July 2022

Capital Connection is published monthly for members of the Capital Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators to provide information for the education and benefit of legal administrators, law office managers, managing partners of law firms, and other law related associations. Capital Connection is not engaged in rendering legal, financial, or tax counseling or advice through this publication. The contents of all articles, letters, and advertisements published in Capital Connection should not be considered endorsements by the Capital Chapter of ALA nor the opinion expressed therein of any products advertised.  Contributing authors are requested and expected to disclose financial and/or professional interests and affiliations that may influence their writing position. Articles and materials accepted for publication are subject to editing by the editorial team and become property of the Capital Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators. Links to Capital Connection may not be shared without permission from the Chapter. 
Editors: Emmanuel Adedigba, Tabatha Harris
​Contributing Editors: Haley Johnson, MA
Newsletter Published By: Aubrey Silverman, MPA


In this issue:

President's Message

July is a festive month in our Nation’s Capital, as we celebrate the birth of our nation with parades, fireworks, and barbeques.  Red, white, and blue are the colors of the month, and our city comes alive with energy and excitement.   It was a relief to be able to momentarily pause the tensions throughout our country and the world and to focus on joy and perseverance.

With that said, it was truly uplifting to hear the accomplishments of the 2022 recipients of the Toni K. Allen Scholarship at the July Quarterly Networking Luncheon, which was held at the Fairmont Hotel on July 13.  Congratulations to our recipients, Shaina Adams, a graduate of Jackson-Reed High School, who will major in economics and Japanese at Harvard University, and Khalil Biles, a McKinley Technology High School graduate, who will study civil engineering at North Carolina A&T University. The accomplishments, dedication, and plans for the future that these talented students aspire to achieve were awe-inspiring and truly provide rays of hope.  You can read more about the Toni K. Allen Scholarship program and our distinguished 2022 Scholarship recipients in the related article included in this Newsletter.

In addition, the Mini-Expo which was also held during the July Quarterly Networking Luncheon, was a great success. It was wonderful to connect with our Business Partners and members in such an elegant and memorable space.  The Capital Chapter beach towels and sunscreen were huge hits and just in time for summer vacations, and everyone appreciated the surprise addition of door prizes provided by a number of our Business Partners.  Thanks to all!

Looking toward the Fall, the Chapter is planning an interesting array of educational sessions. Invitations to these programs will be circulated in the coming weeks.  Last but most definitely not least, please “Save the Date” for the Business Partner Appreciation Gala, planned for September 21st at the Warner Theatre.  In addition to celebrating our Business Partners, we will also be paying tribute to Paula Serratore, our former Executive Director, who was key to the growth of the Chapter and the development of our successful Business Partner program.   Invitations for this event have been distributed electronically, and if you have not yet received your invitation, please contact Aubrey Silverman at aubrey@alacapchap,org.  Mark your calendar for a fun evening of delicious food, delightful company, and dancing.
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As always, thank you for your continued support of the Chapter and of our Leadership team.   Looking forward to continuing to do great things together!
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Janeanne R. Gorman
President, Capital Chapter

Welcome New Members!

Thank you for joining us!
  • Amanda Askari
  • Amanda Branch
  • Heather  Brown-Coward 
  • Diane Burkhardt
  • Phil Chacko
  • Joel Chagadama
  • Dana Gambino
  • Saundra Madyun
  • Dana Melnik​
  • Michelle Planty
  • Marie Ramsundar
  • Kimberly Seals
  • Stephanie Sears
  • Odalys Smith
  • Sharon Smith-Neal
  • Vetta Tabb
  • Miranda Watson
  • Amanda Wilkinson

Welcome New & Returning Business Partners

Re/DISTRICT
SpaceSavers Interiors

How to Ask, and Answer, Questions about Your Security Posture

How to Ask, and Answer, Questions about Your Security Posture
By: Kshitiij Kathurria, Afinety
Top of mind for most organizations in 2022 has been cybersecurity. This isn’t surprising given two concurrent trends: the rise in high-profile ransomware attacks and the continuation of work-from-home models that were necessitated by the pandemic. Cybercriminals have increasingly used third-party vendors as entry-points to access the sensitive data of both large and small organizations, leading law firm clients to question their law firm partners about their security posture. In turn, law firms are seeking similar answers regarding security from their technology vendors. 
The bulk of these questions seem to dive straight into specifics about the tools and technology used or the specifics behind policies. While these lines of questioning will reveal important elements of a security posture, neither touch on the most important element. 
The question asked most infrequently is the most important--what are the underlying guiding principles that define your approach to security? 
Start with Principles 
When asking your technology vendors questions regarding their security posture, and answering questions from current and potential clients regarding your own, security principles provide context into how seriously an organization takes security. Some organizations will simply talk through the tools they use, while others will showcase how their security principles permeate not just their technology, but also their processes, policies, and employee attitudes.  
In this article, we give an overview of three critical security principles you should require from your vendors and adopt at your firm.
Security by Design 
Security by design means that security considerations are addressed throughout both technical architecture and organizational operations, from planning and design through to execution and remediation.  
Security by design will translate to: 
  • Architecting or, if necessary, rearchitecting computer networks with security as the foremost priority 
  • Continuously training and educating staff to identify and avoid cybersecurity risks 
  • Calibrating all key operational processes through a security lens, such as information access and sharing, client communications, document management, change management, etc. 
  • Continuously reviewing the cybersecurity landscape to identify new threats and threat techniques and evaluating the next generation of security tooling to enhance defense and prevention capabilities 
Security by design ensures that all elements of an organization are evaluated from a security perspective, including technology, processes, and people. 
Zero-trust Architecture 
As defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): 
“Zero Trust assumes there is no implicit trust granted to assets or user accounts based solely on their physical or network location or based on asset ownership. Authentication and authorization are discrete functions performed before a session to an enterprise resource is established.” 
Zero-trust Architecture informs the decisions to: 
  • Enforce multi-factor authentication to access critical applications, explicitly requiring users to validate their authorization before getting access into distinct environments or different areas of that environment 
  • Structure permission levels using the Principle of Least Privilege, which gives users the minimum level of access needed to perform their job functions.
  • Inspect and log all activity across a computer network and environment to monitor for threats and reduce response times 
This approach minimizes the ability of an attacker to gain traction in an organization’s environment, as there is no presumed permission level from one access point to another.  
The Human Firewall 
The vast majority of cybersecurity incidents involve human error, such as clicking on malicious links or not securing login credentials. While technology can and does prevent some of these missteps, the best prevention is educating and training employees to avoid the situation altogether. 
Employees remain a critical component of a security posture by acting as:
  • A human firewall and line of defense against sophisticated attacks
  • The key participants in defined processes to mitigate risk and increase security
Maintaining a human firewall means investing in employee awareness and training programs to educate and continually reinforce security processes. In a spear phishing attack, for example, a human firewall involves both an employee recognizing a cleverly crafted phishing attack as being fake, but also a policy that requires verbal confirmation from an authorized firm leader prior to a wire transfer being executed.
Combining these Principles 
Ultimately, these three principles coalesce into a unified, multi-layered defense framework that interweaves people, process, and technology together for improved protection. They provide context to the decisions made, and provide guidance for future decisions, regarding the specific tools, technologies, and processes employed by an organization.
Brand names of tools used or lists of processes will not give you the full picture of an organization’s security posture. Starting with understanding the principles that constitute your own and a vendor’s approach to security will help you gain a better realization of the true nature of the security.

Community Services Spotlight: Toni K. Allen Scholarship Recipients Awarded

The ALA Capital Chapter Foundation has granted college scholarships to students in the District of Columbia since its inception in the 1990s.  In 2003, the scholarship program was re-named in honor of one of its founding members, Toni K. Allen.  To win the Toni K. Allen (“TKA”) Scholarship, DC students must show academic achievement, financial need, leadership ability, and engagement with the community.  Beyond financial support, the scholarship also provides students with a Chapter member or business partner as a mentor throughout their college careers.

This year, the Foundation has generously awarded two scholarships!  Khilil Biles received the 2022 TKA Scholarship in the amount of $10,000 to attend North Carolina A&T University where he plans to study civil engineering.  A graduate of McKinley Technology High School, Khilil was captain of the basketball team while he maintained superior grades in Advanced Placement classes.  This summer, among his many activities, Khilil volunteers at Monster Maker Athletics where he tutors and coaches young kids in the DC area in both academics and sports.  After facing many personal challenges, Khilil’s motivation and passion have driven him to be the first member of his family to attend college, where we know he will succeed.

The field of applicants was so impressive this year that the Foundation decided to award a second 2022 TKA Scholarship in the amount of $5,000 to Shaina Adams.  Shaina graduated from Jackson-Reed High School and will attend Harvard University where she plans to major in economics and Japanese.  Along with Shaina’s impressive grades and dedication to community service, she plays the harp, leads a Japanese learning community, and works as an intern at the Washington International Trade Association.  Shaina is a true self-starter with a thirst for knowledge that will serve her well at Harvard.
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A special thank you to the members who volunteered to be a part of the interview process this year:
Oscar Alvarez – Baker McKenzie
Barbara Kernus – Foster Garvey, PC
Tiffany Montgomery – Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr
Melody Watson – Lathrop GPM LLP

Community Services Spotlight: Pandemic Recovery Volunteer Trends

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly disrupted numerous aspects of daily life and included in that was the ability to volunteer. As organizations resume operations and volunteer events at increased capacities, important trends are emerging that nonprofits should be cognizant of to maximize their recovery efforts.  
  1. Overall: organized volunteering that dropped 93% has now rebounded ~50%
  2. The impact of COVID on nonprofit agencies has resulted in both reduced resources, as well as reduced capacities. Although organized volunteering has started going back to normal, many places are still operating with fewer resources, compared to pre COVID-19 times. Yet, most volunteers see volunteering as an important post pandemic activity.
  3. Increased Commitment: 73% say volunteering is more important after the pandemic
  4. 95% of people said that following the pandemic they will maintain their current level of involvement or do more to get involved and make a difference. The mission of the organization and serving local community needs are two of the biggest reasons people take into consideration when choosing where to volunteer, and right behind those two factors is the ability to use a specific skill set. 
  5. Gen Z in particular has a passion for volunteerism, and involvement has grown significantly in the past few years, although their tendency to donate was lower than their older counterparts. In fact, they are the most likely of all generations to get most involved after the pandemic.
  6. People’s reasons or preferences for volunteering have not changed much, and most people care the most about having an impact in local communities and interacting directly with the people they are benefitting. In addition, 28% of people prefer to volunteer with friends or neighbors instead of through an organization, so there is opportunity for organizations to try and retain volunteers. The smartphone adoption by Boomers is the same today as that of Millennials in 2011, so more folks (with higher giving capacities) are more technologically literate than ever before. 
  7. Reservations: Some of the biggest factors holding people back from volunteering are government regulations, fears of exposing others to illness or being exposed to illness, and income concerns. 
Taken from CIVIC CHAMPS, Therese Wu, 11/21

Welcome Haley Johnson!

Haley received both her undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Arts in Spanish & Anthropology) and graduate degree (Master of Arts in Anthropology: Socio-Cultural Concentration) from the University of Virginia. She has extensive customer service, management and administrative experience, most of which she gained from her most previous position as Senior Shift Manager and Event Manager at the Wool Factory, a hospitality destination.  She also has experience with various nonprofits with an interest in issues of inequality.

Administrative Committees

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

Contact:  Emmanuel Adedigba (Chair), EAdedigba@zuckerman.com; Tabatha Harris (Co-Chair), tsh@dwgp.com
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The mission of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee is to advance the concepts of inclusiveness and acceptance in every organization by providing all Chapter members with information so that they can merge these concepts with their firm's policies, procedures, culture, and relationships to be more equitable and inclusive.  We not only strive to raise awareness, but also to increase our sensitivity in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion and more closely reflect the diversity of our community at large. Having a more inclusive and diverse legal community will improve the quality of our organizations’ workforces and respond to our clients’ requirements for diversity. The DEI Committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month and we welcome all members to join us for discussion on how to further our mission in our firms and in our Chapter.  
 
Contact: Tania Jose (Chair), tjose@kleinhornig.com, Angela Tyson (Co-Chair), atyson@axinn.com
Salary Survey
The Salary Survey Committee is responsible for maintaining, updating and running the local survey each year. They review the positions listed, the job descriptions, and the benefits questions to ensure that the survey remains relevant to the end users. The members of the committee also promote the survey within the Chapter to stimulate participation. 

Contact: Shera Berini SBerini@KRAMERLEVIN.com and Melody Watson melody.watson@lathropgpm.com 



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Member Experience
The Member Experience Committee will establish a welcoming environment for new members to be integrated into the Chapter through a formal Ambassador Program. Ambassadors will provide support and guidance to new members through their first 12 months of membership, ensuring new members realize benefits of membership and become ambassadors of the Chapter. If you would like more information and/or are interested in becoming an Ambassador, please contact the Chair or Co-Chair.

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


Educational Communities

Small Firm and Branch Office Administrators
The Small Firm and Branch Office Administrators Community focuses on a broad range of topics of interest to local administrators who must coordinate with other offices of their firms, as well as to provide administrators of law firms with 35 or fewer attorneys educational opportunities through vendor presentations, idea sharing and open forums specifically designed for those who work in smaller firms.. The Community's monthly luncheon meetings, held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 12:30 pm, provide a venue for members to discuss issues of common interest, share ideas, and network. Members are encouraged to raise topics and to recommend speakers. 

Contact: Starr Pratt (Chair), spratt@ftlf.com; Lodora Barnes (Chair), lbarnes@sheppardmullin.com
Listserv: branch@lists.alacapchap.org and smallfirm@lists.alacapchap.org
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Legal Operations
The members of the Legal Operations Community represent a cross section of legal expertise from functional administrators to branch office managers. The Community meets on the second Thursday of each month at noon. We welcome all members to join the section, especially if you are an administrator in a small law office and you have to wear multiple hats. We can provide you with many best practices to run your operation smoothly.

Contact:  Janelle E. Rynes (Chair), janelle.rynes@arentfox.com
Listserv: legalops@lists.alacapchap.org
Human Resources
The Human Resources Community operates as a venue for educational information on global human resources issues.  While the Community is mostly comprised of HR professionals, any member is invited to participate in the meetings which typically take place on the second or third Wednesday of each month.  The meetings feature industry speakers or roundtable discussions on topics such as recruiting, benefits, strategic planning, performance management, career pathing, retention and other matters of interest.

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

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Next Generation Leaders
The mission of the Next Generation Leaders Community is to support our next generation of leaders and close the gap faced by our association and the legal industry as a whole by providing a community for Millennial legal managers and new managers in the legal field with a focus on mentoring, education, and networking. To accomplish this goal, the section hosts monthly meetings, pop-up events, and educational sessions, and provides 2-way mentoring opportunities. 
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Contact: Ana Sobalvarro (Chair), asobalvarro@bomcip.com
Listserv: nextgen@lists.alacapchap.org