PMRC Boot Camp

A Solo & Small Firm Seminar from the Practice Management Resource Center.


Boot Camp: Starting a 21st Century Law Firm

May 11, 2015
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Keynote Speakers
Dan Linna Jr. & Victoria Vuletich

Speakers
Diane Ebersole
Danon Goodrum-Garland
JoAnn Hathaway
Matt LaMaster
Samantha Meinke

Location
State Bar of Michigan, Michael Franck Building
306 Townsend St., Lansing, MI 48933 [Map]
No onsite parking [parking map]

Registration
Registration is closed for this event.

Register Online Mail Fax Form
Cancellation Policy: Full refund if canceled before 5 p.m., May 7, 2015, by e-mail to tbellinger@mail.michbar.org or fax (517) 372-5921.

Seminar Agenda

8:00 a.m. Registration


8:30 a.m. Welcome & Introductions


8:40 a.m. The Future of Lawyering: Embrace the Possibilities
Victoria Vuletich & Dan Linna
Join our thought provoking "future-forward" lawyers, Victoria Vuletich and Dan Linna, as they discuss the fundamental and irreversible changes occurring in the legal world. More

Today's lawyers, across the spectrum of legal services, must understand how technology, data analytics, process improvement, project management, knowledge management, unbundling, and outsourcing, among other things, will continue to change the delivery of legal services. Additionally, liberalization of the legal profession in the United States will bring additional changes. Learn how liberalization in the United Kingdom allows lawyers and non-lawyers to conduct business together and how this has affected the practice of law. What does the U.K. experience tell us about what's next in the U.S.? This eye-opening session will help you prepare for your future as clients continue to demand faster, better, and more affordable services.



9:45 a.m. Virtual Practice in the 21st Century
Diane Ebersole
Virtual practices are all the rage, but what are they? Find out what it means to practice virtually, the costs and benefits of adding virtual services, technology that may be required, potential enhanced confidentiality concerns, how VLP can impact the practice of law, and other issues to consider before starting a virtual practice.


10:30 a.m. Break


10:45 a.m. Internet & Social Media Marketing for Lawyers
Samantha Meinke
Understanding the ins and outs of online and social media marketing is instrumental in today's world to attract and keep clients. In this session, you'll learn how social media and the State Bar of Michigan's new online legal marketplace can help clients find you, and how it enables you to connect with your peers.


11:30 a.m. Your Technology Toolbox: Hardware for Your Firm
Diane Ebersole
Understanding the many hardware options available to lawyers today is key to creating a law firm that is a well-oiled machine. In this fast-paced session we'll overview the latest in hardware and help you understand why less is more and how to find your legal technology "sweet spot."


12:15 p.m. Lunch


1:00 p.m. Your Technology Toolbox: Software for Your Firm
JoAnn Hathaway & Matt LaMaster
Understanding the many software options available to lawyers today is key to creating a law firm that is a well-oiled machine. In this fast-paced session we'll overview the latest in software and help you understand why less is more and how to find your legal technology "sweet spot."


2:15 p.m. Break


2:30 p.m. Building a Paperless Practice
JoAnn Hathaway
In this session, you'll learn the fundamentals of law firm recordkeeping and how to establish a paperless practice. You'll learn how to develop and implement policies, procedures, and workflows to effectively implement your paperless practice, and help you avoid the traps that are inherent in a weak and undeveloped system. We'll explore the many hardware and software options to help you be less reliant on paper.


3:15 p.m. Beyond the Billable Hour
Danon Goodrum-Garland
In lieu of the traditional billable hour, many lawyers are offering a variety of fee alternatives, including fixed or flat fees, variable fees, success fees, value-added fees, and blended fees to remain competitive and to better serve their clients' needs. Understanding alternative billing options can help you survive and thrive in your 21st century practice.


3:45 p.m. Trusting Your Trust Accounting
Danon Goodrum-Garland
Understanding trust accounting and proper fee management is key to safeguarding client funds and ensuring compliance with ethical obligations. This session will provide an overview of the ethical foundation for handling client or third person funds to ensure that you get it right.


4:20 p.m. Closing Remarks & Adjourn

Keynote Speakers

Victoria Vuletich

Victoria Vuletich
Victoria Vuletich teaches professional responsibility at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. She also has a private ethics practice, serving Michigan lawyers and law firms, including a private hotline for quick resolution of ethics questions. Previously, after practicing privately, she served as staff ethics counsel at the State Bar of Michigan, supervising the PMRC, counseling attorneys on ethics issues, and prosecuting unauthorized practice of law matters. A national expert in the law of professional responsibility and the business models of law practice, she is a fellow of the Michigan Bar Foundation and the ABA, and active in the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility.

Dan Linna Jr. Dan Linna Jr.
Dan Linna Jr. is the assistant dean for career development and a professor of law in residence at Michigan State University College of Law. Before joining MSU Law, Dan was a partner in the litigation department at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP and a law clerk for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge James L. Ryan. Dan has taught negotiation as an adjunct professor at the University of Michigan Law School and teaches litigation at MSU Law.

Speakers

Diane Ebersole
Diane Ebersole is a practice management advisor for the State Bar of Michigan. She serves on the ABA TECHSHOW Board and State & Local Bar Outreach Committee. Diane strives to empower attorneys and their staff with the technology tools and training to maximize the efficiency of their firms while developing sound legal business practices.

Danon Goodrum-Garland
Danon Goodrum-Garland is the professional standards division director for the State Bar of Michigan. Previously, she was in private practice for 13 years focusing on litigation matters. She is a past president of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, and formerly held the positions of National Bar Association deputy chief of staff, chair of the SBM Membership Services Committee, and member of the SBM Character and Fitness District H Committee.

JoAnn Hathaway
JoAnn Hathaway is a practice management advisor for the State Bar of Michigan. She is active in the ABA Law Practice Management Division, and is a frequent speaker on law firm technology, and risk and practice management topics. She is an Adobe Acrobat Certified Expert, and is certified in Time Matters and Billing Matters software. Previously, Ms. Hathaway worked as a legal liability claims director and risk manager.

Matt LaMaster
Matt LaMaster is the business development director and corporate counsel for Advantage Technologies, a company committed to delivering IT services to law firms. He is an attorney licensed to practice in Michigan and Florida. He is also a certified Microsoft facilitator and a member of the Microsoft Partner Engagement Board.

Samantha Meinke
Samantha Meinke is the communications manager for the State Bar of Michigan. She regularly consults with lawyers, bar associations, and law-related groups on using social media to their best advantage, and has been a featured speaker on social media at ABA TECHSHOW for the last two years.