ISBA Members: Use your
15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next
to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by
the Illinois State Bar Association
Sponsored by
the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company
15.0 hours General MCLE credit, including 13.75 hours of Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category:
- 11.75 hours Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit
- 1.0 hour Mental Health and Substance Abuse credit
- 1.0 hour Diversity and Inclusion credit
Original Program Date: September 28, 2023 - September 29, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: October 31, 2025 (You
must certify completion and save your certificate before
this date to get MCLE credit)
Please Note: Per the MCLE Board rules, attorneys may not claim credit for watching the same program twice within a 12-month period.
Originally Presented as part of the ISBA’s
Solo & Small Firm Conference 2023: The Intersection of Technology and the Law
Learn the benefits and
risks of using ChatGPT in your practice, tips on engagement letters and getting
paid, ideas for marketing across generations from Boomers to Gen Z, and
strategies for onboarding and retaining staff.
Additional topics include:
- How
to avoid scams that target law firms;
- Overcoming
pain points when opening a new practice;
- Cybersecurity
issues to be aware of;
- Best
practices for zoom court from the judges’ perspectives;
- Tips
for do-it-yourself videos that promote your firm and communicate with your
clients;
- What
to do now so you can sell your profitable law firm later;
- What
we can learn about ethics from Hollywood lawyers; and
- Much
more!
Thank you to our sponsors!
Diamond Sponsor – ISBA Mutual Insurance Company
Gold Sponsors – Liz Rivera Consulting AND Churchill Reporting
Silver Sponsors – Advocus National Title Insurance Company AND Clio
AND Centerbase AND Life’s Plan, Inc. AND Law Accounting AND firmTrak Solutions
Got ChatGPT? Generative
AI, GPT, LLMs, and The Legal Data-Driven Revolution
Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, GPT-4 and other Large Language
Models (LLMs) are transforming the legal profession – and rapidly! GPT-4 not
only passed the bar exam, it beat 90% of humans. This discussion — led by
litigator, coder, and AI-builder Damien Riehl — explores how AI is already
transforming litigation practice, as well as ways that the judiciary might
utilize AI to better administer justice.
Damien Riehl, vLex, Minnesota
Technology
Challenges and Options to Overcome Them
Technology is an integral part of the practice of law
today. Learn about some of the common problems faced by attorneys and get
some tips on addressing them from one of our top tech-savvy speakers.
Moderator: John G. Locallo, Amari & Locallo, Chicago
Bryan M. Sims, Sims Law Firm
Ltd, Naperville
How to
Engage Paying Clients
As a solo practitioner or member of a small firm, you want clients. But what
can you do – within professional confines – to get paid? This presentation will
review the ethical considerations for establishing an attorney-client
relationship – such as what to include (or not include) in an engagement letter
– and explore billing options, including subscription services. Attendees will
receive practical guidance on how to engage paying clients.
Moderator: Genevieve E.
Miller, Singewald Law Firm, Chicago
Mathew
Kerbis, Subscription Attorney, Deerfield
Hannah R. Lamore, Mahoney
Silverman & Cross LLC, Joliet
Scams
that Plague Law Firms & How to Protect Yours from Hackers
Scams that target law firms are on the rise. Large corporations generally have
the policies, protections, and legal backing to deal with scammer attempts, but
small business owners are often handling too many things on their own, and the
lack of employee training can lead to devastating consequences for a law firm.
Join us for this in-depth look at some of the scams to be aware of, as well as
how you, your associates, staff, and clients can avoid them.
Moderator: Genevieve E.
Miller, Singewald Law Firm, Chicago
Burton Kelso, Integral,
Missouri
The
People Success Code: You're Done Hiring, Now What?
You've done the hard part: you've found a person for your team – now it's time
to set them up for success. How you onboard and retain new employees can make
all the difference in their productivity, engagement, and overall satisfaction.
Learn key strategies for onboarding and retention to ensure success.
Moderator: Hannah R.
Lamore, Mahoney Silverman & Cross LLC, Joliet
Andrea
Herran, Focus HR, Barrington
ChatGPT
and Your Practice
The topic will focus on ChatGPT, an advanced language model developed by
OpenAI. During the session, attendees will learn about the capabilities and
potential uses of ChatGPT, including its ability to answer questions, generate
text, and translate languages. Attendees will learn the latest advancements in
AI technology and how ChatGPT can be applied to help lawyers in their daily
work.
Moderator: Bryan M.
Sims, Sims Law Firm Ltd, Naperville
Aaron W. Brooks, Brooks Law and
Consulting, LLC, Naperville
More
than Passwords: Cyber Risks Facing the Legal Community
Discover the reasons for protecting your law firm with cyber-liability
insurance policies with this informative presentation. Topics include: coverage
types, terms, and exclusions found within a cyber-liability policy, and how to
evaluate cyber-liability carriers, coverages, benefits, and pricing to get the
best value for your insurance dollar.
Moderator: John G. Locallo,
Amari & Locallo, Chicago
Adam W. Czerwinski, Sidebar
Insurance Solutions, Inc., Orland Park
Top
Tips in 10 Minutes*
Here our speakers top tips on a variety of hot topics:
1. Law Firm Risk
Management
They don't teach insurance in law school. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen
as our speakers share their experience ensuring law firms and how firms can protect
themselves from expensive and possibly firm-ending insurance claims.
Adam
W. Czerwinski, Sidebar Insurance Solutions, Inc., Orland Park
Jeffrey Strand, ISBA Mutual Insurance Company, Chicago
2. Retainer
Agreements and Supreme Court Rule Changes
Sarah Toney, The Toney Law Firm, Chicago
3. Hot
Topics in Employee Hiring and Retention
Andrea Herran, Focus HR, Barrington
Making
Your Work Flow: The Secret to Managing Your Practice
Reality shows us that solo or small firms have attorneys and staff that are
oftentimes overworked and unable to respond to as many requests for information
as their clients are making. As a result, a vicious cycle begins where phone
calls aren’t returned in a timely manner, clients get frustrated and, in the
worst of situations, bar complaints are filed. Don’t miss this segment that
shows you how having a system in place can help with automation, keep cases
moving forward, provide high-quality work product and results, and help you
anticipate your client’s questions before they even ask them. Learn how to
identify the current processes that your firm uses, design processes that will
keep your team making coordinated progress, and identify the technology tools
that will allow you to systematize your firm.
Moderator: Rachel
Hernandez, Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, St. Charles
Melanie Leonard,
streamlined.legal, Naperville
Overcoming
Pain Points in Opening a New Solo Practice
Join us as our speakers, both of whom recently launched their solo practices,
provide a review of the “Top 10” pain points when opening a practice. They will
also provide some practical solutions and resources for addressing those pain
points. Topics include organizational and registration considerations,
practical matter management, financial organization, creative office support
solutions, and general operational issues.
Moderator: Genevieve E.
Miller, Singewald Law Firm, Chicago
Howard E. Zimmerle, Zimmerle Law,
Moline
Elisabeth A.
Ritter, Ritter Law Offices, Chicago
Best
Practices for Zoom Court
Get the tips you need for using zoom effectively during your next court case,
including what to do, what not to do, how to prepare your client for zoom
court, and more.
Moderator: Genevieve E.
Miller, Singewald Law Firm, Chicago
Hon. Tamika R.
Walker, 17th Judicial Circuit, Rockford
Hon. Chad S.
Beckett, 6th Judicial Circuit, Urbana
Running
Your Practice Now, Selling Your Practice Later
Learn how to run an effective, profitable law firm now, so you can sell it
later when you’re ready. Topics include: planning your legacy with your law
firm, practicing remotely, having a plan for retirement or succession, knowing
when to stay and when to go, and much more!
Moderator: Rachel
Hernandez, Bruckner Hernandez Legal Solutions, St. Charles
Brandon
Ayers, Legacy & Life Law Firm, LLC, Naperville
Stephanie Stewart, Robinson,
Steward, Montgomery & Doppke, Chicago
Using
DIY Video To Promote Your Practice and Communicate with Your Client
Get the information and inspiration you need for recording and publishing
videos that will connect you with your prospects and help you grow your firm.
Moderator: Diana
Servos, ST Legal Group, Deerfield
Philip
Fairley, The Rainmaker Institute, Arizona
Dealing
with Trauma in the Practice of Law*
Mental Health and Substance Abuse PMCLE credit
Being an attorney requires more than just your ability to successfully
negotiate, litigate, and mediate. You also deal with clients who have undergone
various kinds of trauma which can, in turn, affect your mental state. This
session explains what compassion fatigue is, discusses how to recognize it, and
offers strategies that can help you deal with it.
Moderator/Speaker: Pamela J.
Kuzniar, Haid and Teich LLP, Chicago
Chelsy
A. Castro, Castro Jacobs, Chicago
Alisa
Neary, Mezzo Consulting, LLC, St. Charles
Picking and Choosing: How to Build an Inclusive and Diverse Law Firm Office*
Diversity and Inclusion PMCLE credit
Learn how to interrupt bias and build an inclusive workplace among staff and clients, alike.
Christopher A. Pickett, Amazon, St. Louis
*All sessions provide Professionalism, Civility or Legal Ethics PMCLE credit except those designated with an (*) or identified as Mental Health or Diversity Inclusion PMCLE
Pricing Information
- Please Note: You must
attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this
seminar.
- ISBA sponsoring section members
get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your
cart when you log in to register).
- Fees:
- ISBA Member Price of $249 is displayed below when you login
and program is
eligible for Free CLE member benefit
- Non-Member Price $499
- New Attorney Member (within
the first five years of practice) - $50
- Law Students - Free