Ahead of the Curve (January 2016)
with ALA's Professional Development Advisory Committee
Purpose
If you are receiving "Ahead of the Curve" then you are an ALA leader with board, regional, chapter or conference planning responsibilities, or a designated ALA employee. The Professional Development Advisory Committee’s (PDAC) purpose in providing you this communication is to further its goal of periodically sharing topical information regarding the legal industry. Our hope is that one or more of the updates will provide a spark of insight to assist with your work on behalf of ALA as well as within your firm or legal department.
E-DISCOVERY
The E-Discovery Challenge: Finding a Needle As the Haystack Grows
"While e-discovery allows law firms to collect more information in a shorter amount of time, our ability to meaningfully process what comes out at the end has not changed." Read more.
Resource: Greg Shodde, Bloomberg BNA
FUTURE FOCUS
Utah Supreme Court backs licensed paralegal practitioners
"The Utah Supreme Court has given the green light to allow licensed paralegal practitioners to help clients navigate the legal system, though the new professionals won’t be allowed to appear in court." Read more.
Resource: Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Journal
HUMAN RESOURCES
My Employee Said What On Facebook!?!
" How To Discipline Workers For Social Media Posts That Cross The Line." Read more.
Resource: L. Brent Garrett, Mondaq
TOP TIP: Are You Ready for the Reporting Obligations under Affordable Care Act in 2016?
"The Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) reporting obligations are fast approaching in early 2016. This is the first year that the mandatory reporting obligations will be in effect, and employers have been scrambling to prepare the onerous reports and have them ready to be filed in the early part of 2016. The Forms must be provided to employees and filed with the IRS." Read more.
Resource: Teresa D. Teare, Shawe Rosenthal LLP
Leadership
Research-Based Ways to Win at Work in 2016
Do:
Be the boss stars love to work for.
Help your team be creative. Or at least execute better.
Use your persuasive powers — in fact, paint a picture employees can believe in." Read more.
Resource: Sarah Green Carmichael, Harvard Business Review
14 tips to become a better supervisor
"While not an easy task, becoming a great supervisor can be a privilege and can render benefits to you, the individual(s) you supervise, the organization you work for and the clients you represent." Read more.
Resource: American Bar Association
MANAGEMENT
What We Learned About Management in 2015, in 25 Charts and Graphics
MARKETING
How to Improve Your Local SEO: 4 Simple Steps
"What’s the best way to make sure that when someone is looking for an attorney online, your name appears? By maximizing your Local SEO.." Read more.
Resource: Brian Focht, The Cyber Advocate
Operations
Sharing Office Space, Equipment, and Employees (Podcast)
"In this episode of New Solo, host Adriana Linares stops by the shared offices of Barbara Leach and Conti Moore. Together they discuss the cost savings, benefits, and logistics of splitting office resources." Read more.
Resource: Adriana Linares, Legal Talk Network
How Visual Systems Make It Easier to Track Knowledge Work
Resource: Daniel Makovitz, Harvard Business Review
Best Practices for Small Law Firm Practice Management
"Case Studies are a valuable resource for education and providing solutions to specific situations for law firms. These case studies provide a variety of situations and solutions." Read more.
Resource: Frank Strong, Business of Law Blog
PARTNERSHIP
Practical 9 ways to change the carnivorous partnership model
Read this article to discover practical suggestions for addressing aspects of partnership management. Read more.
Resource: Edwin B. Reeser, ABA Journal
PATENT LAW
Patent holders rush to beat new pleading standards; record number of suits filed Monday
"Patent holders apparently eager to file suit in advance of new pleading standards filed more than 200 lawsuits on Monday, setting what is believed to be a one-day record for patent suits." Read more.
Resource: Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Journal
TECHNOLOGY
New top-level posts grow from law firm tech expertise
"Two new executive-level titles joined the CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CTOs and CMOs already managing the nation’s law firms. But while earlier C-titles migrated to law firms from the business world, these latest two grew out of their firms’ desires to display expertise in critical areas of technology." Read more.
Resource: Robert J. Ambrogi, ABA Journal
20 apps to help provide easier access to legal help
"Long list, but there are some interesting apps on the list..." Read more.
Resource: Joe Dysart, ABA Journal
Committee Members
Sharon Meit Abrahams, EdD - Foley & Lardner LLP
Mark Davey ~ Ricoh USA, Inc.
Anthony Greene ~ Jamison Risk Services
Eric Hightower, CLM, SPHR ~ Davis Agnor Rapaport Skalny
John Jakovenko, CLM, SPHR ~ Freeman Mathis & Gary
William Mech ~ ofPartner Consulting Services
Steven Morris, CLM, SPHR ~ Allen Matkins
Paul Morton ~ Burns & Levinson LLP
Savannah Robinson, MPA ~ Barnes & Thornburg LLP
ALA Liaison to Committee
Susan Hanf ~ ALA Sr. Director, Member Experience
Email: shanf@alanet.org
Website: www.alanet.org
Phone: 847-267-1252