June 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; Wesley Smith; Richard I. Lane; Matthew D. Levin; Craig Church; Sheri Shifflett; Karen Laumoli; Pheobe Boger-Smith; Barbara Kernus; Connie Summers; Emily Christianson; Frank Schipani
Newsletter Designed By: Scoti Dodson


In this issue:

President's Message

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Once you’ve been a member of ALA for 25 years, you become a “Distinguished Member,” and when you attend a national conference, they give you a Distinguished Member ribbon for your name badge.  When people see the ribbon, they often ask what it means, to which I reply “it means I’m old!”  But no matter how old I am (or feel!), I need to keep learning and growing professionally.  Education is one of the biggest reasons many of us joined ALA.  I don’t think there is anyone reading this who would be as successful in their position without the educational resources provided by ALA and the Capital Chapter, whether it be from Lunch and Learns, section meetings, webinars, conferences, newsletters or the list serve.   We are fortunate to be in a large chapter with resources that enable us to offer great education to our members at no cost to them, along with a large pool of business partners who are always ready to share their expertise with us.  In addition, there is the universe of educational opportunities beyond our chapter in the form of the National conference, Business of Law conferences, and Specialty conferences.

If you have not had the opportunity to attend one or more of these conferences, I encourage you to do so.  These conferences offer 2 to 3 days jam packed with education on every topic relevant to law firm management, from specific areas such as Finance, IT, or HR, to more global topics such as leadership, stress management, or dealing with generational differences or “difficult” personalities.   In addition, you meet people from chapters across the country and around the world, and you get to know members of your own chapter better.   There are several articles in this issue written by our members who attended the Annual Conference in Nashville last month.  I hope they give you an idea of what you missed, and inspire you to do whatever you can to attend the next one. 

Registration is open for the Business of Law and specialty conferences taking place this fall.  Check them out here:  http://www.alanet.org/events/.  If you think you might have a hard time getting your firm to pay for you to attend, apply for one of the Chapter’s Ed Ross Educational Scholarships.  For anyone who has been a member for less than a year, you can apply for the New Member Business of Law/Specialty Conference Scholarship that reimburses expenses up to $1,500.  Next year, apply for the Annual Conference Scholarship that reimburses expenses up to $2,500.  Don’t be afraid to apply, you just might win!

Alana Harder-Washington and the Education Committee have been hard at work on the educational calendar for the coming year, and they have some great things in store for us.  Be sure to check the Friday emails for updates and visit the Chapter website to check out everything on the calendar (click here).  If you have an idea for an education topic that you don’t see offered, just ask – we are always looking for ideas.

As they say in the commercial, membership has its privileges, and I hope that you will take advantage of all of the educational privileges that membership in ALA and the Capital Chapter offer. 

Have a great summer!

New ALA Capital Chapter Members

Megan E. Nail
HR Manager
Faegre Baker Daniels
300 N. Meridian Street
Suite 2700
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Megan.nail@faegrebd.com

HITT Contracting, Inc. Spotlight: To BIM or Not to BIM, That is the Question

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By: Wesley Smith


2D, 3D, 4D, 5D; Building Information Modeling or ‘BIM’ is today’s buzz word. One can look it up on Wikipedia and learn all about the history, uses and future of BIM. While I strongly recommend you do that, it is not entirely necessary. Here’s why - in the next few paragraphs, I am going to outline who, what, where, when and why of BIM.

Who uses it? The Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry uses BIM; believe it or not someone out there is using it right now! Typically the BIM model is started using the Architect and Engineer’s 2D plans. The model is then developed further by the GC with the aide of their Subcontractors. The Subcontractors add their individual trade items, thus creating a detailed 3D model. Then the GC and Subcontractors perform Clash Management. Clash Management allows the GC and Subcontractors to identify spatial conflicts embedded in the design. Ideally, the GC presents solutions to these issues before construction starts. These issues are resolved through the review process and changes are made with little to no cost impact. This is the major advantage of pursuing the BIM process.

What is BIM? Simply put – it is a powerful tool that allows the AEC team to analyze design vs. physical restrictions of space. While that seems basic in nature, 3D modeling of 2D plans is a profound step forward. Coordination with BIM occurs in real-time within "Model Space." Model Space is a 3D model of the 2D plans. Model Space allows the AEC team to easily interact and create collaborative solutions to challenges.

Where is BIM used? All over the globe; locally it could be used on your next construction project.

When is the best time to use BIM? BIM is most beneficial if done at the start of mid-size to large construction projects. BIM takes time to create, review and implement; starting BIM early is the best way to maximize the potential benefits.  BIM does have additional time and costs associated with it, so the decision to use BIM should be made carefully with input from the AEC team. A typical per floor BIM review process can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks (per floor) depending on the design complexity. Getting started early on is the way to go.  

Why use BIM? This is the most important and frequently asked question. One chooses BIM because it provides the project team with the ability to manipulate design before construction begins. Unbudgeted changes to construction are costly and usually take time to resolve. Identifying issues and correcting them before construction starts will save the project time and money. Don’t just take my word for it; there are many studies that have proven the benefits far outweigh the costs. I recommend spending some time reviewing the cost benefit analysis available via the web.

In closing, the inspiration for this article was the spirit of Shakespeare’s famous Hamlet soliloquy “To be or not to be”. Hamlet bemoans the pains and unfairness of life but acknowledges the alternative might be still worse. When done right, BIM has the potential to alleviate the pains and unfairness of construction giving the team a chance to catch problems and resolve them early on. The alternative in this case is using the traditional construction model where issues are discovered mid-stream with costly implications.

We recommend visiting our web-site for more info: www.hitt-gc.com/virtual-construction.  If you are interested in discussing BIM further, HITT us up! We would be more than happy to discuss this with your project team members.

2015 Salary Survey Registration Open Now

The ALACC Salary & Benefits Survey is the most comprehensive staff salary and benefits survey available for Washington, DC. Your membership allows you to participate in the survey and receive the results for just $200. Don't miss your chance to participate and lock in this low rate! Register by July 1st to receive the Excel version (regularly a $25 Add-On) for free!
Survey participation will close on September 8th and results will be available mid-September.

CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FORM

West, Lane & Schlager Realty Advisors Spotlight: The Economics - Just One Factor in a Law Firm Lease Transaction

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It’s a given that everyone wants the “best deal.” Typically, low rents coupled with high concessions are a tenant broker’s main goals in any transaction, but this should not be the only objective by which law firms measure the success of their new lease. Understanding the complexities and implications of a lease transaction can be far more critical in preparing for and ensuring a firm’s future.

1.     As real estate advisors over the last 25 years, we have represented law firms with five attorneys to firms with several hundred.   Among the small and midsized firms, there are a number of non-economic issues that have stood out as keys to securing those firms’ futures, and they go beyond the basic economics of a lease transaction. Understanding how partnerships operate and make decisions – whether the firm is an LLC, LLP, PLLC, etc., partnerships can be complicated. As an example, partners are of varying ages and stages of their careers and this can create rather strong opposing opinions when it comes to entering into a new long-term lease.  Some partners may be retiring during the term of a new lease while some may be working long past the new lease expiration. The up-front concessions may benefit the partners scheduled to retire more than those who are younger and therefore may not be seen as equitable. There are ways to address this as part of the transaction such as spreading concessions over a longer period of time. Since the market strongly favors tenants, a law firm may routinely receive twelve months or more of free rent on a new lease.  The firm could request to have this concession spread-out over three years instead of all during the first year.  This way, it is not a complete wind-fall for the older partners that may be participating in the first year’s profits and then retire. 

2.     Lease flexibility through multiple termination rights could be critical for firms that might be contemplating a merger or acquisition. When something as important as a merger or acquisition opportunity presents itself, the lease should not be a major impediment to the deal.  It is important for law firms – particularly the small and mid-sized firms - to negotiate at least one termination option during a long-term lease.  Although termination rights are not free, we have had great success negotiating favorable ones that provide a much more attractive alternative than subleasing the space in an already glutted market.

3.     A lease expiration is a mechanism and not a solution for addressing the short and long-term needs of the firm. Understanding that the project can have an effect on many things other than the bottom line can be critical in preparing for and protecting the future of the firm. Below are a list of issues  that may be directly impacted by the real estate transaction that is negotiated  and may have a significant effect on your firm’s future:
  • recruitment 
  • retention 
  • image 
  • expansion / contraction 
  • securitization – no personal guarantees 
  • partner retirement and succession planning

Richard I. Lane, Principal, Matthew D. Levin, SIOR, LEED AP, Principal, with West, Lane & Schlager Realty Advisors, LLC (“WLS”), are the Chairs of WLS’s Law Firm Services Group. They collectively have over 45 years of related experience and are active members of ALA Capital Chapter. They specialize in tenant representation including financial and market analysis and long-term strategic planning. They have particular expertise in addressing the real estate needs of local and regional law firms and have worked extensively in the downtown Washington, DC office market.  For more information on WLS, please visit www.wlsrealty.com.

2015 Toni K. Allen Scholarship Winners!

The ALA Capital Chapter Foundation congratulates Alle Hayes and Jeffrey Enamorado as the 2015 recipients of the Toni K. Allen Scholarship Award. 
Alle Hayes

Alle attended Benjamin Banneker High School in Washington, D.C. and plans to attend Oxford College of Emory University in the fall where she will study biology.  

If there was a sport, club or hobby open to join, you can believe that Alle was involved.  She was involved in National Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, and Student Government and held the position of DC Youth Council Member for Ward 5.  Alle also found time to be MVP and Captain of her school volleyball team as well as Treasurer of the International Club.  Some of Alle's community service activities included Project Giveback, and a conference volunteer for the International Federation of Library Associations.  

Three words that Alle uses to describe herself are tenacious, studious, and magnanimous.  She will use all three of these traits to accomplish her collegiate goals of completing a double major in Biology and Business, with the ultimate career goal of becoming a Medical Administrator. 
Jeffrey Enamorado

Jeffrey attended Columbia Heights Education Campus in Washington, D.C. and plans to attend Ohio State University where he will study engineering. 


Jeffrey was involved in many activities at Columbia Heights Education Campus.  He was the Vice President of the Future Leaders of America. He was on the Life Smarts team, where he served in the role of Captain for two years at the Quiz Bowl competition.  Jeffrey was also very actively involved in community service in D.C. and spent his free time volunteering with the March of Dimes and participating in various community service projects with his church. 

Described as polite, affable, humble, and remarkably intelligent, Jeffrey plans to eventually put his engineering degree to use providing aid to developing countries. He hopes to help increase literacy rates and to provide fresh drinking water through improved filtration systems.

Jeffrey, Alle, and some of their biggest fans will be joining us at the "Best of DC" themed Quarterly Network Lunch on July 9th at the W.  We hope you will attend to meet and congratulate Alle and Jeffrey on their outstanding accomplishments! Click here to register!

Toni K. Allen Scholarship Update

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Recipient Jeffrey Wood has graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese. He will be attending graduate school at Johns Hopkins SAIS this fall, but first he will be in Nanjing, China doing the Hopkins-Nanjing program for one year. This is followed by a second year at SAIS DC.  Jeffrey was offered a Fulbright Scholarship to Taiwan, but he declined in favor of accepting the Pickering Fellowship for the Foreign Service. The fellowship pays for all of graduate school costs and provides two internships, one domestic and one abroad. After graduate school, Jeffrey will join the Foreign Service. Jeffrey would like to, again, thank all of you for supporting him over the past four years.

Miller's Supplies At Work Spotlight

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We’ve changed our look!  On February 1st 2015, Miller’s Office Products celebrated 44 years of providing the legal market of Metropolitan DC and the greater Northern Virginia area with their office products, coffee & break room and various other supply needs.  Over the past 20 years, we have expanded our product offering to include much more than office supplies.  As a result, we are changing our name and logo to better reflect our expanded product offering.  We are excited to present our new logo which combines the name you know and trust with a moniker that better reflects the broad range of products we provide.  It was about this time last year that I wrote an article for this publication addressing how progressive companies in the office product industry are changing and the system for getting your products has become almost as important as the product itself.  As part of our change, Miller’s Office Products has now become Miller’s Supplies At Work.  We believe this better illustrates our commitment to provide you solutions for many of your needs and not just office products.  While our look is changing, our level of service is not.

Here are some examples of solutions we can provide:

Office Wellness Lunch and Learn:  Office wellness is not a seasonal concern.  While we think about this issue more during the colder months, there are things you can be doing every month to make your office a healthier environment.  We enjoy the opportunity to discuss with you facts behind office wellness and what you can do to help protect your staff from illness started in the workplace.

Coffee Equipment Evaluation:  Having the right coffee equipment, in the right places, can simplify catering set-ups for your staff.  Additionally having the right coffee equipment can greatly increase the enjoyment your staff receives from this benefit that you provide.  Your Miller’s representative will be happy to review what you are currently doing to see what changes could improve your coffee and also review the many lines of equipment we have to offer.

Billing Review:  Having an issue with allocating expenses and client charges from a paper invoice?  Many firms have asked us if there is a better way than giving your accounting department a paper bill and asking them to go through and sort out the expenses.  We can review how you are currently getting invoiced and develop an electronic invoice that in most cases can be uploaded into your system.  This takes the monthly hassle of manually allocating expenses and makes it an electronic process.

Ergonomic Assessments:  Do you have someone at your firm that is experiencing back and neck pain or leg fatigue.  Have you been getting more inquiries about standing desks, ball chairs, or treadmills for the office?  We can meet with you or your staff to go over individual issues or just update you on the latest trends in ergonomic products for the office.

We want to be thought of as more than a vendor who drops off product.  We want to be thought of as a vendor partner who can deliver solutions to the many challenges you face in running an efficient law firm. 

As part of the rebranding process, our agency spoke with many of our customers to see how they viewed Miller’s.   They were surprised to repeatedly hear the same phrase…“I feel like I’m their only customer.”    So as part of the rebranding, we’re also changing our tag line to “You’ll feel like our only customer”.  We’re very proud of our new look and tag line and we hope you feel the same way.  


2015 ALA Annual Conference - Nashville, TN

Opening Keynote: Peakanomics with Alison Levine
By: Sheri Shifflett, Treasurer-Elect
Office Manager, Saul Ewing LLP

The Keynote Address:  Peakanomics:  Success Strategies From the 7 Summits,  was given by Alison Levine.   She was the team captain of the first American Women's Everest Expedition and has climbed the highest peak on each continent.  She is the author of On The Edge: The Art of High-Impact Leadership.   She currently serves as an adjunct instructor at the U.S. Military Academy.

Ms. Levine discussed team building and the fact that you need to get to know your team members (and others you work with) before you actually need to rely on them in a crisis.  She related this to her own personal experience of climbing Mt.  Everest.   She had gotten to know all of her team and expeditionary members, so that when a crisis did occur they knew her and were willing to help her.

One interesting fact about mountain climbing:   It is not straight up.   You go a short distance, rest, and then return to where you started.  The next day you go a little further, rest, and return to where you started.   The entire journey to the top of Mt. Everest, stopping and starting, took almost two months.  Ms. Levine related this to the business world - that sometimes we need to take a step back and regroup before we can go forward. 

She discussed how to succeed - when to take risks and when to “give up the mountain.”  Again, she related this to her own personal experience.  Her first attempt to climb Mount Everest resulted in having to turn back, which was extremely frustrating, but she realized at the time that it was perilous to continue.  However, she later made another successful attempt and fulfilled her goal. 

Ms. Levine emphasized to all of us - it’s not about crossing the finish line or getting to the top, it’s about what makes you a leader and how to adjust to changes getting there.


Association Luncheon
By: Beth Fowler, CLM, President
Administrator, Robbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck Untereiner & Sauber LLP

The Association Luncheon is the official Change of Gavel for ALA.  Outgoing President Paula Barnes recognized the Board of Directors and outgoing members Greg Madden, Cheryl  Nelson, Paul Farnesworth and welcomed incoming board members James Cornell, III, Debbie Elsbury and Julie Nelson.  She also recognized outgoing regional representatives, and all members who passed the CLM exam over the previous year, as well as all members who are CLMs. She then recognized members who achieved "distinguished member" status of 25 years of continuous membership, including our own Marilyn Mickelson! Paula then presented the ALA volunteer of the year award to two members, one of whom was our own Steve Dempsey!  Steve had no idea he was receiving this award, and it was an honor to share the surprise with Steve when his name was announced. We of course were so excited that they recognized what we in the Capital Chapter already know!  Congratulations Steve for this well-deserved award, we are so proud. Paula presented the Spirit of ALA award to ALA Past Presidents Steve Wingert and Karen Griggs. 

ALA Executive Director Oliver Yandel talked about the changes in the practice of law, and how  ALA is changing in order to provide the tools we need to align our profession with the changes in the industry and make us the leader in the business of law.  This year, they are introducing web based education and  ALA Online Communities.  He also informed attendees about new VIP benefits, Teledoc, and Allied World for Professional Liability insurance. These benefits are available exclusively to ALA members, visit alanet.org to learn more about them.   He then talked about ALA’s branding initiative which will address industry changes, new generations, and new challenges & solutions. This initiative will enable us to  keep our advantages while reaching new members.   The new brand will be revealed on July 23rd at the Chapter Leadership Institute and simultaneously via live webcast.   Between now and then, there will be communication regarding the process to the membership.  

Paula Barnes thanked everyone who helped and supported her during her year as President, and passed the gavel to our new President, Teresa Walker.  Teresa thanked Paula for her dedication, leadership and vision over the past year. 

Speaker Steve Herschel then provided entertaining tips on how to have fun and focus.  Under the guise of a game of Simon Says, he demonstrated the importance of saying no so that you have room for what's important.   According to a study, children under 5 laugh over 400 times a day, while adults laugh around 14 times a day.   The shortest difference between two people is laughter - take time for yourself so that you can be your best. 

Teresa Walker talked about how we can bring passion to our work in our firms.  Passion will enable us to find the creativity to help our firms adapt to changes in our industry and move our firms forward and meet our clients' needs and expectations. 


Awards Dinner
By: Karen Laumoli, Secretary-Elect
Firm Administrator, Wilkes Artis, Chartered

Wednesday’s Annual ALA Awards Dinner wrapped up the year’s conference, and kicked off the final evening’s festivities.  Members from the Capital Chapter rushed in to grab three tables together, and rounded up the rest of the Chapter’s attendees by waving their golden-starred wands. 

Dozens of waiters stood by ready to serve an excellent dinner of steak and crabcakes.  The event went smoothly.  Most of the awards were announced with a video clip highlighting the achievements of the winning chapters and members. 

The Capital Chapter was among the recipients of the President’s Award of Excellence, the annual ALA award for overall chapter excellence.  Capital Chapter Past President Steve Dempsey was awarded Outstanding Volunteer of the Year for his ALA involvement. Steve also accepted an ALA IDEA Award on behalf of Sidley Austin LLP when they were recognized for their diversity initiatives. The awards kept coming as ALACC Silver Partner Steve Martin accepted the ALA IDEA Award on behalf of Gensler. Gensler was recognized for their pop-up legal workplace of the future exhibit.

The final highlight of the evening was when the business partners came out to announce the winners of the backstage passes with Rick Springfield and our own Pheobe Boger-Smith won!

Business Partner Solution Center
By: Pheobe Boger-Smith, VP-Elect, Business Partner Advisory
Manager, Administrative Services, Loeb & Loeb LLP

This year’s Annual Conference Expo was not at all disappointing!  The room was filled many rows of ALA Business Partners, which was an amazing site to see.  There stood at each booth a few representatives with open arms ready to greet us and provide as much information as they could in a very short time.  At each booth, I was sure to start the conversation by thanking them for their support, and most important, for being there with us in Nashville.  They certainly appreciated the recognition, and I appreciated the smiles and conversations received as a result.  Each opportunity that I had available to spend time with them I did.  Halfway through the second day, they would see me coming and shout out my name as I passed by acknowledging them on my way to visit partners that I had not talked with.  

The Expo floor for me, was a large classroom of specialty information that would assist us all in getting our job done in so many ways.  Everything you could possibly need was there.  There were business partners that have been around that we are all familiar with, but have updated their products.  There were new business partners that had a different version of products that have been around, but have added a twist to accommodate today’s technology and law firm environments.  The only way you would know was to talk with them.  I made many new friends and learned about many new and updated products.  The Expo floor was an extension of the educational sessions that were held, and certainly just as important.  It was full of the excitement of giveaways, contests, member participation in games, and even an artist to draw your picture.  While I felt that the business partners were very special, they made me feel even more special!  

To top off the daily excitement, there was a local country band that played the most amazing music each and every day.  After having a personal concert, if you weren’t a country music fan, that would make you one.  I look forward to next year’s Annual Conference, and to spending time with our business partners!

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2015 Ed Ross Scholarship Winner
By: Barbara Kernus
Office Administrator, DC & New York, Garvey Schubert Barer

I was excited to learn that I was selected as this year’s recipient of the ALA Capital Chapter scholarship to attend the national ALA Conference & Expo in Nashville.  My trip enabled to me to gain knowledge in the legal field, provided good networking and social opportunities, and gave me the opportunity to speak to vendors who can help with my office renovation.

I took full advantage of all of the educational sessions.  Each day started with a key-note speaker that provided an inspirational talk about leadership, teamwork and overcoming challenges. The educational seminars that followed covered a wide array of topics directly related to my field. The two I enjoyed the most were "Navigating Difficult Conversations:  Successfully Saying What Needs to Said" and "Writing Rules and Etiquette for the 21st Century."  Who knew in today’s world when using electronic devices that only one space is required after a punctuation mark.

The conference also provided me with various networking opportunities. I met with people having different background and who came to the conference from different areas of the country.  People were willing to share their experiences and offer suggestions.  In addition, the many social events gave me a chance to get to better know some of the members of the Capital Chapter.  On banquet night, we were proud to learn that a member of our chapter, Steve Dempsey, received a national award for his work with diversity in his firm.

The Expo center was full of vendors showcasing some of the latest technology, services, and supplies available for the legal community.  They were knowledgeable about what was happening in different regions of the country and in different sized firms.  It was educational to learn what products and services are available to help with day-to-day activities at the firm.  Some of the products and services being presented look like they could fulfill immediate needs for problems members are currently tackling; others were good to learn about for future reference.

One of the highlights of the trip was discovering GooGoos.  It is a Southern treat of chocolate, nuts, marshmallow and caramel that are made in Tennessee.  A trip to Nashville would not be complete with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Ryman Auditorium.  Events were held at both venues and it was a great time.

Thank you to the ALA Capital Chapter for affording me the opportunity to attend the conference.  I would encourage everyone to apply for the scholarship next year when the conference will be in Los Angeles.

Outstanding Association Volunteer

Congratulations to Steve Dempsey, CLM of Sidley Austin, LLP for winning a 2015 Outstanding Association Volunteer Award from ALA! The award was presented to him at the 2015 Annual Conference.
ALA announced, "[e]ach year the Board of Directors identifies members who have made significant contributions to the association. The first of these awards went to Steve Dempsey of Sidley Austin in Washington, D.C. Dempsey joined ALA in 1994 and has held many positions over the years at both the chapter and international levels, serving as chapter president in both Washington D.C and Dallas, chair of several committees, and as a board member."

2016 ALA Human Resources Planning Committee

Capital Chapter member Deidre C. Moore of Morrison & Foerester LLP has been selected as one of six ALA members to serve on the 2016 Human Resources Planning Committee. Congratulations, Deidre!

Human Resources Section Update

By:  Connie Summers, HR Section Chair

Tina Maiolo, an attorney with Carr Maloney P.C., graciously accepted the HR Section’s invitation to join us at our May 14 meeting to discuss “Bringing Foreign Workers to the U.S.” and various non-immigrant work VISAS for individuals who wish to work temporarily in the U.S.  This was a great topic of interest as many of our members recruit foreign nationals to fill various positions within their firms.  Ms. Maiolo’s 45 minute presentation addressed the categories, extensive qualifications and requirements, associated costs and potential filing pitfalls for 11 of the most popular USCIS-issued VISAS.  Her presentation was followed by numerous questions from the group.  We were very grateful that Ms. Maiolo was willing to take the time to share her extensive expertise with the HR Section.

Human Resources Retreat - October 14, 2015
The HR section and Education Committee are excited to announce the planning of the first Human Resources Retreat in October! The tentative schedule for the half-day event will include guest speakers who will discuss such topics as leadership, legislation and strategic planning, followed by a panel discussion covering all manner of HR topics as determined by retreat attendees. The retreat, to be held at Sidley Austin (1501 K St NW), will begin with lunch during which the first speaker will address the group and will end with a cocktail networking reception. Stay tuned for additional details.

Small Firm Section Update

By: Emily Christianson, Small Firm Section Chair

In May, the Small Firm Section enjoyed having Sharon D. Nelson, Esq. and John W. Simek from Sensei Enterprises join us to speak about the ethics of mobile computing.  Sharon is the former Virginia State Bar President and former Fairfax Bar Association President and John is an expert on IT, Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics.  We discussed the topic of mobile devices (smart phones, tablets, wearable technology) and the risks involved.  They shared with us some examples of the reasons they suggest firms not allow attorneys or staff to “bring your own device” and instead suggested firms issue devices to employees.  There is a lot of ways that a device can get compromised and client/firm data could potentially be exposed.  Employees must have a baseline knowledge of the technology they are using these days and claiming that they don’t know how to is not a valid excuse anymore.  From passwords to encryption, there are plenty of ways to try to protect your information on devices.  The volume of information is extensive and we may have them come back and do a follow up session.  They offer a variety of presentations and have co-authored 14 books published by the American Bar Association on these topics.  One of which is called “Locked Down” and another is called “Encryption Made Simple for Lawyers.”

Technology Section Update

Cyber Security Roundtable Lunch
By: Frank Schipani, Technology Section Chair

Are you thinking about how to keep the firm and its data more secure?  Members of the ALA Capital Chapter discussed just this on Thursday, May 28th over a casual lunch at the City Tap House sponsored by ALACC Gold Partner Keno Kozie Associates.  Facilitated by Frank Schipani, ALACC Technology Section Chair, and Nic Samodurov, Senior Engineer from Keno Kozie Associates, the group discussed critical aspects of security. Topics included:
  • Assessments
  • Vulnerability scanning
  • Importance of Up-to-date Firewalls 
  • User Awareness Training, pros and cons
  • Breach Response plans
Many individuals asked how to get the rest of the firm on board including ways to get buy-in from partners and colleagues.  Oftentimes, the answer veered toward the importance of a third party audit or assessment to create alignment in the organization and get a true understanding of the firm’s current state of security.  While security can be a daunting subject, all attendees agreed that there are many compelling reasons to begin to, or continue to, take steps forward in enhancing security measures within their firms. 

Questions? 
Please contact: Stacy Fischbach
sfischbach@kenokozie.com
Keno Kozie Associates
1701 K Street, NW, Suite 1025
Washington, D.C. 20006
202-681-1650

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, jam@carmaloney.com; Paula Serratore, pserratore@alacapchap.org

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), mterrell@stradley.com; Vanessa Partin (Co-Chair), vanessa.partin@kirkland.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. 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), jdelcher@wbklaw.com; Sheri Shifflett (Co-Chair), cshifflett@saul.com
Listserv: finance@lists.firmseek.com


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

Contact: Heather Boos (Chair), Hboos@mmmlaw.com; Kenia Garner (Co-Chair), kenia.garner@pillsburylaw.com


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), rgibson@nixonpeabody.com; Wendy Iversen (Co-Chair), iversen@ballardspahr.com
Listserv: branchofcadmin@lists.firmseek.com
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), kmiller@nixonpeabody.com; Sharon Smith (Co-Chair), smith.sharon@arentfox.com
Listserv: ipadmin@lists.firmseek.com
Human Resources
The Human Resources Section operates as a venue for educational information on global human resources topics and issues. While the Section comprises mostly HR professionals, any member is invited to participate. The Section meets the second Wednesday of every month and often has either industry speakers or roundtable discussions on topics such as recruiting, benefits, strategic planning, performance management, career pathing, retention and more!

Contact: Connie Summers (Chair), connie.summers@threecrownsllp.com; Carmen C. Weissbratten (Co-Chair), cweissbratten@hpm.com
Listserv: hr@lists.firmseek.com

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), jeffery.l.cole@squirepb.com; Jamaine Yarborough (Co-Chair), jyarborough@mckoolsmith.com
Listserv: ooms@lists.firmseek.com

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 4th Tuesday of the month at host law firms.

Contact: Emily Christianson (Chair), echristianson@relmanlaw.com; Julie Tomey (Co-Chair), tomey@thewbkfirm.com
Listserv: smallfirmadmin@lists.firmseek.com

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), schipanif@gotofirm.com; Kenny Mitchell (Co-Chair), kmitchell@wbklaw.com 
Listserv: alacaptech@lists.firmseek.com