|
Time |
Event |
6:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
Registration and
Division Information Center |
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. |
Breakfast (included
in registration fee) |
8:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
NEW this year
Pre-Conference Workshop |
Blogging Lawyers:
A Workshop on the Whys, Whats, and Hows – and How Nots”
Moderator: Carolyn Elefant
Panelists: Ross Kodner
Gini Nelson
Nerino Petro
Jonathan
Stein
What? You don’t have a blog for your practice? Does that mean something’s
wrong with you or are you just waiting for a solid business case to be
made? Our panel of seasoned legal bloggers will shed light on these questions.
Should you blog? If so, why? How does blogging fit into a well-considered
practice-wide marketing plan? What is realistically involved in getting
started with blogging? Should you roll your own or hire a pro? Get real
answers to your blogging questions. |
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Opening Plenary & Lunch
|
Welcome
Robert Zupkus, GP|Solo Chair
Deborah Matthews, National Solo & Small Firm Conference Chair
How to Talk So People Listen: Connecting in Today’s
Workplace
Sonya Hamlin, Plenary Speaker
Communication with clients is instrumental to learning what they need
and how to appropriately respond to them. Sonya Hamlin will provide
effective ways to tackle tough communications issues to assist the
client and the lawyer, which will ultimately provide better legal representation. Additionally,
she will address how business communication has changed in the 21st
century such as dealing with technology, bridging the generation gaps
and reaching our multicultural workforce. |
12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. |
Break – Exhibit
Area |
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Opening Session |
From Paper to Pixels: Building
the Complete Electronic Case File
Panelist: Ross Kodner
Buried in piles of paper – at your office, at home, seemingly everywhere?
How many otherwise billable hours do you and your staff waste everyday
looking for case information you can only find in a paper file? If these
thoughts already conjure images too painful to contemplate, you need this
session. Award-winning legal technology consultant, Ross Kodner, will walk
you through his Paper LESS Process – a proven, practical, realistic
and cost-effective way to whip those piles into shape and show all that
paper who’s boss. Learn how to go from paper to pixels, building
complete electronic client case files.
|
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. |
Break – Exhibit
Area |
|
TRACK ONE |
TRACK TWO |
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
SESSION ONE |
Seven Tech Must
Haves for Superlative Client Services
Panelists: Nerino Petro
Paul Mansfield
More and more, technology has leveled the playing field for solo & small
firm lawyers, but are you spending your technology dollars on the right
products and services. Our experts count down the top seven technology
must-haves for the small law firm and how to maximize their effectiveness
and your productivity. |
Insurance 101
for Lawyers: Beyond Malpractice Coverage
Panelists: Roger Buelow, Mountain States Insurance
Morris “Mo” Chavez, NM Insurance Commissioner
Rod Mathews, ABE
Maureen Sanders
After malpractice coverage, what other types of insurance should you have
and why? Get the knowledge you need to stay covered. |
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
Break – Exhibit
Area |
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
SESSION TWO |
The MAC Law Office:
You Can Practice Without Microsoft Windows
Moderator: Ricky Evangelista
Panelists: Jeffrey Allen
Daniel Behles
Hans Voss
Can you really run a law practice on a Mac? Are you better off using
a Mac to run your law office? The speakers, all veteran Mac-using
attorneys, will address the advantages and disadvantages of moving from
the Windows platform and running your law office on Macintosh hardware
and software. |
What Happens When
You Can’t Practice? Death & Incapacity Planning for Lawyers
Panelists: Lloyd Cohen
Vicki Levy Eskin
Nerino Petro
Even a temporary inability to supervise a practice can create a crisis
for a solo or small firm lawyer. If you haven’t started thinking
about, or formulating, an action plan to protect your law firm, your clients,
and your family in the event of your temporary disability, permanent incapacity,
or even death, this program will jump start the process! Use it to safety-net
your financial and professional integrity. |
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. |
Break – Exhibit
Area |
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
SESSION THREE |
A Lawyer’s
Guide to PDFing: More Than Just Creating Files
Panelists: Jeffrey Allen
David Masters
PDF'ing for fun and profit! Our panel will address the PDF format
and its many uses for practicing attorneys. They will focus on Adobe
Acrobat and teach you some "tricks of the trade" in using Acrobat
efficiently and effectively within your practice. |
Pajama Practice:
Lawyering in a Home Office
Moderator: Artika Tyner
Panelists: Carolyn J. Stevens
Sande Golgart, Regus
Jonathan Stein
Considering a home office? Already practicing in a home office but
it doesn't quite work. This discussion is for you. Basic common
sense suggestions for being in the office all day but you're not getting
anything done, interruptions, office layout, time and practice and stress
management, separating home from office, privacy and security, among other
things. E-mail your question or problem to cj, kent@montana.com, subject
line NSSF Pajama, by September 15th, so the panel members can talk about
them before the meeting. |
|
Time |
Event |
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. |
Breakfast (included
in registration fee) |
8:00 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
PLENARY SESSION |
Nine Steps to a Successful
Law Practice
Panelists: Jay Foonberg
Todd Scott, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual
You cannot have progress without change. This does not mean that all change
is progress, but you cannot have any progress without change. If you are
willing to change where necessary to provide the “deskside manner” that
clients need, you can progress to a more successful practice free of ethics
complaints. Mr. Foonberg will teach you the nine steps to success, Mr.
Scott and Mr. Foonberg will demonstrate the high correlation between ethics
complaints, malpractice claims and problem clients where the 9 steps are
not observed. This is a rare once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from
the masters.
Mr. Foonberg is one of the most honored lawyers in America. Mr. Scott has
reviewed thousands of claims made against lawyers who did not learn and
apply the 9 steps. Like seeing May-Treanor and Walsh or Kobe and LeBron
this may a rare opportunity to see these two highly respected players on
the "Dream Team" of successful client relations. |
9:40 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. |
Break – Exhibit
Area |
|
TRACK ONE |
TRACK TWO |
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
SESSION ONE |
Tech for Tightwads:
Cheap and Free Power Tools
Moderator:Atinuke Diver
Panelists: Ross Kodner
Ian Bezpalko
Who doesn’t like free? Anyone? If you’re so tight that you
can bounce quarters off your palms, this session is for you! Learn about
a plethora of free (or really cheap) software and services for your SSF
practice. From free anti-virus tools, to free word processing, free PDFing
and free conference calling, this session will help save your practice
a fortune! |
Tribal Governments:
Casinos, Courts and Conflict
Panelists: Kirke Kickingbird
D. Michael McBride
The Vanishing Race of 1910 sprang into prominence again as we approach
2010. Casinos brought new wealth to some tribes and resurrected myths
similar to the “oil rich” Indian stories from 100 years ago. The
truth and the law about American Indians is caught up in history, treaties,
the power of tribal governments, complex jurisdictional conflicts, the
economics of Indian Country, and the funding of tribal courts. This
session will provide an overview of the current issues in American Indian
law. |
10:45 a.m. – 11: 00 a.m. |
Break – Exhibit
Area |
11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
SESSION TWO |
A Picture is Worth
a…
Really Big Settlement! Power Point is Your Secret Weapon
Panelists: Pamila Brown
Andrew Simpson
In January 2008, small firm lawyer Andy Simpson tried a discrimination
case against the world's largest law firm – the U.S. Department of
Justice – and walked away with a jury verdict of $500,000. His PowerPoint
opening and closing, prepared on a shoestring budget, contributed greatly
to his victory. He'll demonstrate portions of the actual opening and closing
and then show you the techniques to build similar PowerPoint slides – whether
in trial, settlement negotiations or mediation, PowerPoint persuades! |
You Can Actually
Have a Life: Tips for Reducing Stress In & Out of the Office
Panelists: Youshea Berry
Briggs Cheney
Deborah Matthews
Carolyn J. Stevens
This fast-paced program will cover practical strategies for managing
time, conquering procrastination, and processing information efficiently. Learn
how to create goals that will inspire you to do your best, ways to
manage myriad details while keeping ‘the big picture’ clearly
in mind, and other techniques to help get your work done efficiently
and keep your life in balance. |
11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
Break– Exhibit
Area |
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
KEYNOTE & LUNCH
|
Robert Zupkus, Chair, GP|Solo
Craig Orraj, President, State Bar of New Mexico
Legal History of the West
Thomas Chavez
Ever wonder what happened before the West was won? Dive into
New Mexico’s early legal history with Historian, Thomas Chavez
and explore Spain’s Laws of Indies, the Inquisition, land grants
and water rights. Also learn who was New Mexico’s first
lawyer and the legal rights of women and Indians under Spanish and
then Mexican law. |
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. |
Break – Exhibit
Area |
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
SESSION THREE |
More Gain, Less
Pain with Microsoft Word 2007: Why You Ought to Move
Panelist: Ross Kodner
Learn how Word 2007 is leaps and bounds superior as a legal word processor
than its 2003 predecessor. See how Word 2007 finally meets, and perhaps
even exceeds, the “WordPerfect standard” with logical organization
of functions, powerful clause-based document assembly with “Quick
Parts” and a raft of other tips, tricks, tools and resources to turn
you into a Legal Word Whiz! |
Law Firm Economics:
Making Sense of the Numbers
Panelists: Donald Becker
Peter Peterson, CPA
Get a basic understanding of the significant drivers of law firm finance
and profitability. In this session, you will learn:
- The 5 key financial indicators for your firm
- The importance of budgeting
- Provide understanding on what methods yield the greatest improvement
to the top line and bottom line
- The importance of maintaining adequate capital
- Minimum internal controls for your firm including trust accounts
|
2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
Break – Exhibit
Area |
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
SESSION FOUR |
Tech Q&A:
Answers to All of Your Questions
The Best GP|Solo and SoloSez Experts
Got problems? Windows not windowing. Case managers not managing. Billing
systems not billing, oh my! You have tech questions? We all do. But in
this era where vendor tech support is all too often a distant memory, how
can you get your issues resolved? The answer is simple – come to
this session and the Solosez Tech Gurus will save you! Vista being vauge?
PDA persnickety, practice manager problematic, laptop lagging? Bring your
issues, your problems, your huddled data yearning to be free and find answers! |
Recapturing Your
Legal Research Costs Ethically
Panelists: Terese Thilgen, West,
a Thomson Reuters Business
Keith McLennan, GP|Solo Past Chair
The ABA GP|Solo Division surveyed the membership to learn more about the
current practices and challenges for billing clients online legal research
costs. We learned members want to recover legal research costs, but
did not know how to manage charges back to clients for online legal research
in a “reasonable and fair” way. Learn the tools and
resources to begin or improve your cost recovery practice in compliance
with your state’s guidelines. |
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. |
Break – Exhibit
Area |
3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
CLOSING PLENARY AND
PRIZE DRAWINGS |
Hot Legal Tech Tips,
Gadgets, Blogs and Websites in 60 Minutes
Moderator: Deborah Matthews
Panelists: Ross Kodner
Nerino Petro
Andrew Simpson
Perennially our most popular session Why? Because the fast-paced 60 Tips
format gives you useful, practical information. Whether Word tips, practice
management, legal marketing, malpractice risk reduction and ethical compliance,
mobile gadgets, wireless practice, Windows issues, client services or anything
else a SSF lawyer would find useful, it’s all here – 60 tips
you can take back to your practice and use NOW! |
