September 2020

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: Cindy Conover;  Beth Fowler
​Contributing Editors: Jackie Johnson; Taylor Betancourt; Darlene De Lorenzo; James Cornell; Cindy Schuler
Newsletter Designed By: Jessica Davis


In this issue:

President's Message: A Conversation Over Coffee (or Perhaps Tennessee Whiskey) – My Family Tree Sapling​ 

“You’re as smooth as Tennessee whiskey;
You’re as sweet as strawberry wine;
You’re as warm as a glass of brandy;
And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time.”
- Chris Stapleton
If you have had Tennessee whiskey, you know it is not always that smooth.  But, neither is life. 
 
Johnson...Johnson...anyone? Johnson? I know I threw a lot of folks for a loop with the name change. I had several people say they ignored my e-mail messages because they did not know who “Jackie Johnson” was, which included folks in my own office. 

When I was coming up with a plan for my September President’s message, I thought about something that Mauricio Velasquez said in his presentation to the Chapter on diversity and how to talk about race.  He said we have to build trust to have these conversations, and we can do that by sharing our stories.  As leaders, the best way to start the trust train is to go first.  With that said, enjoy the lessons learned below, as well as my Diversity and Inclusion Spotlight video; know that was WAY out of my comfort zone and probably would have been better if I had some Tennessee whiskey before recording it!

Johnson Family Roadtrip 2020
I use the word “sapling” when describing my family tree.  Cliff and I will have been married 5 months by the time you read this, and like a tree sapling, this is just the beginning of our growth as a family.  As I tell people, we got married in the middle of a pandemic of health and heart.  I do not believe that was by accident in any manner.  I truly believe that our situation can be a symbol of light and hope for others in what might be a dark world right now.  Being an interracial couple can show that not all is lost in the current division of race.  It can also be a teaching moment for friends and family who may need a little more education on racial differences.  It has also served us well to part with people who may not need to be in our lives because they disagree.  And as sad as that is, it is the truth of where we still are as a society, on both sides of the racial divide.

We drove 16 hours each way to Arkansas to meet Cliff’s family.  As COVID would have it, I did not have the opportunity to meet them before we got married, and of course no one could travel to be here with us when we did.  It worked out as it was supposed to, and we were able to have more people watch on Facebook Live as we got married in our living room.  Talk about life not always being smooth.  And speaking of not always smooth, “Tennessee Whiskey” would have been our first dance song if we had a first dance.  See, it all circles back.  

What good roadtrip would be complete without a fantastic playlist?  I love music - it ignites me- so putting together the lessons learned below was a lot of fun, and these songs are from my actual road trip playlist.  I have an extremely eclectic taste in music!
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Here are the lessons learned about where we are in this crazy thing we call life from our first ever Johnson Family roadtrip.  I hope that you find them useful in your everyday lives, and I also hope this inspires you to see the out-of-box opportunities in front of each of you.  When life gives you lemons; make lemonade – it makes for a much sweeter story!

  • We must be patient and take the proper time to become who we are meant to be: Masterpiece by Jessie J.  “I still fall on my face sometimes and I can’t color inside the lines, ‘cause I’m perfectly incomplete.  I’m still working on my masterpiece.”  Trees take years and years to grow to maturity.  Why we think we should be perfect without putting the time and effort in is beyond me, but we have forgotten what it means to take our time and to stop and smell the roses -- or the tree sap!  I read something that said “when was the last time you saw an oak tree in a hurry to grow?  Yet look at how beautiful and complex it is.”  

    One of the highlights of our trip was teaching our 10-year-old Ireland, how to swim in a creek.  If you have ever done this, you know you have to be patient and you cannot just jump right in and expect not to fall.  You have to slow down and break the steps down.  You have to get low to keep sturdy, and you have to feel the ground ahead before you take a step, that way you know what you are walking into.  Sometimes you have to adjust your balance because rocks are lopsided underfoot, and sometimes you have to back-track because the ones ahead are too slippery to step on.  

    On our trip back home, we stopped at Rock City Gardens, Lookout Mountain, GA.  It was incredible; the views breathtaking and the vastness of the rock formations we hiked dated back to the 1800’s.  This beautiful geological marvel did not just form this way with perfect walkways and stone bridges, it took the owners years to mark the trail and transplant more than 400 different species of wildflowers and plants.  In more recent years they have added caverns you can explore and lights during the holiday season.  Becoming who we are supposed to be is a process, and there is a learning curve, just like swimming in a creek or building an amazing tourist attraction.  You may need to pivot when one step does not land you on solid ground or bring enough visitors your way, but eventually we get it and it is worth the growing pains.
 
  • We must be strong and weather the storm:  The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) by Missy Elliott (chorus throwback to Ann Peebles).  “I can’t stand the rain! ‘gainst my window.”  We hit quite a bit of torrential rain on our drive.  We had to find the strength to weather through it to get safely to our next destination.  We also could not spend too much time looking in the rearview mirror or we risked not seeing any potential obstacles in front of us.  We sometimes need to rally that inner strength to push through.  Trees are strong, but still flexible.  They bend with the winds, stand strong in the storms, and yet they can continue to grow upward.  Ever hear the phrase run between the raindrops?  Focus through the distraction.  See the road, not the rain, and do not dwell on the past for too long or you may miss what is in front of you.    
 
  • We must adapt and regenerate: Rollercoaster by Bleachers.  “It’s a hundred miles an hour on a dirt road running away.”  Hopefully you were smart and got gas when you were under a half-tank, because a hundred miles on a dirt road in the middle of Mississippi may not offer many options for gas stations.  Ask me how I know.  How often do we feel like we are running a hundred miles an hour with the potential to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere?  

    We rode the Alpine Mountain Coaster in Pigeon Forge, TN on our stopover to AR.  It was well worth the long lines.  It is one thing to ride a rollercoaster during the day when you can see the turns as they come and can anticipate moving with them, but at night it is a different story.  This particular coaster was self-paced -- you could pull the handles up to go faster or push them down to slow it down.  It is all fun and exciting when you can see the lit part of the track in front of you and can go as fast as the coaster will go, but when you make the fast turns and do not see what is in front of you, you are apt to put on the brakes a bit so as not to hit the person in front of you.  How often we put the brakes on for fear of going too fast and mute the fun we are having, and how often we want to just say “COVID (or insert any other illness or situation that has changed our version of what life looks like) sucks” as Ireland said on our trip.  Yes baby girl, it does, because you did not get to do all that you wanted, but you learned to swim in a creek, you got to see old friends who moved away, you met your new family, and you had an all-out epic water battle  that regenerated our souls simply because we adapted to a less-than-ideal situation.​

  • We must be honest and self-reflective:  Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson.  “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change.”  Ouch!  Right?  Everywhere we went on vacation they were taking your temperature to enter.  Perhaps we need a metaphorical temperature check.  Being honest, both with yourself and those around you, is the only way to acceptance and understanding.  Honesty and transparency will lead to trust, which is the foundation of all relationships.  Remember to continue to give each other grace.  There will likely always be adversity, but it is how we react to this and each other that reveals who we are as people.  

    “Be ye reconciled one to another.”  This is the scripture on the statue outside of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL where in 1963 four young black girls were killed in an explosion during Sunday service at the hands of members of the KKK.  We had the privilege to stop and see the church that was used as a rallying point for many civil rights leaders and march organizers such as Martin Luther King, Jr.  The bombing drew the attention of national and international press and brought a realization to the surface that marked a turning point in the civil rights movement and contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  A Milwaukee Sentinel editorial opined, “For the rest of the nation, the Birmingham church bombing should serve to goad the conscience.  The deaths…in a sense, are on the hands of each of us.”  If we can be honest and self-reflective, we can make changes that will make the world a better place.   

  • We must have a solid foundation:  The Bones by Maren Morris & Hozier.  “The house don’t fall when the bones are good.”  And the bones are good!  Although roots are often times hidden from sight, they are what grounds the tree -- they are the foundation.  Did you know that trees also bequeath resources through the forest, leaving all they have to the next generation?  Having the opportunity to sit down and talk with Cliff’s grandmother, Granny Green, will always be a highlight for me from the trip.  I got to soak up the family history and values directly from its matriarch as she held my hand while we talked.  Osmosis, perhaps, directly stored to my brain.  I wanted to absorb it all, and I would not take for granted the time we had meeting all of the family.  

    If you were able to attend the keynote speaker for Chapter Leadership Institute you would have heard him say that what we make time for and what we schedule is what matters to us.  How often do we forget to make intentional time for our significant others, family or friends?  Do not forget what makes a solid foundation and be intentional to continue to build on it.

When we got married back in April we thought COVID surely had to be ending soon.  Who thought we would still be here at this point?  But here is the thing -- for us, this pandemic gave us extra time together to grow as a family.  Back in April, I asked you to lean in with me and to find the silver-lining.  Have you found your silver lining yet?  Continue to remember to give each other grace, and when the forecast calls for rain for days, make your own spots of sunshine.  Sometimes we have to get creative with that.  We played the license plate game on our drive (we finished with 45 out of the 50 state plates…I wanted all 50).  I had to look in creative places to find some of these plates, like New Hampshire that was a car on the back of a tractor trailer.  As I mention above, when life throws you lemons, make lemonade; make your own sunshine.

2020 may not look as we expected it to, but sometimes it is far greater. Connect with family and friends. See the unseen benefits.  Take small moments of reprieve out of your otherwise hectic lives; it could have endless benefits and is so good for your soul.  Embrace that change can also be good, if you do not fight it.  And not that I need to remind anyone of this, but especially these days I am learning that tomorrow is not promised us, so do not put off that family trip, well-deserved and much-needed time off, or opening that good bottle of whiskey.    
Jackie Johnson

The Next Generation of Legal Administrators: A Practice Management Perspective

Taylor Betancourt
Perkins Coie

I spent the early part of my professional career trying to find my way in multiple law firms. Like most of my peers, I struggled to find my place and figure out what I wanted to do long-term. I am what most law firms would call the typical “millennial.” I was always looking for the next opportunity or achievement. 

A few years ago, I was offered a developing role as an Administrator. It was a challenge, but I was excited for the opportunity. I was provided a mentor who encouraged me to start developing my network and recommended ALA due to her success in developing lasting relationships within the legal industry. When I started my role in Practice Management, I jumped at the opportunity to figure out my strengths in a department where every day brings something new. The purpose of Practice Management is to provide support to the firm’s attorneys and clients. The department facilitates financial reporting, budget tracking, attorney development, strategic planning and implementation. It can be challenging, but it is an integral part of firm operations.

A Practice Management colleague introduced me to the Next Gen Leaders group. I was immediately intrigued and wanted to get involved with this group. However, when I was asked to write this article for the community, I struggled to think of a topic. How could I contribute to the conversation? As I reflected on my professional experiences, I realized I can only speak to my perspective. Here are five values I am currently learning in Practice Management and am committed to improving each day:

1. Client Service. Good employees get the job done; great employees provide excellent service. Law firms are very fast-paced, and while it is important to complete the ongoing list of projects or tasks, it is more important to invest the time to make sure things are accurate. Slow down, review the work and know when ask to for help. 

2. Process Improvement. Fulfillment in this role comes from solving a problem. The most rewarding experiences are those where we can help someone else learn something new or solve a problem. Identify the problem and work together to find a solution.

3. Leverage. Historical knowledge is important. This is one thing a degree alone cannot provide. Seek out and listen to the people who have held multiple positions at different levels within the firm. Their knowledge is important to use as a springboard for creating a better future.

4. Professional Development. There is always more to learn. We cannot possibly know everything about a firm, a practice, or technology. All we can do is be willing to use the resources available to us to educate and apply what we have learned to our current situation. 

5. Profitability. Get curious as to how to increase efficiencies. How can I better support the people I am working with? What does our department need to change? Why is this project important to the group? What is or is not working within our practice? The answers to these questions will help us learn how we can improve efficiencies and reduce the amount of time we waste on tasks that are not serving the department, firm or organization.

Overall, it is important to remain flexible and patient in a Practice Management role. The department is in constant transition and with change comes the opportunity to innovate and adapt.

5 Tips to Keep Your Office Organized

Darlene De Lorenzo
Marketing Manager, JK Moving Services

With the resurgence of the Coronavirus, most of us are still working from home these days. Here are some home office organizational tips to boost your staff's productivity.  For those of you who aren’t OCD about keeping a clean office area, I wanted to share with you 5 tips to keep your office clean and organized.

Tip #1 – Out with the old. File It, Scan It, Shred It
Throw out what you don’t need (also known as purging).  Go through your paperwork pile on your desk and see what you need or what you can get rid of.  Start off with three different piles: everyday use, occasional use, and never use.  Those items that you never use – throw it out, shred it and recycle the paper.

I know what you are thinking: “I may use this someday.” Everything is going digital these days – there’s not much reason to have tons of paper files lying around your office. If you aren’t using it, there’s no use keeping it.  But if you can’t get past that feeling of “I’ll need this someday” then scan it, file it and shred it.

Unless using paper is a must, try to decrease the amount of paper you use and recycle the paper you no longer need.

Tip #2 – Archive Old Files
Are your email inbox and computer desktop a hot mess?   If you haven’t used computer files (especially emails!) in the past year or so, archive them or create folders to store them. You’ll still have them, but you won’t have to wade through them in your inbox to find current pressing items. Consider setting a policy to delete archived files after a certain time too.

Don’t forget about those files in your filing cabinets.  They can be archived too.  Go through them and see what you need and what you can archive.

Tip# 3 – Organize the Documents on Your Computer
You need to be able to find information for your boss, coworkers or a client quickly. Organizing your computer files is just as important as organizing paper files.

Organize computer documents according to date, subject or category. Before you start moving documents, write out a “file org chart” that would work for you to remember where to find those files later.  Make it simple and name it just for you – this will make your work life easier. Then start dragging and dropping those documents into folders as you go.

After you go through your documents, don’t let it go to waste. Be sure to backup files on your company server, cloud-based storage such as Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive, or an external hard or flash drive to avoid losing work if your computer crashes.

Tip #4 – Go Paperless
Here’s an easy way to get rid of all the random scraps of paper, notebooks, or post-it notes that are scattered on so many of our desks – go paperless!

Apps like OneNote, Evernote, Google Keep, Bear, and many others make cloud-based note-taking super easy.  I personally use OneNote as it syncs data between my laptop and my cell phone.  This is a great feature when you are in meetings that you can’t bring your laptop to or you’re at home and you get a “light bulb” moment where you need to jot down a few quick notes.

Tools like Dropbox, Box and One Drive are essential when it comes to reducing paper clutter and file cabinet disasters.  Saving and sharing files in the cloud will help your office reduce paper waste and find files wherever you are.

If paperless makes you uncomfortable, try switching from a boring old to-do list to a “daily docket” style pad.  The super-simple, intuitive layout of the daily docket notepad helps you visualize your entire day in one fell swoop, while also separating your errands, tasks, meetings, and notes.

Tip #5 – Store Needless Furniture
Finally, clean out the office of unwanted or unused furniture.  Clearing out unwanted or unused items from your office space will give you more room and maybe even create a collaboration area for your team.  Consider using a commercial storage facility to store your unwanted items.  It is usually cheaper and more secure than a self-storage option.

NextGen Leadership Journeys

 James Cornell
Office Administrator​, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP​

Greetings Capital Chapter Members and Business Partners! 

I am excited to have the opportunity to contribute to this month’s Capital Connection on behalf of the Next Generation (NextGen) Leaders Community and to share some thoughts on a topic I am passionate about: Leadership. Cap Chap President Jackie Johnson recently wrote about next generation leaders in her July President’s message and used the following as a portion of the definition of NextGen: the step forward that perpetually propels us into our impending destiny. I find that definition spot-on given the current climate we are all operating in because of the pandemic. It also seems to me that the definition of NextGen is in complete alignment with what many in our industry are referring to as the “next normal” or in the case of the definition, our impending destiny. I believe leaders create the next normal when something new replaces something old. This was true before COVID-19, and will be true in the future when the next challenge comes our way. 

The NextGen Leaders Community, currently chaired by Amy Walkowiak and Ana Sobalvarro, began in 2017, from an idea generated during a keynote presentation at the Chapter Leadership Institute. The original mission of the NextGen community was 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 and Gen-Z legal managers and new managers in the legal field with a focus on mentoring, education, and networking. Today, the NextGen Community is a place where aspiring, developing and established leaders meet up to prepare for, share, and continue their leadership journeys. Our members’ journeys are in various stages, and this is precisely where I see such tremendous opportunity and possibility for so many in the Capital Chapter. The NextGen community is a welcoming place for members at all points in their careers.

I initially joined the NextGen community a couple of years ago because I enjoy collaborating with young professionals, as that was one of the ways that I received valuable mentorship earlier in my career in Austin, Texas. Guidance from several members when I was beginning my leadership journey became the catalyst for and avenue to leadership development opportunities in the Austin ALA Chapter. Those opportunities in turn provided further growth and development of my public speaking, presentation, strategic thinking and professional presence skills, which were essential elements in helping prepare me for a promotion from Director of Human Resources to Executive Director in a mid-sized regional law firm. Moreover, that role as Executive Director aided my further development of the strategic and analytical skills needed to join ALA’s Board of Directors in 2015.

Joseph Campbell, noted American author and Mythologist, believed that an essential part of our leadership (or hero’s journey, as he called it) is to “let go of the life we had planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” Given the current circumstances of the pandemic, it seems appropriate that we may think of this waiting life as our next normal, and whether you are new to the legal industry, new to a management role, or a 21-year ALA member such as myself, professional legal management as we know it is evolving. This means there are new roles, new opportunities, and new ways of leading and managing people, and the NextGen Community is the place in the Capital Chapter where leaders on their journeys can acquire, share and grow the skills that will take them to where they want to be in the future.   
 
Want to see what this community is doing and how we are helping members of the Capital Chapter prepare for and create the future? You can join the NextGen listserv to see the types of conversations our community is engaging in, and if you really want to have an impact, attend one of our monthly meetings.  We have close to 350 members in our chapter, and each one of you has wisdom to share, guidance to offer and capacity to grow. Currently, there are approximately 50 members in the NextGen Community, and I invite you to join us as we focus on creating the future next normal as part of our impending destiny in our organizations and the industry. I look forward to seeing you on our leadership journeys! 

Diversity Spotlight: Jackie Johnson

The Diversity & Inclusion Committee is excited to bring back the Diversity Spotlight with a new spin! We will be featuring members and business partners in video segments called #thisismystory. For September, we are proud to feature our own Jackie Johnson, who shares her unique story. Please take a moment to view the video; we undoubtedly will benefit from her transparency and leadership.   

We are looking for members and business partners to share their stories in future newsletters. Please contact Denise Verdesoto at deniseverdesoto@eversheds-sutherland.com if you would like to share your story with our members.

Preventing Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

Cindy Schuler
​Director of Human Resources, Boies Schiller Flexner LLP
Chair, HR Community

On August 12, 2020, Niki Irish, LICSW, who is a Senior Counselor for the Lawyer Assistance Program at the DC Bar, presented to the Capital Chapter on burnout and compassion fatigue.

This session gave us more insight into the following:
  1. Accepting and acknowledging that burnout and compassion fatigue are a reality;
  2. Identifying physical and mental barriers impeding us from setting boundaries; and
  3. Identifying and utilizing tools to help us manage burnout and compassion fatigue.

Niki spoke about the primary symptoms of burnout to include factors such as persistent exhaustion, feeling negatively toward one’s career and reduced productivity (or on the flip side, over-engagement.)  She shared an interesting statistical fact that women are more susceptible to burnout for reasons such as the inability to balance work and family and difficulty with managing time.

Niki also spoke about barriers to self-care and elaborated on the fact that we have an automatic concern that other people need us, and while that is common, we need to re-wire ourselves.  Niki discussed some myths of self-care including the ideas that self-care is a sign of weakness, self-care is selfish, and self-care is time consuming.  

Niki stressed the importance of recognizing the risks of burnout and compassion fatigue for ourselves, finding a way to debrief distressing material, evaluating tension-reducing behaviors, and being intentional about protecting ourselves.  She completed the presentation by sharing several examples on how we can provide self-care, including the box breathing exercise, the S.T.O.P. practice, managing stress through laughter, breathing, exercise, and some other means, and utilizing our professional and personal support systems.

September 2020 Diversity Observances

Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15. This month corresponds with Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16, and recognizes the revolution in 1810 that ended Spanish dictatorship.
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Click here to view the full list of September observances.

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. The Newsletter Committee welcomes new members.
Contact: Cindy Conover (Chair), Cindy.Conover@Shearman.com; Beth Fowler (Co-Chair), bfowler@robbinsrussell.com
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Diversity & Inclusion
The mission of the Diversity & 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 D&I 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: Beth Fowler (Chair), bfowler@robbinsrussell.com; Denise Verdesoto (Co-Chair), deniseverdesoto@eversheds-sutherland.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: Valerie Williamson (Chair), valerie.williamson@bassberry.com; Herb Abercrombie Jr. (Co-Chair), HAbercrombie@jenner.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: Joanna Hurt (Chair), jhurt@mccarter.com; Tabatha Harris (Chair), tsh@dwgp.com
Listserv: branch@lists.alacapchap.org and smallfirm@lists.alacapchap.org
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Office Operations Management and IT
The members of the Office Operations Management and IT 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: Giovanni DiLuca (Chair), gdiluca@zuckerman.com; Janelle E. Rynes (Co-Chair), janelle.rynes@arentfox.com
Listserv: ooms@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: Cindy Schuler (Co-Chair), cindy.schuler@hugheshubbard.com; Monique Terrell (Co-Chair), mterrell@foxrothschild.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: Amy Walkowiak (Chair), awalkowiak@dcwhitecollar.com; Ana Sobalvarro (Co-Chair), asobalvarro@bomcip.com 
Listserv: nextgen@lists.alacapchap.org