e-Journal
06-14
Featured member benefit: Fourth Annual Summer Social
Mark your calendars and join the MBA for a FREE networking event on Thursday, Aug. 16 on the Boston waterfront
Conference moderators (from left to right): Jared D. Correia, Esq. and Rodney S. Dowell, Esq. of the Law Office Management Assistance Program in Boston.
FREE "LOMAP Super Marketing Conference II" set for next week
Attend the June 19 program for marketing and client tips, networking and more.
The Massachusetts Law Office
Management Assistance Program and North Carolina Bar Association's
popular
Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Series pushes away from the lunch
table once each year to expand its programming into a half-day
conference format. This will be LOMAP's second annual legal
marketing conference; but, unlike many sequels, this one promises
to be even better than the first.
Speakers will present long-form and short-form talks and offer an
array of marketing experience and expertise, coupled with a
willingness to share some of their best tips with you.
Whether you're just starting out, and need to bring in your first
client, or you're looking to get more, or better, clients, this
conference can help you to get there.
In addition to what you'll learn from presenters, numerous
marketing breaks, opportunities to access speakers and a closing
networking reception will afford you the opportunity to meet with
colleagues and to expand your contacts.
Click here to
register for this FREE conference.
Unable to come to Boston? This program is available as a real-time
Webcast. When registering, participants can choose to attend
virtually from a home or office computer. If you choose to attend
the program via real-time Webcast, space is limited. Registrants
will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
Members of the MBA's YLD participate in the "Lawyers Have Heart 5K Road Race & Summer Celebration" on May 30.
Photo courtesy of Sam Segal, Esq.
YLD raises $1,725 for the American Heart Association
Members of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Young Lawyers
Division participated in the "Lawyers Have Heart 5K Road Race &
Summer Celebration" at the Bank of America Pavilion on May 30.
A team of 14 YLD runners raised $1,725 for the American Heart
Association. The donation will be used to raise awareness of heart
disease and stroke, both of which profoundly affect the legal
profession.
LPM Tip
One way to increase your chances of executing your marketing plan
It is important to have a plan if you want to build your law
practice and
having a written marketing plan will greatly increase the
likelihood that you will actually follow through. But for
attorneys, there are many obstacles that get in the way of
marketing. Most lawyers are more comfortable doing actual legal
work than spending time on marketing activities. Then there is
always the lure of the billable hour (how can I spend time on
non-billable work when there is still billable work to be
done).
Probably the biggest challenge that attorneys face is that they
are trying to change their behavior. They are not accustomed to
spending time building their reputation or on business relationship
building and some of these activities do not feel either natural or
comfortable. So even if a written plan is put in place, executing
that plan can be difficult.
One way to increase your odds of success is to focus on one new
thing at a time. If you try to execute on too many new things at
once, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed (and as a result,
unmotivated to follow through). Instead, start off slow. If meeting
potential referral sources for coffee is on your list, focus just
on that for a month or two. If you prefer to focus first on
building your reputation, get going on that article you have been
meaning to write. Or join a trade association and get active so
that you can start meeting people in the industry you are
targeting.
There are many paths to marketing success and where you start is
not that important. You are investing in your future and some of
today's activities may not bear fruit for years. So the important
thing is to get going on something. You can always add more
activities to the mix once you are comfortable with one new
activity. In contrast, if you try to do it all at once, you may
find yourself doing nothing at all. Instead, you'll have a nice
marketing plan sitting on your computer and nothing to show for
it.
Tip courtesy of Stephen Seckler, president, Seckler Legal
Consulting and Coaching.
Published
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To learn more about the Law Practice Management
Section, which is complimentary for all MBA members,
contact LPM Section Chair Thomas J. Barbar or Vice
Chair Stephen
Seckler.
News from the courts
SJC extends start date of SJC Rule 1:19; Electronic notification now available in cases of interest
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SJC extends start date of SJC Rule
1:19
The Supreme Judicial Court has announced the effective date of SJC
Rule 1:19 governing "Electronic Access to the Courts" has been
extended to Sept. 17, 2012 to allow the courts additional
time to prepare for its implementation. The original effective date
announced earlier this year was July 1, 2012.
Judges, clerks and security personnel in 101 courthouses
throughout the state will receive information and training in the
coming months and will develop protocols to comply with the rule's
provisions. Newly hired and promoted court officers and associate
court officers in the Trial Court will be included in the upcoming
training sessions.
In February, the justices issued an order amending the former Rule
1:19 governing cameras in the courts and replaced it with the new
rule. After the new rule has been in operation for a year, the
court will review it to determine whether further revisions are
needed.
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Electronic notification now
available in cases of interest
The Clerk's Office for the Court of
Appeals for the First Circuit will be contacting attorneys
appearing in court who have not registered for the court's
electronic filing system (CM/ECF). Use of the court's electronic
filing system is mandatory for all attorneys filing in this court.
If you intend to file documents in a case or in future cases, you
must register immediately with PACER for an appellate ECF Filer
account. For more details regarding registration click
here.
It is now possible for attorneys to
register for the sole purpose of receiving electronic notice of
docket activity in cases of interest to them. Bar membership is not
a requirement. If you do not need electronic filing privileges, but
wish to receive immediate electronic notice of docket activity, you
can select the option "other (not a public filer)" when you
register. Attorneys who select this option will automatically
receive electronic notification of docket activity in their active
cases and in cases they select. For more details click
here.
Upcoming CLE seminar and program schedule
Register for the June 26 Health Law Conference for information on medical records, health care needs for kids with autism and more.
To register for the following
programs, call MBA Member Services at (617) 338-0530,
[e-mail membership] or visit the
CLE Web site. Scroll down for program
details, including dates and registration details.
Recorded session available for purchase
after live program through MBA On Demand.
Real-time webcast available for purchase
through MBA On Demand.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Health
Law Legal Chat Series: Session V 
Friday, June 15, noon-1 p.m.
NOTE: There is no on-site attendance for Legal Chats.
LOMAP
Super Marketing Conference II
Tuesday, June 19, noon-7 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Law
Practice Management Section Educational Series Finale:
Top 10
Practice Management Tips
Wednesday, June 20, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
Taxation
Practice Series:
Tax
Issues Related to Entities and Real Estate
Thursday, June 21, 4:30-6 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
MBA co-sponsors program:
IMLA Land Use Seminar
Thursday, June 21-Friday, June 22
Harbor Events Centerm Portsmouth Garden Hilton, Portsmouth,
N.H.
Health Law
Legal Chat Series: Session VI
Friday, June 22, noon-1 p.m.
NOTE: There is no on-site attendance for Legal Chats.
Health Law
Conference
Tuesday, June 26, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
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Unable to attend these seminars? Purchase the recorded session
available after the live program through
MBA On Demand and watch the presentation from the comfort of
your home or office.
To view a listing of current programs offered on MBA On Demand, click here.
Taxation Practice Series offers practical tax theory application tips
Final session scheduled for June 21 on entities and real estate.
The Massachusetts Bar Association's
Taxation Law Section and Young Lawyers Division are presenting an
affordable series, which provides a solid tax foundation for
general practitioners, and others, who would like to learn more
about the tax aspects of various transactions. The series is also a
rare opportunity for law students to learn practical application of
tax theory. Join the MBA for the last session in the series on June
21.
Unable to come to Boston? These
programs are available as real-time Webcasts. When registering,
participants can choose to attend virtually from a home or office
computer. If you choose to attend the programs via real-time
Webcast, space is limited. Registrants will be taken on a
first-come, first-served basis.
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Taxation Practice Series: 
Tax Issues Related to Entities and Real
Estate
Thursday, June 21, 4:30-6 p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
- Tax Issues Related to Entities
- Choice of entity when establishing a law practice;
- Comparison of tax implications of corporations, partnerships,
limited liability companies and associations; and
- Difference between C and S corporations, including requirements
for S election.
- Tax Issues Related to Real Estate
- Mortgage interest;
- Points;
- Exclusion of gain from sale of principal residence;
- What is a principal residence and requirements of living
there?;
- Principal residence exclusion when portion of property
rented;
- Tax effect of a foreclosure; and
- Home office deductions.
Click
here for a list of faculty and to register.
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Did you miss the May 17 "Taxation Practice
Series: Estate Planning, Basis and Forming a Nonprofit
Organization" or the June 7 "Taxation Practice
Series: Tax Implications of Divorce, Taxation of Litigation
Proceeds and Spotting Issues on Tax Returns?" Watch the programs
anytime, anywhere via MBA On Demand.
Section News: Upcoming meetings and special section events
Attend the June 19 Labor & Employment and Property Law section council meetings. Join in the June 20 Probate Law and Taxation Law section council meetings.
Labor & Employment Section
Council meeting
Tuesday, June 19, 5-6 p.m.
The Kinsale, 2 Center Plaza, Cambridge St, Boston
The last meeting of the 2011-2012
Labor & Employment Section Council is scheduled for Tuesday,
June 19 from 5 to 6 p.m. All section members are invited to
attend.
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Property Law Section Council
meeting
Tuesday, June 19, 5:30-7
p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The last meeting of the 2011-2012
Property Law Section Council is scheduled for Tuesday, June 19 from
5:30 to 7 p.m. All section members are invited to attend.
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Probate Law Section Council
meeting
Wednesday, June 20, 5-6:30
p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The last meeting of the 2011-2012
Probate Law Section Council is scheduled for Wednesday, June 20
from 5 to 6:30 p.m. All section members are invited to attend
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Taxation Law Section Council
meeting
Wednesday, June 20, 5-6:30
p.m.
MBA, 20 West St., Boston
The last meeting of the 2011-2012
Taxation Law Section Council is scheduled for Wednesday, June 20
from 5 to 6:30 p.m. All section members are invited to attend.
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