November 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; Sharon B. Smith-Neal; Erich Toll; Royal Cup Coffee; Miller's Supplies at Work; Jennifer Tatum; Kimberly Potter; Cindy Schuler PHR, SHRM-CP; Arnold Sanow, MBA, CSP Newsletter Designed By: Jessica Davis |
In this issue: |
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For more information on Neverthirst go to www.neverthirstwater.org or www.royalcupcoffee.com/roar4change
Thankfulness and Hamburger Helper
Sharon B. Smith-Neal
Senior Director of IP Administration, Arent Fox LLP Chair, IP Section This article is probably atypical of what you might expect from the Chair of the Capital Chapter IP section. However, with Thanksgiving around the corner, it is more than an appropriate reminder about being thankful – and good ole’ Hamburger Helper. Recently, my family met with a photographer. We take photos every 2-3 years to get a snapshot of our constantly changing family and pause to laugh, joke and just have fun together. However, this time we had a heartfelt conversation about how thankful we are for family. It was during one conversation that my oldest son mentioned innocently how he was thankful for Hamburger Helper. I had my first child when I was 15 years old. I got married at the age of 17. By the age of 21, I had three kids – all boys. At the age of 25, I was divorced with no spousal support, living in Chicago with minimal pay and limited opportunities. I just had hope and a dream that I would someday be able to provide and make a better life for my boys. While in Chicago, I worked as a legal secretary, after moving my way up from the office services department, for a small litigation law firm. Although I loved my job, the salary was low - not enough to take care of a family of four. Therefore, I was appreciative of the free breakfasts and lunches provided by the Chicago Public Schools. Since breakfast and lunch were a given on most days, there was always a question about dinner. Dinner was determined by what was in the refrigerator or freezer. If it was immediately after payday we would have a wonderful spread. However, meals a few days before payday were questionable at best. Sometimes, I would have to be creative. This was a different experience for me as I was raised on a 40-plus acre farm in Mississippi, where vegetables, fruit, and meat were readily available. We always had food! Funny, as a child I can only remember going to the “farm and feed” to buy white sugar, overalls for my grandfather, and penny candy. So, having to struggle to put food on my table was a new and frightful experience. Plus, I had a stubborn streak and did not like to ask others for help, even from my family and friends. So, while looking at the outer me one would have thought I had it all together with no worries; inside I lived in constant fear of hunger and homelessness. Back to the family photo shoot. While talking about our family and struggles, my oldest son reminded me that it seemed we always had hamburger and/or Hamburger Helper when there may have been nothing else in the freezer. These two staples were our lifeline. If one item was missing, he remembered how I would send him and his brothers to the grocery store for the missing item. He knew the exact aisle of the Hamburger Helper and hamburger. He knew all of the flavors (choosing flavors became a game) for Hamburger Helper. He knew the approximate cost for each item. He expressed his gratitude for Hamburger Helper. His recollection of Hamburger Helper brought about many memories and tears. Unfortunately, he didn’t understand the complete role Hamburger Helper has played in our family. I thought about how creative and precise I had to be to ensure that all three of my boys had enough to eat. I would let them eat first and only eat if there was enough for me. If not, I would drink water for dinner or go to bed hungry. I thought about having to check the $10.00 “emergency fund” under my bed and count how much Hamburger Helper and hamburger I was able to buy until payday. In light of my Hamburger Helper purchase, I thought about having to walk more than 20 blocks in the brutal Chicago winter to work because I lacked bus fare when the “emergency fund” was low. I thought about my appreciation of the Chicago Public Schools for providing my sons with breakfast and dinner when we needed the help most. And I thought about how fortunate I was to have parents and friends who helped provide for my children. Finally, I thought about how thankful I am for my boys and the young men they have become, regardless of our hardships. Our experience has brought us together as a family. Thanksgiving calls us to acknowledge the blessings in our lives, both seen and unseen. The holiday leads us to remember what’s important, while giving thanks for all of the people, experiences, and opportunities we have been given. However, it’s not only a time to think about your family and friends. It’s also time to think about others who are less fortunate. Making a contribution to the greater good, regardless of how we do it, is an important part of Thanksgiving. There are many in our community who may not have a box of Hamburger Helper for dinner and their “emergency fund” may be depleted. They need our help. So, I ask that you give of yourself this Thanksgiving and throughout the year. Here are a few ideas:
The less fortunate are not always easily recognizable. It may be someone on your staff, in your family or simply a friend. Some, like me, may have a smile on their face but live in constant fear of providing for their family. Some, unbeknownst to you, may go to sleep hungry tonight. Some, like me, may be suffering in silence. Some, like me, may not have the means to get to work tomorrow morning. You never know as those in need are sometimes faceless. Thinking back now, I would not give back my days in Chicago for anything. Those times taught me to be thankful, while never forgetting the plight of others who are less fortunate. It has allowed me to appreciate loved ones, value the small things, have a giving heart and understand it’s not about the rewards and recognition we might receive for doing good. Remember to please give this holiday season. There are those that need your help. 
Networking Happy Hour & Silent Auction
The ALACC Networking Happy Hour & Toni K. Allen Scholarship Fundraiser Silent Auction event was held on Thursday, November 3rd at the Cambria Hotel & Suites. Guests enjoyed beer, wine, mojitos, and a selection delicious appetizers while they mixed, mingled, and bid on 10 incredible auction items to support the Toni K. Allen Scholarship Fund.
Thank you and congratulations to our Silent Auctions Winners:
Thanks to all of the generous donations made, we were able to raise a total of $3,450 for the Toni K. Allen Scholarship Fund. As always, we appreciate your support of our community and our kids! Additionally, the Chapter would like to thank the Cambria Hotel & Suites for their incredible hospitality, and for graciously donating the use of their beautiful space and the food for our event, as well as a weekend stay with breakfast for the silent auction. The Cambria also generously offered our guests discounts on room rates and holiday parties for the upcoming holiday season - please contact Ayesha Arora for details. Use the button below to check out the event photos! For more information about hosting an event at Cambria Hotel & Suites, please contact Ayesha Arora: Ayesha Arora Director of Sales and Marketing 899 O Street NW | Washington, DC 20001 202-552-5429 ayesha.arora@concordhotels.com http://www.cambriadc.com 2017 Business Partner Program Rollout
The 2017 Business Partner Program Rollout was held on November 9 at King & Spalding. In attendance were many of our Business Partners as well as members of the Capital Chapter Executive Committee. The rollout event was an opportunity to review the sponsorship program, introduce changes to the program for 2017, and gather feedback from Business Partners.
For the 2017 sponsorship year, we are excited to introduce several new benefits including additional marketing opportunities, a redesigned membership incentive game, a Business Partner catalog, and a new system for scheduling section meeting presentations. Popular program features returning in 2017 include the our unique flexible event ticket system assigned seating at networking lunches, the new member Ambassador program, and social media announcements. During the presentation, Vice President of Business Partner Advisory Frank Schipani thanked our Business Partners for providing support and subject matter expertise to our members throughout the year, and stressed the importance of taking a holistic approach to sponsorship. The Capital Chapter prides itself on offering a robust Business Partner program which provides a multitude of opportunities for Business Partners to network, share their expertise, and market themselves. The key to maximizing your success in the program is to take full advantage of the different types of benefits together throughout the year instead of relying on only a fraction of the resources available to you. The 2017 sponsorship program and the introduction of detailed benefit guides for each level of sponsorship are designed to help Business Partners succeed in 2017. We would like to thank all of our Business Partners for a fantastic year! We appreciate your continued support, and we look forward to working with you in the coming year! Miller's Supplies at Work Spotlight: Spread Cheer, Not Germs
It’s that time again! The time of year that everyone waits for, but no one can believe how fast it arrives. With the holiday season upon us, we’re all looking forward to spending time with our family, friends, loved ones, and co-workers (yes even co-workers). It’s important to make sure that we keep influenza off of the invitation list, and arm ourselves with the wellness protection we’ll need over the holidays to ensure that the only thing that we spread this year, is cheer.
What Is the Flu? Influenza, or flu, is an illness caused by a virus transmitted through tiny droplets of moisture, created when people with flu cough, sneeze, or even talk. Since there’s no better time to catch up with everyone than over the holidays, this unfortunately means that it has plenty of opportunity to jump from person to person. The flu virus is very contagious, and can be spread by someone that has flu from the day before they start to feel symptoms, up to seven days afterwards. Regardless of how careful people with the illness can be, these viruses settle and accumulate on germ hot spots. The symptoms of flu include:
How to Cure the Flu The best cure is always a strong defense, so make sure that you’re well protected and stocked up on the essentials: facial tissues, hand soap and sanitizer, disinfectants, etc. These essentials can help fend off sickness. Facial tissue serves as the barrier that keep the virus from spreading, especially when coughing or sneezing. Soap and sanitizer keep your hands clean and free of germs. Disinfectants work to fight back against flu by attacking the proteins that make up the virus. Using Disinfectant Spray/Wipes every day, kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. To help prevent the spread of flu, follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s guidelines, which recommend that you:
It’s imperative that we take necessary action to keep the workplace free of the contagious cold & flu viruses. Miller’s can be your ally in the fight against germs this cold & flu season. We can facilitate those ever-important steps towards implementing a Healthy Workplace regimen for your office. A wellness program that teaches proper hygiene protocol resulting in reduced absenteeism, and as close to a germ-free office setting as possible. Hopeful that it’s a Happy & Healthy one for us all. Happy Holidays from Miller’s, helping you to spread cheer, not germs. Sustainability Tip of the MonthThis month's tip is provided by Silver Business Partner Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
The days are shorter as we head into winter. Ask your building management to switch the cleaning staff to daytime cleaning, so reduce the need to turn on lights and use extra energy after building hours. The energy savings will go directly to the firm’s bottom line. 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. Metro SafeTrack Poll Results
eMod
Kimberly J. Potter
Office Administrator , Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP Co-Chair, IP Section The USPTO is continually working to enhance their filing and viewing systems. Over the last several months, we have seen the creation of Financial Manager, and we have seen several features develop under their new modernization initiative (eMod). eMod will be implemented in phases over the next few years. Within the eMod initiative, Patent Center will be the new system replacing the current EFS-Web, Public PAIR, and Private PAIR. For patent applicants, eMod will help provide an improved authentication process, improved functionality, and a user friendly interface. For patent examiners, the updated systems will help to streamline patent submission, review, and management processes. We have outlined some of the basics here, including the new Financial Manager, how to start your own individual uspto.gov account, and some detailed information about eMod and what to expect. USPTO.gov Account Deposit accounts and EFTs that are not stored in Financial Manager as of October 2016 will no longer be viable payment options for customers. In addition, customers must have established a uspto.gov account and be set-up with the Fee Payer permission in order to use the payment method. To establish a uspto.gov account, please enter Financial Manager at www.uspto.gov/financialmanager, select "Create an Account" and follow the instructions. You can quickly migrate payment methods you’ve already established with the USPTO using the migration options. The USPTO made migrating your deposit accounts and EFTs over to financial manager a painless process. Financial Manager Financial Manager is the USPTO's new online fee payment management tool that became available to us in October 2016. Financial Manager allows you to do the following: Store and manage electronic payment methods, including credit/debit cards, deposit accounts, and EFT accounts online; Assign user permissions, allowing selected Financial Manager users to access, use, and/or help manage your stored payment methods; Check out quickly without entering detailed payment method information; Generate, view, and download reports, including transaction history and monthly statements as Excel, PDF, or CSV files; and Pay USPTO fees using a stored payment method from the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront, TEAS, TEASi, ETAS, OEMS, EFS-Web, and ESTTA. Find more information about Financial Manager at https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/fees-and-payment/financial-manager-information, or contact Financial Manager directly at FeesHelp@uspto.gov. eMod eMod is the USPTO’s Modernization of the Electronic Patent Application Process. The following features of eMod are available now: Ability to accept structured text (eMod Text Pilot Program); Ability to deliver structured text (eMod Text Pilot Program); Ability to download XML (eMod Text Pilot Program); Link to Global Dossier (Public and Private PAIR); New Webform Corrected ADS; Enhanced Existing Webform ADS; PAIR Administration Enhancements; and New e-Office Action Search. The USPTO wants to hear from you as they proceed with modernizing their filing and viewing systems. They have already started receiving feedback from the IP community and the public, and are incorporating these suggestions into the development process. The USPTO encourages you to review the ideas that have already been submitted on their Ideascale page and vote or comment on them. You can also communicate with them through email, or by attending one of their outreach events. Find more information about eMod at https://www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/emod-ecommerce-modernization, or contact eMod directly at eMod@uspto.gov. The patent community is very excited to learn about these new and exciting changes the USPTO is currently working on. Having the ability to work together with the USPTO on this initiative allows the IP community to let the USPTO see firsthand what works best for us, and what we in IP need to streamline the filing and viewing processes. The world of IP is ever-changing and so is technology. We are happy the USPTO is working on this initiative. We look forward to all of the changes the USPTO is bringing our way. 
Vernā Myers Webinar: What if I Say the Wrong Thing? 25 Habits of Culturally Effective People
Cindy Schuler, PHR, SHRM-CP
Chief Human Resources Officer, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. Co-Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Committee "Diversity is about being invited to the party. Inclusion is about being asked to dance." (Vernā Myers) On October 19, 2016, Vernā Myers, a well-known and distinguished diversity and inclusion expert, agreed to conduct her first ever webinar for the Capital Chapter. The webinar was based on her book What if I Say The Wrong Thing- 25 Habits for Culturally Effective People. In the 25 habits addressed in her book, Ms. Myers' explains each habit -- what you need to know; what the attitude is; and what tips we can practice to become skilled in an effort to become culturally effective in our organizations. We pre-selected 7 of Ms. Myers' 25 tips to be addressed during the hour long webinar. Ms. Myers' presented on habits and tips to include: getting familiar with our biases; being aware of our own culture and how it shapes our interactions; resisting elitism and embracing human value; avoiding micro-inequities; expanding our comfort zone and professional and social circles; and keeping our standards high. She offered narratives explaining each habit and tips for practicing culturally effective habits. Ms. Myers also explained the difference between diversity and inclusion and the meaning of cultural competence. In order to be affected, bring the best out of people, and cultivate culture by allowing for success and for the success of organizations, we must understand the difference between diversity and inclusion. Diversity is about culture, identity and experience. Inclusion goes beyond identity and includes the environment where indifference is invited, people feel welcome and treated with respect, and where they are afforded equal opportunity. Cultural competence (the need to understand definitions so our dynamics and interactions are positive), includes the following: awareness, knowledge, attitude, and skill. We must be self-aware and understand ourselves; we must understand that we all have unique experiences that are valid; we must be open-minded and positive; and we must practice daily behaviors to become skilled in cultural competency and to make a difference in our organizations in the areas of diversity and inclusion. Ms. Myers reminded us that we all have cultural identities and biases based on our cultural identities and lenses. More importantly, she reminded us that in order to move diversity forward, we must grow and connect to be part of the solution. As Ms. Myers states, "Diversity is more than what we can see than what we can't see." The webinar was well-attended (approximately 43 participants, many of whom had multiple listeners in their office), and 30 books were distributed to ALA Capital Chapter members. Thank you for your feedback as we continue to provide education on the topics of diversity and inclusion. We look forward to your participation in our 2017 diversity and inclusion programs! We would like to thank our Gold Business Partner Jim Turner and his team - Paul Toren, Jason Camp, and Daniel Clarke - at Hilltop Consulting, Inc. for providing technical support throughout the setup process and providing Vernā Myers with a support technician during her presentation. We could not have gotten this webinar off the ground without their help! Congratulations to our raffle winners! The following members each received a copy of Ms. Myers’ book What if I Say the Wrong Thing? 25 Habits of Culturally Effective People:
If you are interested in purchasing Ms. Myers' book, you may do so here.
For more information on the mission of ALA's Diversity & Inclusion Committee on the national level, click here. To review ALA's diversity brochure addressing the business case for diversity & inclusion, please click here. 
Rev Up Your Rapport
Arnold Sanow, MBA, CSP
Sanow Professional Development Rapport can be defined as “bringing agreement, harmony and accord to a relationship”. Isn’t that what we want in our connections – to discover points of mutual interest or common ground, reach agreements, live and work together in harmony and enjoy interactions along the way- with more ease? Rapport is the magic ingredient for getting along with our customers, co-workers, colleagues, committee members, families, friends, neighbors and everyone else we encounter in any role, anywhere, anytime. Getting along means smoother sailing, fewer hassles, and more fun! The key to revving up rapport lies in expressing the same qualities that people find attractive. It’s the pleasure/pain principle in action. We move toward the people we like - those who are easy to get along with, who make us feel comfortable, who bring out our best qualities (including our smiles, laughter and good feelings). In the reverse, we move away from those who bring us discomfort - those with whom we find nothing in common, or who grate on our nerves, make us see red, hold up our plans, don’t meet our expectations, give us headaches, or provoke other negative responses. The relationships that bring us pleasure and good experiences are likely to endear as well as endure, generating fond memories, long-lasting impressions and joyful feelings. In contrast, the relationships that bring us discomfort and cause negative experiences are likely to test our endurance; although their accompanying impressions, feelings, and memories may also last, we probably wish they wouldn’t. The ability to rev up your rapport is critical to creating enduring connections. Without it, you’re more likely to suffer the pain and stress of troubled relationships and disappointing connections. You may also miss out on wonderful opportunities and their power to transform. All are typical fallout from choosing a life of disconnection. According to the book, “Get Along with Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere … 8 keys to creating enduring connections with customers, co-workers – even kids, by Arnold Sanow and Sandra Strauss, here are key traits you must focus on to rev up your rapport: Authenticity Good communication skills Appreciation Humor Compassion Neat appearance Confidence Positive attitude Engaging style Social skills Enthusiasm Respect Friendliness Sincerity Conversely, here are traits that typically turn people off or turn them away: Abrasiveness Lack of humor Apathy Negative attitude Coldness Poor body language Insensitivity Poor communication skills Insincerity Poor social skills Lack of appreciation Profanity Lack of confidence Rudeness Not only does rapport enhance your personal and professional relationships, it can also boost your company’s bottom line. Communicating with insight, perception, and empathy strengthens your efforts to keep customers happy, gain and maintain trust, regain favor with disgruntled clients and customers and increase the likelihood of getting their repeat business and their referrals. Likewise, building good rapport with colleagues increases the quality of your working relationships, with corresponding impact on productivity, creativity, cooperation, morale and overall job satisfaction. Here are 5 specific steps you can take to boost your rapport:
As Norman Vincent Peale stated, “Getting people to like you is merely the other side of liking them.” Arnold Sanow, MBA, CSP is a keynote speaker, workshop leader, facilitator and coach. He is the author of 6 books to include, “Get Along with Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere” and Present with Power, Punch and Pizzazz.” He was recently named as one of the top 5 best “bang for the buck” speakers in the USA by Successful Meetings Magazine. www.arnoldsanow.com – speaker@arnoldsanow.com - 703-255-3133
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Administrative Committees
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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: Vanessa Partin (Co-Chair), vanessa.partin@kirkland.com; Cindy Schuler (Co-Chair), cschuler@skgf.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: Sheri Shifflett (Chair), cshifflett@saul.com; Emily Christianson (Co-Chair), echristianson@relmanlaw.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: Barbara Kernus (Co-Chair), bkernus@gsblaw.com; Cheryl Flynn (Co-Chair), cflynn@wileyrein.com |
Educational Sections
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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), jenna.carter@ropesgray.com; Danita Ellis (Co-Chair), danita.ellis@nelsonmullins.com Listserv: branchofcadmin@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: Kenia Garner (Chair), kenia.garner@pillsburylaw.com; Qeyana Hart (Co-Chair), qeyana.hart@bracewelllaw.com Listserv: ooms@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. Contact: Sharon Smith (Chair), smith.sharon@arentfox.com; Kimberly J. Potter (Co-Chair), kpotter@sgrlaw.com Listserv: ipadmin@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 fourth Tuesday of the month at host law firms. Contact: Julie Tomey (Chair), tomey@thewbkfirm.com; Wilmara Guido-Chizhik (Co-Chair), wguido-chizhik@bookoffmcandrews.com Listserv: smallfirmadmin@lists.firmseek.com 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. Contact: Andy George (Chair), andrew.george@finnegan.com; Evan Kettig (Co-Chair), kettige@gotofirm.com Listserv: finance@lists.firmseek.com |
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), cbarboza@hpm.com; Aryn Blanton (Co-Chair), aryn.blanton@bracewelllaw.com Listserv: hr@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: Kenny Mitchell (Chair), kmitchell@wbklaw.com; Frank Schipani (Co-Chair), schipanif@gotofirm.com; Listserv: alacaptech@lists.firmseek.com |
