August 09 Around the States - New South Wales

 

 

July 1, 2009 - this is a significant day in many ways. It marks the end of a financial year unlike any other in our recent business history. It ushers in an uncertain new year – potentially full of ‘dangerous opportunities’. Similarly it sees the end of a long history of LOMG – the Law Office Management Group (trading as ALPMA NSW) but also opens a new era of a truly national Association representing you – the legal management professionals of Australia.

 

The new ALPMA Ltd will offer you all the same benefits you have enjoyed in the past and will continue to build on them – providing members with continuing professional development and support; opportunities for building strong and effective networks; an annual two-day Summit and a voice in the legal press and with our governing bodies and associations.

 

And so – to the ‘dangerous opportunities’. In this transitional period members of the past Executive Committee have agreed to form a temporary NSW Branch Committee. Shortly you will be asked to consider your involvement with the running of the Association and we will be calling for nominations to the Branch Committee.

 

Consider it as a form of professional development that gives you the opportunity to:

 

• Hone skills in public speaking; marketing and PR; and event management
• Further expand your professional network
• Build relationships with other professional bodies and associations
• Cement contacts within the organisations that supply the industry
• Add a further dimension to your CV

 

When the call comes for nominations, consider stepping up and enriching your professional standing in our community.

 

Overview of PD Events

The May meeting of members addressed the topic of managing the expectations of senior support staff. We were fortunate to prevail upon Deborah Stonley of Henry Davis York and Sharon Jackson of Jackson Recruitment Services, each with over 19 year's experience in the industry, to present different aspects of the management of senior support staff talent. Interestingly one of Deborah’s key points was the vital role of authentic communication – including those difficult conversations where the facts need to be looked at in light of the firm’s needs, the staff member’s aspirations and the economic realities.

 

This key point of authentic communication continued with our Twilight session in early June – "How to have that Difficult Conversation about Fees". Facilitated by Sue-Ella Prodonovich of WHK Horwath and Rosemary Howell of Strategic Action, this session saw tables of members participating in lively “brainstorming” of difficult scenarios – from “What do I do when a long standing client says ‘No’ and reminds you of fees paid over the past 3 years?” to “I’ve already cleared this with [Partner] – if there’s a problem tell him to call me.” The top 10 tips to come out of this workshop were:

1. Talk to the client – clear, concise, continual, from the outset.
2. Seek to understand what your client wants (and what they value) – what their motivators are.
3. Need to have processes in place.
4. Partner training e.g. video.
5. Have consequences clear.
6. Act don’t react.
7. Start early.
8. Encourage people to have early conversations.
9. Confidence in value.
10. Check assumptions.

 

Our June lunchtime session looked at "Innovation for Growth in a Recession" – based on Assoc. Professor John Gray’s research into the Greater Western Sydney legal sector.

 

July is set for a busy month with three events for members – but in consideration of the difficult and busy time this can be for law firms, we have included a social function for a bit of winding down amongst friends.

 

The July lunchtime session looks at "Depression in the Legal Profession". Depression is a common and disabling problem for lawyers. A study by the University of NSW last year found that almost a third of solicitors and one in five barristers suffer levels of depression associated with disability. Depression in the legal profession is four times higher than in the general population. Managers have a duty of care and this session looks at identifying persons at risk and resources at hand. This would be a great session to which you could invite some of your younger lawyers who may not have the maturity to cope with high stress times.

 

We are also holding an Extended Professional Development Workshop in the evening of 16 July, hosted by Macquarie Bank. The topic “Succession Planning & Mergers – the Future of the Legal Profession in the Current Climate” will be tackled by an ably qualified panel of Damian Paul (Managing Director, Macpherson+Kelley Lawyers), Paul Matthews (Managing Partner, Matthews Folbigg) and Andrew Chen (WHK Horwath). They too will look at the ‘dangerous opportunities’ that may present strategies to capitalise on likely future changes to the profession.

 

Ask not what your Association can do for you, but what you can do for your Association…

 

The "Bring A Friend Cocktails" is scheduled for Thursday 30th July. In a bid to continue growing and to support a vibrant and complex membership, we ask that you bring a colleague – potentially a member of ALPMA – along to our Bring a Friend Cocktails. The colleague must be eligible for membership – that is be currently employed by a law firm in a management position – even better if s/he is from a firm that does not currently have a member. Every member who brings a friend enters into a draw for a great prize. So bring a friend – what do you have to lose?

 

Sponsorship

Our corporate sponsorship year also runs in line with the new financial year and we are thrilled to announce our partners for 2009/10. They are:

 

• Law in Order
• LexisNexis
• St George
• Toshiba Australia and
•  Winscribe

 

We encourage you to make yourselves known to our new sponsors and to make them welcome at our lunchtime meetings and social events.

 

We look forward to seeing you at our lunchtime seminars, Extended Professional Development Workshops and of course the Summit coming up in August.

 

For more information on what’s coming up, visit the website at
http://www.alpma.com.au/nswevents.htm .

 

See you there!

Regards,

Gail Edmonds
NSW Branch Chairperson (Interim)