Asked and AnsweredBy John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMCQ. I am the managing partner of a four attorney (all partners) estate planning firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are all working hard but I do not believe that we are making the money that we should be. Last year our fee collections were $600,000 and our net income $250,000 which was the total amount that was available for partner compensation. Thus, we each made $62,500.00. Each of us have been practicing for over 20 years and I believe this is totally unacceptable. We appear to be busy and have plenty of work. I would appreciate your thoughts.

Mediation is designed to resolve differences both in and out of the courts. It requires a very different mindset than courtroom litigation. Join us in Chicago on March 2, 2015 for this week-long mediation training and learn how to resolve conflicts in a non-adversarial, non-confrontational manner, allowing peaceful resolutions between parties.The program is taught by Richard Calkins and Fred Lane – two nationally recognized mediators, authors and educators. Until 20 years ago, both Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane were well-known and highly regarded litigators. Since then, however, they have successfully mediated over 5,000 cases. Mr. Calkins and Mr. Lane have developed an approach that encourages the mediator to be a peacemaker, deemphasizing the antagonism involved in formal litigation. This five-day course has considerable hands-on training and requires each participant to complete two full mediations as a mediator. Course topics include an introduction to mediation, caucus form of mediation, qualities of a peacemaker, ethical considerations, other Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, advanced mediator techniques, and arbitration.The program qualifies for 40.0 hours MCLE credit, including 40.0 hour Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).Click here for more information and to register.

Now that media cameras may be appearing in certain courtrooms at 26th and California under the new Extended Media Coverage pilot program, attorneys will want to attend the informational presentation, “Courtroom Cameras Pilot Program – Guidelines for Participants.”The presentation is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2015, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Jury Assembly Room of the Leighton Criminal Court Administration Building, 2650 S. California Ave., 3rd floor and is hosted by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans and Presiding Judge Paul P. Biebel, Jr.The February 5 event will discuss the nuts and bolts of the court’s EMC Pilot Program which permits the use of media cameras and audio recording devices in Criminal Division courtrooms at Leighton an experimental, case by case basis. Included among the topics that attorneys will learn about are who may object to EMC, which types of proceedings are prohibited and who the participants are.The presenter for “Courtroom Cameras Pilot Program – Guidelines for Participants” is Stephen Brandt, Acting Director of Legal Research for the Office of the Chief Judge. The presentation is open to all attorneys practicing in the Criminal Division courtrooms at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.To reserve a seat, please call or email Rose Mary Marasso at (312) 603-6553 and rosemary.marasso@cookcountyil.gov. For information on the courtroom cameras pilot program, go to www.cookcountycourt.org, select “Media” then “Extended Media Coverage.”

The Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity has established an award for community leadership to recognize individuals who have, by example and education, worked to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The award also recognizes individuals who have worked toward fostering an understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons and the legal issues of concern to them.