April 2020

Capital Connection is published monthly for members of the Capital Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators to provide information for the education and benefit of legal administrators, law office managers, managing partners of law firms, and other law related associations. Capital Connection is not engaged in rendering legal, financial, or tax counseling or advice through this publication.  The contents of all articles, letters, and advertisements published in Capital Connection should not be considered endorsements by the Capital Chapter of ALA nor the opinion expressed therein of any products advertised.   Contributing authors are requested and expected to disclose financial and/or professional interests and affiliations that may influence their writing position. Articles and materials accepted for publication are subject to editing by the editorial team and become property of the Capital Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators. Links to Capital Connection may not be shared without permission from the Chapter. 
Editors: Cindy Conover;  Beth Fowler
​Contributing Editors: Jackie Thomas; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Heinan Landa; Centers for Disease Control; Jim Durfee
Newsletter Designed By: Jessica Davis


In this issue:

President's Message

I hope this message finds each of you safe and healthy.  I know this has been a crazy time for all of us, but I also hope you have found some silver lining.  For those who don’t know me, my name is Jackie.  I am the DC Office Administrator at Arnall Golden Gregory, and I have been a very active Cap Chap member since 2014. I have been part of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee since its inception, a member of the Education Committee for multiple years, and an Ambassador for the Chapter that I love, ALA Cap Chap.  Previously, I served as your VP-Elect of Community Services, and it is now my honor to be your 2020-2021 Chapter President.  I want to thank each and every one of you for your resounding support and encouragement.  It is greatly appreciated and heartfelt.

Hindsight is 20/20, and so is vision through the right lens.  The one constant in life is change, and we can embrace that and use it to learn, grow and support each other.  We have already learned some important lessons this past year, and we are certainly learning to become even more agile during our current circumstances.  If we can look at it through the lens of opportunity and supporting one another, I know we will come out better on the other side, together.  I am inviting you to lean in with me.  We are all jumping in feet first, so let’s at least have fun swimming.  And as we know, a rising tide lifts all boats, and we are in this together.

In these unprecedented times and uncharted waters, we can all expect that the Chapter will look a little different for a while, but please be assured the Board, Leadership Team and I are still looking forward and working hard on some amazing education and networking opportunities.  In addition, while we won’t be meeting in person through at least the end of May, I am tasking our new Board and Leadership Teams to reach out to every member and Business Partner just to check-in.  Social distancing doesn’t mean we are isolated.  And in this time when the world looks a little different, it’s important to remember how great our Chapter is and how fortunate we are to have an association of dedicated, committed members like ALA.  This Chapter has, and will always, strive to be a consistent, invaluable resource for its educational quality and its members.  Please consider reaching out to fellow members and Business Partners. Check in on each other. Have virtual coffee, happy hours and get-togethers. Just because we can’t meet in person doesn’t mean we should stop meeting. I would welcome a virtual coffee to get to know you, share more about myself and to swap ideas.  If this sounds good, please send me an email. I am here for you

My theme for this year is inspired from the U.S. Botanic Garden, whose 200th anniversary is this year - Deeply Rooted, Branching Outward.  I find this motto very poignant and very Cap Chap.  We can and should utilize the wisdom of the leaders of the past 45 plus years to help take this chapter forward; to embrace and develop the next generation of leaders. 

“The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17).  From a new president to a past president, I want to personally thank Elaine Gregg for the wisdom she has instilled on this Chapter throughout her career and congratulate her on her retirement.  Further, I want to also thank all of the past presidents and legacy members who have been a positive influence.  Y’all will be hearing from me for coffee soon as a basis for my monthly President’s Message. 

As your President, I would like to assure you that the Chapter remains deeply rooted in our commitment to the strength in membership, our Business Partner connections, driving Diversity and Inclusion, community service, second-to-none education, and networking opportunities, and branching outward to prepare the next generation of leaders.

Thank you so much to the outgoing Board and Leadership Team.  Your hard work and dedication make this Chapter what it is.  I have much enjoyed learning the Cap Chap Board life with you all.  I also would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing President Jenna Carter for her work and leadership of the Chapter over the past year.  Her heart for the Chapter and her desire to see the Chapter succeed is a great example for me, and I hope to be able to emulate the same dedication to you all. 

To the incoming Board and Leadership Team - I am extremely honored to be stepping into this role with you as we grow together and branch out to embrace the future of the Chapter and the legal industry as we know it.  Though we don’t know exactly what it will look like, I ask you to trust me and be all in.  Be all in for whatever that may be. 

​Again, I look forward to working with you all and can’t wait to celebrate in person. Thank you!
Jackie Thomas

Members on the Move

Deidre C. Moore
Director, Administration & Operations
Foley & Lardner LLP
Washington Harbour
3000 K Street, N.W.
Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20007

Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

What You Should Know
When you hear, read, or watch news about an outbreak of an infectious disease such as Ebola, you may feel anxious and show signs of stress—even when the outbreak affects people far from where you live and you are at low or no risk of getting sick. These signs of stress are normal, and may be more likely or pronounced in people with loved ones in parts of the world affected by the outbreak. In the wake of an infectious disease outbreak, monitor your own physical and mental health. Know the signs of stress in yourself and your loved ones. Know how to relieve stress, and know when to get help.

Know the Signs of Stress 
What follows are behavioral, physical, emotional, and cognitive responses that are all common signs of anxiety and stress. You may notice some of them after you learn about an infectious disease outbreak.
Your Behavior:
  • An increase or decrease in your energy and activity levels
  • An increase in your alcohol, tobacco use, or use of illegal drugs
  • An increase in irritability, with outbursts of anger and frequent arguing
  • Having trouble relaxing or sleeping
  • Crying frequently
  • Worrying excessively
  • Wanting to be alone most of the time
  • Blaming other people for everything
  • Having difficulty communicating or listening
  • Having difficulty giving or accepting help
  • Inability to feel pleasure or have fun

Your Thinking
  • Having trouble remembering things
  • Feeling confused
  • Having trouble thinking clearly and concentrating
  • Having difficulty making decisions
Your Body:
  • Having stomachaches or diarrhea
  • Having headaches and other pains
  • Losing your appetite or eating too much
  • Sweating or having chills
  • Getting tremors or muscle twitches
  • Being easily startled

Your Emotions:
  • Being anxious or fearful
  • Feeling depressed
  • Feeling guilty
  • Feeling angry
  • Feeling heroic, euphoric, or invulnerable
  • Not caring about anything
  • Feeling overwhelmed by sadness
Know When to Get Help
You may experience serious distress when you hear about an infectious disease outbreak, even if you are at little or no risk of getting sick. If you or someone you know shows signs of stress (see list at left) for several days or weeks, get help by accessing one of the resources at the end of this article. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline right away if you or someone you know threatens to hurt or kill him- or herself or someone else, or talks or writes about death, dying, or suicide.

Know How to Relieve Stress
You can manage and alleviate your stress by taking time to take care of yourself.

Keep Things In Perspective:
Set limits on how much time you spend reading or watching news about the outbreak. You will
want to stay up to date on news of the outbreak, particularly if you have loved ones in places
where many people have gotten sick. But make sure to take time away from the news to focus
on things in your life that are going well and that you can control. 

Get the Facts:
Find people and resources you can depend on for accurate health information. Learn from them
about the outbreak and how you can protect yourself against illness, if you are at risk. You may
turn to your family doctor, a state or local health department, U.S. government agencies, or an
international organization. 

Keep Yourself Healthy:
  • Eat healthy foods, and drink water.
  • Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol.
  • Do not use tobacco or illegal drugs.
  • Get enough sleep and rest.
  • Get physical exercise.

Use Practical Ways to Relax:
  • Relax your body often by doing things that work for you—take deep breaths, stretch, meditate, wash your face and hands, or engage in pleasurable hobbies.
  • Pace yourself between stressful activities, and do a fun thing after a hard task.
  • Use time off to relax—eat a good meal, read, listen to music, take a bath, or talk to family.
  • Talk about your feelings to loved ones and friends often.

Pay Attention to Your Body, Feelings, and Spirit
  • Recognize and heed early warning signs of stress.
  • Recognize how your own past experiences affect your way of thinking and feeling about this event, and think of how you handled your thoughts, emotions, and behavior around past events.
  • Know that feeling stressed, depressed, guilty, or angry is common after an event like an infectious disease outbreak, even when it does not directly threaten you.
  • Connect with others who may be experiencing stress about the outbreak. Talk about your feelings about the outbreak, share reliable health information, and enjoy conversation unrelated to the outbreak, to remind yourself of the many important and positive things in your lives.
  • Take time to renew your spirit through meditation, prayer, or helping others in need.

​Sources for Credible Outbreak-Related Health Information 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027
1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) https://www.cdc.gov  
World Health Organization
Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization
525 23rd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-974-3000
http://www.who.int/en
​Helpful Resources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
​5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
​Toll-Free: 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727)
Email: info@samhsa.hhs.gov
SAMHSA Store: https://store.samhsa.gov

SAMHSA’s National Helpline
Toll-Free: 1-800-662-HELP (24/7/365 Treatment Referral Information Service in English and español)
Website: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/nationalhelpline 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Toll-Free: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Toll-Free (español): 1-888-628-9454
TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (1-800-799-4889)
Website in English: https:// www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Website in Spanish: https:// suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/en-espanol
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline
Toll-Free: 1-800-985-5990 (English and español)
SMS: Text TalkWithUs to 66746
SMS (español): “Hablanos” al 66746
TTY: 1-800-846-8517
Website in English: https:// www.disasterdistress.samhsa.gov
Website in Spanish: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/ disaster-distress-helpline/espanol 

​Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
Website: https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/locator/home 

SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center Toll-Free: 1-800-308-3515
Email: DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov
Website: https://www.samhsa.gov/dtac

Top 4 Teleworking Vulnerabilities (and How to Mitigate Them)

Heinan Landa
Founder & CEO, Optimal Networks, Inc.

Between social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders, it’s clear that we’ll all be spending a lot of time at home. While many of us might normally work from home a day or two out of each week, few firms are used to having all their attorneys and staff work from home for weeks at a time. This means that many firms have not implemented security measures that are most appropriate for a fully remote team. 

To help you make the adjustment, here are some big-ticket vulnerabilities along with recommendations on how to best mitigate them. (If you’ve attended our remote work webinar series, these will sound familiar!)

1. Using Personal Devices
The laptops and desktops your firm owns are secure. They have up-to-date patching and anti-malware. They have simple but important polices like an automatic screen lock. They’re backed up and might even have hard drive encryption and remote wipe capabilities. 

Do the personal devices accessing your data even have anti-virus beyond Windows Defender? Are any running Windows 7, which has been out of support for months? If a vulnerable machine is accessing your firm data, that data becomes vulnerable. 

Best practice is to only allow your people to work from firm-owned equipment. If you try purchasing new equipment today, though, you will probably run into significant delays with manufacturing. Your second-best option is to roll out workstation management software to these personal devices. Your IT team can help with this.  

2. Heightened Scam Activity
Scammers are having a field day with this pandemic. We’re anxious, we’re distracted, we’re working with new and unfamiliar technologies, and we’re accessing confidential data outside of our secure office network. 

In a span of just seven hours, cybersecurity company ESET detected 2,500 infections from malicious emails that played on COVID-19 themes. Phishing emails that appear to come from legitimate sources like the World Health Organization offer links or attachments with information about the spread, face masks, a vaccine—anything that will tempt recipients into clicking and infecting their machines with spyware, ransomware, or otherwise. And the massive success of these scams means that hackers will double-down. 

Fortunately, we can avoid these scams by practicing the same awareness tactics you’ve heard before:
  • Don't click links or download attachments you weren’t expecting.
  • Watch for poor grammar and generic greetings (sir/ma’am) 
  • Don't offer up personal information unless you can verify the request (by calling the sender, logging directly into your Facebook account, etc.)

Regarding coronavirus specifically, be sure to stick to official websites (WHO, CDC) for the latest news on the outbreak. 

Give your attorneys and staff a refresher on these best practices using our phishing red flags infographic [PDF], my recent segment with FOX5 DC, or our blog post that speaks to virus-related scams specifically.

3. Not Using Mulit-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication keeps you protected even if you make a mistake—which, as I mentioned above, is a lot more likely in today’s landscape. Say you fall for a phishing scam and enter your Office 365 credentials onto a fake web page. But, your Office 365 account is set to send a verification code to your cell phone. Even with your email address and password in-hand, the hacker still can’t access your account unless they’ve also managed to steal your cell phone. 

In January 1.2 million Microsoft accounts were compromised. Microsoft has said “multi-factor authentication would have prevented the vast majority of those one-million compromised accounts.” Work with your IT team to (forcibly) enable multi-factor authentication on as many applications as you can. This is often not labor-intensive, and it can do wonders to keep your accounts locked down. 

4. Sharing Devices With Others
If you live with roommates or family members, you may find them asking to borrow your machine for anything from their distance learning assignments to streaming movies. Whether this machine is personal device or owned by the firm, allowing others to access the same equipment being used to store and access client data puts that data at risk. It only takes one wrong click to put your threat detection and response software—assuming any is installed—to the test. And in some cases, someone just seeing an open document on your machine is a compliance violation.  Your firm policy may already have guidelines against sharing devices, but keep in mind that this is new territory for all of us, and that some may need help finding an alternative. 

reach out | www.optimalnetworks.com/security | www.optimalnetworks.com/workfromhome 

Stay safe!

Outbreaks Can Be Stressful

Centers for Disease Control

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include
  • Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
  • Changes in sleep or eating patterns
  • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
  • Worsening of chronic health problems
  • Worsening of mental health conditions
  • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations
How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in.

People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include
  • Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19
  • Children and teens
  • People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors, other health care providers, and first responders
  • People who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use

Take care of yourself and your community
Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.

Ways to cope with stress
Need help? Know someone who does? If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others
Know the facts to help reduce stress
Sharing the facts about COVID-19. Understanding the risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful.

When you share accurate information about COVID-19, you can help make people feel less stressed and make a connection with them.
​
Take care of your mental health
Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.
People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms. Additional information can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Preparedness page.

Business Unusual

James H. Durfee
Vice President & General Manager, Office Movers Express (OMX)

In business, as in life, we are faced with decisions on a daily basis. Many of them fairly simple, many somewhat routine. Other decisions might need a second opinion, a meeting, guidance from a Board or a Committee, deferred to another time or even pushed off indefinitely. But what of the decisions that can’t wait? Pressing issues surrounding an unforeseen or unlikely event (unlikely but somehow it happened). Especially those decisions affecting business continuity or potential business failure? Those are the tough ones. Really tough ones. Are you prepared?

A Little Latin Goes a Long Way
Cataclysmic events have a way of making us sit up and take notice; sometimes we even learn from them. World Wars, stock market collapses, Hurricane Katrina, 9-11, pandemics. There is a lesson for us in each case, but somehow it doesn’t stick. Creatures of habit, we look at these occurrences and tend to write them off as “one-time” events and go back to Business as Usual. But in the new age of Business Unusual, the anomaly becomes the norm. The US Coast Guard has a slogan “Semper Paratus”, Latin for “Always Ready”. If we truly learned from the past, we would be prepared to prevent a border dispute from becoming a worldwide crisis; we would react quickly and decisively if the stock market was manipulated or tumbled too quickly; we wouldn’t build homes or businesses in land below sea level; we would institute airport security procedures as a matter of routine and stick with them; and we would invest in preventing the spread of infection, not just waiting to develop the cure. Always Ready means exactly what it says – preparing for unplanned or unlikely occurrences and maintaining the resources necessary to react swiftly when needed.

Back to the Future
While it’s good to look back and learn from what was, I would argue that with today’s faster pace, we are better served looking ahead and seeing what could be. For instance, in the past, the light at the end of the tunnel was often portrayed (not necessarily correctly) as the oncoming train. However, more often than not, the light at the end of the tunnel is a mirror allowing us to see ourselves and our roles more clearly. Preparing your law firm for potential business interruption is a vital task and can start with a simple assessment of what is already in place and whether it’s set up effectively. Are vital business records (paper and/or electronic) backed up and copies stored off-site? Cloud storage is a common theme, but what if you can’t access the Cloud?  In the case of short or long-term power outage or evacuation, are plans solidly in place for working remotely? Many DC area buildings have encountered lower level flooding on more than one occasion. Do you have access to a trusted provider for emergency support? If materials, case files, computer equipment or other items are needed to be transferred to a nearby office or another city, are you prepared to react quickly? Even more importantly have you taken advantage of new technology to streamline the process?

As an example, one local service provider built a successful business by responding to requests via personal and professional phone contact. The system worked well for many years, but became inefficient for a wide variety of reasons (extended response hours needed, language barriers, order accuracy, time constraints, ease of use). Through the implementation of new technology and client training, the service provider moved in only three months from 70% phone orders to 98% online orders. A stunning reversal. Order accuracy hit its highest marks ever and customers embraced the change without reservation. Older ways worked well, revisiting and refining them made them better.

Ready, Set, Wait
How often have you created plans, sent out reminders, held staff meetings and posted updates? Why does critical business continuity information continue to find its way to the Spam file? The problem, as reported by many administrators, is lack of focus because there is NO COMPELLING REASON. As a society we are event driven, we want the next big thing, our eyes continually shift to the shiny object and unless the smoke detector is screaming in the kitchen, we ignore the fire. The key is to make the business continuity plan an accepted way of life and meet it head on. Stop looking for the fire – it will find you one way or another – so accept it as the new norm and instead create, update and review on a monthly basis.

Business Unusual is very usual, it’s not an event. It is now Standard Operating Procedure.

April 2020 Diversity Observances

April is Celebrate Diversity Month, started in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will get a deeper understanding of each other. April is Autism Awareness Month, established to raise awareness about the developmental disorder that affects children’s normal development of social and communication skills.

Click here to view the full list of April observances.

Administrative Committees

Communications and Media Relations
As members of the Newsletter and Media Relations Committee, Chapter members participate in producing the award-winning Capital Connection. Members gather to brainstorm new ideas for editorial themes for upcoming editions. The newsletter reports Chapter business activities such as Section and Committee news and provides information about upcoming educational and other events. It also includes articles of interest to members and other legal management personnel, collected, authored and/or edited by members of the committee. This committee also works with other legal associations and the media to ensure that ALA and the Capital Chapter are represented in the legal industry. The Newsletter Committee welcomes new members.

Contact: Cindy Conover, Cindy.Conover@Shearman.com

Diversity & Inclusion
The Capital Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators is a professional organization comprised of administrative managers from private, corporate and government legal organizations in the Washington DC, Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland areas.  ALACC embraces and encourages diversity within the legal profession. We value diversity and those initiatives that promote it and look to partner with affiliated professional legal organizations to advance diversity. We not only strive to raise awareness, but to increase our sensitivity in the area of diversity and more closely reflect the diversity of our community at large. Having a more inclusive and diverse legal community will improve the quality of our organizations workforce and respond to our client’s requirements for diversity. As a committee we are very interested in your thoughts, comments, and suggestions about achieving greater diversity in our Chapter, our profession, and in our firms. 

Contact: Cheryl Flynn (Chair), cflynn@wileyrein.com; Beth Fowler (Co-Chair), bfowler@robbinsrussell.com
Salary Survey
The Salary Survey Committee is responsible for maintaining, updating and running the local survey each year. They review the positions listed, the job descriptions, and the benefits questions to ensure that the survey remains relevant to the end users. The members of the committee also promote the survey within the Chapter to stimulate participation. 

Contact: Sheri Shifflett (Chair), Cheryl.Shifflett@saul.com; Valerie Williamson, valerie.williamson@bassberry.com;






Member Experience
The Member Experience Committee will establish a welcoming environment for new members to be integrated into the Chapter through a formal Ambassador Program. Ambassadors will provide support and guidance to new members through their first 12 months of membership, ensuring new members realize benefits of membership and become ambassadors of the Chapter. 

Contact: Dot Mooney (Co-Chair), dmooney@powerslaw.com​; LaVerne Anenia (Co-Chair), LaVerne.Anenia@dbr.com


Educational Communities

Branch Office Administrators
The Branch Office Adminsitrators Community focuses on a broad range of topics of interest to local adminisraotrs who must coordinate with other officees of their firms. The Community's monthly luncheon meetings, held on the second Tuesday of the month, provide a venue for members to discuss issues of common interest, share ideas, and network. Members are encouraged to raise topics and to recommend speakers.

Contact: Barbara Kernus (Chair), bkernus@gsblaw.com; Joanna Hurt (Co-Chair), jhurt@mccarter.com
Listserv: branch@lists.alacapchap.org
​

​
Office Operations Management
The members of the Office Operations Management Community represent a cross section of legal expertise from functional administrators to branch office managers. The Office Operations Management Section (OOMS) meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month to discuss operations related hot topics. We welcome all members to join the section, especially if you are an administrator in a small law office and you have to wear multiple hats. We can provide you with many best practices to run your operation smoothly.

Contact:  Kenia Garner (Chair), kenia.garner@pillsburylaw.com; Jacqueline Keener (Co-Chair), jackie.keener@threecrownsllp.com
Listserv: ooms@lists.alacapchap.org
Intellectual Property (IP)
The Intellectual Property (IP) Community focuses on all aspects of legal management as it pertains to the IP Administrator. The group discusses the complexity of the ever-changing IP environment and how to effectively create and apply IP specific, non-legal procedures in both boutique and general practice firms. 

Contact: Matthew Cichocki (Chair), mcichocki@cooley.com; Judi Heston (Co-Chair), jheston@nixonpeabody.com
Listserv: ipadmin@lists.alacapchap.org



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Small Firm Administrators
The purpose of the Small Firm Administrators Community is to provide Administrators of law firms with 35 or fewer attorneys educational opportunities through vendor presentations, idea sharing and open forums specifically designed for those who work in smaller firms. The Small Firm Management Community meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at host law firms.

Contact: Valerie Williamson (Chair), valerie.williamson@bassberry.com; Tabatha Harris (Co-Chair), tsh@dwgp.com  
Listserv: smallfirm@lists.alacapchap.org


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Human Resources
The Human Resources Community operates as a venue for educational information on global human resources issues.  While the Community is mostly comprised of HR professionals, any member is invited to participate in the meetings which typically take place on the second or third Wednesday of each month.  The meetings feature industry speakers or roundtable discussions on topics such as recruiting, benefits, strategic planning, performance management, career pathing, retention and other matters of interest.

Contact: Tiffany Montgomery (Chair), tmontgomery@velaw.com; Cindy Schuler (Co-Chair), cindy.schuler@hugheshubbard.com

Listserv: hr@lists.alacapchap.org

Next Generation Leaders
The mission of the Next Generation Leaders Community is to support our next generation of leaders and close the gap faced by our association and the legal industry as a whole by providing a community for Millennial legal managers and new managers in the legal field with a focus on mentoring, education, and networking. To accomplish this goal, the section hosts monthly meetings, pop-up events, and educational sessions, and provides 2-way mentoring opportunities. 

Contact: Kate Fettrow (Chair), kfettrow@wileyrein.com; Amy Walkowiak (Co-Chair), awalkowiak@dcwhitecollar.com 
Listserv: nextgen@lists.alacapchap.org