Discovery 101: Small Firm Lawyers’ Modern Litigation Survival Primer (Ross Kodner, Paul Unger & Steve Cravitz)
  • Bloggers Speak: Why SSF Lawyers Should/Shouldn’t (Jim Calloway, Tom Mighell & Carolyn Elefant)
  • Operator, Give Me Murray Hill 459: Cell and Landline Phones, VoiceMail, Internet Phone Primer for Small Firms (Jeff Allen & Abraham Liebsch)
  • Help! My Mailbox is Exploding! Dealing with E-Mail Overload, Ethics and More (Tom Mighell & Jennifer Rose)
  • Keeping ‘Em Happy: The Secrets of Client Satisfaction (Jim Calloway, Bob Woodke, Deb Matthews and Ira Piltz)
  • Web 2.0: Hottest Web Tools for Small Firm Innovators (Jim Calloway & Tom Mighell)
• Track Three- My Practice
  • My Taxes: Getting a Jumpstart on 2006 (Pete Peterson)
  • My Billing: Powerful Techniques to Get Paid (Bob Woodke & Jim Calloway)
  • My Time: From “Where Did the Day Go?” to “What a Productive Day!” (Meg Spencer-Dixon)
  • My Finances: Take Your Firm’s Financial Pulse (Pete Peterson, Lori Kannenberg & Chuck Peters)
  • My Success: Business Boot Camp for Small Firms (Bob Woodke, Pete Peterson & Lori Kannenberg)
  • My Research: Getting the Most for Your Research Dollars (Aly Rieser)
  • My Safe Practice: What Every Lawyer Must Know About Backup, Viruses, Spyware and Security- The “Anti-Disaster” Session (Ross Kodner & Aaron Rittmaster)

If you weren’t able to join us, don’t sweat it! All of the programs soon will also be available as online CLE programs for purchase via the WestLegalEd Center. Remember, GP|Solo Division members receive a special discount on all GPSolo-West Online CLE. Keep checking as the programs will be posted soon!

Special thanks to Ross Kodner of MicroLaw and Jim Calloway of the Oklahoma Bar Association for their assistance in planning the conference!

Training

• Leadership Training: Thursday afternoon the Division’s leadership met to participate in a Leadership Training session led by Jeff Allen. Thanks to everyone who participated!
• Publications and Resources Training Event (PARTE): The Division held it’s first training event for all the publications, periodical and resource board chairs and committee members. Participants discussed what makes for a good editor, how timelines and planning guides can most effectively be used, etc. Thanks go out to GPSolo magazine editor, jennifer j. rose, who led the training!

Other Events and Activities

• Opening Ceremony: After opening with a presentation of the colors from the local Coast Guard Sector, the Division welcomed Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. as the keynote speaker.
• Difference Maker Awards Dinner: After touring the Milwaukee Art Museum, the attendees enjoyed a dinner at the Santiago Calatrava- designed Quadracci Pavilion to honor and celebrate the following award winners:
  • Honorable Janine Geske (Professional Achievement Award)
  • Ulice Payne, Jr. (Diversity Award)
• Youth at Risk Public Service Program: One of ABA President Karen Mathis’ initiatives for this year is a public service program, Youth at Risk, designed to bring together community leaders in youth-related programs to discuss the current state of that area’s youth at risk and discuss ways in which to collaborate and share resources to improve the situation. Led by the ABA’s Initiative Chair, Dwight Smith, and Vice-Chairs, Laura Farber and Paula Frederick, many of the Milwaukee leaders turned out for the half day meeting. Participants included the local District Attorney’s office, Girl Scouts of Milwaukee, the Boys and Girls Club of Milwaukee, Milwaukee and Waukesha County Community Services, and many others. By all accounts, it was a huge success and the group has already made plans for their second meeting.
• Committee Meetings: Numerous Division committees met during the Fall Meeting to continue working on ongoing and new projects. Thank you to all of the Division members braved the cold weather to join in the meetings!