Course Outline

Experience one of the most comprehensive three-day courses the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) has ever offered!

Through case studies, real-life examples, visual presentations, role playing and interactive question-and-answer sessions, you will walk away with a greater understanding of what every principal administrator should know, as well as manageable and realistic ideas to keep you and your firm on the cutting edge of legal management. Each attendee will receive a binder containing detailed information, examples and additional references for the topics covered that will serve as a reference tool for you and others in your firm.

Course Outline (Order of modules is subject to change.)

Principles of Law Office Management
Human Resources Management
Financial Systems Management
Office Operations Management
The Administrator as Leader

Principles of Law Office Management

• Current Trends in the Legal Profession - discussion of current trends and how they affect your position, and firm or organization
• Executive Director's Role Management - evolution of role; strategic planning; organization; communication; delegation; control; more
• Firm Culture - defining culture; examples of culture; how to assess your organization's culture
• Strategic Planning - discussion of what is strategy; applied to general businesses and legal profession adapting to change; methods of planning; sources for input
• Partner Compensation - review the four basic methods used to determine partner compensation
• Administrator as Chief Communicator - answer the communication questions: who, what, where, when, and why; coaching your lawyers
• Practice Development - marketing plans; RFPs; current trends in marketing; client evaluations; client development cycle
• Billing Arrangements - pricing strategies; review different billing alternatives; billing for soft costs
• Risk Management - changes in the risk management landscape; conflict of interest; trust accounts; internal controls; insurance

CPE Field of Study for Principles of Law Office Management Sessions: Business Management and Organization

Human Resources Management

• Role of HR in Firm Operation - including HR trends to look out for over the next decade
• Employee Recruitment and Selection - regulatory laws; appraisals and terminations; job descriptions; policy manuals; interview techniques; protected questions; reference checking
• Staff Compensation and Benefits - where to begin; healthcare issues; retirement plans; trends in benefits; strategies and pitfalls
• HR Challenges - understanding the principles that can create challenges; administrator minefields; training and development; conflict resolution; change management

CPE Field of Study for Human Resources Sessions: Personnel/HR

Financial Systems Management

• Fundamental Accounting Concepts - overview of the core concepts for financial accounting conventions
• Law Firm Business Concepts and Terminology - overview of the terms and definitions specific to law firm operations
• Law Firm Financial Statements - understanding the linkage between a balance sheet and income statement; how to interpret financial statements for management decision making
• Asset and Liability Management and Accounting Controls - risk management techniques; records retention; segregation of duties
• Trust Accounts and Client Costs - client trust fund responsibilities; client cost recovery strategies
• Management Reporting - identification of the key data points useful for management review and decision making
• Profit Center Reporting - segregation of entity-wide information for practice and departmental analysis
• Law Firm Budgeting - the hows and whys of budgeting and who should be involved
• Model Compensation Systems - discussion and examples of alternative compensation philosophies
• Qualified Retirement Plans for Law Firms - overview of the choices for law firm pension plans

CPE Field of Study for Financial Systems Management Sessions: Finance

Office Operations Management

• Technology and Automation Management - planning; budgeting; staffing; leading software systems; best return on investment; security; SPAM filtering
• Telecommunications - trends in the industry; system evaluation and selection
• Internet - security; Intranets; Extranets; portals; ASPs; thin clients; use policy
• Space Management - design trends; cost-saving ideas; lease vs. rent vs. buy; lease negotiations; moving
• Records Management - retention policies; centralized vs. decentralized vs. hybrid; software
• Project Planning and Management - staffing the project team; project plans; milestones to manage progress; communication
• Working with a Consultant - developing a good relationship; communication; projects where consultants are recommended; controlling the cost

CPE Field of Study for Office Operations Management Sessions: Specialized Knowledge and Applications

The Administrator as Leader

• Trends in the Legal Marketplace - unique leadership role of a legal administrator in a time of change; special challenges when building a team
• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - type history and theory; self-assessment and how to assess others; how type preference influences working relationships; how to use type differences to work effectively with others
• Goal Setting - application of new knowledge; implications of personal response to learning

CPE Field of Study for the Administrator as Leader Sessions: Personal Development

Please note that the Essential Competencies for Legal Administrators program is not a preparation course for the CLM^SM exam.