YLD, Criminal Justice Section CLE at Bench-Bar Oct. 5

The Young Lawyers Division and the Criminal Justice Section will present the CLE seminar "Alternatives in Sentencing" at the Bench-Bar & Annual Conference at Revel in Atlantic City, N.J. on Friday, Oct. 5

Attracting hundreds of lawyers and judges, the annual conference provides attorneys with an opportunity to earn up to six CLE credits while getting a chance to network and socialize with colleagues and members of the judiciary.

In general the aims of sentencing in a criminal case are divided into six different categories: retribution, deterrence, denunciation, incapacitation, rehabilitation and reparation. This has led to the creation of multiple programs including but not limited to DUI Treatment Court, Drug Treatment Court, the Do-It Program, Marijuana Court and the ARD Program. This course aims to provide an overview of the various forms of alternative sentencing options. Panelists include Philadelphia Municipal Court President Judge Marsha H. Neifield, Byron Cotter and Denise C. Spadaccini. The moderator is Jill J. Holden.

Please note that all registrations must be received by midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Walk-ins will not be permitted, including-reception only guests. Click here to register.

Sponsors for the 2012 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference include USI Affinity; Love Court Reporting; IAB Public Adjusters, Strategic Legal Solutions; CodeMantra; JAMS; M. Burr Keim Company; Robson Forensic; US Claim; Applied Discovery; Beau & Co.; FTI; Iron Mountain; Just Legal Inc.; Kroll Ontrack; LawCash; Lein Negotiation Counsel; Lexis Nexis; MCS e-Document Services; Mindy Cohen; National Forensic Consultants; O'Neill Consulting Corporation; Round Table Thompson Reuters Expert Witness Service; Ricoh; Signature Information Solutions; Special Counsel; ParenteBeard LLC; The Legal Intelligencer; and the First Judicial District. Special acknowledgement - Family Law Section, Real Property Section and Workers' Compensation Section.

Scholarship Providers Thanked for Donations

The Philadelphia Bar Association would like to thank the following law firms for providing scholarships to public interest and government service lawyers for the Bench-Bar & Annual Conference: Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC; Duffy + Partners; Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock & Dodig LLP; Jeffrey S. Gross; Kovler & Rush, P.C.; Messa and Associates, P.C.; Pepper Hamilton LLP; Raynes McCarty; Real Property Section; Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky, P.C.; State Civil Litigation Section; Feldman & Pinto; Gay Chacker & Mittin, P.C.; Kolsby, Gordon, Robin, Shore & Bezar; Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin; Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano; Kline & Specter, P.C.; and Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP.

Marketing Corner: Making Marketing Time Happen

By Kimberly Alford Rice
Unless they have been hiding under a rock for the last decade, most lawyers understand that investing time in strategic business development and marketing activities is a stepping stone to greater compensation and a more fulfilling practice.

With the demands of the billable hour and trying to balance a personal life, we see many of our clients fall short on investing adequate amounts of time to realistically produce desired results.

Undeniably, quantity does not necessarily equate to quality in terms of marketing. Lawyers should focus their time on engaging in effective marketing activities such as high impact face-to-face interactions over the often “scattershot” approach.

Below are five specific steps you can take to increase the quality of your marketing time.

• Focus on activities you enjoy. Marketing opportunities abound so identify activities that you enjoy and are passionate about, then jump into them wholeheartedly. You are most likely to remain committed to a pursuit if you are truly interested. The trick is to carefully identify the activity then create a plan on how to leverage it for business development purposes in addition to adding quality to your life.

• Leverage your present activities. I am often amused when I hear a lawyer emphatically state "I tried giving presentations, but they really didn't work." As with so many things, one gets out of it as much as is invested. If you are merely "showing up" and not thoughtfully investing yourself, then you may want to re-evaluate your motivation and/or consider changing course.

• Develop a marketing mindset. In all aspects of your life, be cognizant of the marketing opportunities around you. For the effective rainmaker, there is no such thing as “off the clock.” Opportunities abound if your radar is up.

• Engage in laser-like marketing. Many lawyers do not have any focus or plan to the activities in which they engage. One month they may attend a young professionals’ business event and then not go again for three or four months. To be most effective, lawyers should identify a few strategic marketing activities and then consistently and persistently engage. Whenever possible, face-to-face interactions trump most everything else.

• Combine the lawyer-marketer. One of the best ways for lawyers to boost their marketing activities is to integrate "business" into your "family" time, on occasion. Invite a high-level contact and his date for an evening at The Kimmel Center with you and your date. Don’t be shy about entertaining at your home. Next month's column will provide a few more tips on how to find time to market and build a solid practice.

Kimberly Alford Rice is principal of KLA Marketing Associates, a business development advisory firm focusing on legal services. As a law marketing authority, Kimberly helps law firms and lawyers develop practical business development and marketing strategies which lead directly to new clients and increased revenues. Additionally, Kimberly provides career management services to lawyers in transition. She may be reached at 609.458.0415 or via email at kimberly@klamarketing.net.

Managing a Crisis in a 24/7 World Sept. 27

The Bar-News Media Committee will present "Managing a Crisis in a 24/7 World: What To Do When 'You Know What' Hits The Fan" on Thursday, Sept. 27. The event is being co-presented by the Philadelphia Public Relations Association and the Legal Marketing Association - Metro Philadelphia Chapter.

Learn how to stop and issue from becoming a crisis; how to set up your internal crisis response team; how to manage in an age of 24/7 online communication; the tone and message of your crisis response; and what to do after the crisis ends. Speakers are Jeff Jubelirer, principal, Jubelirer Strategies and Joshua M. Peck, senior media relations manager, Duane Morris LLP.

The program begins at 12 p.m. in the 11th floor Conference Center of Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. Lunch is available for $8 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association and PPRA and $9.50 for non-members. Cancellations require 24 hour notice. Click here to register.

YLD to Receive LCD Founder's Award Sept. 28; Silent Auction Included

The Young Lawyers Division will receive the Legal Clinic for the Disabled's Founders' Award at the LCD 25th Anniversary Celebration and Auction on Friday, Sept. 28 at the Westin Philadelphia. The YLD co-founded LCD in 1987 along the the Pennsylvania Bar Association YLD and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.

The YLD's fund-raising efforts and pro bono recruitment also helped LCD open its doors in 1990 and provide services to its first clients.

The event includes a silent auction. Among the items up for bid are four Park Hopper tickets to Walt Disney World in Florida; an eight-night, seven day stay at the Wyndham Cypress Palms Resort; and a Kazane 56 CM fixed-gear track bike, valued at more than $1,800!

Tickets are $135 and $95 for public interest attorneys and law students and can be purchased by contacting LCD Executive Director Linda Peyton at 215-587-3214 or at lpeyton@lcdphila.org or by clicking here.

APABA-PA Annual Banquet Oct. 12

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania will hold its annual banquet on Friday, Oct. 12 at Ocean Harbor Restaurant, 1023 Race St.

Patricia Shiu, director of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, will be the keynote speaker. Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor John E. Savoth and Pennsylvania Bar Association President Thomas G. Wilkinson Jr. will also be participating in the program.

A cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m. and dinner begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $95 each or $900 for a table of 10. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket purchase ($40 for an individual, $400 for a table) will be donated to the Judge William Marutani Fellowship for first-year law students who are interested in entering the public interest/government sector.

To purchase tickets, please visit apaba-pa.org.

Harvest for Homeless Nov. 3; Volunteers Needed

The Young Lawyers Division is seeking volunteers for the annual Harvest for the Homeless program. This year, the event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, at the offices of Ballard Spahr LLP.

We'll be collecting and sorting donations of men's, women's and children's clothing, as well as non-perishable items. Once the items are sorted, we'll deliver them to local homeless shelters.

We're looking for volunteers to assist with managing and collecting donations at their firms. We'll also need volunteers on the day of the event to help with sorting and distributing the donated items. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Maria Harris at mharris@ssdisabilityfirm.com and Erin Lamb at erin.lamb@courts.phila.gov.