Atlanta Association of Legal Administrators RSS Feed

Community Relations Committee Meeting

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Community Relations Committee Meeting
Start Date: 16-Mar-10 10:00 AM
End Time: 16-Mar-10 11:00 AM
Location: To Be Determined
Event Details:

Dial In Information

Access Phone Number:	1-800-430-0714
7-Digit Access Code:	6015423

To Be Determined

ALA - Food for the Soul of Today''s Administrator

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT

ALA - Food for the Soul of Today's Administrator
Start Date: 17-Mar-10 8:00 AM
End Time: 17-Mar-10 9:30 PM
Location: Pittypat's Porch, Atlanta, GA 30303
Speaker: Sabine Curto

Event Details:

Sabine will provide an overview of our industry, some key drivers and obstacles for success in legal administration, along with what ALA has to offer to assist all of us in our jobs. She will also cover exciting "ALA Updates" to let everyone know what is on the horizon as far as ALA is concerned.

Pittypat's Porch

25 Andrew Young International Blvd.

Atlanta, GA 30303

Small Firm Meeting

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Small Firm Meeting
Start Date: 24-Mar-10 12:00 PM
End Time: 24-Mar-10 1:30 PM
Location: Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske, Atlanta, GA 30326
Event Details:

TBD

Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske

1700 Atlanta Plaza

Atlanta, GA 30326

Hire Smart: How to Find Good People in a Bad Economy

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Hire Smart: How to Find Good People in a Bad Economy
Start Date: 26-Mar-10 12:00 PM
End Time: 26-Mar-10 1:30 PM
Location: Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Speaker: Dr. Lee Innocenti

Event Details:

AUDIO CONFERENCE

In the current economy, filling a job opening should be a breeze. You're probably receiving hundreds of resumes for every job opening. After all, it's a buyer's market and you have your pick of highly qualified candidates, right?

Think again.

It's true there's an abundance of job seekers on the market due to recent corporate layoffs and downsizing. You may receive hundreds of resumes for one job opening. But chances are the most talented and highly qualified people are not among the applicants - because it's always the less-than-stellar performers who are first to be let go. The fact is, you actually could find the hiring process more time consuming and frustrating than usual.

First, you'll have to slog through more resumes than normal due to the increased number of people looking for work. Second, you'll find a far lower percentage of truly good prospects among them. Worse yet, in difficult times desperate applicants will say anything to get the job, making it harder still for you to identify a truly outstanding candidate.

One bad hire can cost your company tens of thousands of dollars. Failure and underperformance can drain you of time and resources, and strip profit from your bottom line. Multiply that by the number of new employees you hire each year and it quickly becomes apparent that, due to the risk and potential cost involved, who you hire may be the most critical decision you make in your organization.

So how can you optimize your hiring process to reduce risk and make certain you get the best candidate for the job, especially in a difficult hiring environment?

The first step is to take part in Kiplinger's latest 90-minute interactive audio conference. You'll discover proven-effective techniques that will sharpen your evaluation skills and help you identify the true standouts among job applicants the first time around. In addition to helping you avoid costly mistakes and transforming your hiring practice into a precise decision-making process, you'll get answers to your most pressing hiring questions, including:

How do you determine which skills, knowledge and experience are truly critical to the job?

What is the quickest way to get the information you need out of an applicant?
How can you ensure a job candidate is answering your questions honestly?
What are the most common hiring mistakes, how many are you making, and how can you avoid them?
How can you be confident the applicant you select will be successful 95% of the time?
How do you determine whether a resume is legitimate - or the applicant's qualifications have been exaggerated?
What's the best way to decide between two seemingly qualified candidates, and how can you be confident you made the best choice?
And much more.

Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLC

230 Peachtree St., NW

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Meet & Greet

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

This Event is Password Protected;

Excel: Tips and Tricks for Legal Adminstrators

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Excel: Tips and Tricks for Legal Adminstrators
Start Date: 14-Apr-10 12:00 PM
End Time: 14-Apr-10 1:30 PM
Location: Atlanta Fish Market, Atlanta, GA 30305
Speaker: Tommy Stephens

Event Details:

Excel: Tips and Tricks for Legal Administrators

Are you ready to improve your proficiency with Excel? If so, then mark your calendars and plan to attend this session on April 14^th. In this session, you will learn numerous Excel techniques to allow you to work more efficiently and effectively with the world’s leading spreadsheet tool. Following are just some of the many topics that will be discussed in this fast-paced and highly informative session:

· Navigating more efficiently through large workbooks

· Using database features in Excel such as VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and MATCH to find values in lists

· Importing text files into Excel

· Working with defined names – one of Excel’s best features

· Solving common formatting problems

· Applying conditional formats to improve reporting processes

· Creating and working with PivotTables to summarize and analyze large amounts of data

· Improving spreadsheet accuracy with data validation rules and formula auditing techniques

Perhaps most importantly, plenty of time will be allotted to your specific “how to” questions in Excel, ensuring that you walk away from this session with the information you need to be more productive in the office. No prerequisites or advanced preparation is necessary for participation in this session and this session features tips and techniques applicable to all versions of Excel.

Note that this session includes coverage of features available in all versions of Excel.

Atlanta Fish Market

265 Pharr Road

Atlanta, GA 30305

Marketing Section Meeting

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Marketing Section Meeting
Start Date: 20-Apr-10 12:00 PM
End Time: 20-Apr-10 1:30 PM
Location: Fields, Howell, Athans & McLaughlin, Atlanta, GA 30303
Speaker: Geoff Frost

Event Details:

AALA is launching a new Marketing Section to better address our members' marketing needs. Please join us for our first section meeting "Taking on the Associate Marketing Challenge".

How do you turn associates into rainmakers? What are the best practices for tracking marketing efforts and making your marketing dollars pay off? Geoff Frost will provide tips and tricks for developing good lawyers who are also good at marketing themselves and your firm. We'll have a Q&A session, so please bring any marketing questions that you may have or suggestions for future marketing section speakers/topics.

Lunch will be provided.

Fields, Howell, Athans & McLaughlin

191 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 4600

Atlanta, GA 30303

Bowl-A-Rama

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:30:00 GMT

Bowl-A-Rama
Start Date: 29-Apr-10 5:30 PM
End Time: 29-Apr-10 7:30 PM
Location: Ten Pin Alley, Atlanta, GA 30363
Event Details:

Come out for a night at the lanes and show us some Strikes, Spares and Turkeys! Join your AALA friends and vendors for great appetizers and few drinks and a lot of fun. Each member will enjoy free bowling and food as well as two drink tickets for use at the bar. Hope you can make it to Ten Pin Alley and let the good times bowl!

Ten Pin Alley

261 19th Street, NW

Atlanta, GA 30363

Paradigm Shift: New Approaches To Employee Communications for Changing Times

Wed, 12 May 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Paradigm Shift: New Approaches To Employee Communications for Changing Times
Start Date: 12-May-10 12:00 PM
End Time: 12-May-10 1:30 PM
Location: Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Speaker: Ron Shewchuk

Event Details:

Changing societal values, tough economic conditions, a new generation entering the workforce, the emergence of social media--these revolutionary trends have implications for how we communicate with today's employees. In this webinar, author, consultant and Master Communicator Ron Shewchuk, ABC, will share his thoughtful analysis on what these changing times mean for communicators.

In this session you'll learn:

How shifting employee values are changing the way organizations communicate.
The best practices in internal communication today and how to adopt them in your workplace.
What the emergence of Web 2.0 and social media mean to organizations and the internal communicators who serve them.

Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLC

230 Peachtree St., NW

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Marketing and Differentiation in a Recession

Wed, 19 May 2010 15:30:00 GMT

Marketing and Differentiation in a Recession
Start Date: 19-May-10 11:30 AM
End Time: 19-May-10 1:30 PM
Location: 103 West, Atlanta, Georgia 30305
Speaker: Ross Fishman

Event Details:

Marketing and Differentiation in a Recessionary Economy

A marketing program should help you stand out, and create or enhance the relationships that bring in business. In today's economy, a firm's marketing must to do more with less, which means they must use more powerful creative tactics, from enhancing their websites to more strategically using promotional giveaways, sponsorship, and charitable contributions. They must take advantage of the new Web 2.0 and social media tools, but what are the facts about Facebook? What's the truth about Twitter?

Everyone’s buzzing about these dynamic online tools, but how do you separate the facts from the hype? Which do you really need, and how can you set reasonable goals and expectations for LinkedIn, Flickr, websites, blogs, and podcasts? How do you use them effectively and ethically?

In one fun, fast-paced hour, the internationally renowned speaker Ross Fishman, CEO of Fishman Marketing, will show attendees how to develop a unique message and strategy that resonates in this economy and how to use full range of marketing tools to build the relationships that bring in business.

More from Ross Fishman:

FrontLines Marketing Magazine

Marketing Plan

Niche/Industry Marketing Worksheet

Associates Marketing Checklist

Jennifer Brinkley — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:15:27 GMT

So Long 2009!

Member Profile
Member News

Vendors are Not the
Enemy
Carpet Care 101
Cost of Risk

Capture the Magic!

Beantown Adventure

2010 Board Nominees

Why Become a CLM?

Calendar Events

Regional Conference
ALA Webinars

Editor News

Titanium
Paces Legal Staffing

Platinum
Document Technologies
Paramount Staffing

Diamond
IKON Office Solutions
Lan-Tech
The McCart Group

Gold
Bank of North Georgia
Cambridge Staffing
HIRECounsel
IST Management Services

Silver
Atlanta Laser Connection
CT Solutions
Firm Tech
FirstPRO
Graebel/Atlanta Movers
Hughes & Sloan
millicare by Trilogyfm
Milner Voice & Data
Royal Cup Coffee
Special Counsel
SunTrust
Tuttle Printing & Engraving

Bronze
Adams Data Management
ALL-STATE LEGAL
Artlite Office Supply
ASE Technology
Barnsley Gardens Resort
Billback Systems
Bluewave Computing
Blumberg Excelsior
Connect Staffing
CORT
CourierNet
Elite Archives
Elite Telecom Services
ESQUIRE Depositions
Gensler
Georgia Duplicating
Georgia Messenger Svc
Georgian Bank
Great American Specialty
GRM
The LawStaff Group
Legal Eagle
Oce Business Services
Orion Law Management
Philpot Relocation
Pitney Bowes
RentaCrate
Ritz-Carlton Hotels
Robert Half Legal
Source Office Products
Southern Business Sys.
St. Regis Atlanta
Stern's Printing
Stuart F. Cooper Co.
Vertisys

Hello [firstname],

Welcome to the Atlanta Association of Legal Administrators newsletter of upcoming events, articles and more from our membership. In this edition you will find helpful articles on CLM certification, carpet care, avoiding malpractice suits and much more. Take a look at the new member activation game, Capture the Magic, and check out what the chapter has been up to during the past three months.

Thank you for the support you give our chapter which allows us to provide this newsletter, multiple educational opportunities and much, much more for our members. Just a reminder that this will be the final electronic newsletter our 2009 Business Partner sponsors will receive. Our 2010 Business Partner sponsors will continue to receive AALA Connections and will be able to take advantage of the upgraded recognition possibilities through our new website. Registration for the 2010 program will end on January 15th. If you haven't decided yet whether to continue sponsorship with the AALA, you may want to look at the upgraded opportunities the chapter is providing such as the Appreciation Event and the Meet & Greet meetings. Click here to review the 2010 program or contact Jeff Hamrick with any questions.

Your login information is listed below. To log into the site, visit http://www.atlanta-ala.com/en/ and enter your Username and Password.

Username: [username]

Password: [password]

If you have any questions please contact Jennifer Brinkley.

As an Atlanta chapter Business Partner, you are also invited to receive the ALA Means Business newsletter. To subscribe click here.

	President's Message
	Author: Marianne Lawhead
	I know we all probably say this every year, but I really mean it this year. Where did the time go? Now that December is here, it seems like it’s all gone by so fast. Yet, some of the individual days seemed awfully long at the time. Fortunately, I have had the pleasure of spending the last 9 months as President of this wonderful organization and had the pleasure of working with a collective board made up of some of the hardest working and most creative... [More Info]

Member Profile - Jack Huddleston
Worthy Waypoints: How Life's Adventures Led One AALA Member Forward Author: Elizabeth Sprouse
When the peach drops December 31, it will signify different things for everyone; however, for one legal administrator, it will represent an opportunity to give back to an association that has supported him since he moved here more than 14 years ago. For 2010, Jack Huddleston, director of operations for Thomas, Kayden, Horstemeyer & Risley, LLP, has been nominated to proudly serve on the AALA's... [More Info]

Holiday Party at The Ritz

Ritz Carlton Buckhead on December 9
A magnificent room on the crisp December day at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead set the stage for the 2009 AALA Holiday Luncheon. This yearly event has proven to be a favorite among chapter members and business partners alike. At the luncheon our Chapter sponsored the annual Toys for Tots. Lance Corporal Reece was in attendance to tell members a little bit about what Toys for Tots does for children throughout our country. ... [More Info]

2009 Spirit of AALA Award

Author: Sarah Turner, CLM

Every year, the Spirit of AALA trophy is awarded to the person or organization that exemplifies the characteristics necessary to help our organization achieve its mission… to promote and enhance the competence and professionalism of legal administrators and all members of the management team; to improve the quality of management in law firms and other legal service organizations; and to represent professional legal management and managers to the legal... [More Info]

We Need You!

There's a reason continuing education and professional development look good on a resume. It reveals one's resolve to never stop learning and strengthening their skill-set, regardless of their years of experience. Volunteer positions within a professional organization, such as the AALA, indicate a person's ability to lead and work with leaders in their own profession. These qualities make us invaluable to our employers because they make us great at what we do! Now, more than ever,... [More Info]

	Roll Out the Red Carpet
	Please welcome our newest AALA Members! Allison Davis Ledbetter Wanamaker Glass LLP Office/Business Manager Sarah Popowski Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP Support Manager/Functional Specialist Emily Dollar Drew Eckl & Farnham HR Assistant Mary Coggins Smith, Welsh & Brittain, LLP Operations Manager

Vendors Are NOT the Enemy
Author: Patti Lane, CLM, Michael Stephens, PHR, Marshall Fletcher and Lisa Nietzel, CLM
Evidence is everywhere throughout the Association of Legal Administrators that the dynamics of the vendor/administrator relationship have changed and matured. Far from being the “enemy,” vendors are our business partners. We need them and they need us, and it is in all of our best interests to change our thinking and our paradigms. Through the efforts of the Vendor Relations Committee (VRC)... [More Info]

Carpet Care 101

Author: Stephen Lewis, Technical Director, MilliCare

An introductory look at what it takes to maintain your facility
Choosing a Sustainable Maintenance Plan Equals Financial and Environmental Savings Carpet is an important investment for any organization; it is both a costly asset and, visually, makes a big impression on visitors and clients. As an investment, protecting and extending the life of carpeting should be considered a top priority. Being proactive and removing dirt and soil... [More Info]

	2010 Role of Administrators in Reducing “The Cost of Risk” Associated with Malpractice Claims
	Author: Anthony Greene, CRM, CIC, Jamison Insurance Group
	As we come to the end of 2009 most insurance companies have seen an increase in reports of actual and/or potential lawyers’ professional liability claims. This is no surprise since historically claims against law firms and other professional advisors have increased after every major economic downturn. In many instances billings, collections and fee dispute related issues put administrators and other staff in the middle... [More Info]

Capture the Magic!

“’Magic” is all around us, just waiting to be captured! Welcome to 2010! Our theme for the year is ‘Capture the Magic of AALA!’ The Magic of AALA can be captured in the camaraderie of its members, the endless educational opportunities, the hard work of its committees and the resources of its website and newsletters. Enjoying the Magic of AALA is even more rewarding than ever. Not only do you benefit from using these tools, you also gain the chance to win... [More Info]

Great Beantown Adventure Wrap-Up

Did you play along in our year-long virtual adventure to Beantown? In 2009, the AALA played The Great Beantown Adventure where the goal was to find hints and figure out clues to determine a ‘final destination’ in Boston. The final destination was the Boston Athenaeum! Congratulations to Amy Hutcheson for winning the 2010 Scholarship to the ALA National Conference in Boston, MA which will be held in early May. It is our hope to host a social and/or tour of the Athenaeum... [More Info]

President:

Dina Wolfe

President-Elect:

Will Lee

Past President:

Marianne Lawhead

Secretary:
Sarah Turner

Treasurer:
Sheri Rowand

2010

Board of Directors

Nominees

Director of Newsletter:
Jack Huddleston

Director of Membership:
Elena Lee

Director of
Vendor Relations:
Joe McAdams

Director of eCommunications:

Amanda Davis

Chapter Manager:

Jennifer Brinkley

In Celebration of Certification
Author: Sue Powers
ALA Members Share Reasons for Attaining the CLM^SM In today’s rapidly changing economy, it might help to know that certification is one commodity whose value is increasing. From personal satisfaction to savings on liability insurance, the Association of Legal Administrators’ (ALA) Certified Legal Manager (CLM)^SM* designation is today helping in ways not imagined when many CLMs first made the decision to seek certification. Consider its advantage in the... [More Info]

Characteristics of Today’s Most Successful Law Firms: How Does Your Firm Measure Up?
Day: Wednesday 20-Jan-10 0:00 AM
Location: Maggiano's Little Italy - Buckhead 3368 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30326
Speaker's Name: John Remsen, Jr., President, TheRemsenGroup
Summary: The legal profession has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Some law firms are thriving, while others are falling apart. ...

Register Mapquest | Add to Calendar

Multi/Branch-Office Study Group
Day: Thursday 4-Feb-10 12:00 PM
Location: Fish & Richardson 1180 Peachtree Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30309
Summary: Round Table

Register Mapquest | Add to Calendar

Communicating With Difficult and Challenging People During Difficult and Challenging Times
Day: Wednesday 17-Feb-10 12:00 PM
Location: Hotel Palomar 866 West Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30308
Speaker's Name: Byron G. Sabel, Consultant
Summary: MENU: Caesar Salad Chicken Cannelloni ~ Chicken and Ricotta Cheese, Golden Raisins, Parmesan and Cheese Toasted Walnuts Tiramisu If you register and do not attend or cancel by the registration deadline, you will be responsible for a $25 cancellation fee. Vegetarian menu available u...

Register Mapquest | Add to Calendar

Region 1 / 2 Conference Recap

Author: Sharon Chalmers

In attending the recent Region 1&2 Conference in host city Savannah, GA, I learned that regional conferences truly are mini national conferences. As a small firm Administrator, I was thrilled to have so many educational sessions to select from; the ones I attended on budgeting and collections trends provided valuable information during these difficult economic times. Of course, value also lies in the chance to... [More Info]

If there is enough interest in any given ALA Webinar in 2010, and it does not conflict with an AALA Speaker Series, they will be hosted at Constangy, Brooks & Smith. There will be a $25 participant charge to cover the cost of the webinar.

March 17, 2010

Law Firm Innovation: Will You Lead or Follow?

April 21, 2010

The Administrator’s Role as Coach in a Multi-Generational Workplace

May 19, 2010

The Social Networking Revolution

June 16, 2010

The Keys to Develop and Implement the Firm’s Dreaded Strategic Plan

July 21, 2010

Legal Risks to Assessing Candidates by Social Network Sites

August 18, 2010

Law Firm Profitability Enhancement

September 15, 2010

Electronic Records Management: How to Manage your ESI in the 21st Century

From the Editor
Author: Sheri Rowand
As this year comes to a close, we have all been impacted by the economic downturn either personally or professionally. I don’t know if our industry has ever felt this much pain. Our chapter, like many others, came together to assist our colleagues who have been affected by the economy. One task was an online job bank, where we post job vacancies and resumes. Many members and business partners have volunteered to help and to that end, we will remain focused on... [More Info]

Stay up to date with our RSS feeds.

This newsletter provided for by the generous support of our 2009 Diamond Sponsors:

31-Dec-09 2:15 PM

AALA Connections - Winter 2009 Edition

Jennifer Brinkley — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:12:59 GMT

So Long 2009!

Member Profile
Member News

Vendors are Not the
Enemy
Carpet Care 101
Cost of Risk

Capture the Magic!

Beantown Adventure

2010 Board Nominees

Why Become a CLM?

Calendar Events

Regional Conference
ALA Webinars

Editor News

Titanium
Paces Legal Staffing

Platinum
Document Technologies
Paramount Staffing

Diamond
IKON Office Solutions
Lan-Tech
The McCart Group

Gold
Bank of North Georgia
Cambridge Staffing
HIRECounsel
IST Management Services

Welcome to the Atlanta Association of Legal Administrators newsletter of upcoming events, articles and more from our membership. You are receiving this email because you have signed up to receive our Newsletter. If you are an AALA member or a Business Partner, you may get this message twice because you are in both email groups. If you received this twice and would like to only get it one time, please contact Jennifer Brinkley. You can also request for others in your office to receive this newsletter.

In this edition you will find helpful articles on CLM certification, carpet care, avoiding malpractice suits and much more. Take a look at the new member activation game, Capture the Magic, and check out what the chapter has been up to during the past three months.

If you are not a member of AALA, but work in law firm or legal department management and have considered joining AALA, now is a great time to do so. Start the new year off by investing in your professional life. Contact Elena Lee or Jennifer Brinkley for more information.

If you are a Business Partner or considering becoming one in 2010, our sponsorship program is open for another couple weeks. Please click here to view the program or if you have any questions or comments, please let us know by contacting Jeff Hamrick.

Your login information is listed below. To log into the site, visit http://www.atlanta-ala.com/en/ and enter your Username and Password.

Username: [username]

Password: [password]

If you have any questions please contact Jennifer Brinkley.

	President's Message
	Author: Marianne Lawhead
	I know we all probably say this every year, but I really mean it this year. Where did the time go? Now that December is here, it seems like it’s all gone by so fast. Yet, some of the individual days seemed awfully long at the time. Fortunately, I have had the pleasure of spending the last 9 months as President of this wonderful organization and had the pleasure of working with a collective board made up of some of the hardest working and most creative... [More Info]

Member Profile - Jack Huddleston
Worthy Waypoints: How Life's Adventures Led One AALA Member Forward Author: Elizabeth Sprouse
When the peach drops December 31, it will signify different things for everyone; however, for one legal administrator, it will represent an opportunity to give back to an association that has supported him since he moved here more than 14 years ago. For 2010, Jack Huddleston, director of operations for Thomas, Kayden, Horstemeyer & Risley, LLP, has been nominated to proudly serve on the AALA's... [More Info]

Holiday Party at The Ritz

2009 Spirit of AALA Award

Author: Sarah Turner, CLM

We Need You!

	Roll Out the Red Carpet
	Please welcome our newest AALA Members! Allison Davis Ledbetter Wanamaker Glass LLP Office/Business Manager Sarah Popowski Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP Support Manager/Functional Specialist Emily Dollar Drew Eckl & Farnham HR Assistant Mary Coggins Smith, Welsh & Brittain, LLP Operations Manager

Vendors Are NOT the Enemy
Author: Patti Lane, CLM, Michael Stephens, PHR, Marshall Fletcher and Lisa Nietzel, CLM
Evidence is everywhere throughout the Association of Legal Administrators that the dynamics of the vendor/administrator relationship have changed and matured. Far from being the “enemy,” vendors are our business partners. We need them and they need us, and it is in all of our best interests to change our thinking and our paradigms. Through the efforts of the Vendor Relations Committee (VRC)... [More Info]

Carpet Care 101

Author: Stephen Lewis, Technical Director, MilliCare

	2010 Role of Administrators in Reducing “The Cost of Risk” Associated with Malpractice Claims
	Author: Anthony Greene, CRM, CIC, Jamison Insurance Group
	As we come to the end of 2009 most insurance companies have seen an increase in reports of actual and/or potential lawyers’ professional liability claims. This is no surprise since historically claims against law firms and other professional advisors have increased after every major economic downturn. In many instances billings, collections and fee dispute related issues put administrators and other staff in the middle... [More Info]

Capture the Magic!

Great Beantown Adventure Wrap-Up

President:

Dina Wolfe

President-Elect:

Will Lee

Past President:

Marianne Lawhead

Secretary:
Sarah Turner

Treasurer:
Sheri Rowand

2010

Board of Directors

Nominees

Director of Newsletter:
Jack Huddleston

Director of Membership:
Elena Lee

Director of
Vendor Relations:
Joe McAdams

Director of eCommunications:

Amanda Davis

Chapter Manager:

Jennifer Brinkley

In Celebration of Certification
Author: Sue Powers
ALA Members Share Reasons for Attaining the CLM^SM In today’s rapidly changing economy, it might help to know that certification is one commodity whose value is increasing. From personal satisfaction to savings on liability insurance, the Association of Legal Administrators’ (ALA) Certified Legal Manager (CLM)^SM* designation is today helping in ways not imagined when many CLMs first made the decision to seek certification. Consider its advantage in the... [More Info]

Region 1 / 2 Conference Recap

Author: Sharon Chalmers

March 17, 2010

Law Firm Innovation: Will You Lead or Follow?

April 21, 2010

The Administrator’s Role as Coach in a Multi-Generational Workplace

May 19, 2010

The Social Networking Revolution

June 16, 2010

The Keys to Develop and Implement the Firm’s Dreaded Strategic Plan

July 21, 2010

Legal Risks to Assessing Candidates by Social Network Sites

August 18, 2010

Law Firm Profitability Enhancement

September 15, 2010

Electronic Records Management: How to Manage your ESI in the 21st Century

From the Editor
Author: Sheri Rowand
As this year comes to a close, we have all been impacted by the economic downturn either personally or professionally. I don’t know if our industry has ever felt this much pain. Our chapter, like many others, came together to assist our colleagues who have been affected by the economy. One task was an online job bank, where we post job vacancies and resumes. Many members and business partners have volunteered to help and to that end, we will remain focused on... [More Info]

Stay up to date with our RSS feeds.

This newsletter provided for by the generous support of our 2009 Diamond Sponsors:

31-Dec-09 2:12 PM

We Need You!

Jennifer Brinkley — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Now, more than ever, AALA Members should make sure they are taking advantage of all the Chapter's benefits. Be sure to stay informed by attending more Section meetings applicable to you and your firm. We guarantee you there is always something for you to learn, and maybe more important, there is always something you can teach. Speaking of which, if you have a favorite Section meeting that you rarely miss, please consider volunteering to Chair that Section.

Get connected to the Chapter and practice your leadership skills by volunteering for an AALA Committee. You may be surprised at the direct benefit to you and your firm for your service. The networking alone could save you in times of difficulty.

In 2010, everyone's motto should be "Get Connected, Stay Informed." You'll be better for it! Click here to Get Connected by volunteering for one of the AALA Committees. Click here to learn more about our Section meetings and/or to volunteer to Chair a Section or host or speak at one these meetings.

Anyone who actively volunteers for the chapter will receive Stars for the Capture the Magic game.

30-Dec-09 8:00 PM

President's Message

Marianne Lawhead — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:00:00 GMT

By Marianne Lawhead

I know we all probably say this every year, but I really mean it this year. Where did the time go? Now that December is here, it seems like it’s all gone by so fast. Yet, some of the individual days seemed awfully long at the time. Fortunately, I have had the pleasure of spending the last 9 months as President of this wonderful organization and had the pleasure of working with a collective board made up of some of the hardest working and most creative people I know. With their help and the help of our committee and section chairs, we have managed to have a pretty good year despite everything going on around us.

The distractions of layoffs, salary freezes and an overall dismal economic outlook did take their toll at times this year. Then, as Fall rolled around, our state suffered 500+ year flooding, adding insult to injury to many of our citizens -- some of our members, in fact -- already suffering from the fallout of this economic nightmare we’ve been living. In the face of everything, it has been more important than ever to focus on the things AALA does the best. We spent a great deal of the year looking for more ways to help our members with networking opportunities, educational speakers and up to date articles in our newsletter.

In June, we rallied several vendors and experienced members to assist us in turning our annual half day seminar into a full day with Jeff Mangrum of SST Communications taking us on the Hero’s Journey to explore leadership. That afternoon, we opened the meeting up to unemployed members of the legal community for Jeff’s next session “Finding the Eye of the Storm.” At the conclusion of Jeff’s session, we offered roundtables moderated by vendors and members with advice to both employers and job seekers.

To continue as a Platinum chapter of ALA we must work even harder in difficult times, bobbing and weaving to adapt to the changing marketplace – good or bad. We believe reaching for this Award of Excellence each year ensures our members receive the benefit of all the things required to meet all the standards our national organization has set forth for a superior chapter. You may read about the Presidents Awards of Excellence here. Of course, it takes the work of many to achieve all the criteria in those standards. And, that means I need to thank all of you for your part in making our chapter great.

And, I want to thank our business partners again for their invaluable contributions of not only their money, but their time and talents. Our Business Partner Program affords us the opportunity to schedule some of the same top-notch speakers who appear at national and regional conferences each year. In addition, the generous contributions of our sponsors enable us to provide numerous scholarships to national and regional conferences each year. These individuals are experts in their fields and always open to share their advice and recommendations on the latest products and services in the marketplace.

We've been great citizens in 2009. We've contributed time and money to the Atlanta School for the Deaf, Homestretch Mission, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Toys for Tots and Samaritan's Purse. Thank you all for your generosity in sharing your time and donating toys and money to these worthwhile organizations. It's so important to be mindful of all the good things we can do as a group. I hope we can continue to show our community at large what great stewards AALA members are in 2010.

Also, as we prepare to face the new year, I encourage each of you to continue to explore and use the resources available to you as members of ALA. The ALA website is a valuable resource for articles on current issues facing legal administrators. Check out the Reference Desk, as well as Discussion Forums and the Question of the Month for relevant and up to date information. There is also a Diversity Resources Database which ALA is working to update on a regular basis. If you are not receiving the ALA News or ALA Currents, I recommend you go to the ALA website to subscribe. Both of these publications should be on your regular reading list.

Lastly, some quick announcements or reminders about events in the coming year. The board has voted to conduct a 2010 salary survey. That information will be sent out early in the new year. In addition, CLM classes will begin again in January. Not only will there be a CLM exam offered at the ALA conference in Boston in May, but Atlanta is being considered as a site for offering the exam in the Fall of 2010. This would be a great time to get serious about pursuing the CLM if you have been thinking about it.

It was my sincere hope that all of us would thrive in 2009. I know it hasn't been easy, but I'd like to think we did better than just surviving. Thank you all for everything you do. I wish you all a joyous holiday season and very Happy New Year!

30-Dec-09 5:00 PM

2009 Spirit of AALA Award

Sarah Turner — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:00:00 GMT

By Sarah Turner, CLM

Every year, the Spirit of AALA trophy is awarded to the person or organization that exemplifies the characteristics necessary to help our organization achieve its mission…

"to promote and enhance the competence and professionalism of legal administrators and all members of the management team; to improve the quality of management in law firms and other legal service organizations; and to represent professional legal management and managers to the legal community and to the community at large"

This year’s recipient was Epstein Becker & Green, PC. They encourage membership in AALA, allow its AALA members to be active and to seek positions at the committee, section and board level and support full participation in all of our events. We have benefited time and again from the involvement and expertise of their people such as:

Jeff Hamrick who is a former Chapter President and has served on the board for six years; four years as Vendor Relations Director. Even before that Jeff served on numerous committees such as Community Service and Vendor Relations. Jeff has also volunteered for almost every community service project since he has been a member.

Michael Steele who has served as the Technology Committee Chair for two years and has volunteered for numerous community service projects since becoming a member in AALA.

Lana Arms who has served on the Business Partnership Lunch Committee for four years and who has also volunteered for numerous community service projects since becoming a member in AALA.

Thank them all when you see them and I encourage each and every one of you to participate and support AALA and its mission.

30-Dec-09 4:00 PM