December 2016

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. Links to Capital Connection may not be shared without permission from the Chapter. ​

Editor: Jacqueline Moline 
Associate Editors: Paula Serratore; Cindy Conover
Contributing Editors: Barbara Mannix; LaVerne Anenia, SHRM-CP; Frank Schipani; Karen Laumoli; Claudia M. Baragano; Newmark Grubb Knight Frank; Danita Ellis; ​Arnold Sanow, MBA, CSP
Newsletter Designed By: Jessica Davis


In this issue:

President's Message

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‘Tis the season for giving and also for making resolutions.  I hope I am great at giving but I admit, I am not great at resolutions.  I do feel it is the time where we take stock and see who we are in the world.  It’s the time of year where I become contemplative, I think about the people no longer with us and wishing there was more time to show them how much I cared.  I feel one of the best ways to honor them is to be sure to live in the moment, not just the big moments, but all the small ones too. The small acts of kindness that can mean so much when someone is having an awful day.  Go ahead, let that driver cut in front of you, give the parking space you have been waiting for to the person who races up thinking it’s theirs, hold the door for the frazzled shopper.  At work, take a moment and have a conversation with someone you hardly notice in your busy day.  Take that moment and really see them.  When was the last time you heard about them, their family, their life?  Take time to smile and laugh with the people around you.  As administrators, I think we all do care, but some days we are burdened with the minutia of our jobs and the day.  Our jobs require that we think of other people all the time.  Take some time and make it personal.  However, don’t forget you need to take care of yourself as well, give yourself a break so you can be even better.  We all know how this time of year can be very stressful so be sure to step back and breathe whenever you can.
 
For each of you, I wish you the most wonderful of holiday seasons.  A season of giving, caring, peace and friendship.  Happy Holidays and Cheers for 2017!
Barbara Mannix

New and Returning ALA Capital Chapter Members

Karene M. Brown
Executive Assistant
MoloLamken
600 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.
Suite 660
Washington, DC 20037
[email protected]
Carnetta Benjamin
Patent Prosecution Manager, IP Operations
Finnegan
901 New York Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
[email protected]
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Members on the Move

Please join us in wishing the following members well in their new positions!
Wilmara Guido-Chizhik
Director of Firm Operations
Bookoff McAndrews PLLC
2401 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Suite 450
Washington, DC 20037
[email protected]​ ​

Margaret O. Gainer
Assistant Office Manager
Leydig, Voit & Mayer
700 Thirteenth St., N.W.
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
[email protected]​ 
Diana Nelson
Office Administrator
Duncan Weinberg Genzer & Pembroke, P.C.
1615 M St., N.W.
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
[email protected]​ 

December 2016 Diversity Observances

December 1: World AIDS Day, which was created to commemorate those who have died of AIDS, and to acknowledge the need for a continued commitment to all those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
December 3: International Day of Disabled Persons, which is designed to raise awareness in regards to persons with disabilities in order to improve their lives and provide them with equal opportunity.
December 8: Bodhi Day, a holiday observed by Buddhists to commemorate Gautama’s enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.
December 10: International Human Rights Day, established by the United Nations in 1948 to commemorate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
December 12: Feast Day at Our Lady of Guadalupe. This day commemorates the appearance of the Virgin Mary near Mexico City in 1531.
December 12: Eid Milad Un Nabi, an Islamic holiday commemorating the birthday of the prophet Muhammad. During this celebration, homes and mosques are decorated, large parades take place, and those observing the holiday participate in charity events.
December 13: St. Lucia’s Day. In Sweden, St Lucia was a young Christian girl who was martyred, killed for her faith, in 304 AD. She secretly brought food to persecuted Christians in Rome. She wore candles on her head so she had both her hands free to carry things. These stories were told by the Monks who brought Christmas to Sweden.
December 16-24: Las Posadas, a nine-day celebration in Mexico commemorating the trials Mary and Joseph endured during their journey to Bethlehem.
December 21: The Winter Solstice/ Yule. For Pagans and Wiccans, the shortest day of the year represents a celebration focusing on rebirth, renewal, and new beginnings as the sun makes way back to the earth. A solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky.
December 25: Christmas, the day that Christians associate with Jesus’s birth.
December 25 – January 1: Hanukkah (Chanukah). Also known as the Festival of Lights, it is an eight-day Jewish holiday recognizing the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. It is observed by lighting candles on a Menorah—one for each day of the festival.
December 26 – January 1: Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday started by Maulana Karenga in 1966 to celebrate universal African-American heritage. It is observed by lighting

2016 Annual Meeting Holiday Lunch

LaVerne Anenia, SHRM-SCP
Office Administrator, Millen, White, Zelano & Branigan, P.C.
Vice President, Community Services
​
The 2016 Annual Meeting Holiday lunch was held on Thursday, December 8th at the W Washington Hotel.  As members and Business Partners stepped into the lobby area of the Great Room, they were greeted with a signature holiday cocktail, holiday cheer and yummy appetizers.  As the doors of the Great Room opened, everyone found a seat at a table and admired the beautiful holiday flower centerpieces, donated by Nosegay Florists, a subsidiary of Washington Express.
 
Chapter President Barbara Mannix 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 39 new members in 2016.  After recognizing the nominating committee and thanking them for their service, Barbara introduced the nominated 2017-2018 slate of officers:

Jenna Carter – nominated for President-Elect
Julie Tomey– nominated for Treasurer-Elect
Carmen Barboza – nominated for Secretary-Elect
Qeyana Hart – nominated for Vice President Community Services-Elect
Colleen Brown – nominated for Vice President Business Partner Advisory-Elect
 
The slate of officers were approved by the membership and an announcement was made stating that the 2017 budget was approved, which concluded the official business of the meeting.

Barbara then welcomed the organizations that were recipients of the Chapter’s 2016 charitable giving program, N Street Village, Safe Shores and Bright Beginnings.  She announced that the Chapter supported N Street Village, “Gifts for Moms” Program by donating over $3000 in gift cards.  The Chapter adopted 115 Wish Lists from Safe Shores—The DC Children’s Advocacy Center and 206 Wish Lists from Bright Beginnings.  Special recognition was also given to JK Moving for picking up gifts for free from all firms who supported Bright Beginnings and to Washington Express for delivering gifts to our other charities at a significant discount.  It is incredible that the law firms and members of the Capital Chapter were able to bring so much joy to so many children in need in the District of Columbia.
 
After an incredible meal, Barbara returned to the podium to announce the 2016 All-IN game winners. The game, back for its third year in 2016, rewards members for Chapter participation with playing cards. Members collected cards throughout the year, then presented them to poker dealers at the Annual Meeting to put together their best hand. The members with the top 15 hands chose from a selection of prizes ranging from popular electronics to restaurant gift cards.
 
2016 ALL-IN winners:​
  • Colleen Brown - Red Door Spa Gift Card
  • Elaine Gregg - Tory Burch Purse
  • Denise Sloan - Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab Gift Card
  • Danita Ellis - Amazon Gift Card
  • Crystal Boyer - Nespresso Coffee & Espresso Machine
  • Lisa Eally - Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones
  • Greg Fudge - Bose Soundlink Mini II and Amazon Echo Dot
  • Cheryl Flynn - CityCenter Gift Card Bundle
  • Melody Watson - Samsung Smart TV
  • Alana Harder-Washington - Amazon Echo
  • Connie Summers - Philips Air Fryer
  • Erin Greenlee - Federalist Wines Mixed Red Bundle & Slate Cheese Board
  • Lisa Benden - Polaroid Zip Mobile Printer
  • Erica White - GoPro HERO Session
  • David Anderson - ThinkFoodGroup Gift Card & DC Michelin Guide

Additionally, all ALL-IN  game participants received a $5 Starbucks gift card.  Barbara also announced that the Chapter will usher in 2017 with a new game Play, Pick, Win! Members will earn raffle tickets throughout the year by attending events and meetings, participating in community service projects, and engaging with Business Partners.

After the conclusion of the game, the table centerpieces were raffled off. The leadership book on each table was given to the member who had joined the Chapter most recently, the member at each table whose birthday was closest to December 8th received the floral arrangement, and the member who had belonged to the Capital Chapter the longest received a set of cheese knives. In case that wasn’t enough, the W Washington also handed out homemade macaroon cookies.  The holiday giving spirit was in abundance!

The final winner of the afternoon was new member Erin Greenlee, who won a Weekend Stay at the W Washington when her 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. 

HITT Contracting Spotlight: Are Your Construction Projects as Mobile as You Are?

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Sonja Williams
Assistant Project Manager, HITT Contracting Inc. 

If you are managing a single construction project, or a few at the same time, you are definitely not in one place for very long. Increasing workloads and changes are the nature of construction, for any owner, construction manager, architect, engineer, general contractor or superintendent, being on the move is a job requirement, not a luxury. The days of pen and paper are giving way to digital documents and tools. That process has sped up as mobile devices evolved alongside cloud computing. The future of construction is one where everything is online, available in real time, and easily accessible. As that reality takes shape, construction processes and projects are on track to have more transparency, better collaboration, better progress and risk assessment, greater quality control, and more predictable outcomes. Mobility is the next step in construction’s digital transformation. While you may be mobile, it does you little good if, your projects are not.

Mobility’s Promises
There are few construction processes that wouldn’t benefit from mobile tools. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other mobile devices are the gateways to the data and information which is migrating to the cloud. Smart construction businesses are seizing the opportunity and making project information readily available no matter where the project is located. Blueprints and design drawings are far less effective when sequestered in a job office or trailer than they are in the hands of those who need them to build the next component of the project. Equipment logs, daily progress reports, RFI’S, submittals, the project directory and punch lists are most effective when they are available to the person who needs them, when they need them, and in real time.

Paper-based processes aren’t very mobile and don't make it easy for you to capture and analyze data within compressed timelines. This limits your ability to get out in front of risks. Paper trails often get lost and mismanaged, leading to disputes among project participants. Paper-based processes also happen at a much slower pace than digital ones.

Project Management
Today, your project management system needs to be as mobile as possible. Your system handles not only all your day to day project management needs, but also provides the data and information critical to your accounting and back office functions. When you use a cloud-based project management system, you bring the transformative advantages of the digital age to your construction activities. At HITT, we use a cloud-based software that all project participants have available with a push of a few buttons. 

Safe Shores Wrapping Party

LaVerne Anenia, SHRM-SCP
Office Administrator, Millen, White, Zelano & Branigan, P.C.
Vice President, Community Services
​
Safe Shores - The DC Children’s Advocacy Center was one of the recipients of the Chapter’s 2016 charitable giving program.  Our chapter members adopted 115 Wish Lists from Safe Shores this holiday season. 

Many members have asked the question, what does Safe Shores do with the unwrapped gifts?  The members of the organization do a full review of each wish list against what is bought to make sure the gifts are age appropriate and that the bags are complete. Once this process is finished, the gifts go into large “green” or “red” bags for processing.  The red bags are for families where the parents have indicated that they would like to wrap the gifts for their children.  The gifts in the “green” bags need to be wrapped, and this is where Safe Shores'  army of volunteers comes in. 
 
My family and I participated in the Safe Shores' holiday giving wrapping party on December 10th.  It was truly a family-friendly event with holiday music, tons of food and great company.   My children were assigned everything from wrapping gifts to collecting trash to reading boxes to determine what size batteries were needed.  Did I mention the team of folks putting bikes together?  AMAZING!
 
Next year, if you are looking for an organization to which to give your time during the holidays, sign up for a wrapping party at Safe Shores!  I promise it will be a rewarding experience.
 
Stay tuned for  additional ALA Capital Chapter Community Service Volunteer events for 1st Quarter 2017!

The Value of Business Partners

Frank Schipani
Director of Information Technology, Gilbert LLP
Vice President, Business Partner Advisory

The Capital Chapter is committed to doing the best job possible of helping our members get the information they need to do their jobs, facilitating knowledge sharing among all our members and Business Partners.  We are excited about the Business Partner program for 2017 which is designed to help our members and Business Partners connect more efficiently.  The program provides three ways for Business Partners to interface with members:
  • Quarterly lunches, happy hours and community service events give Business Partners an opportunity to meet and network with members. 
  • The Chapter’s newsletters, social media feeds and website give Business Partners an opportunity to share their expertise with members in writing. 
  • Section meeting presentations let Business Partners share subject matter expertise in person and allow for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.

​These three avenues all work together to help Business Partners build credibility with members, so members will see them as the experts and go-to people in their field.  When the time comes that a member has a need, they will already know Business Partners with the requisite expertise that they can trust and turn to for help.  It is important that Business Partners make use of all three of these areas in order to make the most of their sponsorship. 

Marco Maggio, Director of US Legal Practice for ALACC Gold Business Partner All Covered, makes use of all three types of interaction with members.  He has participated in two very successful section meeting lunches in the recent past and is in the process of planning more for 2017.  “One of the greatest benefits of the ALA for our organization is our ability to share industry best practices to establish credibility and uncover opportunities without any pressure on administrators,” says Maggio.  “We find that events such as lunch and learns help us to give back to the ALA while developing relationships that could never be made through efforts such as cold calling.”
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The age old marketing rule of seven says that a potential customer needs to hear your message at least seven times before that message sinks in.  It works best if the message is delivered in lots of different ways.  You can have a much greater chance of your message being heard and retained if you are communicating over multiple channels.  Our members rarely make business decisions based on price.  They turn to Business Partners who are knowledge experts, people they enjoy talking to and working with, and those that their peers in other firms have had success with.  They want partners they can trust, and that trust is built through the kinds of interaction that the ALA facilitates.  

Immediate Past Chapter President Beth Fowler is a perfect example of how our Business Partner program can lead to successful, mutually-beneficial relationships:  "The Chapter’s Business Partner program is an incredibly valuable resource to our members and their firms.  It is not simply about goods and services - our Business Partners bring expertise in areas in which we may not have a lot of experience.  Over the years, I have developed great relationships with many Chapter Business Partners, not all of whom do business with my firm.  I have called upon many of them for help and/or guidance, and several times they have gotten me out of a bind.   I encourage all members to get to know as many of our Business Partners as you can, either by networking with them at events, or meeting with them one-on-one.  I promise, you will be glad you did!"

2016 Member Survey Results

Karen Laumoli
​Firm Administrator, Wilkes Artis Chartered
Secretary

Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2016 Membership Survey.  We had a total of 76 respondents this year!  Below is a compiled summary of the responses.

We first asked your primary reason(s) for joining the Capital Chapter.  Education and networking opportunities were the most popular answers, followed closely by access to Listservs. Following those were mentorship opportunities, social events, and access to Business Partners.

59% of respondents participated in the Chapter’s 2016 Salary Survey.  Of those who did not participate, most cited that they lacked or ran out of time, or it was their firm’s decision not to participate. 

18% of respondents have an established telework policy.
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Chapter leadership composes and reviews these annual membership surveys to collect input from members that can be used to make membership more meaningful and beneficial.  Many great suggestions were submitted for topics to explore in future education sessions and ways to add value to Capital Chapter membership. The Executive Committee has reviewed all of the ideas proposed, and is using the feedback provided to continue to enhance the member experience. Several of the suggested educational topics will be featured in the first few months of 2017 – visit www.alacapchap.org/calendar to take a look at the sessions scheduled from January to June of next year.  

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey, and congratulations to Robert Harman and Christine Bekelja, who each won a $25 Amazon gift card for their participation!

2016 Holiday Giving Wrap-Up: What's Next?

Claudia M. Baragano
Human Resources Manager, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Vice President-Elect Community Services

This year as part of our new Holiday Giving initiatives, we partnered and profiled three different community partners.  We thank all members that participated in the ALACC New Community initiatives this Holiday Season. 

Besides the holiday giving campaign, there are other ways you and your firms can continue supporting these community partners — see their profiles below.  
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N Street Village
N Street Village is a community of empowerment and recovery for homeless and low-income women in Washington, D.C. For more than 40 years, we have provided comprehensive services including housing, food and clothing, education and employment training, mental and physical health care, and addiction recovery support for homeless women in Washington, D.C. 
 
N Street Village was started in 1972 by members of Luther Place Memorial Church, who began serving the homeless by providing nighttime shelter in the church sanctuary. The congregation quickly realized that there were not enough services for homeless women in the city, and decided they would focus their efforts on women.  Over time, and with the support of other local faith communities, additional programs were developed, and in the mid-1990s, N Street Village moved into a brand new building located at 14th and N Streets, NW.  Today, N Street Village has expanded to included three additional sites – Miriam’s House, a permanent supportive housing program for women with HIV and AIDS; Erna’s House, a permanent supportive housing program for women with histories of chronic homelessness; and Patricia Handy Place for women, a 213-bed facility that provides emergency and temporary housing for women.  Last year alone, N Street Village provided housing in a safe and respectful community for 391 women and 51 families.
 
The holidays can be challenging and stressful for all of us, and for our clients, that is especially true. N Street Village’s annual Gift Card Drive started as a way to build self-reliance and confidence. In this way, clients get the chance to choose their own items based on their unique and individual needs. 
 
More ways to get involved:
 
JOIN THE BREAKFAST CLUB: Be a part of the Village Breakfast Club! Your monthly gift of $10 can provide 100 delicious lunches for women in need every year. Sign-up to be a monthly donor at nstreetvillage.org. 
 
VISIT THE VILLAGE: Come by for a “Village Visit” and tour our programs and meet some of the women you so generously support. Contact [email protected] to book your tour.
 
DONATE YOUR BIRTHDAY: Instead of gifts, ask for donations and transform your birthday from an annual event to a life-sustaining occasion. Register by contacting [email protected].
 
DONATE YOUR TIME & TALENT: Consider volunteering or hosting an in-kind drive. Contact [email protected] for more details.
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Safe Shores
For over 20 years, Safe Shores – The DC Children’s Advocacy Center has been a beacon of hope for children and families affected by abuse and witness to extreme violence in Washington, DC. At its core, the Children’s Advocacy Center model followed by Safe Shores is about teamwork – bringing agencies together to deliver high-quality services in a warm, welcoming and child-friendly space.
 
Today, Safe Shores is the only provider of comprehensive and coordinated services for child and youth victims of abuse and witnesses to violence in our Nation’s Capital, providing forensic interviews, play and art therapy, new clothing, food, books, holiday gifts, emergency financial assistance and victim advocacy to over 1,200 children and families in 2016.
 
Safe Shores’ Holiday Giving program has been a popular tradition that has served thousands of clients over the years. Every holiday season, they partner with individual volunteers, donors and community organizations to provide child victims of abuse and their siblings with new clothing and toys.  The wish lists, referred primarily by Safe Shores’ staff and partner agencies, are shared with community members who shop for gifts on the list. Once the gifts are dropped off at Safe Shores, volunteers spend hours making sure the gifts are sorted, inventoried and wrapped before being distributed to families. This year, community members such as ALA have made it possible for over 270 children to receive gifts!

If you want to learn more about Safe Shores and their services:
Tour their state-of-the-art, child-focused facility, meet their team, and learn firsthand how Safe Shores works to provide intervention, hope and healing for children and families affected by abuse in the District.

Every other Thursday from 8:30–9:30 a.m. @ Safe Shores—The DC Children’s Advocacy Center, 429 O Street, NW, Washington DC, 20001.  Please RSVP!

Become a Safe Shores Ambassador
Safe Shores Ambassadors are individuals that are passionate about our work to provide intervention, hope and healing to children and families affected by abuse, trauma and violence in DC.
 
Safe Shores Ambassadors agree to bring 10 people to a Coffee for Kids event during the next year. For more information on becoming a Safe Shores Ambassador, please contact Erica Drucker at [email protected] or (202) 645-4429.
Bright Beginnings
Without a doubt, the biggest time of the year at BBI is the holiday season. During the months of November/December the ALA “adopted” 206 BBI children.  BBI sponsors also donate funds toward the Family Holiday Dinner. Parents and children dine together in the classrooms, playing games and singing songs.
 
Other volunteer opportunities throughout the year:
 
Parent Resource Center
Classroom Assistant
Volunteer Readers
Parent Auction
Sprucing up the Center (suggested for groups of 25 or more)
Field Trip Sponsors
 
For additional information go to http://www.brightbeginningsinc.org/volunteer
Thank you to all of the firms and Business Partners who participated in our 2016 Holiday Giving programs!
ALA Capital Chapter Headquarters
Allen & Overy LLP
Arent Fox
Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
Bookoff McAndrews
Bracewell LLP
Bryan Cave
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
Caplin & Drysdale
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
CRESA
Gilbert LLP
Gray Plant Mooty
JK Moving Services
Kelley Drye & Warren
Kirkland & Ellis LLP 
Law Firm Vendors Association
Legal Placements
Leydig, Voit & Mayer
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
McCarter & English, LLP 
Millen White Zelano & Branigan, PC
Palmer Legal Staffing
Robins Russell
Ropes & Gray
Royal Cup Coffee
Saul Ewing LLP
Slevin & Hart
The Ford Agency
Wilkinson Barker Knauer
Wenderoth
Wilkinson Walsh + Eskovitz LLP
Winston & Strawn LLP
2017 ALACC COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
1ST QUARTER INITIATIVE—LOCAL FOOD BANK! 
​Stay tuned - additional information to follow in the January newsletter!

Robert Half Spotlight: 
Gen Z: The Next Wave of Workers in the Legal Profession

By Charles A. Volkert, Esq.
Executive Director, Robert Half Legal

If you are hiring, you might be getting job applications from the oldest members of Generation Z. Is the legal profession ready for this next wave of workers?
 
The Gen Z wave of millennials, generally defined as those born between 1990 and 1999, brings their own distinctive attributes, preferred work styles and professional expectations to the table. They share some similarities with previous generations, but are also unique.

Multigenerational workforces offer many challenges for legal managers, but a recent Robert Half report shows that there are benefits to reap as well. Here’s what Gen Z values most in the legal profession, and how you can best offer the kind of support and guidance this cadre wants and needs to thrive in their legal careers.
 
Retention starts early
Generation Z is ambitious. Of the college students surveyed for the report, 32 percent expect to be supervising employees. Another 20 percent see themselves starting their own firms or embarking on other entrepreneurial endeavors. To rise in the legal profession, Gen Z attorneys and paralegals want ongoing training, which they regard as essential.
 
Legal managers should be thinking about retention right from the recruitment stage. Start by engaging in the hiring process; Gen Z candidates will feel more secure meeting their potential boss face-to-face right away. This generation wants to make a positive impact on society, so highlight both personal and corporate integrity, and demonstrate the business or firm’s social responsibility and community involvement record. Show them proof of in-house advancement opportunities. And after they start working and you’ve gotten to know them better, put together individualized career advancement plans.
 
Mind the gaps
Generation Z professionals are constant learners and great improvisers, though they occasionally lack the knowledge or information needed to truly innovate. That’s where legal managers come in. Share with them some of the firm’s priorities, history, concerns and best practices. Their creativity can then be put to use in ways that benefit the organization. Additionally, while this generation excels at social media, they aren’t as outstanding when it comes to formal written communication styles, still important in the legal profession. Hiring managers say these traits are often missing from Gen Z candidates, as well:
 
  • Rigorous self-evaluation
  • Taking personal responsibility
  • Maintaining a positive attitude
  • Taking good care of themselves outside of work and staying healthy
  • Self-presentation: timeliness, organization and productivity
  • Follow-through and initiative
 
Although not all Gen Z workers share the same traits, these generalizations — culled from their own comments and others’ observations — provide useful insights about this group as a whole.
 
Let’s talk
Generation Z employees crave consistent and frequent feedback on their work. They received input from their parents and teachers, and they expect it from employers as well. This means the annual performance review or quarterly check-in meetings, which may be sufficient for baby boomers and Gen Xers, is the equivalent of the silent treatment for your youngest colleagues. So be sure to increase your level of engagement when working with Gen Z, and ask them for feedback on whether they want more.
 
Emphasize in-person collaboration
Sixty-four percent of Gen Z professionals surveyed by our company prefer to collaborate with a small group. Surprisingly, 45 percent would rather have their own private office within the company, which is contrary to the open workspaces popularized by Generations X and Y. However, working independently on a virtual team is Gen Z’s least favorite work environment. These professionals want their own space, but they also crave being part of a physical team.
 
When it comes to communication, Gen Z shares more in common with baby boomers than any other generation. Even though 20-somethings never knew a world without the internet, they prefer face-to-face conversations to impersonal emails. They tend to thrive on forming genuine, personal relationships with legal managers who can teach them the ropes and give them a boost in the legal profession.
 
Ask not what a Gen Z candidate can do for your firm; ask what your firm can do for these candidates’ foray into the legal profession. By understanding their desires and qualities, and sharing this knowledge with your firm, you’ll have a staff of young, eager workers committed to the future of your company. 

Charles A. Volkert is executive director of Robert Half Legal, a premier legal staffing service specializing in the placement of attorneys, paralegals, legal administrators and other legal professionals with law firms and corporate legal departments. Based in Menlo Park, Calif., Robert Half Legal has offices in major North American and global markets and offers a full suite of legal staffing and consulting solutions.

Community Tax Aid: Volunteer Opportunities for Attorneys and Non-Attorneys

For the past 30 years, Community Tax Aid (CTA) has provided pro bono tax preparation and representation services to thousands of low-income families and seniors in the metropolitan DC area each year. These efforts help put millions of dollars in the hands of those who might not otherwise claim the benefits to which they are entitled.

CTA is seeking volunteers to assist with providing year-round tax representation services and to prepare tax returns  during tax season. CTA’s volunteers routinely say that they feel very rewarded when they help their clients claim their tax benefits. Thanks to the work of its volunteers, CTA is an organization that actually puts money directly back into the community!
CTA volunteers help low-income working families like Camille’s:

     I used to be afraid of tax season because I worried about being penalized for doing
     something wrong or missing out on my tax benefits—how was I supposed to understand the
     tax code? It all seemed so complicated! But since I started going to CTA, those worries are
     gone. The volunteers have such a courteous and nice way of helping me complete my tax
     return. Without CTA, I’m not sure that I would receive all those tax benefits that help me
     pay my monthly rent, put food on the table, and get my kids off to school. I don’t say it
     often enough, but thank you, CTA – you make a world of difference to me!

Camille’s story is typical of CTA’s nearly 7,000 clients, most of whom make less than $20,000 a year. To them, every dollar of their tax refund makes a vital difference in their daily lives.

Tax Representation
Your time and expertise can have a positive financial impact on a low-income family. Studies show that taxpayers with representation in a tax controversy receive better outcomes. Without adequate legal representation, our taxpayers may face financial devastation when the IRS or state tax authorities engage in enforced collection actions, such as liens or levies. Additionally, low-income taxpayers often inadvertently forfeit their rights to valuable tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, for failing to respond effectively and on a timely basis to audit notices.

CTA is seeking volunteer attorneys, accountants and enrolled agents to represent low-income taxpayers in controversy with the IRS, the tax authorities in the District of Columbia and with state tax agencies. CTA pre-screens clients for pro bono tax professionals while CTA staff and board members are available to provide instruction and guidance regarding procedure and substantive law. Additionally, CTA maintains professional liability coverage for all of its volunteers, so retired or corporate professionals can participate in the pro bono program.
Volunteers are an integral part of Community Tax Aid. Volunteering is a rewarding and challenging experience to help low-income members of our community navigate the tax system. If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved, please feel free to reach out to our Executive Director, Teresa Hinze, by emailing [email protected].

Volunteers Needed for Tax Season
During tax season, CTA volunteers serve over 5,000 low-income workers and seniors at 14 locations in the DC metropolitan area. No prior tax preparation skills are required as CTA provides all necessary training to prepare properly these returns and serve this population. Although there are many ways to get involved as a volunteer at one of CTA’s tax sites, CTA is especially looking for people interested in serving as Client Coordinators. Client Coordinators improve the experience for our clients and greatly increase the efficiency of our tax sites in several ways. They perform an initial screening for eligibility and helping clients start the required intake documents. After the Tax Return Preparers complete the returns, Client Coordinators review the outcomes with the taxpayers, provide the taxpayers with copies of their completed returns, and ensure that all their questions are answered. This position is a great opportunity to interact with interesting and inspiring clients and to help CTA increase its capacity to serve our community. It does not require any advanced knowledge of the tax system!

If you are interested in volunteering as a client coordinator or tax return preparer, you can find out more information at http://www.communitytaxaiddc.org/volunteers-3/, or by sending an email to [email protected].
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We hope you are willing to join Community Tax Aid as we work to help the deserving low-income households and seniors in our community. Thank you, in advance.
Community Tax Aid, 1000 Vermont Ave NW #920, Washington, DC 20005; 202-547-7773

Why Volunteer? Because You Can Help Make a Difference!

Claudia M. Baragano
Human Resources Manager, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Vice President-Elect Community Services

As we look forward to the New Year, now is a good time to review our future community service plans.

If you are currently thinking on how to volunteer – the ALACC in 2017 will offer many options and opportunities to get involved with our local community.   As mentioned in ALACC September 2016 Newsletter, due to your feedback, the ALACC Community Services Committee has created a program for charitable giving that encompasses the entire year. This new initiative was implemented during the 2016 Fourth Quarter with the Holiday Giving and will continue in 2017. Click here for more informaiton on the initiative.
 
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a federal agency that helps millions of people improve the lives of their fellow citizens through service offers the following tips about volunteering:

  • Research the causes or issues that are important to you.  In 2017, ALACC will offer several community service options – additional information will be provided at the beginning of the year:​
    • ​Year-Round: Toni K. Allen Scholarship·  50/50 raffles
      • Pledging
      • The Fundraising E-Book
      • Silent Auction
    • First Quarter:  Local Food Bank/Meal Program
    • Second Quarter: Children’s Education
    • Third Quarter: Service in the Community
    • Fourth Quarter: Holiday Giving (Families/Children)

  • Consider what you have to offer.  Since this upcoming year you will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of charities and causes, be engaged in the process early and help your local community!  If you or your firm currently have your own community service initiatives, we would like to hear from you – please email us at [email protected] and/or [email protected]

  • There is no need to wait to be asked.  If you like to participate in any of the 2017 community programs that we are planning or if you would like to assist us with our community service efforts, please email us at [email protected] and/or [email protected]

  • Find a volunteer activity that fits your schedule.  We understand that your time is limited, some of our Community Service Initiatives will require a one time commitment only.  Make a plan for the year.

  • Volunteering gives you the satisfaction of incorporating service into your life and making a difference in your community. Volunteering has many intangible benefits, but when as a community we combine our time and talents, we can:
    • Solve Problems
    • Strengthen our Community
    • Improve the Lives of Those Who We Serve
    • Connect with Others
    • Transform Our Own Lives

The ALACC Community Service Committee has worked diligently to create a comprehensive community service program in order to meet the needs of deserving charities within our community.  These initiatives can only be successful with your participation.  We are very excited to work with you in 2017 and strengthening our partnerships through service. 
 
On behalf of the Community Services Team, we are wishing you Happy Holidays and a successful New Year!

​Sustainability Tip of the Month

This month's tip is provided by Silver Business Partner Newmark Grubb Knight Frank

‘Tis the season of giving!  Give each of your employees a company mug to promote the firm and reduce waste associated with disposable cups.
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To find out how to get the full value for real estate savings through greening your lease, reach out to Jennifer Tatum at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank at 202-312-5771.

Branch Office Administrators Section Update: Catering Extravaganza!

Danita Ellis
Office Manager, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Co-Chair, Branch Office Administrators Section
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As busy employees in our firms around DC, we don't often get the opportunity to meet with and explore new catering opportunities for the many events we host each year. On November 9 the Branch Section of the ALA Capital Chapter hosted a Catering Extravaganza where ALA Capital Chapter members were introduced or reintroduced to eight caterers. These caterers were invited to the Catering Extravaganza because other multiple members in Branch Section recommended them. This event was an opportunity for ALA members to try the foods of each of the eight caterers and expand their catering connections all in one event. The caterers were asked to bring a sampling of their breakfast, lunch, and dinner options and to be ready to discuss with our members what they can offer. With over forty (40) ALA members present at the event, discussion about the great food, set ups of the different caterers, options they can offer and prices were had heard all over the room.  Everyone had a great time and many of the attendees said they would be using one or two of the caterers present that they had not previously used.

Rudeness and Bullying at Work Hurt Bottom Line

Arnold Sanow, MBA, CSP
Sanow Professional Development

​A study concerning rudeness in the workplace by The University of North Carolina asked 1601 people if there was rudeness, backstabbing, poor communication and incivility in the workplace. Out of those 1601 people interviewed 89% said yes. However, they asked those same 1601 people if they were ever uncivil, rude, negative or talked behind others backs and 99% of them said no.
 
The problem is many times we don’t see ourselves. Also, many times people don’t give us feedback and we are not aware what we are doing is considered rude.
 
For example, I was in an elevator minding mind own business and I started to cough. I was coughing and I did not have my hand in front of my mouth. All of a sudden from the back of the elevator, a woman yelled, “ My Mother Taught Me That When You Cough You Should Always Should Put Your Hand In Front Of Your Mouth “. I slowly turned around apologized and stated that I appreciated her letting me know this and that I just wasn’t thinking. She immediately calmed down and told me, “You are so nice, I tell people what I told you in the same “nice way” and they immediately become hostile.” To her she felt she was communicating in a nice way and couldn’t understand why people didn’t listen to her and thought she was rude.
 
To make sure we understand what “rudeness” means, here’s a list of the Top 10 acts of rudeness according to Joel H Neuman from the State University of New York at New Paltz
 
  1. Talking about someone behind his/her back.
  2. Interrupting others when they are speaking or working.
  3. Flaunting status or authority; acting in a condescending manner.
  4. Belittling someone’s opinion to others.
  5. Failing to return phone calls or respond to memos.
  6. Giving others the silent treatment
  7. Insults, yelling and shouting
  8. Verbal forms of sexual harassment
  9. Staring, dirty looks or other negative eye contact.
  10. Intentionally damning with faint praise
 
Once we understand these we need to eliminate them from our behavior. A new study shows that rude employees cost companies millions in lost productivity. In fact in a study done by Christine Pearson of the University of North Carolina
 
  • 53% said they’ve lost hours of productivity sweating about “what will happen next time?”
  • 46% considered changing jobs
  • 37% say they feel less committed to their company
  • 22% deliberately got even by cutting back their efforts.
  • 12% actually do quit
 
The only person you can change is yourself. Look at the top 10 “rudeness magnets” and reduce or eliminate them … NOW!

Arnold Sanow, MBA, CSP (certified speaking professional) is a speaker, trainer, presentations coach and facilitator with over 2,500 presentations. He is the author of 6 books to include, “Present with Power, Punch and Pizzazz” and “Get Along with Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere” www.arnoldsanow.com – [email protected]  

Sign up for Arnold's 2 minute tips newsletter at [email protected]
Want to start your own speaking and training business?  Contact Arnold at 703-255-3133 

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: Vanessa Partin (Co-Chair), [email protected]; Cindy Schuler (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. 

Contact: Sheri Shifflett (Chair), [email protected]; Emily Christianson (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: Barbara Kernus (Co-Chair), [email protected]; Cheryl Flynn (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: Jenna Carter (Chair),  [email protected]; Danita Ellis (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. 

Contact: Sharon Smith (Chair), [email protected]; Kimberly J. Potter (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: Carmen C. Barboza (Chair), [email protected]; Aryn Blanton (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:  Kenia Garner (Chair), [email protected]; Qeyana Hart (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: Julie Tomey (Chair), [email protected]; Wilmara Guido-Chizhik (Co-Chair), [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]


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Finance
Based on member feedback the Capital Chapter has formed a new Finance Section. We are seeking active members to helps us get this group up and running in 2016! As we get started, we will be focusing on what issues members are facing within their firms that we may be able to help address together. Topics may range from reviewing new time and billing systems to tax filings and matter budgeting solutions and anything in between. Your input is needed! Please consider adding Finance section meetings to your monthly educational schedule.
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Contact: Andy George (Chair),  [email protected]; Evan Kettig (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: Kenny Mitchell (Chair),  [email protected]; Frank Schipani (Co-Chair),  [email protected]; 
Listserv: [email protected]