15 Hour Solo & Small Firm Bundle - 2024
ISBA Members: Use your
15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Empowering Attorneys with Practice and Technology Tools
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association
Sponsored by the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Empowering Attorneys with Practice and Technology Tools
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association
Sponsored by the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company
15.0 hours General MCLE credit, including 14.50 hours of Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category:
- 12.0 hours Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics credit, or Sexual Harassment Prevention
- 1.50 hour Mental Health and Substance Abuse credit
- 1.0 hour Diversity and Inclusion credit
Original Program Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024 – Friday, September 20, 2024
Accreditation Expiration Date: October 28, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)
Please Note: Per the MCLE Board rules, attorneys may not claim credit for watching the same program twice within a 12-month period.
Originally Presented as part of the ISBA’s
Solo & Small Firm Conference 2024: Empowering Attorneys with Practice and Technology Tools
Solo & Small Firm Conference 2024: Empowering Attorneys with Practice and Technology Tools
Get the practice tips and technology tools you need to build a better practice – from how to implement the leadership strategies you need for a bias-free future workplace, to using artificial intelligence to successfully market your practice. Attorneys with all levels of practice experience who attend this online program will better understand:
- How to use employment law basics to better manage your law office;
- How artificial intelligence tools can streamline research, enhance case preparation, and improve client service;
- The tips and tricks you need to know for incorporating the latest technologies into the everyday practice;
- How to build and maintain successful client management;
- The technology tools you need to manage your time;
- How to build and grow an effective team, while overcoming HR management issues;
- How Microsoft 365 can help you be more efficient;
- Strategies for boosting your law firm income;
- How to keep your client communications safe and avoid email compromise;
- The ethical conundrums to avoid; and
- Much more!
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Diamond Sponsor – ISBA Mutual Insurance Company
Gold Sponsors – Sprunger PEO; Churchill Reporting
Silver Sponsors – ABA Retirement; Advocus National Title Insurance Company; PracticePanther; CLIO
Beyond Bias: Strategies for Inclusive Legal Leadership*Diamond Sponsor – ISBA Mutual Insurance Company
Gold Sponsors – Sprunger PEO; Churchill Reporting
Silver Sponsors – ABA Retirement; Advocus National Title Insurance Company; PracticePanther; CLIO
1.0 hour Diversity & Inclusion credit
Lawyers are leaders in society and the workplace. As such, we must ensure we're creating a workplace environment that is both productive and inclusive. Learn how to identify biases and stereotypes with this in-depth discussion on why it’s important to create diversity in the legal workplace and how to implement the leadership strategies you need for a bias-free future workplace.
Moderator: Diana C. Servos, S.T. Legal Group, Deerfield
Julia Roundtree Livingston, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, Chicago
Marketing Your Practice with the Assistance of Artificial Intelligence
Want to save money on your marketing and have your marketing be more effective? Incorporating AI can decrease the need to spend money on marketers, can increase your reach to potential clients/referral sources, and can make it easier for clients to find you. Learn how you can incorporate AI into your firm's marketing with actionable advice that you can implement today.
Moderator: Genevieve E. Miller, Singewald Law Firm, Chicago
Andrew G. Vaughn, Deviant Marketing, Chicago
Employment Law Basics for Managing Your Office
Get the employment law basics you need to manage your office with this informative segment. Topics include: the 1099 changes you need to be aware of, the parameters for people working for free, and what you need to know about Form W-2.
Moderator: John Locallo, Amari & Locallo, Chicago
Jerri Adams Belcher, Engelmeier & Umanah, Minnesota
Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Profession
This presentation explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal profession, with a special focus on the unique needs of small firms and solo practitioners. Learn how artificial intelligence tools can streamline research, enhance case preparation, and improve client service, offering a competitive edge in the evolving legal landscape. We'll also discuss practical steps for adopting AI technology to maximize efficiency while maintaining the personal touch that small firms pride themselves on.
Moderator: Diana C. Servos, S.T. Legal Group, Deerfield
Christina Jack, VLex, Wisconsin
Using Technology as a Client Communication Tool
This session provides practitioners helpful tips and tricks for incorporating the latest legal technology into everyday practice. Learn about virtual and cloud-based practice management options, engaging clients through client portals, creating and using automated templates to streamline communication, and security considerations of communicating with clients using these tools, including how to respond in times of crisis. Communication by texting and voice mail is also addressed, along with tips for setting boundaries.
Moderator: Rachel N. Hernandez, Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, St. Charles
Michael P. McCready, McCready Law, Chicago
Best Practices for Successful Client Management
This segment offers the best practice tips you need to build and maintain successful client management. Topics include: intake, termination, and communication.
Moderator: Genevieve E. Miller, Singewald Law Firm, Chicago
Melissa Smart, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Chicago
Time Management Technology Tools
This session focuses on making technology work for you. Learn tech-oriented tools designed to make a lawyer’s life easier, strategies for learning how to use new technology, and the research regarding multitasking and how staying concentrating on one thing at a time can make lawyers far more efficient. We’ll talk about technologies, techniques, and apps applicable to computers, smartphones, and tablets.
Moderator: Genevieve E. Miller, Singewald Law Firm, Chicago
Jeffrey Schoenberger, Affinity Consulting Group, Ohio
Building and Growing an Effective Team and HR Management Issues
This presentation offers a look at how to build and grow an effective team while overcoming HR management issues. Topics include: how to address the hiring challenges you may face (such as competing with government and not-for-profits), building relationships, the generational issues to be aware of (and how to address them), and tips on how to make a profit.
Moderator: John Locallo, Amari & Locallo, Chicago
Sarah L. Mitial, People Architectural Group, LLC, Chicago
Top Tips in 10 Minutes*
0.50 hours MCLE credit
Capture some of the best ideas to incorporate into your practice during this fast-paced session.
1. Backup Lawyers for Solo & Small Firms
Kathleen O’Shaughnessy, ISBA Mutual Insurance Company, Chicago
2. Notaries and Digital Signatures
David Finnigan, Director of the Index Department, Illinois Secretary of State, Springfield
3. Artificial Intelligence, Billing Issues, and Ethics
Mark C. Palmer, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, Champaign
Microsoft 365 Tips and Tricks
Discover the best tips and tricks available in your Microsoft Office suite, including features you never knew existed and the hottest releases for Microsoft 365 subscribers. Topics include: how to ramp up your efficiency by getting your settings right and dictating emails and documents; preventing embarrassing errors in your documents by ensuring that your Word settings are spell-checking everything you type; processing email faster with rules, quick steps, and other Outlook tips and tricks; letting Excel enter and manipulate data for you and get control over printing from Excel; how to animate bullet points in PowerPoint to keep your audience (a jury, a board room, or your client)engaged; presenting professionally with presenter view; using One Drive to securely share files; and how to use the Microsoft app suite to schedule meetings efficiently, stay on top of your tasks, manage your matters, improve internal communication, and ramp up your client in take form.
Moderator: John Locallo, Amari & Locallo, Chicago
Jeffrey Schoenberger, Affinity Consulting, Ohio
Systems and Processes
Join us for an in-depth look at how to better streamline your administrative tasks so you can spend more time helping clients and less time monitoring your cases and manually processing your workflow.
Moderator: Rachel N. Hernandez, Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, St. Charles
Melanie Leonard, President & CEO, Streamlined.Legal, Naperville
Tech Essentials and Basics for the Law Office: Finding the Balance for Your Small Firm
Join us for a comprehensive look at some of our hardware and software recommendations to help balance the needs and budget of your solo or small law firm practice. Learn about essential hardware (including computers and other tech accessories), networking options, and software to make your solo or small firm run efficiently without breaking the bank.
Moderator: Bryan M. Sims, Sims Law Firm Ltd., Naperville
Kimberly A. Hilton, Workplace Law Partners, Chicago
Transforming Receivables into Receipts: A Practical Guide for Small Practitioners to Boost Income
This segment offers practical tips and strategies for enhancing your ability to collect legal fees, while simultaneously maintaining a good relationship with your clients.
Moderator: John Locallo, Amari & Locallo, Chicago
John Hoevel, Hoevel Collection Attorneys, Chicago
Avoiding Business Email Compromise & Wire Fraud
Scams and hackers become more sophisticated every year, with business email compromise and wire fraud being among the most common cyber insurance claims today. Every lawyer needs to understand the duties, challenges, and appropriate methods for using technology. Join us for a look at what you can do to prevent business email compromise before it happens, the signs that your firm is under attack (and what you can do immediately to minimize harm), your ethical responsibilities following a business email compromise attack, and the best practices that everyone in your firm needs to follow to protect your clients from wire fraud.
Moderator: Sarah Toney, The Toney Law Firm LLC, Chicago
Mat Kresz, Attorney & Counselor at Law, Chicago
Darwinian Awards for Ethically Challenged Lawyers
Your mother always told you: you can learn things the easy way or the hard way! This segment allows you to learn legal ethics the easy way. By reviewing the mistakes other lawyers have made, from advising clients to putting a sign up in their yard announcing illegal activity was going on inside the house, to lawyers getting opposing counsel drunk just to score some points with the jury, this class hands out the Darwinian Awards. Charles Darwin had a theory that only the fittest survive. Well … you can be among the fittest by adjusting your behavior to avoid the behaviors of these lawyers.
Moderator: Diana C. Servos, S.T. Legal Group, Deerfield
Joel Oster, Comedian of Law, Kansas
Achieving Wellness, Work-Life Balance, and Long-Term Success in Your Law Practice*
1.50 hours Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the unrelenting demands of your legal career? If so, then you are not alone. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen as our renowned speaker, Doug Brown, addresses the unique challenges attorneys face in our modern world. Together, we'll explore transformative strategies to reduce stress, find balance, and rekindle your passion for law.
Doug Brown, Summit Success, LLC, Bluffton, SC
*All sessions provide Professionalism, Civility or Legal Ethics PMCLE credit except those designated with an (*) or identified as Mental Health or Diversity Inclusion PMCLE
Pricing Information
- Please Note: You must complete the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
- Fees:
- ISBA Member Price of $275 is displayed below when you login
- Non-Member Price $550
- New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $75
- Law Students - Free