November 9, 2010

THIS SATURDAY: YLD Volunteer Day

Two worthwhile YLD public service initiatives - Mock Trial Camp and Harvest for the Homeless - take center stage on YLD Volunteer Day, this Saturday, Nov. 13, and the Division needs your help to make both a success. READ MORE

The Philadelphia Bar Association's Annual Meeting Luncheon, featuring inaugural remarks from incoming Chancellor Rudolph Garcia of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 12 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt at The Bellevue, Broad and Walnut streets. READ MORE

Senior Lawyers Committee Offering Mentoring to Young Lawyers

Members of the Bar Association's Senior Lawyers Committee are available to provide face-to-face or over-the-phone mentoring on any subject of concern to young attorneys, from ethical issues, obtaining clients, relationships with higher ranking members of respective firms, etc. Interested parties can contact Aneesh Mehta at amehta@volpe-koenig.com who will then notify the Senior Lawyers Committee to follow-up.

Bar Academy Presents: A Taste of Tastykake, Nov. 17

The Philadelphia Bar Association Academy presents an exclusive VIP tour and tasting on Nov. 17, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the new home of Tastykake: the Tasty Baking Company's state-of-the-art bakery at The Philadelphia Navy Yard. Samples of choice desserts paired with specialty beers will be on hand. READ MORE

Public Interest Section Accepting Nominations for 2010 Law Student Award, Due Nov. 22

The Public Interest Section is accepting nominations for its 2010 Law Student Awards, which recognize one graduating (third or fourth year) student with a demonstrated commitment to public service from each of the 6 Philadelphia area law schools: Drexel, Penn, Rutgers, Temple, Villanova and Widener (Delaware). 

To nominate a student for this award, please complete the Nomination Form here.

 The nominations deadline is Monday, November 22. 

For questions, contact Maureen Olives, Chair, Law School Outreach Committee, at molives@temple.edu or 215-204-3705.

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YLD Volunteer Day, Nov. 13

Two worthwhile YLD public service initiatives - Mock Trial Camp and Harvest for the Homeless - take center stage on YLD Volunteer Day, next Saturday, Nov. 13, and the Division needs your help to make both a success.

Harvest for the Homeless
Donations of men's, women's and children's clothing, towels and non-perishable items (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, etc.) and food items are collected at local law firms. Volunteers are needed to coordinate the collection of these items at their firms and, on Nov. 13 at 8:30 a.m. at Ballard Spahr, help sort the donations and deliver them to local homeless shelters. Those interested in assisting in this effort, please contact Melanie Taylor, Roxane Crowley and Matt Laver.

Mock Trial Camp
This intensive, all-day camp on Nov. 13 at Temple University's Beasley School of Law prepares students for the annual John S. Bradway Philadelphia High School Mock Trial Competition. The YLD and Temple University's Legal Education and Participation Program (LEAP) seek attorney volunteers to lead small-group sessions on various aspects of trial advocacy throughout the day. Volunteers can choose from two sessions, 7:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., or commit to the entire day. More than 100 students are expected at this year’s camp, so many volunteers are needed. To sign up or for more details, contact Joshu Harris, Paul Kaufman or Joe Guzzardo.

Alumni Connections Key in Your Business Development Arsenal

By Kimberly Alford Rice

As a young attorney, you are well directed to spend much of your time on honing your substantive legal craft. Your in-depth legal knowledge is, after all, the cost of admission to developing a solid client base.However, being a sharp lawyer is only part of the equation to a successful practice. The savvy lawyer knows she/he must differentiate her- or himself but may wonder how to do so in a meaningful way.

Given today's legal landscape, which is rapidly-changing and ultra-competitive, law firm associates are well served to understand the unique role they can play in helping their firms compete and survive.

One of the ways young lawyers can leverage their unique position is by staying connected to their law school classmates. Whether you (or they) pursue a law firm life, choose to develop a solo practice, land an in-house position, or decide to follow an alternative career path, the relationships you developed in law school (and continue to nurture) is one of the keys to your success.

Below are a few ways associates can stay in touch with their law school classmates to foster deeper
relationships:

  • Get plugged into law school alumni association news and activities. Sign up online for alumni e-news and be proactive in attending events and reaching out to former classmates.

  • Leverage the web. Join and be active on your alumni listserv, Facebook and LinkedIn. Search out new connections and find reasons to stay in touch. If you travel for firm business, be proactive in tracking your travels on LinkedIn's TripIt to schedule visits with out-of-town classmates.

  • Learn effective networking skills to develop a comfort level for cultivating business relationships in social settings. This is a "must have" skill which is more involved than passing out business cards.

  • Set up a Google Alerts account to stay current on select issues and law school classmates. This will provide reason for you to connect with your growing network and to offer help.

  • Create a list of former classmates, categorize them by occupation (non-competing) law firms, solo practice (who may need some help on a case), or firms larger than yours (who may have conflicts), and systematically seek face-to-face time to learn their "pain points" and how you may help them. Become a resource to them and you will find rewards not only professionally but also personally.

Today is not too soon to get started.

Kimberly Alford Rice is Principal of KLA Marketing Associates, a business development advisory firm focusing on servicing the legal sector. Kimberly helps law firms and lawyers develop practical business development and marketing strategies which lead directly to new clients and increased revenues. She can be reached at 609-458-0415 or at kimberly@klamarketing.net.

Garcia to Outline 2011 Plans at Dec. 7 Annual Meeting

The Philadelphia Bar Association's Annual Meeting Luncheon, featuring inaugural remarks from incoming Chancellor Rudolph Garcia of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 12 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt at The Bellevue, Broad and Walnut streets.

The event will also feature the presentation of the Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Distinguished Jurist Award and the Wells Fargo Fidelity Award. Click here to purchase tickets.

Election of officers and members of the Board of Governors will also be held on Tuesday, Dec. 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Ballroom Level of the Hyatt at The Bellevue. Officers to be elected are Vice Chancellor, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer and five members of the Board of Governors for three-year terms.

Ballots will be mailed on Thursday, Nov. 18, and must be received at the offices of the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th Floor, by 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2.

Candidates for office are: Albert S. Dandridge III and Kathleen D. Wilkinson, Vice Chancellor; Sophia Lee, Secretary; Joseph A. Prim Jr., Treasurer; Kim R. Jessum and Jacqueline G. Segal, Assistant Secretary; Wesley R. Payne IV, Assistant Treasurer; Brian S. Chacker, Nikki Johnson-Huston, Angus Love, Scott W. Reid, Gina Furia Rubel and Marc J. Zucker, Board of Governors (elect five).

Bar Academy Present: A Taste of Tastykake, Nov. 17

The Philadelphia Bar Association Academy presents an exclusive VIP tour and tasting on Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the new home of Tastykake: the Tasty Baking Company's state-of-the-art bakery at The Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Attendees can sample a selection of legendary Tastykake products, and enjoy specialty beers courtesy of Origlio Beverage, in the world's largest "green" bakery - a 345,000 square-foot, LEED-registered facility. The new bakery features highly automated baking equipment for Tastykake's famed product lines - including Krimpets®, Kandy Kakes®, pies, cookie bars and cupcakes. Attendees will hear from top Tastykake executives about the decision to transition away from the company's 88-year-old Hunting Park baking facility, and experience all components of the baking process during a guided tour not available to the public.

The program begins at 5:30 p.m. at The Tastykake Bakery at The Philadelphia Navy Yard, 4300 S. 26th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19112. The cost for this event is $15 per person. The event is open to members of the Philadelphia Bar Association only. To register, click here or visit baracademy.philadelphiabar.org. Registration is limited and required in advance.

The Philadelphia Bar Association Academy provides civic and cultural educational experiences that allow for enhanced business development opportunities to members of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Academy programs provide a unique entry to the city's most vibrant institutions and leaders, offering Association members behind-the-scenes access to these institutions in a manner designed to benefit all participants.

THURSDAY: Philadelphia Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild to Present Progressive Jobs Panel

The Philadelphia Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild will present "Progressive Jobs Panel: How Do I Get a Progressive Job in This Economy or Stay Viable in the Meantime?" this Thurs., Nov. 11, from 5:30-8:30 p.m.* at Cherry Street Tavern, 129 N. 22nd Street.

Tough times never last, but tough people do. Come have a drink and find out how to best position yourself to get a progressive job during these hard times. A panel of young lawyers will briefly share their experiences and will honestly answer questions. Topics will include: the many paths to finding a job you like; trends in the progressive job market; strategies for getting that dream job; survival strategies: getting by while moving forward; clerkships/fellowships; and opportunities to workshop resumes and cover letters.

For more details, contact Benjamin P. Beck-Coon, Independence Fellow and Staff Attorney at the Legal Clinic for the Disabled, at 215-587-3439 or bbeckcoon@mageerehab.org.

*Attorneys will be available from 5:30-6:00 p.m. to review your resumes/cover letters; main event to begin at 6:00 p.m.

Combating Obstructionism at Deposition, Nov. 19

Robert Musante will present the 4 substantive credit CLE seminar "Combating Obstructionism at Deposition" on Friday, Nov. 19.

Musante is one of the country's foremost teachers of deposition skills. He has taught more than 27,000 lawyers in 37 states and 11 offices of state attorneys general. He has taught and been a featured speaker in advocacy skills at Hastings College of Trial Advocacy and at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. He has made numerous appearances on national TV and local radio as a trial commentator.

This seminar will be held from 12 to 4:15 p.m. at The CLE Conference Center on the 10th floor of the Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East (Juniper Street entrance), Suite 1010. The program has been approved for 4 Substantive credits. For more information on standard tuition fees and registration, please call 1-800-932-4637 or CLICK HERE.

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