On Friday, June 19, the Solo & Small Firm Section will host its first-ever virtual Annual and Executive Council meetings followed by a networking happy hour on Zoom—and you’re invited! The meetings start at 1 PM; the happy hour starts at 5 PM. Registration details coming soon. Here’s your chance to learn more about section involvement and interact with your colleagues from around the state.
If you’re like most of us, you’ve had to adapt your technology to work remotely. But what are the best ways to do that? Some remote work lessons have been eye-opening (why haven’t we done this before!?), while some have been frustrating. It’s run the gamut from finding the mute button, to getting the d*#@ printer to work, to setting up security tools. In this article, small-firm technology experts share their “lessons learned” on using tech to get work done remotely and keep your business healthy.
Whether you’re learning a new practice area or keeping your practice on the cutting edge, Florida Law Update 2020 is an incredible CLE opportunity. 8.0 hours of credit. Solo & Small Firm Section members register for only $195—less than $25 per credit hour.
June 18, 8 AM – 4:25 PM live audio webcast. Florida Law Update will provide statutory updates for the following areas: Business and Litigation Law, Labor and Employment Law, Animal Law, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Family Law, Criminal Law, and Real Property Law.
Approved for 8.0 hours of CLE credit, 1.0 each in Business Litigation, Criminal Appellate, Criminal Trial, Elder Law, Labor and Employment, Marital & Family Law, Real Estate, and Wills, Trusts & Estates. Course number 3353. Section members register for only $195. Non-section members $240.
Special thanks to Program Chair Peggy Hoyt for her hard work in recruiting an excellent group of presenters and producing another outstanding CLE event. PURCHASE ON-DEMAND OR PODCAST
Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company has published a new online resource that examines the malpractice “danger zones” for Florida lawyers during the pandemic. The guide addresses several practices that may be increasingly common during the pandemic but that may trigger red alerts from a risk management perspective. LEARN MORE
Ever reached the end of a meeting-filled day and realized you haven’t really accomplished anything? Join the club. In this article, Thrive Global’s Arianna Huffington offers tips she shared with her staff so they could be more respectful of each other’s time and make the best use of their own. Include a clear agenda and desired outcome in every meeting invite, create a Google Doc for each meeting so the owner can assign action items to everyone who attends—and empower your team to decline any meeting they deem unnecessary. The goal is to stop wasting time in meetings so you can get some real work done.
In addition to being inconsistent, return-to-work guidance can also be frustratingly vague, leaving both business owners and customers at a loss about how to behave. In response, Forbes spoke to public health experts, industry associations and entrepreneurs from across the country about best practices. From those conversations, they put together sector-by-sector guides for consumers and businesses. The guide for “How to Return to the Office” offers several common-sense tips that might make your transition easier.
It’s time to renew your Solo & Small Firm Section membership and pay your Florida Bar annual fees. The online portal is open for Florida Bar electronic fee payments, including voluntary section memberships and voluntary contributions. Understanding that these are also difficult financial times for many, The Florida Bar is providing an installment payment plan option that must be elected no later than Aug. 15. Read the Florida Bar News story here.
Why Join?
#1—FREE CLE. The section offers at least 10 free CLE hours each year; that’s a $750 value. Our free Wednesday Wisdom series—one-hour CLEs on practice management, tech and more—is a benefit to our section members. If you miss the webinars, the videos are available 24/7 in the section’s members-only Facebook group.
#2—Great Publications. Looking for great content to benefit your practice? Join the section to gain access to our biannual LINK magazine and biweekly QuickLINK email newsletter. Both publications are free resources for section members. We’re always seeking content, so this is a great opportunity to get published.
#3—Members-Only Facebook Group. The section offers a members-only Facebook group so you can interact with colleagues from around the state to get coverage for hearings, recommendations on vendors, CLE updates and more. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and join our LinkedIn group to stay up-to-date on Florida Bar news, section announcements, practice and tech tips and resources.
#4—Discounts on Outstanding CLE Programming. Take advantage of your section member discount on numerous section-sponsored CLE courses. We make it easy to get your credits by offering monthly live audio webcasts, in-person CLE events and a large inventory of aftermarket CLEs—all at reduced pricing for members. If you attend each seminar we offer and use your section-member discount, your cost savings will be more than $500!
#5—Leadership Opportunities Through Committee Service. Network with colleagues from around the state, make a lasting difference in the section and increase your professional profile by joining a section committee. The value to your practice is priceless! More details and the committee preference form are online; forms are due May 1. We welcome your participation.
One of the most difficult things about working remotely is trying to stay connected. Let the Solo & Small Firm Section’s Facebook group be a resource for you. Find co-counsel, refer a case or ask for recommendations. It’s free. Our Wednesday Wisdom series is live on Facebook each month and the library of past videos is available 24/7 through the Facebook group for free, on-demand CLE. Join today to network with your colleagues from the section. JOIN NOW
