The Ethical and Successful Law Practice: Time Management, Team Leadership, Client Relationships and Wellness, Friday, October 29, 2021 - CLE credit: up to 8.0 hours ethics includes 1.0 elimination of bias

 Registration is closed for this event
CLE Credit Hours: Full Day: MO 8.0 Ethics includes 1.0 Elimination of Bias KS: pending AM session: MO 4.0 ethics includes 1.0 Elimination of Bias KS pending PM session: MO 4.0 ethics KS: pending Half day registration includes the elimination of bias presentation from 11:20 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Webcast access 8:00 am ~ Webinar 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Cost: $250 Full day | $150 Half day | $50 Elimination of Bias only

 

Morning Session - Strategies for Taking Charge of Your Law Practice and Your Life.  

AM session:      MO 4.0 ethics includes 1.0 Elimination of Bias /   KS  pending
 

8:00 a.m.          Webinar Access

8:30 - 9:40 a.m.  The Mindful Approach to Addressing Mental Health in the Legal Field

The objective of this program is to raise awareness about the nature of mental health distress in the legal setting, to challenge the biases and stigma that surround those concerns, and to motivate those who are suffering to take advantage of available resources.

Topics include:

  • High prevalence of mental health issues among lawyers
  • Barriers to seeking treatment
  • Ways to support colleagues who may be in distress
  • Ethical implications of poorly managed stress
  • Overcoming stigma in the legal community
  • Mindfulness practices to help lawyers learn how to cope with stress, depression, and anxiety

9:40 a.m. - 9:50 am. Break

9:50 a.m. - 11:10 am. How Secondary Trauma Affects Attorney Mental Health

Attorneys often represent trauma victims of abuse, crime or other adversity. Lawyers, staff and judges alike may be at high risk of developing compassion fatigue as they are exposed to emotionally charged stories and situations, as well as gruesome and disturbing evidence. Symptoms of vicarious trauma include burnout, PTSD, irritability, difficulties with sleep and concentration, as well as diminished pleasure and interest in activities.

Attorneys Cindy Sharp and Becky Howlett will explore secondary trauma in the legal field and include case studies of legal professionals who have experienced the adverse effects of vicarious trauma. Certified Meditation Instructor and Attorney Becky Howlett will teach and lead mindfulness practices throughout this session.

Attendees will learn:

  • How to identify risk factors of secondary trauma
  • Common signs and symptoms of vicarious trauma
  • Specific steps you can take IMMEDIATELY to manage and avoid the ill effects of compassion fatigue
  • Strategies to implement a trauma-informed law practice
  • Tips on how to approach a colleague who is exhibiting “the signs”
  • How to use mindfulness tools to develop deeper awareness about secondary trauma and reduce stress

11:10 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.  Break

11:20 a.m. - 12:10 pm Learn Mindfulness to Curtail Implicit Bias and Make Ethical Decisions. 

Implicit bias is universal—everyone has it! Yet, these biases are uniquely our own as they are shaped by our individual life experiences. Although we all have them, we are generally unaware of their presence and effects, meaning implicit biases can negatively impact our decisions without our knowing.

Research has shown that mindfulness meditation may effectively reduce implicit bias at the individual level.

Certified Meditation Instructor and Attorney Becky Howlett will teach and lead mindfulness practices throughout this session designed to promote awareness of your own biases.

Co-Presenter and Veteran Attorney Cynthia Sharp will join with Becky in sharing their own perspectives as well as viewpoints and experiences of others in the legal community. The speakers will delve into why words DO matter and discuss commonly held harmful assumptions related to diverse groups of people. You will also learn:

  • How enhanced cultural competency will help any attorney both serve justice and advocate more effectively.
  • Concepts that will help identify and address unconscious bias when dealing with colleagues, clients, and others.
  • How to use mindfulness tools to develop deeper awareness about implicit bias and learn to counter insensitive attitudes.
  • Specific steps that you can take IMMEDIATELY to reduce the ill effects of implicit bias in the legal setting.

12:10 p.m.   Lunch on your own
 

Afternoon Session – How to Build and Run an Efficient and Ethical Law Practice: Time Management, Team Leadership and Client Relationships

PM session:     MO 4.0  ethics /  KS: pending

1:00 - 2:00 pm Avoid Malpractice through Effective Time and Activity Management Strategies

One of the most common complaint areas in the attorney ethics arena is the allegation of Lack of Diligence MRPC 1.3. Attorneys CAN be taught to develop stronger organizational aptitudes. By staying organized and running your practice efficiently, you lessen your chances of violating MRPC 1.3 because you will by and large be on top of your work load. Cindy will introduce several practice management and activity mastery strategies that participants can incorporate immediately into their practices as well as day to day personal lives. Tools that will assist with organization and self management will be provided along with a detailed explanation as to how the diligent and persistent use of these tools can help you achieve balance in personal as well as professional lives. Maintaining accountability to self ultimately translates into accountability to clients.

Concepts explored will include:

  • Goal Setting Techniques
  • The One Year Challenge 
  • The Ideal Week - Dissected
  • The “Must Do” List

2:00 - 2:30 pm Delegation Dynamics: Learn to Ethically Delegate and Supervise others

Many lawyers have not mastered effective delegation techniques probably because nobody ever taught them the basic skills. They are missing the opportunity to leverage their own talents by delegating projects and tasks to other lawyers, legal professionals and strong support staff. Besides, lawyers are bound by MRPC 5.1 and 5.3 relating to ethical responsibilities in the supervisory context. Workplace outcomes are no doubt adversely affected when delegations go astray. Lawyers and staff at all levels will benefit from the techniques explored in this program. Special tips will be provided for Micromanagers, Procrastinators and their victims. 

Those attending this session will learn:

  • Fundamentals of effective delegation
  • Strategies to overcome the syndrome of “delegation reluctance”
  • How to identify and modify typical unproductive delegation behaviors

Tools distributed include The Responsibility Shift, Handling Outcomes, The Mistake Process (for Delegator and Delegatee).

2:30 - 2:40 pm Break

2:40 - 3:15 Delegation Dynamics: Learn to Ethically Delegate and Supervise others -  continues

3:15 - 4:30 pm Mastering Ethical Attorney-Client Relationship Skills

During this lively session, Cindy will share the keys to developing deep and lifelong relationships with clients that will ultimately translate into more business. She will share core concepts, sample conversations and time-tested processes that will help you and your staff improve connection with your clients AND remain ethically compliant. We will also delve into principles that will help you learn to get paid what you are worth. 

  • Anatomy of a client relationship
  • Ethical Standards Governing Lawyer Communication (Rule 1.4)
  • Five Key Points to Address at the Outset of Representation
  • How to Develop a Strong Client Communication System
  • Four Keys to Avoiding Miscommunication
  • Three Letters That Must Be Sent - ALWAYS - In EVERY Case!
  • Strategies for Handling Difficult Client Situations
  • Obligations Upon Termination of the Relationship
  • Legal Fee Arrangements
    • Essential clauses to include in retainer agreements
    • How to avoid unethical fee arrangements (Discussion of Rule 1.5)
    • Billing & collecting fees

4:30 PM            Adjourn

When
October 29th, 2021 8:00 AM through  4:30 PM
Location
Webcast
United States
Event Fee
Full Day $250.00
Half Day $150.00
Elimination of Bias ONLY $50.00