Marketing Corner: The Power of Professional Presence - Part 2

By Kimberly Alford Rice
Putting one's best foot forward (literally and figuratively) will get you noticed and heard quicker and more positively than showing up on shaky group in connection with your professional image.

In the second installment below, I've addressed some helpful hints for guys to take note of for a stronger professional presence.

• Shave before coming to work. Maybe that rugged look is in for young guys, but the workplace is not Abercrombie & Fitch, and you need to be well shaven.

• Be well groomed – no long fingernails, no super gel hair, etc. It matters and others in roles of authority are noticing how you present yourself in the office.

• Tuck your shirt neatly into your pants. The “shirt-tail out” look may be appropriate for many occasions, but definitely not in a professional environment.

• Match socks to your pants (not to your belt or tie) to provide a continuous monochromatic presentation from your pants to your shoes.

• Keep shoes in good shape. No mis-matched laces on the tie ups, or wearing any type of shoe which may resemble a sneaker, golf shoe, running shoe, etc. Invest in a sturdy pair of lace ups and a pair of “cordovan” (burgundy) loafers, and you’ll be well covered with most suits.

• Be measured for your suits, even if you have only one. Wearing an ill-fitted suit negates the professional image you are trying to portray.

• White undershirts.

Along the professional journey, there will be plenty of times that “best practices” may elude you of feeling secure in your professional image. Easy to understand as there are rarely any “classes” in how to most effectively present your professional self. One way to allay some of the uncertainties is to look around and observe others more senior to you whom you respect and regard highly. How do they show up? Do they appear polished and refined?

Another option to “find” your professional style/image is to engage the services of a professional stylist/consultant. Many of the higher-end department stores (like Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor) offer these services. We also maintain a resources list of highly specialized experts who can also put you on the right path.

Regardless, remember, we have one shot at making the best first impression which may materially impact your professional success. Harness the power of professional image now to get and keep you on the right track.

Kimberly Alford Rice (kimberly@klamarketing.net) is principal of KLA Marketing Associates.

YLD Diversity Reception June 11

The YLD's Annual Diversity Reception will be Wednesday, June 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, 1901 JFK Blvd. U.S. District Court Judge C. Darnell Jones II will be the keynote speaker

Each year, the YLD awards five scholarships to students of diverse backgrounds. The goal of the YLD Diversity Scholarship is to identify and support future leaders in the profession from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate both a desire and commitment to practicing law in the Philadelphia area. This year's scholarship recipients are Luz Denise Negron-Bennett, Joseph Pangaro, Malik Pickett, Chi Ser Tran and Farhan Zahid, all students at Temple University Beasley School of Law.

The event co-hosts are Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania, The Barristers' Association of Philadelphia, Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania and South Asian Bar Association of Philadelphia. The YLD Diversity Reception is sponsored by Love Court Reporting, Inc. Admission is free to Philadelphia Bar Association members. Admission for non-members is $15. Click here to register.

Insurance Coverage and Conflicts CLE June 10

The Pennsylvania Bar Institute will present the CLE program "Insurance Coverage and Conflicts: Duties of Insurer, Insured and Counsel in the Tripartite Relationship" on Tuesday, June 10.

The program will explore the myriad practical and ethical conflicts and quandaries presented when a liability insurer agrees to provide a defense to its insured but at the same time informs its insured through a reservation of rights letter that there may be no coverage under the policy. Courts have provided little practical guidance to parties in the tripartite insurer-defense counsel-insured relationship as to how to handle their often conflicting duties. The panel will review the state of the law and focus on how best to handle complex issues as well as provide practical guidance on how to handle conflicting duties in the tripartite insurer defense counsel-insured relationship.

The program begins at 12:30 p.m. at The CLE Conference Center on the 10th Floor of the Wanamaker Building, Market and Juniper streets. Lunch is included. Click here to register.

Tax Section CLE on Partner Guarantees June 12

New Treasury regulations were proposed late in 2013 and early in 2014 addressing partnership liabilities, disguised sales and basis adjustments. These regulations change how partnership debt is allocated to partners, including significantly changing the treatment of guarantees, changing the disguised sales rules and providing new rules regarding basis adjustments involving contributions of built-in loss property.

These rules, if adopted, could have a substantial effect on many operating partnerships, especially in the real estate industry. Expert tax practitioners will provide insight into the government's concerns regarding the existing regulations that led to the proposed regulations at a Tax Section CLE program on Thursday, June 12.

The program begins at 12:30 p.m. at The CLE Conference Center on the 10th Floor of the Wanamaker Building, Market and Juniper streets. Two substantive CLE credits are available. Click here to register.

Crowdingfunding and Nonprofits June 30

Crowdfunding is one the hottest business and nonprofit organization topics right now, especially with the new SEC rules. Join a panel of experts who will discuss what crowdfunding is and whether is it right for your nonprofit organization at a Monday, June 30 YLD Live, Lunch and Learn program.

Panelists Michael Adler, managing partner of the Law Office of Michael E. Adler; Al Migliaccio, CEO and founder of JAMIS Sales Success; and Kevin Provost, founder/CEO of CrowdCampuses and coPhilly; will discuss practical application, importance of technology platform, and some of the legal pitfalls to using crowdfunding.

The program begins at 12 p.m. in the 11th floor Conference Center at the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St. Lunch is available for $8 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association and $12 for non-members. Cancellations require 24 hours notice. Click here to register for lunch.

Speed Mentoring Program June 25 at Chima

The Business Law Section, in conjunction with the Young Lawyers Division, invites young lawyers and law students to engage candidly and meaningfully with seasoned practitioners and coaches about building a book of business and marketing oneself as a young lawyer at a Wednesday, June 25 speed mentoring program.

Attendees will be divided into small groups which will rotate to discuss focused topics with mentors' seated at individual tables. Developing one's practice is essential to a successful legal career, and starting early can reap significant benefits. Topics will include connecting with clients and referral sources; practical networking pointers and etiquette; work-life insights and advice; and attaining your career goals.

Mentors include Mitchell Bach, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC; Fenita Moore, Dilworth Paxson LLP; Rachel Branson, SunGard Data Systems Inc.; Robert Graff, The Graff Standard; Sadye Ladov, Dolchin, Slotkin & Todd, P.C; Lainee Beigel, Career Esquire Strategy; Eric Schwartz, Jericho Equity Partners; and Eric Weitz, Messa & Associates, P.C.

The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, 1901 JFK Blvd. Registration for this event is required and will include heavy hors d'oeuvres and drinks. Registration is $10 for law student members; $20 for non-member law students (includes automatic membership to the Association for the remainder of the year, which is a discount off the standard fee); $20 for Philadelphia Bar Association members; and $30 for non-members. The event will be limited to the first 50 people to register. Click here to register.

The Business Law Section would like to thank its Annual Sponsor, Thomson Reuters.

Federal Bench-Bar Conference June 13

A State of the Courts presentation and Keynote Remarks by Witold "Vic" Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, are among the highlights of the Federal Courts Committee's Federal Bench-Bar Conference on Friday, June 13.

The Federal Bench-Bar Conference is a half-day educational event that is attended by federal court practitioners and judges. Attendees will spend the morning hearing panel presentations by both judges and practitioners on topics of current interest in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The conference will begin with opening remarks by Danielle Banks, chair of the Federal Courts Committee, followed by an introduction of the program by Bruce P. Merenstein, course planner and vice chair of the Federal Courts Committee. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. at The Rittenhouse Hotel, 210 W. Rittenhouse Square. To register for the Federal-Bench Bar Conference, visit pbi.org.

The first panel discussion, "Expert Witnesses in Federal Court: What Works and What Doesn't," features U.S. District Court Judges Mitchell S. Goldberg, Cynthia M. Rufe and Juan R. Sanchez and moderator Nina M. Gussack.

On the next panel, U.S. District Court Judge Legrome D. Davis and attorneys Catherine M. Recker, Robert A. Zauzmer and moderator David Rudovsky will discuss "The Use of Social Media to Investigate, Prosecute, and Defend Criminal Charges."

Following a short break, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Petrese B. Tucker, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Chief Judge Eric L. Frank and Clerk of Court Michael E. Kunz will present a report on the State of the Courts.

The last panel discussion, "Ethical Issues During Depositions: Hypothetical Scenarios," features U.S. District Court Judges Paul S. Diamond and Gerald A. McHugh Jr., along with former Chancellor Abraham C. Reich and moderator Dennis R. Suplee.

The program concludes with Walczak's Keynote Remarks. He will address why it is important that federal courts be receptive to litigation brought on behalf of "unpopular" people and causes. Click here to register for the Federal Bench-Bar Conference.

Bar Foundation Golf & Tennis Classic June 16

Registration is still open for the Philadelphia Bar Foundation's 26th Annual Golf & Tennis Classic on Monday, June 16 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Golf will take place on both the Wissahickon and Militia Hill courses. The Philadelphia Cricket Club also features grass and clay tennis courts. Please note that Wissahickon is a walking course, and carts will only be available for those over the age of 65 or with a medical note. Carts are available on Militia Hill. Individual golfers and foursomes will be assigned to Wissahickon by lottery if necessary.

Register today and help the Philadelphia Bar Foundation celebrate 50 years of promoting access to justice. Click here to register. For more information, please contact Alexander McDowell at 215-238-6334 or amcdowell@philabar.org.

Applicants Sought for FJD Judicial Fellowship Program

Philadelphia judges are seeking to host law school graduates as judicial fellows to provide the graduates with substantive legal experience while benefitting the court system with additional legal talent, as part of the First Judicial District's Judicial Fellowship Program. Now entering its fourth year, the Judicial Fellowship Program was created in 2011 to address the difficult hiring climate for lawyers that many recent law graduates were facing.

The Judicial Fellowship Program aims to provide high-caliber law graduates with substantive experience in the law, and to support the Court in carrying out key functions. Fellows volunteer their time, have the same responsibilities as regular paid judicial law clerks, and gain the benefit of training by judges in the Philadelphia courts. Judicial fellows' service helps our high-volume court system maintain its superior quality of service to the Philadelphia community. Judges help judicial fellows by mentoring and providing legal experience that will enhance their competitiveness for paid employment as new lawyers.

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Lisa M. Rau developed the program with help from Professor Chapin Cimino of the Drexel University School of Law as well as faculty and administrators from career services offices at the University of Pennsylvania's Law School and Temple's Beasley School of Law. The Judicial Fellowship Program quickly expanded and now welcomes graduates from law schools from across the country. The Philadelphia Bar Association is a supporter of the Judicial Fellowship Program.

The application process is streamlined and selective. Prospective judicial fellows apply directly via email to judges with whom they are interest in working. Judges select judicial fellows from those applicants who apply to them directly. The list of judges with available positions for judicial fellows is provided on the Judicial Fellowship Program's website. Each judge and fellow team designs a flexible schedule (minimum of 20 hours per week) that ensures reliable service to the judge but permits the fellow to seek a paid position elsewhere. Judicial fellows do not commit to any length of service enabling them to leave the fellowship with two weeks' notice to their judge upon obtaining paid employment.

During the first three years of the program, more than 50 judges volunteered to host judicial fellows and the Court hosted 149 judicial fellows from 30 different law schools. As of February 2014, the vast majority of judicial fellows (approximately 84 percent) who left their fellowship departed for paid jobs using their legal skills.

For additional information and fellowship application forms, please visit www.courts.phila.gov/jfp

2014 Technology Institute June 11

Revolutionize your practice at PBI's new Tech Institute on Wednesday, June 11. From the way we research to the way we communicate, technology is reshaping society at large. Make sure your practice keeps pace and takes advantage of the newest technologies.

Embrace your inner technophile. Cyber junkie or technophobe, PBI's nationally renowned faculty can help you explore the issues critical to your performance as an attorney. From confidentiality to storytelling, information scouting to intellectual property protection, the Technology Institute will be an asset for you. The program begins at 9 a.m. at The CLE Conference Center on the 10th Floor of the Wanamaker Building, Market and Juniper streets. Click here to register.

Law Society Quizzo Championship June 17

The Annual Philadelphia Law Society Quizzo Championship will be Tuesday, June 17 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Field House, 1150 Filbert St. Quizzo starts at 6 p.m.

Come out to compete against other affinity bar associations, watch/mock your friends and take advantage of food and drink specials. The winners receive a gift basket with organizational paraphernalia, a trophy and most importantly, bragging rights. Admission is free. The event features YLD Chair Ed Beitz as Quizzo Master of Ceremonies.

Participating affinity bar associations/organizations include Asian Pacific American Bar Association of PA, Louis D. Brandeis Law Society, Barristers Association of Philadelphia, Brehon Law Society, Hispanic Bar Association of PA, The Justinian Society, and the South Asian Bar Association of Philadelphia. Please watch for email and RSVP information from your respective group(s). Membership in any of the competing organizations is not necessary - although you will be asked to compete as part of a team representing one of the above groups!

LGBT Summer Intern Reception June 26

Join the LGBT Rights Committee in welcoming up-and-coming members of the profession, summer associates, to the Philadelphia legal community on Thursday, June 26.

Graciously hosted by Ballard Spahr LLP, this event will provide opportunities for summer associates to network with established professionals, as well as begin to build their peer professional community. This event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Ballard Spahr LLP, 1735 Market St., 48th Floor. There is no cost to attend however registration is required by June 19. Please RSVP to Claire L. Volpe at VolpeC@ballardspahr.com.