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{ May/19/2013 }
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Issues and Resources for Veterans in the Justice System
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CommitteesSmall and Solo Firm PractitionersSMALL AND SOLO ATTORNEYS UNITE! Spring is finally here and our thoughts turn to baseball. I’m looking to form a rag-tag team of Small/Solo attorneys to play pick up softball games against some of the “bigger” law firms in town. Perhaps we can even form an informal league, with league standings and bragging rights. If you’re a small/solo attorney (or you’re with a larger firm and want to challenge us), email me at coffey@bcalbany.com. If you’ve ever seen me swing a bat, you know that NO ACTUAL SOFTBALL SKILL IS REQUIRED. Ability to catch a ball while holding a beer is a plus. Speaking of baseball, the NY Yankees contacted the bar association about doing a group event this spring. We are exploring reserving a date for the Small/Solos, Young Lawyers, Public Sector Attorneys, etc. to head to the Bronx to see a game (hopefully Jeter will be back). I’d like to do an ethics CLE for the Small/Solos in June. If you are able to give an hour of your time to do a breakfast ethics CLE to our group, please contact me. If you’re on LinkedIn, Link to the Albany County Bar Association – Small/Solo page. We’ve met twice already this year, and have had two great guest speakers. We met January 22 at Professor Java’s, Wolf Road. Pam Elliott of A&G Title and Settlement Services discussed issues related to title insurance. Our committee also met March 7 at 8 AM at Bowitch & Coffey, Albany. Attorney and committee member John Fisher presented a free CLE Powerpoint on: “How to get your Law Firm’s Website on the First Page of Google…and Three Things your Webmaster doesn’t want you to know”. We had standing-room only attendance for the free bagels and free CLE. If you’re on LinkedIn, Link to the Albany County Bar Association – Small/Solo page. Please email me your ideas for future speakers and future activities for this committee: coffey@bcalbany.com. Finally, while not a “Small/Solo” event, I hope you can come join everyone Wednesday April 24 for the 19th Annual Run Against Domestic Violence 5K Run/Walk. Note that due to renovations at Washington Park, the event will be held this year at the Crossings, 580 Albany-Shaker Road, Colonie and will be on a Wednesday this year. I will be heading up the kids runs at 5:30 (1/4 mile and 1 mile), so bring the kids. The 5K starts at 6:15 pm. Hard to believe, but I was on the inaugural Law Day Run committee 19 short years ago. It is a great night to see old friends, get a little fresh air and help raise money for a very worthy cause. More information in this newsletter and you can register online at www.zippyreg.com. Our committee met Thursday, March 7 at 8 AM at Bowitch & Coffey, 17 Elk Street, Albany. Attorney and committee member John Fisher presented a free CLE Powerpoint on: “How to get your Law Firm’s Website on the First Page of Google…and Three Things your Webmaster doesn’t want you to know”. We had a great turnout with approximately 20 people in attendance for the free bagels and free CLE! If you’re on LinkedIn, Link to the Albany County Bar Association – Small/Solo page. Let us hear your ideas for future speakers and future activities for this committee: coffey@bcalbany.com.
1 Hour of Law Practice Management To RSVP, please contact: The ACBA's office at 445-7691 or e-mail acba@albanycountybar.com. ****************************************************** We are planning our next meeting for April. Details, location and speaker TBD. The Small/Solo Committee meets several times a year to discuss issues to the unique challenges of small/solo law firms in Albany County. We also have guest speakers and CLE courses tailored for the small/solos. We also help out with charitable causes such as Habitat for Humanity, and have several social events such as Happy Hours each year. Membership is free so contact me at coffey@bcalbany.com if you would like to get involved with this committee. Hope everyone had a great and relaxing holiday! Our next committee meeting is January 22, 2012 at 8 AM at Professor Java’s, 217 Wolf Road (near the Holiday Inn-Wolf Road). Our guest speaker will be Pam of A&G Title and Settlement Services. Pam will discuss what title insurance is and why it is necessary, as well as why choosing the right title company is so important for the real estate attorney. Thanks to Neil O’Connor for arranging the guest speaker. Please email Dan at coffey@bcalbany.com if you are able to attend. If you are a solo attorney or work for a small firm (ie, less than 10 attorneys) and are not already on my email list, send an email to coffey@bcalbany.com to be added to the contact list. If you are on LinkedIn, link to our Albany County Bar Association Small/Solo LinkedIn page. The Small/Solo Committee meets several times a year to discuss issues to the unique challenges of small/solo law firms in Albany County. We also have guest speakers and CLE courses tailored for the small/solos. We also help out with charitable causes such as Habitat for Humanity, and have several social events such as Happy Hours each year. Membership is free so contact me at coffey@bcalbany.com if you would like to get involved with this committee. Also, we are looking for someone to take over as Chair of this Committee. If you have any interest, please email me. (From the Nov/Dec 2012 Newsletter) The Small/Solo Committee meets several times a year to discuss issues unique to the challenges of small/solo law firms in Albany County. We have guest speakers and CLE courses tailored for small/solos. We also help out with charitable causes such as Habitat for Humanity, and have several social events such as Happy Hours each year. Membership is free – contact me at coffey@bcalbany.com. We are looking for new members, new ideas for activities for 2013. On November 15, we held at Happy Hour at the new Lark Tavern. The event was a joint HH with the ACBA Young Lawyers and the Capital District Women’s Bar Association. We had a great turnout, great food and drink and great networking with the lawyers from these other groups. Several committee members met October 23 for bagels and coffee and heard our guest speaker, Seth Meltzer, HR Consultant for Paychex, talk with us about employee issues, including the necessity of an employee handbook, keeping records and generally how to protect your firm from claims by current and past employees. Thanks to Tabak and Kiosse for hosting! We will not be having a holiday party, but hope to see some of the Small and Solos at ACBA’s Holiday Party December 13th from 6-8 pm at the Hampton Inn in downtown Albany. Our next committee meeting is October 23 at 8:00 am at the offices of Tabak and Kiosse, 100 Great Oaks Boulevard, Suite 122, Albany. Our guest speaker will be Seth Meltzer, HR Consultant for Paychex, who will discuss best practices for human resources, including wage reporting, record keeping, employee manuals, changes in the labor laws, etc. Coffee and bagels provided. Thanks to Leyla Kiosse for organizing! The ACBA Vendor Fair is October 25 2:30- 4:30 pm at the Marriott – Wolf Road. It is open to all ACBA members. There is a CLE on Ethics preceding the Vendor Fair at 11:45 am. See the ACBA website for more information and to sign up for the CLE. The ACBA's Small and Solo Committee, in conjunction with the ACBA’s Young Lawyers Committee and the Capital District Women’s Bar Association are planning a Happy Hour on November 15th at 5:00 PM at the Lark Tavern. Join us for good food, good beverages and good company - this is a great way to meet new friends and colleagues. To RSVP please contact Dan Coffey at The Small/Solo Committee meets several times a year to discuss issues to the unique challenges of small/solo law firms in Albany County. We also have guest speakers and CLE courses tailored for the small/solos. We also help out with charitable causes such as Habitat for Humanity, and have several social events such as Happy Hours each year. Membership is free so contact me at coffey@bcalbany.com if you would like to get involved with this committee. (From the June 2012 Newletter) Happy Hour Next Meeting Softball New Office (From the May 2012 Newsletter) Happy Hour: We are having a joint Happy Hour with the Capital District Women’s Bar Association May 10 at 5:30 pm at Elda’s on Lark Street. I hope you can join us! Mentor Program: About 20 attorneys have expressed interested in serving as “mentors” to lesser-experienced small/solo attorneys. We hope to roll out the revived mentor program in 2012. If you can serve as a mentor, please email me, along with your area(s) of practice. (From the April 2012 Newsletter) Welcome to new committee members Geri Pomerantz and Carl Hasselbarth! Our committee met on March 20, 2012 at 8:30 am at Law Office of Margaret Tabak, 100 Great Oaks Boulevard, Suite 122, Albany. Guest speaker Nelson Beebe, CPA, spoke on using Quickbooks to keep track of your books. Thanks to member Michael Tommaney for arranging the speaker and thanks to Maggie Tabak and Leyla Kiosse for hosting! We will schedule a meeting for June and a Happy Hour this spring. Mentor Program: About 20 attorneys have expressed interested in serving as “mentors” to lesser-experienced small/solo attorneys. We hope to roll out the revived mentor program in 2012. If you can serve as a mentor, please email me, along with your area(s) of practice. We have about 20 very active members in our committee. I know there are hundreds of small/solos out there. Even if you can’t make it to our meetings, consider joining (no cost!) by emailing me or joining us on our LinkedIn page (Albany County Bar Assn – Committee on Small and Solo Attorneys). **************************** The next meeting will be held on March 20, 2012 at 8:30 am at Law Office of Margaret Tabak, 100 Great Oaks Boulevard,
Kyle Shollenberger will also give us a brief presentation on the new website they have designed for our group: www.albanysmallsolo.com.
About 20 attorneys have expressed interested in serving as “mentors” to lesser-experienced small/solo attorneys. We hope to roll out the revived mentor program in 2012. If you can serve as a mentor, please email me, along with your area(s) of practice.
We have about 20 very active members in our committee. I know there are hundreds of small/solos out there. Even if you can’t make it to our meetings, consider joining (no cost!) by emailing me or joining us on our LinkedIn page (Albany County Bar Assn – Committee on Small and Solo Attorneys). ************************ Check out our website designed by Kyle Shollenberger and Ken McCauley: www.albanysmallsolo.com. Facebook
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