The New York State Bar Association
presents

BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL SOLO/SMALL FIRM PRACTICE:

TAKING STEPS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS

Monday, November 8, 2010
New York City

Monday, November 8, 2010
Albany (via Videoconference)

7.5 MCLE Credits: 6.5 Law Practice Management; 1.0 Ethics

Both locations will provide interactive participation

that is fully accredited for all attorneys.

All attendees will receive an exclusive “Forms on CD” disk

with more than 30 ready-to-use forms for solo/small firm practice!

A $75 value!

Co-Sponsors:

NYSBA Law Practice Management Committee

NYSBA Solo/Small Firm Coordinating Council

NYSBA Continuing Legal Education Committee

Asian American Bar Association of New York

Association of Black Women Attorneys, Inc.

Black Bar Association of BronxCounty

Capital District Black and Hispanic Bar Association

Dominican Bar Association

Hispanic National Bar Association – New York, Region II

Long Island Hispanic Bar Association

Metropolitan Black Bar Association

Muslim Bar Association of New York

Nigerian Lawyers Association, Inc.

Puerto Rican Bar Association

South Asian Bar Association of New York

Program Description

You’re running a solo or small-firm practice. How can you make it grow and thrive? Prominent authorities will cover time-tested tips for building a successful practice. Detailed written materials will accompany the presentations.

There will be plenty of networking time, permitting you to pose questions to the presenters and compare notes with fellow practitioners. A cocktail reception will afford opportunities for networking and enjoying the company of your colleagues. Our keynote speaker, Carolyn Elefant, will present a topical address during lunch.

What You Will Learn

  • Grow, merge, or stay the same?
  • Running your practice efficiently
  • Practicing safely and ethically
  • Managingemployees effectively
  • Leveraging the Internet and social media to your advantage
  • And much more!

Program Agenda

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Registration

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Welcome

9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Grow, Merge, or Stay the Same – Where Do You Go From Here?

● reconsidering the legal identity of your practice

● time to take on a partner?

● issues to consider in merging your practice

● opening a satellite office

● hiring associates

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Refreshment Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Usinga Website and Social Media to Build Your Practice

● website basics: simple versus bells and whistles: how much will it cost?

● website content: how to provide information without giving away the store and opening yourself up to liability

● using Facebook and Twitter and other social media effectively

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Box Lunch (provided)

Keynote Speaker Carolyn Elefant -- The Future of Solo and Small-Firm Practice

1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Running Your Practice Efficiently: Best Practices for Solos

● reducing, organizing, and controlling paperwork

● improving billing and collection methods to ensure the even flow of money

● using the technology at handto save time and communicate more effectively with your clients -- email, Outlook, and your Blackberry or iPhone.

2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Avoiding Misteaks: Practicing Solo Safely and Ethically

● firing the client -- doing it right

● avoiding malpractice claims and disciplinary complaints

● knowing when to seek outside help when the going gets too rough: consulting LawyersAssistance Project for help with stress and other issues

3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Refreshment Break

3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Refining the Employer/Employee Relationship

● preparing an employee handbook

● relevant labor laws and employment contracts

● revisiting the hiring, firing, and retaining of staff

● creating exit procedures

● incentives for satisfactory employees

● dealing with employee substance abuse

4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Concluding Comments and Adjournment

5:00 p.m.

Wine and Cheese Networking Reception

Program Faculty

Chair

Ms. Debra Whitson, Partner, WhitsonLaw, Elizabethtown

Faculty

New York City

Ms. Camille T. Allen, Principal, Law Office of Camille T. Allen, Harrison

Ms. Angela Barker, Member, Law Office of Angela Barker & Associates, LLC, New York

Ms. Midwin Charles, Founder, Midwin Charles & Associates LLC, New York

Mr. Vincent E. Doyle, III, Partner, Connors & Vilardo, LLP, Buffalo

Ms. Cenceria Edwards, Principal, Law Firm of Cenceria Edwards, PLLC, Brooklyn

Ms. Carolyn Elefant, Founder and Principal Attorney, The Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant, Washington, District of Columbia

Mr. Anthony Fletcher, Managing Attorney, Anthony Q. Fletcher, P.C., New York

Mr. Arthur G. Greene, Principal, Boyer Greene, LLC, Bedford, New Hampshire

Mr. John McCarron, Owner, McCarron Consulting Group, Tuckahoe

Mr. Gary Munneke, Professor of Law, PaceUniversitySchool of Law, White Plains

Mr. Shamsey Oloko, Partner, The Thorgood Law Firm, New York

Mr. Robert Ostertag, Member, Ostertag O’Leary Barrett & Faulkner, Poughkeepsie

Mr. Michael Rakower, Principal, Law Office of Michael C. Rakower, P.C., New York

Mr. Warren Redlich, Owner, The Redlich Law Firm, Albany

Ms. Maureen Reid, Principal and Owner, Maureen M. Reid LLC, Rockville Centre

Ms. Marian Rice, Partner, L’Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini, L.L.P., Garden City

Mr. Thomas O. Rice, Partner, Albanese & Albanese LLP, Garden City

Ms. Joan Rothermel, Partner, Klein Zelman Rothermel LLP, New York

Mr. Stephen Younger, Partner, Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

Albany

Ms. Cynthia Feathers, Principal, Law Office of Cynthia Feathers, Attorney at Law, Saratoga Springs

Register Now: or

For questions about this event, please contact Teresa Schiller at

(518) 487-5595 or .

NYSBA passes and coupons will not be accepted for this program.