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  Capital Connection

April 2022

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: Emmanuel Adedigba, Tabatha Harris
​Contributing Editors: Destiny Graham
Newsletter Published By: Gabrielle Webster, MSM


In this issue:

  • ►President's Message

  • ►ALA Ahead of the Curve: What factors drive attorney turnover? Compensation isn't the only issue, new report says

  • ►ALA Ahead of the Curve: Legal Departments’ Failure to Adopt Technology Forcing In-House Lawyers to Return to Office, Despite Clear Preference for Hybrid

  • ►A Guide to Getting the Most Out of #ALAConf22

  • ►April 2022 Diversity Observances

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President's Message

Hello to all of you! It was so wonderful to be meeting with many of you in person at the Change of Gavel event on March 31. Hopefully, this was the first of many fun and engaging live events for the ALA Capital Chapter for 2022-2023.

I am honored to be serving as President of the Capital Chapter for the coming year, working with a phenomenal group of Board and Leadership Team members. For those of you who don't know me, please let me introduce myself. My name is Janeanne Gorman, and I am the Executive Director of Keller and Heckman. I have been involved in legal administration for over 20 years, coming to this industry from a career in Public Accounting.

I had the very good fortune to join the Capital Chapter in 2011, when I accepted a position at a DC law firm and came to town knowing no one. Chapter members and leadership embraced me with open arms. I found a treasure of a collaborative network of colleagues, many of whom have become lifelong friends, and I became actively involved in Chapter leadership serving on the Education Committee, Scholarship Committee, and as Secretary and Treasurer of the Board over my tenure in DC at that time.

I reconnected with the Chapter in 2019 when I accepted my current position at Keller and Heckman and came back to DC. What a difference a few years made! It was a time of transition within the Chapter, and in the legal community as a whole- and it has not stopped!

In considering the focus for the Leadership Team for 2022-2023, I reflected on the unique world that we are all returning to. There are now five generations in the workplace at the same time, with different visions and workstyles,  but  all having one shared experience--- having navigated the COVID pandemic. We are all now working toward a common goal- creating a new work environment.

Additionally, our chapter is so rich in diversity in many aspects, including by generation. Research has demonstrated that the most diverse teams innovate, develop best practices, cultivate high trust relationships and give and receive feedback.

With this in mind, my theme for the coming year is "Generation Collaboration"­ bridging the best of the past to build for the future. I want to acknowledge all the great work and leadership that has been demonstrated by past Presidents and Boards, and how that collection of knowledge and resources can be the foundation of building a stronger future for our Chapter. The composition of the incoming Board and Leadership Team is reflective of our new reality---new faces, familiar faces, unique lived experiences, insights, perspectives, new energy and new roles. It is truly an exciting time.

Focusing on the core principles of inclusive leadership, incorporating effective communication, inclusion, equity, and acknowledging the value of everyone's contributions, the Chapter Leadership team is committed to honoring the rich heritage of the Capital Chapter while, at the same time, pivoting to meet the challenges of our reinvented and adapting work environment.

We are excited to begin the work-- planning educational sessions and networking events that will bring Chapter members and Business Partners together to exchange ideas and best practices.

It has been a challenging two years, with more challenges to come. Our Chapter has been very fortunate to have had the support of our Business Partners throughout this period. Despite limited opportunities to truly "connect" with our members, the impactful support of our Business Partners has been unwavering, and for that, we are truly grateful. Our Business Partners have provided resources, sponsorships and educational programming that has enriched our Chapter in many ways. Now that many of our firms are coming back in the office on a regular basis, I encourage our members to engage with our Business Partners and get to know them and the services that they can provide to your firms.

Where possible, please introduce our Business Partners to the appropriate contacts at your firms. They have been our lifeline over these past two years.

My sincere thanks to Bob Bieber, Jackie Johnson and the outgoing Board and Leadership Team. Your enthusiasm, collegiality, and inclusiveness embody the best qualities of our Chapter.

​To the incoming Board and Leadership Team, I look forward to doing great things together over the coming year. To our Members and Business Partners, I look forward to working with you all.
 
The future of the Chapter is bright and I am so honored to be part of this great group. Cheers to another successful year for the Capital Chapter!
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Janeanne R. Gorman
​President, Capital Chapter
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What factors drive attorney turnover? Compensation isn't the only issue, new report says

Source: Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Journal

In brief: “Compensation may be the proximate cause that entices associates to leave their law firms, but ‘the root cause may run deeper,’ according to a report released [April 21]. Among surveyed associates who reported being most likely to leave their firms, their current compensation was cited as a factor by 42% and the compensation system was cited as a factor by 32%. ... But other factors also were important, including feeling underappreciated (30%), lack of progression (29%), and lack of genuine regard for their well-being (25%).”

PDAC says: “My thoughts are that there is only so much administration can do to move the needle on these two items, as the attorneys and top management need to be heavily involved in setting the right tone and being genuinely interested in these issues.”

The Professional Development Advisory Committee’s (PDAC) purpose in providing you this communication is to further its goal of periodically sharing topical information regarding the legal industry. Our hope is that one or more of the updates will provide a spark of insight to assist with your work on behalf of ALA as well as within your firm or legal department.

​Originally appeared in ALA Ahead of the Curve | April 2022.
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Survey: Legal Departments’ Failure to Adopt Technology Forcing In-House Lawyers to Return to Office, Despite Clear Preference for Hybrid

Source: Robert Ambrogi, LawSites blog

In brief: “Although the majority of U.S. in-house lawyers prefer not to return full-time to their offices, nearly half have done so, in part because their organizations have failed to effectively adopt new technologies that would facilitate hybrid work arrangements.”

​Originally appeared in ALA Ahead of the Curve | April 2022.
 

A Guide to Getting the Most Out of #ALAConf22

Originally appeared in AT ALA New: What's Happening at Headquarters March 2022

The latest LM Extra, “How to Get the Most from the ALA Annual Conference & Expo,” explains how preparation and planning is the key to getting the most out of your Annual Conference experience. Take the quiz at the end to see how ready you are for Kissimmee, Florida!
This year’s conference will featuring fresh topics, tried-and-true essentials, new voices and interactive formats, there’s no better opportunity to gain access to the latest industry information while reconnecting with your peers. Check out the program highlights:
  • Keynote speaker Connie Podesta, author of 10 Ways to Stand Out from the Crowd, brings a blend of humor and insight for the new challenges ahead to kick-start the conference.
  • In sharing his dramatic story, Brezina Memorial Session speaker Inky Johnson will encourage you to harness your inner fortitude and empower you to embrace life’s challenges on your road to fulfillment.
  • New this year! Managing for Impact is an immersive management development program dedicated to those responsible for supervising or managing others in the highly competitive world of legal firms. Loeb Leadership will guide participants through this in-depth workshop.
Download the full brochure for details of the varied and compelling lineup of speakers, presentations and opportunities to engage with your legal management community. Advance registration pricing ends April 22. Register today and save up to $200.
Visit alanet.org/annual-conference for complete details.
 

April 2022 Diversity Observances

April is Celebrate Diversity Month, a celebration that was initiated in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will gain a deeper understanding of each other. 

April is Autism Acceptance Month, established to raise awareness about and acceptance of the developmental disability that impacts an individual’s experience of the world around them.

Click here to view the full list of April observances
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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 Community 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.

Contact:  Emmanuel Adedigba (Chair), EAdedigba@zuckerman.com; Tabatha Harris (Co-Chair), tsh@dwgp.com
​
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The mission of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee is to advance the concepts of inclusiveness and acceptance in every organization by providing all Chapter members with information so that they can merge these concepts with their firm's policies, procedures, culture, and relationships to be more equitable and inclusive.  We not only strive to raise awareness, but also to increase our sensitivity in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion 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’ workforces and respond to our clients’ requirements for diversity. The DEI Committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month and we welcome all members to join us for discussion on how to further our mission in our firms and in our Chapter.  
 
Contact:  Tania Jose (Chair), tjose@kleinhornig.com, Angela Tyson (Co-Chair), atyson@axinn.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: Herb Abercrombie Jr. (Chair), HAbercrombie@jenner.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. If you would like more information and/or are interested in becoming an Ambassador, please contact the Chair or Co-Chair.

Contact: LaVerne Anenia (Chair), LaVerne.Anenia@dbr.com; Kim Santaiti-Potter (Co-Chair), kim.potter@alston.com


Educational Communities

Small Firm and Branch Office Administrators
The Small Firm and Branch Office Administrators Community focuses on a broad range of topics of interest to local administrators who must coordinate with other offices of their firms, as well as 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 Community's monthly luncheon meetings, held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 12:30 pm, 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: Starr Pratt (Chair), spratt@ftlf.com; Lodora Barnes (Chair), lbarnes@sheppardmullin.com
Listserv: branch@lists.alacapchap.org and smallfirm@lists.alacapchap.org
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Legal Operations
The members of the Legal Operations Community represent a cross section of legal expertise from functional administrators to branch office managers. The Community meets on the second Thursday of each month at noon. 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:  Janelle E. Rynes (Chair), janelle.rynes@arentfox.com
Listserv: legalops@lists.alacapchap.org

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: Brenda Simoes (Chair), bsimoes@reedsmith.com;  Julie Hooper (Co-Chair), jhooper@gibsondunn.com
Listserv: hr@lists.alacapchap.org

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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. 
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Contact: Ana Sobalvarro (Chair), asobalvarro@bomcip.com; Beth Fowler (Co-Chair), bfowler@robbinsrussll.com
Listserv: nextgen@lists.alacapchap.org
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ALA Capital Chapter Headquarters
​
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Phone: (978) 364-5134
www.alacapchap.org

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