What better way to brand yourself as an expert than by teaching
other lawyers? And, what better time to consider it than this year
as the Massachusetts Bar Association's CLE programming is now
largely free to members? Whether substantively focused in your area
of practice or otherwise topical to the practice of law, running or
participating in a legal education program can be rewarding. You'll
gain notoriety amongst your peers, clients and potential clients
and your program will be on your resume forever. But, how does one
go about putting together an educational program? It's easy and
I'll talk you through it.
Step 1: Think of an interesting topic. You want
people to attend the program and the first condition is that you
cover something interesting. Classic examples are recent changes in
the law, practice basics, skill building practice tips and expert
panels of lawyers and judges.
Step 2: Partner with the relevant section
council(s). Most educational programs at the MBA originate in the
section councils. The section councils are each made up of 15
members and a representative from the MBA's staff. You can identify
the relevant council chair by looking up the section on My Bar
Access or by calling the MBA. Engage with this group to develop
your idea, to identify potential speakers and to recruit volunteers
to help organize.
Step 3: Find interesting speakers. Rarely do
people flock to an educational program without there being great
speakers. And, if you want people talking positively about the
program after (you do), then great speakers are a must. Recruit a
diverse group of presenters and you'll be more than half way to
running a successful program.
Step 4: Engage with MBA staff. Led by Marc
D'Antonio, the MBA has an excellent education department with
impressive capabilities. Connect with Marc to discuss how the
program fits into the events calendar and to ultimately select a
date, time, and location. The MBA will help with program materials
and will simulcast and record for future on-demand viewing as
appropriate.
Step 5: Get organized and prepare. Once you have
your speakers identified, you'll need to pull them together for a
conference call or meeting, depending on the subject matter. I find
that two one-hour meetings are generally enough to effectively
collaborate on a one- to three-hour program. You may need more
based on the complexity of the subject matter. The program, as a
whole, should be reviewed, and the workload and speaking roles
delegated. Be sure to keep communicating by email to ensure all
your ducks (Powerpoint presentations, handouts, outlines) are in a
row. Stay in touch with the education department and make sure you
get materials submitted as directed.
Step 6: Promote the program. People aren't going
to attend the program if they don't know about it. The MBA will
help here, promoting the program on the website calendar, through
email blasts and the like. To maximize attendance, consider
additionally promoting your program through you and your speakers'
own social media accounts.
Step 7: Do a great job. The day of your program
can be a little nerve-racking. What if you don't know the answer to
a question from the audience? Don't worry, you'll come up with a
good answer, and you'll offer to follow up after with a better
response if need be. What if you go way off schedule? You won't.
You're going to keep an eye on the clock and will make sure program
stays on track. What if nobody laughs at your clever law practice
management puns? Okay, that one only happens to me, so you
shouldn't have an issue … also, I don't know the answer. You'll be
fine.
And in the end, you're going to put on a great program, further
establish yourself as an expert and gain notoriety in our
organization and legal community as a dedicated volunteer. Good
luck!
Damian Turco owns Mass Injury Firm PC, a Boston based
personal injury law firm, representing the victims of negligence
across Massachusetts. Damian is the vice chair of the Law Practice
Management Section.