Trust Accounting

Next Week: Free CLE on Trust Accounting

Aug. 28, 12-1 p.m. Free Wednesday Wisdom CLE for Solo & Small Firm Section members. Join us via Zoom for a live audio webcast by Florida Bar Chief Branch Discipline Counsel Sheila Tuma. This presentation will address the trust accounting process and procedures to help participants maintain all required records and be in full compliance with the rules. Section members only.  Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed. 1.0 General CLE. Course No. 3636.

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Shift Perspective

Five Ways to Shift Your Perspective

Shifting your perspective can allow you to focus on the positive, boost your mood and bring you new creative solutions. It can be helpful to shift your perspective when you face situations you don’t enjoy or problems you can’t readily solve. From thinking “I get to” instead of “I have to” to using “What I like about it is …,” this article shares five ways that you can view life’s responsibilities and obligations from a different perspective.

LEARN HOW

This Really Happened

Free Professionalism CLE for Your Local Bar Association

The Solo & Small Firm Section is offering a one-hour professionalism CLE at no charge to voluntary bar associations. “This Really Happened: Taking the High Road of Civility and Professionalism” discusses actual examples of unprofessional and uncivil conduct that have occurred in the everyday practice of law, identifies potential rule violations and suggests possible ways to handle or remedy the situations.
The CLE package includes a PowerPoint and the CD from the original presentation by Jacina Haston, Former Director of The Florida Bar Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism, and General Magistrate Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin. If your bar association would like to reserve the CLE, please contact Solo & Small Firm Section Administrator Ricky Libbert at rlibbert@floridabar.org or (850) 561-5631.

The section developed the course to address the new professionalism requirement amendment to rule 6-10.3(b). Effective March 5, 2019, 5 of the required 33 CLE credit hours must be in approved legal ethics, professionalism, bias elimination, substance abuse, or mental illness awareness programs, with at least 1 of the 5 hours in an approved professionalism program.
Screen Lock

How to Quickly Lock Your Computer

Tech tip from The Florida Bar. Lawyers should not need to be reminded that it is an expectation and duty to keep client communications secure. But it’s surprising how many attorneys and staff do not lock up their computers when they’re going to be away from their desks for more than a few minutes. While it may seem an annoyance to have to lock and unlock your computer (or any device for that matter), it’s a good habit to form. Here are some keyboard shortcuts to make the securing process easier:

Quickly Lock a PC: Look for the Windows key on your keyboard. Pressing Windows + L (the L key – as in LOCK) will lock your system right away, requiring a password to log in again.

Quickly Lock a Mac:  On macOS use Cmd + Option + Power to log off. On the latest revision of macOS (High Sierra) you can lock the screen (rather than log off) by using the shortcut Cmd + Ctrl + Q.

SSFS Fall CLE

Upcoming CLE This Fall

Save the dates! This fall, the Solo & Small Firm Section is bringing you a great selection of CLE and free, members-only Wednesday Wisdom Zoom webinars. Check the events calendar for updates. Audio webcasts and Wednesday Wisdom CLEs are from noon to 1 p.m.

Sept. 17—Malpractice Pitfalls for Solo & Small Firms. Audio webcast by FLMIC President/CEO William Loucks.

Sept. 25—Wednesday Wisdom: Paralegals and Lawyers, a Critical Partnership for Pretrial Litigation. FREE Zoom webinar by Priscilla Horn Warren, Florida Registered Paralegal and attorney Jennifer Dietz.

Oct. 4—Agricultural Law Update. Live event, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Florida Farm Bureau, Gainesville. Dr. Mike Olexa, Program Chair.

Oct. 15—Hidden Immigration Law Implications that Solo & Small Practices Need to be Aware of. Audio webcast by Patricia Hernandez and Nora Rotella of Rotella & Hernandez.

Oct. 23—Wednesday Wisdom: A Lawyer’s Guide to Creating a Life, Not Just a Living; Unique Opportunities for Small Firm Lawyers. FREE Zoom webinar by Joshua Hertz and Paula Black.

Oct. 31—Annual Ethics Update: Building a Gold Standard Reputation. Live and webcast, 7:30 a.m. – 1:25 p.m. Tampa Hilton Westshore. Peggy Hoyt, Program Chair.

SOS Conference Logo

2020 Solo & Small Firm Conference

Don’t miss the Solo & Small Firm Section’s 2020 CLE conference! “SOS: Secure. Optimize. Systemize.” is an all-new CLE event on survive-and-thrive strategies for solos and small firms. Registration opens soon for this very special CLE, which takes place on Friday, Feb. 7 during The Florida Bar Winter Meeting in Orlando. Program chairs Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy and Cristina Alonso have put together an excellent lineup of sessions and an all-star list of speakers. Check out the program.

  • Secure the Hatches. Cybersecurity and Privacy for Lawyers
  • Know the Ropes. Bar Resources, Mentoring and Member Benefits
  • Lighten the Load. Automation, Integration and Paperless Strategies
  • All Hands on Deck. Creating and Managing a Successful Virtual Law Firm
  • Bridge the Gap. Generating Outside Income and Revenue Streams
  • Stay the Course. Surviving Solo While Sick
  • Toe the Line. Ethics and Social Media

Interested in sponsorship? View more conference details and download the sponsor brochure. We welcome your participation!

SSF Group Photo

Members-Only Facebook Group

Membership is growing in our Facebook group! Find co-counsel, refer a case and share your news. It’s free. Our new Wednesday Wisdom series will be live on Facebook each month. Join today to network with your colleagues from the section.

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