Women Attorneys Network of the South Shore

June 10 - What is Your Plan B?

What would you do if you were in an accident and in the hospital for a few days or weeks? Would someone know how to contact your clients and the Court to let them know what was going on? Does someone have your voicemail passwords? Your email logins? Could a substitute attorney come into your office and know what was going on with each file, what each deadline was? 

At the June 10 WANSS meeting, we'll work on these emergency plans.  You'll come away with a document that you can give to a back up attorney, your spouse, your office mate - so that your work and client's lives are not jeopardized by your accident or illness. 

Meeting will be held at 160 Old Derby St. Suite 456, Hingham MA.  From 6-8pm.  Meeting fee is $10.00  Dinner is served. You may want to bring sweater as the conference room can sometimes be chilly.  Please RSVP by replying to this email.  And as always, spread the word about WANSS!
_________

We love our sponsors!

In order to continuously improve our offerings and to get us a better website with a place for profiles of our fantastic members, and use our Virtual Assistant to help organize the meetings (it's not as easy as it looks), we have started looking for sponsors for our meetings.

The June meeting is sponsored by the wonderful folks at SmartMarketing:
SmartMarketing is led by Mark Merenda (http://twitter.com/markmerenda) who works with his team to help attorneys market the invisible - their services. 

Check out their great articles, presentations, see what SmartMarketing can do for you.
_________

Other events

This Thursday, May 21 (tomorrow) The Downtown Women's Club is hosting an event at the Hingham Gift Company from 6-8pm. Free. Click here for details & to RSVP.

______

The Solo and Small Firm Committee of the Women's Bar Association and the Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP) have joined forces for a 3 part series aimed at assisting attorneys that are starting a new office.

Part II: Avoiding Malpractice Claims and Choosing Malpractice Insurance.
 
Do you know the short list of ways to avoid legal malpractice claims during this financial meltdown?  Since 2 out of 3 attorneys have a malpractice claim made against them during the course of their career, this is a must-attend program.  The panelists will cover the most common causes of claims, suggestions for how to avoid those claims, a dynamic discussion of malpractice insurance coverage, and explanation of the differences and intersection of malpractice claims and BBO complaints.  Learn from our experienced panelists, and feel free to bring questions.  Questions also may be submitted anonymously prior to the program by sending them to the RSVP email address.

Supplement what you learn here with Part III in June on choosing office technology.

When: Thu., May 28th, 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Where: Peabody & Arnold, LLP, 600 Atlantic Avenue, Boston MA.  Directions.  Bring ID for security screening. Cost: $5.00 for non-members, free for WBA members.

Panelists:

Terri L. Pastori, Esq., Peabody & Arnold, LLP
George A. Berman, Esq., Peabody & Arnold, LLP and Chair of the BBO
Robert T. Gill, Esq., Peabody & Arnold, LLP
Terence J. Welsh, MBA Insurance Agency, Inc.

Prior registration is required.  Payment must be made at the door in cash or by check (payable to the WBA) only.  RSVPs for May/Part II program to Jared Correia by May 25, 2009 at jared@masslomap.org.  Please include your contact information and WBA membership status in your RSVP.  You may also include in your RSVP your anonymous question(s) to the panel.

Wed. May 6, 2009. Profitable & Efficient Practices!

Don't miss the next Woman Attorneys Network of the South Shore Meeting. 
Held at 160 Old Derby St.  Hingham, MA 02043.  6 -8 pm. 

Jared Correia of LOMAP (the Law Office Management Assistance Program) will be here to talk to us about
simple ways to use technology to make our practices more efficient, and he'll be educating us on how not to run afoul of the new privacy regulations. http://www.masslomap.org/

Leanna and Alexis will talk about making your practice profitable (and having more free time) by using Virtual Assistants and outsourcing.

Come and share your favorite tips, or just come and learn.

As always, there will also be fun networking, tasty food, great company and maybe a raffle!

Meeting fee is $10.00.  Please bring friends and please RSVP.

Leanna@HamillLawOffice.com
Alexis@AlexisLevitt.com

April 28th Panel on Planning for New Law Office

The Solo and Small Firm Committee of the Women's Bar Association and the Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP) have joined forces for a 3 part series aimed at assisting attorneys that are starting a new office. 
 
Part I: Business, Marketing and Operational Planning for the New Law Office.  Choosing to open a law firm is a big step, one that should be well-considered.  It is not just about hanging a shingle; it is about building the whole house.  Learn from panelists the essentials of developing your business and marketing plan, and find out what you should be thinking about in the way of office space, entity selection, recordkeeping, budgeting, revenue generation and more.  Make this the launching pad for your new firm, and supplement what you learn here with the following parts of this series (Part II in May, and III in June) on choosing malpractice insurance and choosing office technology.

When: April 28th, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Where: the Ground Floor Conference Room at the Middlesex Superior Court in the Woburn/Trade Center 128, 200 Trade Center, Woburn

Directions: At http://www.tradecenter128.com/directions.htm  Main entrance to building is through the glass rounded entrance as you first approach the building.  Conference room is across the hall from the Dunkin' Donuts.  There is ample free parking outdoors and in the attached garage.

Panelists:

Jared D. Correia, Esq., LOMAP

Chiara Urbani LaPlume, Esq., Alan R. Goodman & Associates

Leanna Hamill, Esq., Leanna, Hamill, Attorney at Law

Admission fee is $5 for each part of the three-part series.  This fee is waived for WBA members registering by the RSVP date.  Prior registration is required.  Payment must be made at the door in cash or by check only.  RSVPs for April program to Jared Correia by April 23, 2009 at jared@masslomap.org (please include your contact information and WBA membership status in your RSVP).

April 1st Meeting & Special Offer on Photos

Please join us at the April WANSS meeting on Wednesday, April 1st from 6 - 8 pm at our office in Hingham at 160 Old Derby St., Suite 456.  We will have an open format, much like our January meeting.  Come, enjoy some good food, friends, and networking.  We will be asking for progress reports on establishing your online presence, be prepared!

You must RSVP to either of us so that we can order the correct amount of food.  Please invite colleagues, but ask them to RSVP, as well.  The fee for the meeting will be $10. 

Thanks - and see you then.

Alexis & Leanna
alexis@alexislevitt.com
leanna@hamilllawoffice.com

_____
We are very lucky to have a special offer from Gretje & Lori on professional photos. Gretje & Lori did Leanna's photo, Gail Otis' & Alexis' (even though she doesn't have it up on her website yet).

This price ($300) for photos and make-up is over half off the normal price of $450 for Gretje and $200 for Lori, and you'll end up with fantastic photos for web and print. The special is only good during April 20 and 22. Download the flier here: Download LoriGretjepromo4-09

March 4th Meeting - Having An Internet Presence without a Website or a Blog

March meeting is on Wed. March 4 at 160 Old Derby Street, Suite 456, Hingham. 6-8pm.  The topic will be "How To Have An Internet Presence (and get clients) Without A Website or A Blog" and will cover topics such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Avvo, Justia, HARO and more. (If you don't know what those are, then you need this meeting!) Bring a lap top if you have it and want to get started building your presence. 

 Please email one of us to RSVP so we know how many chairs and cupcakes to have, and how much food. 

 Meeting fee is $7.00.  

Thanks and hope to see you there!

Leanna & Alexis

Leanna@HamillLawOffice.com
Alexis@AlexisLevitt.com

60 Sites in 60 Minutes from Boston ABA Techshow

One of the best events at the ABA Techshow that took place in Boston on Feb. 11 is the 60 Sites in 60 Minutes Presentation. It is a compilation of great and useful sites from all over the internet, some specific to attorneys, some that will help you manage your life and your time, and some that are just plain fun. I've uploaded the file here. Download 60Sites60Minutes - LIST AND NAMES

Two site that didn't make the list, but will hopefully be added for next year:

Help a Reporter : Get Sourced, Get Quoted, Get Famous

Sololawyermarketing : A listserv for solo attorneys and consultants to talk about marketing.

Feb 11th with the DWC, March 4th on Having an Internet Presence & More!

For our February 11th meeting, we have decided to join up with the Downtown Women's Club meeting which will be taking place at the William Ravies at 40 North Street in Hingham from 6-8pm.  The DWC is a great group, and this will give us a chance to meet some new folks. Click here to RSVP  The event is free, and food & drinks are served. 

March meeting is on Wed. March 4 at 160 Old Derby Street, Hingham.  The topic will be "How To Have An Internet Presence (and get clients) Without A Website or A Blog" and will cover topics such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Avvo, Justia, HARO and more. (If you don't know what those are, then you need this meeting!) Bring a lap top if you have it and want to get started building your presence. And please email Alexis or Leanna (see emails to the left) to let us know you'll be coming. 

Upcoming Events:

Wed. February 11th. ABA Techshow RoadShow at MBA. 9am - 4pm.   8 programs all about technology to help your law practice.  Rodney Dowell from the LOMAP is one of the speakers. 

Thursday Feb. 12 - Friday Feb. 13 - ABA MidYear Meeting in Boston.  The event is free, but registration is required. 
Law Practice Management Section Schedule
Main page of meeting and to register

January 14th Meeting

Happy New Year!
The next meeting of the Women Attorneys Network of the South Shore will be on Wednesday January 14, from 6-8pm.  The meeting will be held at 160 Old Derby Street, Ste. Fourth Floor - either Suite 452 (Gail Otis's office) or Suite 456 (Leanna & Alexis's new digs) depending on how many people are coming.  It will be clear when you arrive where we are meeting. 

The meeting will be a chance for us to share our goals for the New Year, to bring and share resources like our favorite business books, websites, and tips.  Talk about what worked and didn't work in 2008, get feedback on your plan for 2009, find an accountability buddy to help you stay on track,  reconnect with old colleagues and meet some new ones. 

Please RSVP to let us know you'll be coming!  And invite a friend or forward this email along.

Leanna & Alexis
www.wanss.org

P.S.
If you didn't get the email from Lori at Your Best Image about the special she and Gretje are having on business head shots, I have copied it below so you don't miss out.  It is a steal!  Lori, the image consultant & Gretje, the business photographer who took Leanna's and Gail's photos,  were the women who were at our meeting at Lyn Evan's for Potpourri Designs in the spring.

Business Headshot Special.

You've always meant to have a professional headshot done, and now's your chance. You will enjoy a relaxing experience in the comfort of Gretje Ferguson's home studio. Professional stylist Lori Johnson will dramatically enhance your portrait with her wardrobe suggestions and makeup application. All at our special two day only promotion pricing.

When:
Friday 23 and Saturday 24, January
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Makeup and photos will take approximately 45 minutes.

Where:
Gretje Ferguson's home studio
6 Deep Dene Way
Dedham, MA 02062
See Gretje's website
(www.gfergphoto.com) for directions.

Fee:
$300.00 includes makeup application, photo shoot, online web gallery, one high-resolution retouched file for unlimited use.

Visa, MasterCard or check accepted.

Non-refundable payment must be received before January 16 to secure your photo session. Space is limited, call early.

Register:
To schedule your appointment time, call Gretje 781.461.9202 or email her at gretje@gfergphoto.com.

Please arrive wearing the outfit you will be photographed in and your hair styled the way you like it. Full makeup and light hair touch-up will be provided.

For questions about what to wear, hair, and makeup application contact Lori 866.286.5405 or email her at lori@yourbestimagepid.com

November 12 Meeting - Talking to Clients About Money

The next meeting of the Women Attorneys Network of the South Shore will take place on Wed. Nov 12 from 6 - 8pm at the Sunrise of Weymouth, 43 Schoolhouse Road, Weymouth.

We will be having Kathleen Burns Kingsbury of KBK Connections come to talk to us about money and how we can become more confident in setting fees and talking to clients about money. 

You can check out some of Kathleen's past workshops here:
and see her Women and Money Blog here: http://kbkconnections.blogspot.com/

Please RSVP if you will be attending. The cost is $5.00 for the use of the facility. 

Leanna Hamill & Alexis Levitt

www.wanss.org.

October 7 (*note corrected date) - Practice Management Tips and Information

Our guest on October 7th will be Rodney Dowell from the Law Office Management Assistance Program.

The Law Office Management Assistance Program (“LOMAP”) assists Massachusetts attorneys in establishing and institutionalizing professional office practices and procedures to increase their ability to deliver high quality legal services, strengthen client relationships, and enhance their quality of life.   LOMAP provides this assistance through its consulting services, reference materials, educational programs, and referrals.

LOMAP offers fantastic services, and is funded through our bar dues, so you should definitely be taking advantage of Rodney's services.

In addition to providing us with practice management information to make us more productive and profitable, Rodney will also be able to talk to us about safeguarding client funds in the face of bank failures. 

This will be a great program! 

Location:  Allerton House in Weymouth, 43 School House Road.
Time:  6 - 8 pm.
Cost: $5.00 (please bring correct change if possible.)