AALA Connections - Winter 2009 Edition

Jennifer Brinkley — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:12:59 GMT

So Long 2009!

Member Profile
Member News

Vendors are Not the
Enemy
Carpet Care 101
Cost of Risk

Capture the Magic!

Beantown Adventure

2010 Board Nominees

Why Become a CLM?

Calendar Events

Regional Conference
ALA Webinars

Editor News

Titanium
Paces Legal Staffing

Platinum
Document Technologies
Paramount Staffing

Diamond
IKON Office Solutions
Lan-Tech
The McCart Group

Gold
Bank of North Georgia
Cambridge Staffing
HIRECounsel
IST Management Services

Silver
Atlanta Laser Connection
CT Solutions
Firm Tech
FirstPRO
Graebel/Atlanta Movers
Hughes & Sloan
millicare by Trilogyfm
Milner Voice & Data
Royal Cup Coffee
Special Counsel
SunTrust
Tuttle Printing & Engraving

Bronze
Adams Data Management
ALL-STATE LEGAL
Artlite Office Supply
ASE Technology
Barnsley Gardens Resort
Billback Systems
Bluewave Computing
Blumberg Excelsior
Connect Staffing
CORT
CourierNet
Elite Archives
Elite Telecom Services
ESQUIRE Depositions
Gensler
Georgia Duplicating
Georgia Messenger Svc
Georgian Bank
Great American Specialty
GRM
The LawStaff Group
Legal Eagle
Oce Business Services
Orion Law Management
Philpot Relocation
Pitney Bowes
RentaCrate
Ritz-Carlton Hotels
Robert Half Legal
Source Office Products
Southern Business Sys.
St. Regis Atlanta
Stern's Printing
Stuart F. Cooper Co.
Vertisys

Welcome to the Atlanta Association of Legal Administrators newsletter of upcoming events, articles and more from our membership. You are receiving this email because you have signed up to receive our Newsletter. If you are an AALA member or a Business Partner, you may get this message twice because you are in both email groups. If you received this twice and would like to only get it one time, please contact Jennifer Brinkley. You can also request for others in your office to receive this newsletter.

In this edition you will find helpful articles on CLM certification, carpet care, avoiding malpractice suits and much more. Take a look at the new member activation game, Capture the Magic, and check out what the chapter has been up to during the past three months.

If you are not a member of AALA, but work in law firm or legal department management and have considered joining AALA, now is a great time to do so. Start the new year off by investing in your professional life. Contact Elena Lee or Jennifer Brinkley for more information.

If you are a Business Partner or considering becoming one in 2010, our sponsorship program is open for another couple weeks. Please click here to view the program or if you have any questions or comments, please let us know by contacting Jeff Hamrick.

Your login information is listed below. To log into the site, visit http://www.atlanta-ala.com/en/ and enter your Username and Password.

Username: [username]

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If you have any questions please contact Jennifer Brinkley.

	President's Message
	Author: Marianne Lawhead
	I know we all probably say this every year, but I really mean it this year. Where did the time go? Now that December is here, it seems like it’s all gone by so fast. Yet, some of the individual days seemed awfully long at the time. Fortunately, I have had the pleasure of spending the last 9 months as President of this wonderful organization and had the pleasure of working with a collective board made up of some of the hardest working and most creative... [More Info]

Member Profile - Jack Huddleston
Worthy Waypoints: How Life's Adventures Led One AALA Member Forward Author: Elizabeth Sprouse
When the peach drops December 31, it will signify different things for everyone; however, for one legal administrator, it will represent an opportunity to give back to an association that has supported him since he moved here more than 14 years ago. For 2010, Jack Huddleston, director of operations for Thomas, Kayden, Horstemeyer & Risley, LLP, has been nominated to proudly serve on the AALA's... [More Info]

Holiday Party at The Ritz

Ritz Carlton Buckhead on December 9
A magnificent room on the crisp December day at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead set the stage for the 2009 AALA Holiday Luncheon. This yearly event has proven to be a favorite among chapter members and business partners alike. At the luncheon our Chapter sponsored the annual Toys for Tots. Lance Corporal Reece was in attendance to tell members a little bit about what Toys for Tots does for children throughout our country. ... [More Info]

2009 Spirit of AALA Award

Author: Sarah Turner, CLM

Every year, the Spirit of AALA trophy is awarded to the person or organization that exemplifies the characteristics necessary to help our organization achieve its mission… to promote and enhance the competence and professionalism of legal administrators and all members of the management team; to improve the quality of management in law firms and other legal service organizations; and to represent professional legal management and managers to the legal... [More Info]

We Need You!

There's a reason continuing education and professional development look good on a resume. It reveals one's resolve to never stop learning and strengthening their skill-set, regardless of their years of experience. Volunteer positions within a professional organization, such as the AALA, indicate a person's ability to lead and work with leaders in their own profession. These qualities make us invaluable to our employers because they make us great at what we do! Now, more than ever,... [More Info]

	Roll Out the Red Carpet
	Please welcome our newest AALA Members! Allison Davis Ledbetter Wanamaker Glass LLP Office/Business Manager Sarah Popowski Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP Support Manager/Functional Specialist Emily Dollar Drew Eckl & Farnham HR Assistant Mary Coggins Smith, Welsh & Brittain, LLP Operations Manager

Vendors Are NOT the Enemy
Author: Patti Lane, CLM, Michael Stephens, PHR, Marshall Fletcher and Lisa Nietzel, CLM
Evidence is everywhere throughout the Association of Legal Administrators that the dynamics of the vendor/administrator relationship have changed and matured. Far from being the “enemy,” vendors are our business partners. We need them and they need us, and it is in all of our best interests to change our thinking and our paradigms. Through the efforts of the Vendor Relations Committee (VRC)... [More Info]

Carpet Care 101

Author: Stephen Lewis, Technical Director, MilliCare

An introductory look at what it takes to maintain your facility
Choosing a Sustainable Maintenance Plan Equals Financial and Environmental Savings Carpet is an important investment for any organization; it is both a costly asset and, visually, makes a big impression on visitors and clients. As an investment, protecting and extending the life of carpeting should be considered a top priority. Being proactive and removing dirt and soil... [More Info]

	2010 Role of Administrators in Reducing “The Cost of Risk” Associated with Malpractice Claims
	Author: Anthony Greene, CRM, CIC, Jamison Insurance Group
	As we come to the end of 2009 most insurance companies have seen an increase in reports of actual and/or potential lawyers’ professional liability claims. This is no surprise since historically claims against law firms and other professional advisors have increased after every major economic downturn. In many instances billings, collections and fee dispute related issues put administrators and other staff in the middle... [More Info]

Capture the Magic!

“’Magic” is all around us, just waiting to be captured! Welcome to 2010! Our theme for the year is ‘Capture the Magic of AALA!’ The Magic of AALA can be captured in the camaraderie of its members, the endless educational opportunities, the hard work of its committees and the resources of its website and newsletters. Enjoying the Magic of AALA is even more rewarding than ever. Not only do you benefit from using these tools, you also gain the chance to win... [More Info]

Great Beantown Adventure Wrap-Up

Did you play along in our year-long virtual adventure to Beantown? In 2009, the AALA played The Great Beantown Adventure where the goal was to find hints and figure out clues to determine a ‘final destination’ in Boston. The final destination was the Boston Athenaeum! Congratulations to Amy Hutcheson for winning the 2010 Scholarship to the ALA National Conference in Boston, MA which will be held in early May. It is our hope to host a social and/or tour of the Athenaeum... [More Info]

President:

Dina Wolfe

President-Elect:

Will Lee

Past President:

Marianne Lawhead

Secretary:
Sarah Turner

Treasurer:
Sheri Rowand

2010

Board of Directors

Nominees

Director of Newsletter:
Jack Huddleston

Director of Membership:
Elena Lee

Director of
Vendor Relations:
Joe McAdams

Director of eCommunications:

Amanda Davis

Chapter Manager:

Jennifer Brinkley

In Celebration of Certification
Author: Sue Powers
ALA Members Share Reasons for Attaining the CLM^SM In today’s rapidly changing economy, it might help to know that certification is one commodity whose value is increasing. From personal satisfaction to savings on liability insurance, the Association of Legal Administrators’ (ALA) Certified Legal Manager (CLM)^SM* designation is today helping in ways not imagined when many CLMs first made the decision to seek certification. Consider its advantage in the... [More Info]

Characteristics of Today’s Most Successful Law Firms: How Does Your Firm Measure Up?
Day: Wednesday 20-Jan-10 0:00 AM
Location: Maggiano's Little Italy - Buckhead 3368 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30326
Speaker's Name: John Remsen, Jr., President, TheRemsenGroup
Summary: The legal profession has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Some law firms are thriving, while others are falling apart. ...

Register Mapquest | Add to Calendar

Multi/Branch-Office Study Group
Day: Thursday 4-Feb-10 12:00 PM
Location: Fish & Richardson 1180 Peachtree Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30309
Summary: Round Table

Register Mapquest | Add to Calendar

Communicating With Difficult and Challenging People During Difficult and Challenging Times
Day: Wednesday 17-Feb-10 12:00 PM
Location: Hotel Palomar 866 West Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30308
Speaker's Name: Byron G. Sabel, Consultant
Summary: MENU: Caesar Salad Chicken Cannelloni ~ Chicken and Ricotta Cheese, Golden Raisins, Parmesan and Cheese Toasted Walnuts Tiramisu If you register and do not attend or cancel by the registration deadline, you will be responsible for a $25 cancellation fee. Vegetarian menu available u...

Register Mapquest | Add to Calendar

Region 1 / 2 Conference Recap

Author: Sharon Chalmers

In attending the recent Region 1&2 Conference in host city Savannah, GA, I learned that regional conferences truly are mini national conferences. As a small firm Administrator, I was thrilled to have so many educational sessions to select from; the ones I attended on budgeting and collections trends provided valuable information during these difficult economic times. Of course, value also lies in the chance to... [More Info]

If there is enough interest in any given ALA Webinar in 2010, and it does not conflict with an AALA Speaker Series, they will be hosted at Constangy, Brooks & Smith. There will be a $25 participant charge to cover the cost of the webinar.

March 17, 2010

Law Firm Innovation: Will You Lead or Follow?

April 21, 2010

The Administrator’s Role as Coach in a Multi-Generational Workplace

May 19, 2010

The Social Networking Revolution

June 16, 2010

The Keys to Develop and Implement the Firm’s Dreaded Strategic Plan

July 21, 2010

Legal Risks to Assessing Candidates by Social Network Sites

August 18, 2010

Law Firm Profitability Enhancement

September 15, 2010

Electronic Records Management: How to Manage your ESI in the 21st Century

From the Editor
Author: Sheri Rowand
As this year comes to a close, we have all been impacted by the economic downturn either personally or professionally. I don’t know if our industry has ever felt this much pain. Our chapter, like many others, came together to assist our colleagues who have been affected by the economy. One task was an online job bank, where we post job vacancies and resumes. Many members and business partners have volunteered to help and to that end, we will remain focused on... [More Info]

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This newsletter provided for by the generous support of our 2009 Diamond Sponsors:

31-Dec-09 2:12 PM

Atlanta Association of Legal Administrators - Articles

AALA Connections - Winter 2009 Edition

This newsletter provided for by the generous support of our 2009 Diamond Sponsors: