ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Expo

Hackers want your data! The information you need to keep your office running is a gold mine for cyber criminals and new risks pop up every day. Your team, their passwords, your software and your third-party providers are all targets. In this fast-paced session, you’ll discover how hackers break in and what happens to your data after it is stolen. Come dive into case studies and identify best practices for securing your digital goods and protecting yourself and your firm against the latest hacker threats.

Objectives:

• Provide examples of cloud and file storage hacking.
• Prepare to protect your firm against voice cloning and social engineering attacks.
• Analyze a demo of an actual business email compromise attack.
• Develop a practical understanding of the dark web where data is for sale.

Matt Durrin
Director of Training and Research
LMG Security

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Information Technology
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Operations Management  (OM) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application. 
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Operations Management  (OM) 

Take a deep dive into the fundamental aspects of cash flow management. From planning to presentation, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of what cash flow entails and how to plan, manage, report and deliver it. You’ll examine the critical components of planning and how to think through it. You’ll discuss the management and reporting elements of your cash flow plan and the importance of performance indicators, regular checks, updates and analysis. You’ll also  focus on presenting your plan and reporting. Leave with new skills that can be the key to change management, attracting investors, securing loans, planning for future growth and making informed, data-driven decisions that contribute to your firm's development.

Objectives:

• Define how to think about and through cash flow.
• Prepare to strategically organize cash flow for its optimal use.
• Plan how to manage, forecast and effectively report your cash position.
• Recognize your cash runway and how to spot a cash crunch well before it happens.

Matthew P. Sullivan, JD
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Unravel Legal

CLM^® Application Credit: N/A
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Financial Management (FM) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Financial Management (FM)

There is a clear link between the quality of mental health and one’s level of professional competence. Attend this session to cultivate the skills necessary to effectively manage stress, anxiety and relationships and enhance contentment, productivity and the quality of your work. You’ll explore ways stress can manifest individually and collectively from a neurobiological perspective. You’ll redefine resilience by understanding that it’s about how you recharge rather than about how you endure. In addition, you’ll identify customizable, science-backed strategies for cultivating resilience as you continue to navigate constant change.

Objectives:

• Illustrate how changing thoughts and behavior can rewire the brain.
• Develop customized strategies for using your body to calm your mind.
• Differentiate resilience from endurance.
• Identify, customize and prioritize science-backed strategies to cultivate resilience.

Stacey Dougan, JD, LLM, MS, LPC, NCC
Owner/Psychotherapist
Stacey Dougan Counseling & Consulting LLC

CLM^® Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Self Management
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: N/A
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Communications & Organizational Management (CM)

You have been misled. Sleep is not the cure-all for burnout, fatigue, or the blues. Of course, sleep is imperative for survival. But being able to rest the brain is habit No. 1 for people who are consistently performing at the top level. In this session, you’ll explore how turning off your brain through rest can turn on your natural intelligence, which minimizes psychological and physical exhaustion. Identify your own burnout risk factors and those in the firm. Plus, by planning your own burnout-busting rest habits during the session, you’ll acquire a framework to take back to the firm for others to apply.

Objectives:

• Recognize the why and how of psychological rest in relation to top work performance.
• Design your own simple habit plan based on work environment and firm objectives.
• Evaluate potential burnout risks within your firm.
• Develop a plan for minimizing short- and long-term risk.

Nancy Morris, MSc Applied Psych
Certified Business Psychologist

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Self-Management Skills
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: N/A
CLM^® Recertification Credit: N/A

Misunderstandings, disagreements and conflict are inevitable in the workplace.  And the words you use — both verbal and written — in these conflicts can lead to mistrust and hostility. Join this session in which you’ll learn to recognize the different types of conflict and how to address each for the best outcome. You’ll also explore how to employ communication to make your point without minimizing the position of the other party. You’ll leave with strategies for choosing language that defuses tense situations, convinces others to see your side and improves connection and harmony in your professional interactions.

Objectives:

• Prepare for a challenging exchange by developing a strategy for the situation. 
• Use inclusive language to improve engagement — not alienate others. 
• Examine how to defuse tense situations through word choice and body language. 

Shannon H. Andrus, EdD
Speaker and Trainer
Word Nerd Consulting

CLM^® Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Communication Skills
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: N/A
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Communications & Organizational Management (CM)

In a world where hybrid work environments are no longer novel, your firm needs to innovate processes and operational practices to thrive in a fluid environment and future-proof your strategies. So, what does the future of law firm operations look like? In this session, you’ll hear a panel of representatives from firms across the Am Law 50, 100 and 200 discuss challenges they are facing and areas that are ripe for innovation.  

Objectives:

• Identify the biggest operational challenges today’s firms face and how to solve them.
• Discover creative ways to approach your operational strategy.
• Discuss tactical ideas for reimagining your operational practices. 

Panelists:

Travis A. Larson
Chief Administrative Officer
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Jason Marty
Global Chief Operating Officer
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

Norma Spearman
Chief Legal Support Officer
DLA Piper

Moderator:

Michelle Connolly
Senior Vice President, Strategy and Solutions
Epiq Global

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Organizational Development
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of  Legal Industry/ Business Management (LI) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Legal Industry/ Business Management (LI)

Would you like to expand productivity measures beyond the traditional “utilization — realization — collections” paradigm and identify high-impact profitability improvement opportunities across the enterprise? In this session, you’ll learn the impact disciplined commitment to strategic planning has on profitability. You’ll discover how to use the framework of portfolio management theory to evaluate firm assets (cases) in the context of risk, reward and profitability. And you’ll improve your understanding of return on investment (ROI) and how to appropriately use it within your firm.

Objectives:

• Identify how the lack of a clear and specific strategic plan erodes firm value.
• Explain how operational measures of success align with strategic planning goals.
• Define law firm budgeting to include strategic targets and nonmonetary goals that drive profitability across multiple reporting periods.

Josh Kalish, CLM, MBA, CFA, MA
Managing Partner
Law Firms of the Future, LLC

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Organizational Development 
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Financial Management (FM) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application. 
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Financial Management  (FM) 

Like just about every law firm, you’re probably using social media in your marketing. But be careful — one inappropriate post can have a negative effect on your reputation and your revenue. Join this lively discussion to learn how to avoid social media pitfalls and ethical booby traps.

Objectives:

• Examine how lawyers are effectively (or ineffectively) using social media.
• Identify and understand the potential ethical risks involved.
• Assess the good, the bad and the unethical in your own social media strategy.

Charles F. Luce, Jr.
Chair, Intellectual Property Group
Moye White LLP

CLM^® Application Credit: - Application Management Category: 1 hour(s) of Communication Skills, 1 hour(s) of Writing Skills 
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Communications & Organizational Management (CM)  
AND
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Business Ethics (BE) 

Struggling with ways to create a more diverse organization? To diversify your workforce, you need a diverse pool of job candidates to choose from. Join this session to discover strategies for attracting diverse talent. You’ll focus on outreach, networking, partnerships, mentorship programs and other approaches to creating a talent pipeline that matches your firm’s needs.

Objectives:

• Formulate a real-world plan for connecting with and retaining diverse candidates.
• Develop ways to better utilize your teams, community and clients.
• Define and establish clear, realistic and measurable ways to connect and build solid relationships.
• Analyze the art of building teams that are loyal and feel a sense of belonging.

Kesha Kent
DE&I Talent Strategist
Husch Blackwell LLC

Will Verchereau
DE&I Manager – Programs & Communications
Husch Blackwell LLC

CLM^® Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Organizational Development 
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR)  towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application. 
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR) 

Legal document automation can be a huge accelerator for both administrative and legal teams. Find out how to add artificial intelligence (AI) to turbocharge your results and greatly improve client responsiveness, legal and administrative workflows, and new employee time-to-competency with reduced risk. You’ll learn how to start this journey the right way so that you and your teams don’t end up disillusioned — or in the news for using AI improperly. You’ll leave with concrete steps you can follow to see the value of automation combined with AI while reducing your risk.

Objectives:

• Identify security risks and ethical considerations when using generative AI in the legal industry.
• Apply a framework for evaluating and testing generative AI solutions.
• Select use cases for testing AI and document automation that will likely have successful outcomes.

Michelle Spencer
Lead Product Marketing Manager
NetDocuments

CLM^® Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Information Technology
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1  hour(s) in the subject area of Operations Management  (OM) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application. 
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Operations Management  (OM) 

Join this session to explore the pivotal role of competency frameworks in reshaping the legal industry's employee experience and retention strategies. You’ll delve into how competency frameworks serve as catalysts for positive change, enabling legal organizations to attract, nurture and retain all top talent. Be part of the journey to unlock their potential and transform your firm's approach to enhancing employee experiences and bolstering retention. This session delivers the tools you need to effectively implement competency frameworks within your firm.

Objectives:

• Analyze and evaluate the significance of competency frameworks in legal organizations.
• Set up and apply competency frameworks to attract, develop and retain top talent.
• Develop a tailored competency framework strategy for your organization.
• Discuss in meaningful conversations the implementation of a real-world competency framework.

Catherine Dupra
Managing Director, Executive Search – Talent Management
Calibrate

Haley J. Revel
Managing Director, HR and Talent Management
Calibrate

CLM^® Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Organizational Development 
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR)

If you have a role in implementing profitability improvement initiatives, come learn how to create a change management governance structure at your law firm. You’ll focus on how to apply elite consulting methodologies for getting your initiatives implemented. You’ll learn how to create a governance structure that uses return on investment (ROI) benchmarks for decision-making and an internal Program Management Office that manages the implementation of profitability initiatives across multiple reporting periods. You’ll also cover each phase of the profitability improvement life cycle, from discovery to measuring and monitoring and beyond.  

Objectives:

• Create a framework that aligns market opportunities with law firm capabilities.
• Recognize the impact of corporate overhead on profitability, allocation methodologies and ruptures between profit centers and actual decision-making.
• Modify your financial chart of accounts to differentiate between profitability from ongoing operations and strategic growth.

Josh Kalish, CLM, MBA, CFA, MA
Managing Partner
Law Firms of the Future, LLC

CLM^® Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Organizational Development 
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Financial Management (FM) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application. 
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Financial Management  (FM) 

Join this compelling session to explore the trials, tribulations and downright terror of our thorniest management experiences. You’ll uncover what others have learned the hard way, so you don’t have to, along with examples of what to do and not to do. This fun, highly interactive session will be conducted in a “fishbowl” style. Newer administrators will be able to bolster their experience and seasoned administrators will be encouraged to share their own scary stories.

Objectives: 

• Recognize the types of unusual events that may arise in law firms.
• Define effective strategies to manage problematic situations.
• Identify the drivers of ineffective responses.
• Apply recognized best practices to future complex problems. 

Maria S. Mason, CLM
Business Director
Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Eden S. Minucci, CLM, SHRM-CP
Partner, Legal Operations
Clear Guidance Partners

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of  Organizational Development
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Legal Industry/ Business Management (LI) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Legal Industry/ Business Management (LI)

Meeting of Minds sessions are facilitated roundtable discussions on pertinent legal management issues. They are an opportunity for participants to discuss and develop solutions to common challenges by leveraging shared experiences and the collective knowledge of industry peers.

Facilitated by:

Casie Galczynski
Regional Office Administrator
Husch Blackwell LLP

Lisa F. Graham, CLM
Regional Office Administrator
Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, PC

Chances are, your professional development opportunities are segregated based on title, department, level of experience and revenue vs. nonrevenue generating positions. Join this session to explore blended learning opportunities that improve team performance, increase engagement, elevate client service and inspire team loyalty and more creative outcomes. You’ll learn how to design and implement a successful cross-discipline training initiative for improving the team-based performance of human resources, information technology, office administrators and other administrators who supervise cross-vertical teams. 

Objectives: 

• Identify projects that require multidisciplinary teams and the benefits of implementing such a team.   
• Examine the organizational benefits of a multidisciplinary team aligned with your firm’s strategy and the characteristics of a highly collaborative multidisciplinary team.
• Summarize and communicate the benefits of adopting a multidisciplinary training approach to key internal stakeholders and those participating in the integrated training.

Allison Worley, CLM, MBA
Associate Director of Legal Support Services
Husch Blackwell LLP

Kelly Druten Green
Director of Attorney Development
Ogletree Deakins

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of  Organizational Development
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR)

Join us to explore the neurobiology of addiction. You’ll deepen your understanding of how substance use disorders (SUD) are brain disorders that drive illogical behaviors. You’ll discover what is different about the brain of someone with SUD. And, you’ll leave knowing what you can do to help.

Objectives:

• Analyze the basic neurobiological differences of someone with SUD.
• Develop the skills necessary to support someone with SUD.
• Recognize how to apply these skills and knowledge in the workplace.

Jessica Swan, MCJ, MAC, LSATP
Executive Director
Recovery Consulting

CLM^®Application Credit: N/A
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Substance Abuse(SA)

Discover how you and your staff can reclaim control of your time and maximize productivity. Using real-life use cases, this session explores how technology can give you the tools and insights you need and help you redefine success for you and your firm. Stop feeling overwhelmed by administrative tasks, research, matter setup, client intake and countless other time-consuming activities. Attend this session and gain the tools and strategies you need to streamline processes, prioritize your time and refocus on providing exceptional service to your clients and solidifying your professional success.

Objectives:

• Plan your day and time and your staff’s using dashboards to quickly see all your important metrics and tasks.
• Design workflows that saves time and improves quality using automatization, including integrated document management.
• Support the optimization of everyone’s tasks and reduce redundant processes with personalized workspace views and setup.

Keren Gavra
Vice President of Product
Centerbase, LLC

David Strathy-Miller
Senior Product Manager
Centerbase, LLC

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Information Technology
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Operations Management (OM) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Operations Management (OM)

Meeting of Minds sessions are facilitated roundtable discussions on pertinent legal management issues. They are an opportunity for participants to discuss and develop solutions to common challenges by leveraging shared experiences and the collective knowledge of industry peers.

Facilitated by:

Suzanne Schwartz
Office Administrator – Milwaukee
Quarles

Rethink organizational priorities with an eye toward the future of work. Employers who prioritize caregivers and families will have a clear talent advantage in the decade to come. Join this discussion of why the parent-lawyer and business professional populations are critical to your organizational success and identify the specific obstacles they face. Then, dive into actionable ways you can develop innovative support structures to attract, retain and promote caregivers. You’ll leave with best practices for parental leave policies, structural support focused on parents, coaching opportunities and resources and community-building. 

Objectives:

• Review the benefits of supporting and retaining parents.
• Define the obstacles parents face in the workplace.
• Point out opportunities to support parents and hear about what’s working in practice.
• Formulate potential solutions for your organization through collaboration with your peers. 

Lori Mihalich-Levin, JD
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Mindful Return

Julie Thuy-Anh Tran
Senior Director of Talent
Vinson & Elkins

Alexandra M. Williamson, JD
Manager of Parent Lawyer Programs and Resources
Latham & Watkins LLP

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of  Organizational Development
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR)

Examine how to use the power of client experience surveys to improve work quality, drive strategic planning, create referral sources and strengthen client loyalty and profitability. You’ll learn how to use surveys to explore the client’s experience by asking them how they feel about the services provided, how well your firm performed and where your firm needs to improve. You’ll leave with a checklist for putting together a client experience survey and feedback program that will help you exceed your clients’ expectations for service.

Objectives:

• Point out the benefits and feasibility of client experience surveys.
• Discuss the methodology and best practices when carrying out client experience surveys.
• Formulate questions you should ask in your surveys.
• Analyze survey data and utilize the findings to impact positive changes and client service initiatives.

Bill E. Sansone, CPA
Practice Leader, Law Firm Advisory and Team Leader, Law Firms
Withum Smith + Brown

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of  Organizational Development
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of  Legal Industry/Business Management (LI) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Legal Industry/Business Management (LI)

Meeting of Minds sessions are facilitated roundtable discussions on pertinent legal management issues. They are an opportunity for participants to discuss and develop solutions to common challenges by leveraging shared experiences and the collective knowledge of industry peers.

Facilitated by:

Ashley Frisch
Senior Director of Legal Support
Rimon

Regardless of your position in your firm, you deal with multiple personalities, wear numerous hats, work under difficult individuals and go through management changes regularly. To be successful, you must be able to adapt to an ever-changing firm culture. Join this session to learn how to identify and deal with different employee personalities while changing the many hats you wear throughout the day. 

Objectives:

• Recognize how to manage personalities — the good, the bad and, yes, even the ugly — and evaluate and deal with various employees.
• Discover how to prioritize, put some tasks on the back burner and not miss deadlines.
• Identify techniques to overcome and flourish when working under or with a narcissist — without losing sight of who you are.
• Examine how to handle management changes and adapt.

Laura L. York
Firm Administrator
Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider, P.A.

CLM^® Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Organizational Development
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR)

Retaining employees has never been tougher. In this session, you’ll investigate how to engage new hires from day one to day 365. You’ll learn strategies for engaging with employees during their first year through surveys and stay interviews. And you’ll gain insight into the characteristics and motivations of job-hoppers in the legal industry. Take what you learn and build a long-lasting and effective structure for reducing turnover in your own firm.

Objectives:

• Analyze the current trend of frequent job changes among new hires and their impact on the workforce.
• Evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different policies and benefits in increasing employee retention, with a focus on compensation, work/life balance and competitive benefits.
• Synthesize strategies to identify signs of employee dissatisfaction in the first year and respond effectively, including the use of anonymous surveys.

Juanita Kendall, HRIC, SHRM
Chief Human Resources Officer
Hall Booth Smith P.C.

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Organizational Development
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR)

Hear how leading law firms engage their attorneys in their mentorship program by adding structure and providing clear direction for maximizing their relationships. You’ll discuss what makes a strong mentor relationship and how to encourage proactive relationship-building across the firm. You’ll gather proven strategies for strengthening relationships in a hybrid work environment. In addition, you’ll address the elements of building trust across generations and common intergenerational tensions, along with ideas for integrating mentorship programs into your diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives.

Objectives:

• Generate proven strategies to excite attorneys about participating in your firm’s mentorship program.
• Prepare experienced attorneys to coach and inspire the next generation of attorneys.
• Analyze how to empower early career attorneys to take initiative in developing their “personal board of directors.”
• Breakdown the intergenerational dynamics that often create tension in mentor relationships.

Elise Powers
Founder
Eleview Consulting

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Organizational Development
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s)  in the subject area of Human Resources Management (HR)

A record number of clients are transitioning to e-billing. To stay ahead of this growing demand, attend this session where you’ll learn to manage this process to avoid delayed payments and lengthy service-to-cash cycles. You’ll identify the pain points associated with the e-billing process and how to mitigate them by leveraging technology, implementing best practices and proactively managing your e-billing data.

Objectives:

• Describe steps to proactively increase the timeliness of the successful submission of e-bills.
• Use technology to create, submit and track invoices through real-time integration.
• Demonstrate financial visibility to the collections team and fee earners using reporting strategies.
• Model and implement best practices to improve your e-billing process. 

Kasey Methot
Senior Manager, eBilling Solutions
Fulcrum Global Technologies

CLM^®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Information Technology
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Operations Management (OM) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Operations Management (OM)

Explore the distinction between partners and other professionals and identify why it’s important under state partnership and tax laws as well as for legal ethical rules. You’ll examine the potential economic and intangible cultural consequences for the professional and the firm. You’ll also learn variations some law firms are adopting which allow professionals to be partners for some purposes, but not for others. This session is packed with insight into the inherent flexibility of partnership relationships, ethical guidelines regarding a lawyer's representations pertaining to partner status and the legal dynamics among the partners and the partnership.

Objectives:

• Describe the importance of legal structure in a law firm.
• Recognize the effect of structure in the operation of your firm and economic relations within it.  Explain the basic nature of the partnership and the effect of legal, tax and ethical variations on the structure.

Robert Keatinge
Of Counsel
Holland & Hart LLP

CLM®Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Organizational Development 
CLM® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of  Legal Industry/ Business Management (LI) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application. 
CLM® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Legal Industry/ Business Management (LI) 

Meeting of Minds sessions are facilitated roundtable discussions on pertinent legal management issues. They are an opportunity for participants to discuss and develop solutions to common challenges by leveraging shared experiences and the collective knowledge of industry peers.

Facilitated by:

Andrea Kirksey
Executive Director & General Counsel
Stotler Hayes Group, LLC

Laura Sears, CLM
Chief Administrative Officer
Gould & Ratner LLP

Meeting of Minds sessions are facilitated roundtable discussions on pertinent legal management issues. They are an opportunity for participants to discuss and develop solutions to common challenges by leveraging shared experiences and the collective knowledge of industry peers.

Facilitated by:

Carrie A. Valenzuela
Branch Office Manager
Meagher + Geer, P.L.L.P.

Kimberly Flowers
Director of Administration
Knobbe Martens

Here’s an opportunity to delve into the unique personality traits of attorneys. You’ll explore each trait along with written and face-to-face communication techniques tailored specifically to engage attorneys and navigate challenging conversations. You’ll also consider the power of social influence when driving behavioral change within the legal profession. Come discover how to overcome hurdles such as skepticism and autonomy to foster a positive and productive working environment and create an empowered legal team.

Objectives:

• Analyze the psychology of attorneys by identifying key personality traits.
• Evaluate the impact of these traits on leadership and management within the firm.
• Apply effective communication strategies for engaging with challenging personalities in both written and face-to-face interactions.
• Assess social influence as a tool for behavioral change in attorneys and performance improvement. 

Abigail L. Davis-Hess, CLM
Consultant
ADH-Consulting, LLC

CLM^® Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Communication Skills
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: N/A
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Communications & Organizational Management (CM)

As a busy law firm administrator or executive, you’re overwhelmed with countless tasks, priorities and responsibilities and a to-do list that is constantly growing. In this engaging session, you’ll discover how to determine which activities are necessary and which are distractions. You’ll feel empowered to identify and eliminate distractions and interruptions and create a more productive day. You’ll leave with effective strategies to help you delegate wisely, regain control and maximize your most valuable resource — time.

Objectives:

• Recognize the significance and impact of distractions on personal productivity.
• Apply practical techniques to identify and manage distractions in your workplace.
• Analyze and evaluate time-consuming distractions and how to make informed decisions about prioritization.
• Design a personalized strategy for proactively minimizing unproductive interruptions and regaining control of daily workflow.

Sarah M. Tetlow
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Firm Focus

CLM^® Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Self Management
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: N/A
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Communications & Organizational Management (CM)

Making informed decisions to control the costs of your legal research contracts and proactively manage your content subscriptions is challenging. The lack of transparency in legal research pricing practices could be costing you six or seven figures. This session will walk you through the pricing practices of the industry's two leading vendors, LexisNexis and Westlaw. You’ll analyze case studies of the wild variability in costs and leave with concrete steps you can take to get a fair price from your legal research vendor.

Objectives:

• Breakdown the pricing practices of the industry's two leading vendors, LexisNexis and Westlaw.
• Predict the potential financial impact of these pricing practices.
• Review case study examples of the wild variability in legal research pricing practices.
• Define concrete tips any law firm can take to improve legal research negotiations and save money.

Ken Purse
Principal and Founder
Research Contract Consultants

CLM^® Application Credit: 1 hour(s) of Organizational Development 
CLM^® Application Credit for Functional Specialists: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Financial Management (FM) towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application. 
CLM^® Recertification Credit: 1 hour(s) in the subject area of Financial Management  (FM) 

Meeting of Minds sessions are facilitated roundtable discussions on pertinent legal management issues. They are an opportunity for participants to discuss and develop solutions to common challenges by leveraging shared experiences and the collective knowledge of industry peers.

Facilitated by:

Will Verchereau
DE&I Manager – Programs & Communications
Husch Blackwell LLC

Rosa E. Walker
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP