December 2015

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 an/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. 

Editor: Jacqueline Moline 
Associate Editors: Paula Serratore; Cindy Conover
Contributing Editors: Beth L. Fowler, CLM; LaVerne W. Anenia, SPHR; Roxanne Sale; Monique Terrell; Adrienne Schirner; Adams & Martin Group; Jessica Davis; Joy Newton-Grubb; Connie Summers; Emily Christianson 
Newsletter Designed By: Jessica Davis


In this issue:

President's Message

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If your parents were like mine, you grew up hearing “it is better to give than to receive.”  When I was a young child, I thought that was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard.  After all, what could possibly be better than getting presents?!  One of my greatest thrills each year was getting that big thick Sears catalogue that came in the mail around Thanksgiving, with pages and pages full of every toy imaginable.  Within a few weeks, my 4 brothers and I had that catalogue totally destroyed as we pored over it to make our lists for Santa.  But even back then I took great delight in giving as well.  Whether it was some wonderful thing I’d made in school, or something I “bought” when my dad took me shopping, the anticipation of seeing someone open that something special from me was always a big part of the holiday season.

There are opportunities for giving everywhere, especially this time of year.  Every day my mailbox at home contains pleas and return address labels from several worthy organizations, and my Inbox has emails from anyone I’ve ever donated to.  And then there are the organizations sponsored by our firms, and of course, the Capital Chapter. The important thing is to give in a way that works for you, to organizations you believe in, and in a way that you can feel good about. Even if you don’t have the means to give financially, you can donate your time or your talents.

Our Chapter has a rich history of giving: the Toni K Allen Scholarship, Salvation Army Angel Tree, N Street Village, and the many other charities we have supported over the years are the most visible recipients of our giving.  But our members also give of their time and talents every day, whether it be as a Section Chair or Co-chair, an Ambassador, on a DC Bar committee, or as part of ALA International.  This kind of giving is just as important as writing a check or pulling out your credit card, because every organization depends on the help of volunteers.

I am proud to be part of the incredibly giving group of individuals who make up the Capital Chapter, past and present.  You have all inspired me with your giving spirits and generosity.  My best wishes to each of you for a wonderful holiday season and a happy and prosperous new year.

New ALA Capital Chapter Members

Lori T. Bernstein, J.D.
Legal Administrator
Pasternak & Fidis, PC
7735 Old Georgetown Rd.
Vienna, VA 22180
[email protected]

Penny Griffith
Principal Administrator
Bode & Fierberg, LLP
1150 Connecticut Ave NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
[email protected] 

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Helen Fiori
Assistant Office Manager
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
801 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20004
[email protected]

Emily R. Florio
Manager of Library Services
Finnegan
901 New York Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 216-5374
[email protected]

Members On the Move!

The Capital Chapter would like to congratulate Cheryl Flynn on her promotion to Director of Human Resources at Wiley Rein LLP! Please join us in wishing her well in her new position!

Cheryl L. Flynn
Director of Human Resources 
Wiley Rein LLP
1776 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
[email protected]

Fostering the Spirit of Giving in the Workplace

LaVerne W. Anenia, SPHR
Office Administrator, Millen, White, Zelano & Branigan, P.C.
Vice President-Elect, Community Services

The theme of the ALA Capital Chapter Newsletter this month is “Season of Giving.”  At this time of the year there are so many organizations competing for our time and our donations that it can become overwhelming.  As well, it can be just as overwhelming to attempt to find a politically neutral charity to get your organization to support. 

If you want the members of your law firm to get behind a charity, you should make sure that you select one that is fiscally responsible.  There are charity-rating tools out there that will provide financial reports as well as overall ratings on accountability and transparency, to help you make an informed decision, http://www.charitynavigator.org.  Another critical aspect of the selection process is to make sure you are not selecting a charity that is in direct opposition with the culture of your law firm or your valued clients.

In our busy, complicated world, these issues can become road blocks but don’t let them be a hindrance to you.  If we encourage philanthropy as leaders of our organizations, others will become motivated and eventually the spirit of giving will become contagious!  The trick is to start small and attempt to find causes you believe would be appealing to the masses.

My firm just held a sandwich-making party to support Martha’s Table in Washington D.C.  Martha’s Table distributes 500 sandwiches every day to families in need, including hundreds of homeless men, women and children.  In order to orchestrate this event, my first step was to hold a fundraiser to generate the money for the sandwich supplies.  In my office, there is always someone sabotaging our diets by bringing in some pastry that they made over the weekend.  I decided to capitalize on the bakers by asking them to donate baked good for sale every Monday for three weeks during the month of November.  By the third week, we were able to purchase our sandwich supplies with no problem.

When sandwich-making-day finally arrived, we had most of the firm present and excited!  We organized assembly lines to make peanut butter and ham and cheese sandwiches.  Of course there were a few details to hammer out, such as “Do we use the ends of the loaf?” That answer was passionately debated, and my favorite question was “What is the proper peanut butter to jelly ratio?” In the end, however, there was laughter and a tremendous spirit of goodwill all around!  This was also a great bonding event for my staff and the attorneys as most of the firm assisted in preparing the sandwiches.

Not only did we support Martha’s Table, but the camaraderie we all felt during the event was priceless!  If there isn’t enough time to energize an event during this holiday season, I encourage you to pick any month of the year to organize an event and make a difference.  Events like this will positively impact the community you choose to help and the work involved will help to build better relationships within your company. 

HITT Contracting Spotlight: Managing Expectations During Phased Renovations

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Roxanne Sale
Senior Project Manager, Law Firms Division, HITT Contracting

Phased renovations can be challenging and time consuming; especially when you are the person responsible for managing expectations.  The design is finalized and you’re searching for the right contractor to join the team.  This is where the fun begins.  The questions presented by the law staff will be plentiful.  Where will I go?  How long will I be out of my office?  When can I go look at my new office?  Just imagine hundreds of questions on top of your already full workload.  Before requesting a vacation the length of the renovation, take a deep breath and visualize a plan that anticipates the answer to most of the questions by the staff.  Enlisting the help of your general contractor can be a great way to complete any renovation strategy. 

Just remember the key components in a highly qualified general contractor’s approach are Communication, the Ability to Adapt and Understanding.  Scheduled durations in conjunction with the amount of space a law firm can devote to the phase typically drives the number of phases for the project.  One of the first questions asked - How much space can be included in each phase?  Followed by - How much time does the law firm require moving people in and out of phases?  Does the law firm want to move the furniture or should the construction team move the furniture?  Knowing these pieces of information builds the foundation of the renovation strategy.  Additionally, once established other vendors can be incorporated into the strategy.  Understanding the level of disruption a law firm can withstand will determine if the project can be completed during a normal work week or during “off hours”.  Although a highly qualified general contractor will realize, that sometimes there are no “off hours” in a law firm.  The goal is to make the renovation as stress free and uncomplicated as possible.  By partnering with the law firm, the building management and architectural teams to understand everyone’s challenges and concerns, a proper strategy can be implemented.

Once the renovation strategy takes form, one of the tools a highly qualified general contractor may have found helpful in relaying dates and durations to the personnel of the law firm is a phasing plan.  These large scale reproductions posted on each floor in a purposeful location will help direct personnel away from construction areas and maintain a safe workplace.  It is a great way to communicate useful information, including “smells or noise” that may be a part of the construction and forgotten by prior firm communications.  These plans should be distributed digitally as well.

Flexibility in phasing is essential.  The project has commenced, several phases complete and an area of the renovation cannot be completed during the “scheduled” timeframe.  This is where the experience of a highly qualified general contractor’s understanding and flexibility govern.  HITT Contracting Inc. believes that the management of the phasing schedule, from conception through close out, determines the success or failure of the project.  Communication with the team to rearrange phases to accommodate a new challenge ensures a successful renovation. 

​As the project nears completion and you look forward to getting back to your normal day to day activities.  One of HITT Contracting Inc.’s mottos is “Done is Done”.   We live by that motto day in and day out.  That includes effectively completing punchlists in a timely manner and communicating the acceptable timetable to all affected parties.

For those who would like to contact me with questions on the information above, please contact:
Roxanne Sale
Senior Project Manager, Law Firms Division
[email protected]
Office 703-846-9030
Mobile 703-929-7206

Diversity & Inclusion: December Celebrations

Monique Terrell
Branch Office Manager, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chair

The ALACC continues its commitment to diversity and inclusion by sharing resources that celebrate our differences.  We invite you to click the link below to learn about December celebrations:
  • Hanukkah - December 6 - 14, 2015
http://www.joi.org/celebrate/hanuk/index.shtml
  • Christmas - December 25, 2015
http://www.whychristmas.com/
  • Kwanzaa - December 26, 2015 - January 1, 2016
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

When Thank You Means More

Adrienne Schirner
Creative Services Manager, Cresa

Cresa has always believed in giving back to the communities that we work within. Through our more than 50 offices in North America, we have proudly donated time and money in support of hundreds of charities since our inception. For us, giving back is a part of our everyday culture of doing the right thing.

Cresa believes so strongly in community involvement that we created our own 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called Cresa Cares. Cresa Cares raises funds nationally through a wide variety of events and functions and distributes those funds to non-profit organizations recommended by our staff and clients, focusing on charities serving children or fighting disease. Annually, Cresa Cares distributes approximately $65,000.

This holiday season we decided to use our holiday cards as an opportunity to further support the community. The Gathering Place is a Denver based non-profit and Cresa client that specializes in supporting women, children, and transgender individuals experiencing poverty or homelessness. Through their Art Restart program, greeting cards created by The Gathering Place members are sold in bulk, offering members opportunities for not only confidence-building and self-expression, but also financial gain as profits are distributed back to the artists.

​Cresa kicked off the greeting card project by commissioning two artists to create Thanksgiving and Holiday designs. After giving them some general criteria for look and feel, each artist created several uniquely beautiful paintings for Cresa to choose from. All that was left was to customize the greeting, and add our logo.
Each year, dozens of cards come across our desks during the Holiday season. While they all have notes of thanks, it feels good to know that we were able to take that one step further by supporting the community. Cresa donated over $13,000 to The Gathering Place and the 2 artists we commissioned, empowering these individuals to use their talents to make progress toward supporting themselves.

Adams & Martin Group Spotlight: 2016 Salary & Hiring Trends for Legal Professionals

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Adams & Martin Group

Understanding the candidate market is more critical as we enter 2016 than it has ever been in the past decade.  Firms and legal departments must be aware of what the candidate market looks like so that they are ready to react with today’s hiring strategies. 

The compensation data that Adams & Martin Group published last year in its 2015 Salary Guide only increased slightly.  While there were significant changes to pay rate ranges in 2014 and again in 2015, it looks like there was some catching up after the recession and things have leveled off.  The entry level (or low end) of salary ranges will moderately increase by about 1% in 2016 and the high end of most salary ranges will see an increase of 2-3%.

That doesn’t mean that pay raises will be minimal in 2016!  This is where it gets interesting.  While there is no cost-of-living adjustment forecasted for 2016 by the federal government, employers are budgeting to increase salaries in order to reward their best employees and to lure top performers away from competitors.  Most firms say that employees will receive about a 2% salary increase in 2016, but top performers (employees who would impact your firm or department if they left) can expect to be given generous bonuses and receive about a 5% salary increase in 2016.

What to focus on in 2016:

New Hires
You cannot afford to waste any time when making a new hire.  We haven’t seen the candidate market this hot in a long time.  The national unemployment rate for Legal Professionals right now is under 1%.  It is one of the most difficult classification of employment to recruit for.  When a great candidate comes along, we know that our business clients have about 4-5 days to interview them and make an offer before they’re taken.  And those are just the active job seekers who work with our staffing firm to find a new opportunity – we’re also seeing passive candidates willing to consider a change when actively reached out to.

It is a great time for hiring if you are ready to act fast.  “We are witnessing the perfect storm in the employment market with unemployment declining, job growth accelerating and a significant shortage in skilled labor,” said Kristy Carbajal, Vice President of Adams & Martin Group.

Recruiting Top Talent
A great way to passively attract potential top performers is to use multiple social channels to share your firm’s story.  A passive candidate may not want to go through the process of finding your job posts or uploading a resume, but they can reach out with a LinkedIn message inquiring.
Today’s recruiting is social.  You just may find your best candidates from a casual online interaction.

Retention
Now is the time to review your hiring/salary budget(s).  Review salary data with your staffing partner or recruiter and make sure your top performers are rewarded with competitive salary. Get salary right … and then make sure you are excelling in the other areas of employee engagement (meaningful work, challenging work, career advancement opportunities, and recognition).  

2016 Adams & Martin Group Salary and Resource Management Guide
We have compiled comprehensive data to forecast pay rates for 2016.
Adams & Martin Group salary guides also contain unemployment rates, candidate availability trends, and tips from top employers on how to recruit and retain the best talent.
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REQUEST A FREE COPY HERE

Winter Workshop Series at the YMCA

LaVerne W. Anenia, SPHR
Office Administrator, Millen, White, Zelano & Branigan, P.C.
Vice President-Elect, Community Services

We are happy to announce the wrap up of another successful workshop series at the YMCA as part of our “Our Community, Our Kids” initiative.  This initiative helps college-bound DC Public School (DCPS) students reach their career goals through mentorship and college scholarship opportunities.  Our workshop series is held biannually (or you can say twice yearly).  For the students, this workshop series gives them an opportunity to craft a resume and make confident introductions.  For some students, it is their first exposure to the business environment and for others, it is an opportunity to fine tune what they have learned in the past. 

Cindy Schuler, Director of Human Resources at Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox, PLLC, a volunteer resume reviewer, said of the workshop, “I wish I had the same experience as a high school student before entering college and/or the workforce.  The students came prepared and ready for feedback.  It was a very rewarding opportunity for me to give back to the community.”

With each workshop series, there is often a new set of volunteers bringing fresh ideas to the students.  Daniel Clarke, VP of Marketing and Business Development at Hilltop Consultants, Inc., was a presenter at one of our workshops and the piece of advice he gave to the students was to start their resumes off with an “About Me” section.  He said this section should serve as a comprehensive, no-nonsense profile that draws the employer to read more about you.  He also told the students sometimes you don’t always have the skill set the employer is looking for but with a finely crafted “About Me” section, it might be intriguing enough to make the employer decide to give you a call.

The “Business Etiquette and Mannerisms” workshop was held October 27, 2015, presented by Jeanette Derby, President and Founder of Legal E, and Nancy McDermott Peters, Executive Office Administrator at Jones Robb, PLLC. 

We invited Jeanette Derby to talk about her experience as a presenter:
  1. What motivated you to volunteer to present the YMCA workshop on “Business Etiquette and Mannerisms”?
      Jeanette Derby:  I have been very fortunate to present the YMCA workshop on
     “Business Etiquette and Mannerisms” on a few occasions and it is a tremendously
      gratifying experience. With my first workshop presentation, I was struck by the sizable
      attendance and active participation as the students were clearly taking Business
      Etiquette and their futures seriously. That is all I needed to be hooked. Developing our
      youth has to be one of the most important initiatives for us as a society and it offers
      potential to raise up individuals who might not have had that opportunity or
      encouragement otherwise.  In addition, we have to embrace the potential for pay-it
​      forward results regarding siblings, friends and generations to follow. 
                                                                                  
2.   As a staffing expert in the legal industry, you are certainly one of the best people to teach
      this topic.  Which aspect of your presentation had you hoped would register most with the
      students?
      Jeanette Derby:  I believe the overall message of business (and social) etiquette is in
      the demonstration of kindness, respect and inclusion.  The YMCA workshop exhibited
      that message extremely well while illustrating professional settings and potential
      work scenarios. It was also important for the participants to understand that a first
      impression is everlasting and imperative in any business relationship.  Therefore, we
      discussed courteous introductions and practiced greetings with a proper handshake to
      build confidence and self-assurance.

​3.   Thank you for giving your time to the YMCA community.  For other ALA members
      considering being a part of future community service events, can you tell them the benefit
      in volunteering?
      Jeanette Derby:  In addition to my own participation with the YMCA workshops, several
​      Legal E staff members have also volunteered multiple times for various workshops
      including Interviewing and Resume Writing.  Each of us has experienced the thrill of
      working directly with the students and witnessing their enthusiasm and progress
      which is enough to inspire us to sign up multiple times.  For our staff, it has been a
      delight and a privilege to have the opportunity to use our life’s work to advance young
      individuals and hopefully providing cumulative benefits for their family and our
      community.
                                                                                                                    
The “Resume Writing” workshop was held on November 10, 2015, presented by Nancy McDermott Peters, Executive Office Administrator at Jones Robb, PLLC and Daniel Clarke, previously mentioned.  Additionally, we had resume reviewer volunteers, Janice James, Executive Director of Operations at Legal E, Janey Saunders, Chief Executive at Unispace and Cindy Schuler, previously mentioned. 

In partnering with our ALA members and Business Partners, the YMCA workshop series has allowed us to invest in the next generation of leaders in a meaningful way.  I think Cindy Schuler summed it up perfectly by saying “Volunteering is necessary, easy, and appreciated by those with whom you share your time and talent”.

Please consider volunteering at future ALA Community Service events.  We would love to have you!

2015 Annual Meeting Holiday Lunch

Jessica Davis
Membership Coordinator & Event Planner, ALA Capital Chapter

The 2015 Annual Meeting Holiday lunch was held on Thursday, December 3rd at the St. Regis hotel. After presenting their ALL-IN incentive game cards to the poker dealers and enjoying appetizers and a signature holiday cocktail, guests were seated in the Astor Ballroom for the meeting. Chapter President Beth Fowler opened the meeting by recognizing the past Chapter presidents, foundation board members, and executive committee and leadership team members in attendance, then announced that the Capital Chapter has welcomed 42 new members in 2015.
After recognizing the nominating committee and thanking them for their service, Beth introduced the nominated 2016-2017 slate of officers:

Richard Gibson – nominated for President-Elect
Emily Christianson – nominated for Treasurer-Elect
Karen Jenkins – nominated for Secretary-Elect
Claudia Baragaño – nominated for Vice President Community Services-Elect
John Quinn – nominated for Vice President Business Partner Advisory-Elect
 
The slate of officers and the 2016 budget were both approved by the membership, concluding the official business of the meeting.
 
Beth then welcomed representatives from N Street Village and the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. The Capital Chapter was once again the largest supporter of the Angel Tree program this year, with over 62 firms participating to adopt 1807 angels. Office Movers and Washington Express aided the Chapter’s efforts by providing transportation for the gifts from firm offices to the warehouse. Jenna Carter was also recognized, along with all of the firm Angel Tree coordinators in attendance, for their hard work in making this year’s program a success.
 
After an incredible meal, Beth returned to the podium to announce the 2015 All-IN game winners. The game, back for its second year in 2015, rewards members for Chapter participation with playing cards. Members collect cards throughout the year, then present them to poker dealers at the Annual Meeting to put together their best hand in a giant game of 7 card stud. The members with the top 15 hands choose from a selection of prizes ranging from popular electronics to restaurant gift cards.
 
2015 ALL-IN winners:
  • Carmen Weissbratten – Vitamix
  • Qeyana Hart – Smart TV and Sound Bar
  • Denise Fidura – Apple Watch
  • Helen Woideck – Amazon.com gift card
  • Colleen Brown – Nespresso Coffee & Espresso Machine
  • Aryn Blanton – Red Door Spa gift card
  • Jennifer Hensen – Amazon Echo and Voice Remote
  • Kelly Williams – Wine Lover’s Bundle
  • Jackie Thomas – Bose Bluetooth Speaker
  • Barbara Kernus – Xbox One + Kinect Bundle
  • Connie Summers – CityCenter gift card Bundle
  • Sophia Smith – Amazon Fire TV Stick, Netflix gift card, and Amazon Prime Subscription
  • Adele Hook – Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones
  • Cindy Conover – Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, & Stone Crab gift card
  • Renee Brooks – Apple TV

Additionally, all ALL-IN  game participants received a $5 Starbucks gift card. The Chapter has seen an increase in event attendance since the game first began in 2014, and it’s popularity among both members and business partners has led to the decision to continue the game into 2016.

After the conclusion of the game, the table centerpieces – floral arrangements, leadership books, and MilkBar cookie mixes – were given to the person at each table who had worked at their current firm the longest, had joined the chapter most recently, and were born the farthest from DC, respectively. The final winner of the afternoon was Herbert Abercrombie, who won a weekend stay at the St. Regis when his name was drawn by Roxanne Sale of Diamond Business Partner HITT Contracting from a bowl of names of the meeting’s attendees.
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The Capital Chapter would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous new year. We hope you’ll be ALL-IN again in 2016

Spacesaver Spotlight: Wrestling With a Smaller Office Footprint? How High-Density Shelving Frees Up Space for a More Beautiful and Functional Office

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Joy Newton-Grubb
Strategic Business Development/Exceptional Spaces

If you are like many of our clients, your team is growing, and your space isn’t, and chances are you’re feeling the space pinch and a shrinking footprint.

Whether you store legal files or law books, you probably have too much stuff and not enough room for it. Protecting client information and building upon your firms’ integrity is improved with a more efficient and secure storage system. While most law firms are focused on designing a better space to promote a better work environment, storage is still an important factor in the overall design.  By choosing a more efficient storage solution, firms can double their storage capacity in the same amount of space. By organizing all of your current client files, legal library books and reference collections into customized shelving, your firm will open up space for additional staff, meeting areas and collaboration.

That's where high-density shelving systems can help.
 
With high-density shelving, you can safely and efficiently store the things that are essential to your business—always with an eye towards security and enhancing the productivity of your teams.
 
Whether your most precious business assets are client files, fine artwork or an arsenal of weapons at the local police department, they need to be treated with the respect and protection that they deserve.
 
What is high-density storage?
 
High-density mobile shelving is shelving on a mobile carriage that is mounted on wheels. This eliminates the number of aisles you need to access your stored things — and this frees up more floor space for you and your team (or more of your stuff). High-density mobile storage can effectively double your storage space. It also makes use of wasted vertical space used by a typical file cabinet or bookshelf. It has and can be used to store almost anything, and if there’s a type of business or market out there, there has probably been a system designed and installed in high-density shelving.  
 
Store twice as much in the same amount of room with the ingenuity of high-density storage. Make use of all the space wasted with traditional systems. By eliminating excess aisles, for example, you can save huge amounts of floor space­–up to 50%­­–effectively doubling your work area, a valuable asset to any business. If your business needs to store large amount of, well, anything––high-density storage can allow you to do that in the most efficient ways possible.
 
 
Why high-density storage?
 
High-density storage takes up half the footprint of conventional storage like lateral files or shelving. And in most applications, high-density mobile shelving systems are three times more space efficient than conventional filing and shelving. With high-density storage you can make use of all the available square-footage at your disposal, and customize that extra space with drawers, bins and racks. Making the switch to high-density storage can make your business run more efficiently, increase your productivity, and free up needed space.
 
A wide variety of options
 
Your business is unique, and you need an approach to designing storage that is customized for your specific business or industry. With expert design and quality installation, high-density solutions can transform your space. And remember that you get what you pay for. Poorly trained, contracted installers who work with non-expert design plans may result in less-than optimized (and sometimes dangerous) results.
 
Manual: Our manual mobile shelving systems are a cost-effective alternative to mechanical assist controls. Pulling the handle moves the carriage from side to side. This option is ideal for smaller mobile storage systems with lighter loads.
 
Mechanical assist: These high-density mobile shelving units move with a simple turning of an ergonomically designed, soft-touch, three-spoke rotating handle. This handle allows users to move carriage weights of 4,000 to 10,000 lbs. with a single pound of effort. A variety of safety options are available for mechanical assist mobile storage systems.
 
Powered: This option gives you immediate access to your stored goods and is designed for more active, larger systems. It provides state-of-the-art safety for users and materials. A simple push of the button activates the system’s movement, and then you can enter aisles as the carriage begins to move. Options include push-button controls, an infrared-capable control, and a secure touchpad aisle-access control. Safety options include aisle-entry sensors, waist-high photo sweeps and Spacesaver’s patented Zero Force Sensor System (ZFS®).
 
All our high-density storage options can allow you to:
  • occupy a smaller footprint
  • reduce your building lease or construction costs
  • make room for more people/equipment
  • delay the need for facilities expansion
  • fit storage into almost any available space
  • improve access by storing more stuff where it’s needed
  • improve workflow
  • protect stored material, and
  • adapt as your business needs change

​If you’d like to find out how we can help you transform your business with the use of high-density storage, please contact us. We can meet over a waffle and identify how new storage solutions can transform your site — we know storage. Please contact us to arrange your complimentary consultation!
 
For more than 40 years, Spacesaver Interiors has been the most trusted source of high-density shelving in the Washington, DC, metro area. Amy Hamilton, President of Spacesaver Interiors, and her expert team custom-design and install high-density storage for every conceivable type of market. Because of their long history in the business, they have experience developing storage solutions for law firms, museums and police precincts. Learn more at spacesaverinteriors.com

Capital Chapter Business Partners Recognized by Legal Times as Best in Their Field

IT OUTSOURCING FOR DC LAW FIRMS
1.HILLTOP
2.KENO KOZIE
 
NON DC BASED LEGAL RECRUITING
2.ROBERT HALF LEGAL
 
DC BASED LEGAL RECRUITING
3.LEGAL E EMPLOYMENT PARTNERS
 
LEGAL & LITIGATION SUPPORT STAFFING AGENCY IN DC
1.LEGAL E
3.ROBERT HALF LEGAL

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE-TENENT REPRESENTATION
3.JONES LANG LASALLE, INC
 
INFORMATION & DOCUMENT MANGEMENT PROVIDER
3.IKON/RICOH

HR Section Update: The Benefits of Mindfulness

Connie Summers
Three Crowns LLP, Office Manager
HR Section Chair

Many professionals are reporting high levels of stress, anxiety and burnout due to work demands and time pressures.  Unfortunately, these same professionals are having difficulty fitting self-care and stress reduction techniques into their schedules.  Mindfulness training is an effective stress reduction technique that has been found to prevent burnout and improve relationships.  On November 18, Dr. Amanda Skowron, a licensed clinical psychologist with the Casey Health Institute, addressed the Human Resources and Office Operations Management Sections on stress and anxiety reduction utilizing mindfulness-based interventions.     

Professor Jan Jacobowitz at the University of Miami School of Law is noted as saying that “[o]ur minds are often cluttered with ruminations about the past and concerns about the future and, therefore, not attuned to what is happening in the present moment.  The clutter inhibits clarity of thought and increases stress and anxiety.”  Mindfulness, according to Dr. Skowron, is described as an awareness of life in the present moment and can be achieved in several ways: 1) through meditation by sitting quietly and focusing attention on the breath; 2) guiding ourselves through brief mindfulness activities; 3) joining a contemplative group that sits together in silence or in a guided meditation; 4) listening to a recorded guided meditation; and 5) identifying ways to implement stress reduction techniques throughout the day.  The Mindful Lawyer (www.themindfullawyer.com) provides additional helpful meditation information and suggestions, and a selection of books and articles on mindfulness may be found in the Mindfulness in Law Joint Task Force (www.jtf.mindfulnessinlaw.com).

According to a recent American Bar Association article, mindfulness is often defined as “nonjudgmental awareness leading to greater clarity in the moment to better understand thoughts and emotions, some of which may not be productive as trigger points for decision making”.   The practice of mindfulness “creates opportunities to pause, breathe, and connect with one’s inner thoughts, feelings, and emotions to become aware of how we are reacting in a given situation and to provide ourselves with opportunities to moderate our reactions and respond more thoughtfully to produce a more appropriate result”.  Furthermore, when mindfulness is put into practice, the experience leads individuals to “become better equipped to deal with the unexpected because they allow themselves to stay on task and respond in proportion to the challenge.  They are better able to focus on and enjoy their work because they can enhance their capacity to be more present for what arises in their various interactions.”  The practice of mindfulness “offers the opportunity not only to pause and reflect intellectually on what is taking place but also to turn inward and notice the ways that the event is influencing thoughts, feelings, and body sensations.” Ultimately, doing so changes us and the ways in which we respond. “The key is to recognize the event and observe the spiral it is causing so we are not caught up in the swirling of thoughts, emotions, and sensations that can occur during a stressful event.”

“Cognitive neuroscience is proving the brain’s capacity to change well into adulthood” according to Professor Scott Rogers, Director of the Mindfulness in Law program at the University of Miami School of Law.  “Of great promise is research exploring the connection between mindfulness practices and structural and functional changes to the brain, and ultimately our capacity as human beings to develop greater clarity of mind and well-being.”

Coming Soon in January!

LaVerne W. Anenia, SPHR
Office Administrator, Millen, White, Zelano & Branigan, P.C.
Vice President-Elect, Community Services

As administrators, we have to plan and organize many events throughout the year.  We often poll members on the listserv for data needed to make decisions ranging from logistics for holiday parties to novel concepts for employee recognition.  If you receive responses on the listserv, you are often left with the task of organizing that data to present to your partners.  Your ALACC Community Services leadership team is working hard to make this aspect of your job a little easier.
 
We are happy to announce that we will be organizing a single, easy-to-read electronic book that can be a very useful reference tool.  This book will help the busy administrator benchmark a wide variety of benefits and activities for their firm and avoid duplicate inquiries to the listserv.
 
We will be sending out a brief survey to our membership with a series of questions to gather the data needed for the e-book.  This e-book data will be organized by law firm size without any reference to a specific person or law firm.   The survey will be sent out in January and the e-book will be ready for sale in February, for just $25.00.  All proceeds will go towards the Toni K. Allen scholarship program! 

Small Firm Section Update

Emily Christianson
Office Manager, Relman, Dane & Colfax PLLC
Chair, Small Firm Section

Katie McLaughlin from the Meltzer Group made a presentation to our section on the impact of the Health Care Exchange in 2016 on small firms.  This was a fantastic information session highlighting the specific changes firms of 2-50 full time employees can expect in the coming year.  Some specifics to chew on that recently came out are that essentially DC HealthLink has given a reprieve for 2-50 market until July. Their reasoning is in part to the passing of the PACE Act as well as their system update not being ready.  One thing to bear in mind, the DC Exchange deadlines are non-negotiable, there is no wiggle room if someone misses the cut-off.  We all have those 1-2 employees (partners) that will inevitably forget or delay going online to elect their benefit choice, but if they do miss out, they are without option until the next renewal.  Everyone will be responsible for going online and submitting their own information and all premiums for health care will be paid to the DC Exchange and not the carrier itself.  An example of caution, we all know payments get crossed in the mail and from time to time you receive the letter of warning that the payment hasn’t been received and termination of coverage will occur by a specific date if the check doesn’t arrive….under the exchange…EVERYONE will get this notice. That means from your managing partner all the way down the line, everyone will receive a notice of potential termination.  If you wish to learn more, contact your broker or feel free to give the Meltzer Group a call.  I feel I can say on behalf of all who attended today, this was a very informative meeting.

Additional message from the presenter:
​
“Thought the group would like to see this document. This is part of a training package that CareFirst sent this morning in preparation to an onsite they are doing with my staff. It speaks specifically to the 2-50 market in DC. Please note that there is still a caveat; if a group decides to make a carrier change (CareFirst to UHC or vice versa) this is treated as new business and will have to go through DC HealthLink. Please feel free to call me with any questions. I am also happy to come back and give a follow up discussion as the July date approaches.
Best,
Katie”

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: Jacqueline Moline, [email protected]; Paula Serratore, [email protected]

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: Monique Terrell (Chair), [email protected]; Vanessa Partin (Co-Chair), [email protected]
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. In addition, the committee is tasked with selling the license to the survey software to other chapters within ALA for use in their locales. They also provide technical support and logistical guidance to those chapters who purchase and utilize our survey software.

Contact: Jeff Delcher (Chair), [email protected]; Sheri Shifflett (Co-Chair), [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]


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: Kenia Garner (Chair), [email protected]; Barbara Kernus (Co-Chair), [email protected]


Educational Sections

Branch Office Administrators
The Branch Office Adminsitrators Section focuses on a broad range of topics of interest to local adminisraotrs who must coordinate with other officees of their firms. The Section'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: Richard Gibson (Chair), [email protected]; Wendy Iversen (Co-Chair), [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]
Intellectual Property (IP)
The Intellectual Property (IP) Section 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. The Section's monthly meetings, held the third Tuesday, are primarily lunch meetings and every third month is a dinner meeting. 

Contact: Kristine Miller (Chair), [email protected]; Sharon Smith (Co-Chair), [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]
Human Resources
The Human Resources Section operates as a venue for educational information on global human resources issues.  While the Section 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: Connie Summers (Chair), [email protected]; Carmen C. Weissbratten (Co-Chair), [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]

Office Operations Management
The members of the Office Operations Management Section 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:  Jeffery Cole (Chair), [email protected]; Jamaine Yarborough (Co-Chair), [email protected] 
Listserv: [email protected]

Small Firm Management
The purpose of the Small Firm Management Section 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 Section meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at host law firms.

Contact: Emily Christianson (Chair), [email protected]; Julie Tomey (Co-Chair), [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]

Technology
The Technology Section is looking for members to join the group for lively discussions about practical situations we all face daily in the information technology world. With ever-changing IT needs and issues, we will look at our firms' policies and procedures and help develop best practices and speak of the many concerns we all have. Even if you are not in the IT field,  your experiences and opinions will help us in bringing all departments of a law firm together and working on the same page.

Contact: Frank Schipani (Chair), [email protected]; Kenny Mitchell (Co-Chair), [email protected] 
Listserv: [email protected]