Stellar speakers join faculty for Solo, Small Firm CLE presentations

“Shine Up Your Shingle: What You Need to Succeed,” the second annual ISBA Solo and Small Firm Conference next month, will build on the overwhelming response to the sold-out inaugural event in 2005.

“This year's program promises the same level of success,” said ISBA President Irene F. Bahr. “Helping the solo and small firm practitioner is what the ISBA is all about.”

She added that participants “will hear national speakers and local practitioners give advice on how to make your practice a successful and enjoyable endeavor, not just a grind.”

Participants also will hear timely comments from Chief Justice Robert R. Thomas of the Illinois Supreme Court and ISBA past president Cheryl I. Niro, executive director of the court's Commission on Professionalism.

The conference will take place Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 14 to 16, at Pheasant Run Resort, St. Charles. See the center pages of this issue for details.

The national speakers Bahr referred to are Florida trial lawyer J. Michael Papantonio, Pennsylvania marketing and strategic planning expert Robert W. Denney, California human behavior author Ann Mahony, and Texas attorney and computer guru Craig Ball.

Mike Papantonio, who organized the mass tort practice at Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Eschner & Proctor in Pensacola, Fla., will speak during the kickoff plenary on Thursday.

Bob Denney, founder in 1974 of Robert Denney Associates in Wayne, Pa., will present a Friday morning plenary on “Significant Trends for Solo and Small Firm Practitioners.”

This program will be introduced at 8 a.m. by Chief Justice Thomas and Cheryl Niro.

Ann Mahony, who has offices in San Francisco and San Diego, will talk about “What Makes People Tick” during the Friday luncheon, and will present a track program Saturday on forgery and fraud.

Craig Ball of Montgomery, Texas, has taught the bench and bar about forensic technology and trial tactics for 24 years. He will conduct a Saturday plenary on “E-Discovery and Computer Forensics for Lawyers Who Can't Set the Clock on the VCR,” and a tech track program on “PowerPersuasion.”

The 2006 conference offers a total of 36 educational programs in three concurrent tracks throughout the three days. An expo of products and services will serve as a networking venue.

It is expected that participating ISBA members will be able to meet significant portions of their minimum continuing legal education requirements during the conference.