Programs
Plenary Session - Jay Foonberg
How to Practice Law Profitably and Successfully from Womb to Tomb and Stay Out of Trouble
Sponsored by MBNA America, ISBA's MasterCard and American Express Program
<<<< 5:00 - 5:50 p.m. - Choose from three concurrent programs >>>>
TECHTRACK
Can You Hear Me Now?
Using VOIP and blogs to communicate. The Internet is no longer just for Web pages and e-mail. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is becoming a viable option to replace standard phone service and blawgs (legal blogs) are changing the way lawyers communicate with their clients and the public. Find out how these new technologies can help your practice thrive.
Bryan M. Sims, James, Gustafson & Thompson, Ltd., Naperville
Todd H. Flaming, Schopf & Weiss, Chicago
OFFICE MANAGEMENT
Practical Alternatives to Billing and Fee Agreements
Carl Draper, Feldman, Wasser, Draper & Benson, Springfield
SUBTANTIVE LAW
How To Deal with Client-Related Nightmares
Clients who don't pay and restraints on collection, clients who lie, potentially violent clients, and impaired clients-what to do? Find out at this seminar from two ethics experts.
Mary T. Robinson, Administrator of the ARDC, Chicago
Peter Rotskoff, ARDC, Springfield
<<<< 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. >>>>
PLENARY SESSION - Jay Foonberg
Putting Happiness Back into a Successful Law Practice
Sponsored by MBNA America, ISBA's MasterCard and American Express Program
<<<< 9:00 - 9:50 a.m. - Choose from three concurrent programs >>>>
TECHTRACK
Computer Boot Camp for Lawyers: MS Word Tips & Tricks
MS Word is currently the predominant word processing software in use. Attend this excerpt from the ISBA's new training series and get useful-and timesaving-tips & tricks for using MS Word in your practice.
Adrienne W. Albrecht, Sacks, Albrecht & Gubbins, Kankakee
OFFICE MANAGEMENT
The Lawyer's Guide to Getting and Keeping Good Clients
John Nisivaco, Lavin & Nisivaco, Chicago
SUBTANTIVE LAW
Everything You Want-and Need-to Know About the New Bankruptcy Law
Hon. Jacqueline P. Cox, U.S. Bankruptcy Court-Northern District of Illinois, Chicago
Ira Bodenstein, United States Trustee, U.S. Bankruptcy Court-Northern District of Illinois, Chicago
<< 10:30-11:20 a.m. - Choose from three concurrent programs >>
TECHTRACK
Computer Boot Camp for Lawyers: MS Excel Tips & Tricks
MS Excel has become widely used thanks to the popularity of MS Office and is no longer just a tool for accountants. At this excerpt from the ISBA's new training series, you'll learn useful tips & tricks for using MS Excel in your practice.
Adrienne W. Albrecht, Sacks, Albrecht & Gubbins, Kankakee
OFFICE MANAGEMENT
Business Organization 101: What Business Entity Makes Sense for Your Law Firm?
Richard Colombik, Richard Colombik & Associates, P.C., Itasca
SUBTANTIVE LAW
Sorting Through the Thorny Maze of Search, Seizure and Suppression Cases-What's Hot and What's Not in Fourth Amendment Law
Michele M. Jochner, Law Clerk to Chief Justice Mary Ann G. McMorrow, Illinois Supreme Court, Chicago
<< 11:30 a.m. -12:20 p.m. - Choose from three concurrent programs >>
TECHTRACK
Electronic Discovery - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!
E-Discovery continues to gain attention and generate confusion. Learn from our experts on why everyone should have a basic understanding of the risks and benefits of electronic discovery.
Todd H. Flaming, Schopf & Weiss, Chicago
Peter Mierzwa, Park Ridge
OFFICE MANAGEMENT
Strategic Planning-Something Your Practice Cannot Thrive Without
John Olmstead, Olmstead & Associates, St. Louis, MO
SUBSTANTIVE LAW
How to Thrive in the Practice of Real Estate Law
Aurora Abella-Austriaco, Peck Bloom Austriaco & Mitchell, Chicago
John G. O'Brien, Law Offices of John G. O'Brien, Arlington Heights
<< 12:30-1:50 p.m. >>
LUNCH with Justin Cole
Nine Marketing Keys to Your Best Year Ever
Marketing doesn't have to be expensive, difficult or complex, says Justin Cole. And it can be done successfully in a highly ethical, respectful manner. In addition to giving you specific ways to market your firm, you'll learn that the most effective marketing is the most ethical, the most cost-effective, and potentially, the most enjoyable.
Sponsored by ISBA Mutual Insurance Company
<< 2:00 - 2:50 p.m. - Choose from three concurrent programs >>
TECHTRACK
Surviving the Malpractice Jungle: Using Case Management to Find Your Way
Are missed deadlines and client and contact information written on scraps of paper or buried inside a file common in your office? Our experts will show you how case management software can help you find your way and avoid malpractice pitfalls.
Ross Kodner, Microlaw, Inc., Glendale, WI
Nerino Petro, CenCom Technologies, Loves Park
OFFICE MANAGEMENT
Setting Benchmarks-No Business Plan Succeeds Without Measuring Success
Virginia Grant, Altman Weil, Newton Square, PA
SUBSTANTIVE LAW
The Cutting Edge in Family Law Practice: The Use of Computer Software and Internet Resources to Win Your Case
Adrienne W. Albrecht, Sacks, Albrecht & Gubbins, Kankakee
Hon. Edward R. Jordan, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
<< 3:30 - 4:20 p.m. - Choose from three concurrent programs >>
TECHTRACK
It's All About the $: Time and Billing for the Small Office
Thriving in a small office means that you must accurately capture your time and then bill it in a timely fashion. Find out what options are available for the small office to efficiently help capture and bill your time.
Nerino Petro, CenCom Technologies, Loves Park
OFFICE MANAGEMENT
Strategic Planning Workshop: Practical Applications for Your Practice (This program continues until 5:30 p.m.)
This is a small group, facilitator-led working session on developing a strategic business plan. Facilitators include:
Carl Draper, Springfield
John Olmstead, St. Louis, MO
Virginia Grant, Altman Weil, Newton Square, PA
SUBSTANTIVE LAW
An Overview of the New Sale of Practice Rule and Key Steps to
Maximizing Value and Minimizing Transfer Expenses
Protect your clients, yourself, and your family by becoming familiar with new Rule of Professional Conduct 1.7.
John T. Phipps, John T. Phipps Law Offices, P.C., Champaign
John H. Maville, Law Offices of John H. Maville, Belvidere
<< 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. - Choose from three concurrent programs >>
TECHTRACK
Taming the Paper Tiger: Scanning, Imaging and Document Management for the Small Office
Lawyers thrive on paper, but managing, storing and locating documents can cause the loss of billable hours and push frustration levels to the limit. Learn about scanners, imaging software, and document management solutions that are not just for the large law office any more.
Trent L. Bush, Ward, Murray Pace & Johnson, P.C., Sterling
William Niro, Niro, Scavone, Haller & Niro, Chicago
OFFICE MANAGEMENT
Strategic Planning Workshop: Practical Applications for Your Practice (Continued)
This is a small group, facilitator-led working session on developing a strategic business plan. Facilitators include:
Carl Draper, Springfield
John Olmstead, St. Louis, MO
Virginia Grant, Altman Weil, Newton Square, PA
SUBSTANTIVE LAW
Practical Tips for Basic Enforcement of Judgments
Cindy M. Johnson, Johnson & Newby, LLC, Chicago
Robert G. Markoff, Baker Miller Markoff & Krasny LLC, Chicago
<< 8:00 - 8:50 p.m. >>
Gizmos, Gadgets and Widgets: New and Interesting Technology for Everyone
There's always something new when it comes to technology. Find out what cutting-edge electronic tools of the trade might just make your practice a bit more efficient-or fun!
Nerino Petro, CenCom Technologies, Loves, Park
Ross Kodner, Microlaw, Inc., Glendale, WI
David Yavitz, Yavitz and Levey, LLP, Chicago
David Clark, Clark and Partners, Dundee
<< 9:00 - 12:00 Noon >>
PLENARY SESSION - Dustin Cole
How to Maximize Revenues from Your Time, Talents and Team
Dustin Cole provides practical, nuts-and-bolts solutions to some of the struggles that leave too many attorneys frustrated, stressed, and working late. You will learn about important building blocks for a practice that works better and makes more money. Cole demonstrates the most common practice pitfalls and provides clear, concise directions on how to get out and stay out. He outlines the steps to build a "Golden Book" of clients, how to sidestep the "E" and "F" clients, and how to recover significant amounts of billable time lost in the day-to-day rush.
From there Cole walks participants through new approaches to client relationships and new ways to increase work quality while reducing production time. Don't miss this final, dynamic session! Dustin Cole will send you off armed with concrete tips on how to practice smarter so you'll not just survive, but thrive.
Sponsored by ISBA Mutual Insurance Co.