8:00 – 8:45 a.m.

CHECK-IN, CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST & NETWORKING

8:40 – 9:25 a.m.

 PLENARY SESSION

How to Exceed Client Expectations and Get More Business

Simply put, attorneys need to "WOW" their clients in order to get referrals and repeat business. Doing what everyone else is doing isn’t enough – and it won’t help you stand out in the crowd. Building your practice in such a way that you consistently exceed your clients’ expectations is the way to go. In this program, Ann helps audience members understand: their clients’ expectations, how to separate client expectations from client needs, how to build long-term relationships with clients and boost referrals through knock-their-socks-off service, how to provide that "WOW" experience every time, and more!

– Ann M. Guinn; G & P Associates; Kent, Washington

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

 BREAKOUT SESSION A

 

1. Representing Non-Profits – 7 Great Practice Tips to Help You Give Better Advice to Your Non-Profit Clients

– J. Patrick Plunkett

 

2. Federal Estate Tax Law 2011 – What Has Been Resolved? What Has Not? And What to Do til the Hearse Arrives?

Plus a discussion about how changes here in Minnesota impact your planning strategies.

– Leigh D. Mathison & Mark T. Signorelli

 

3. How to Conduct Your Own Law Firm Self-Audit

This presentation covers a variety of management practices which should be reviewed periodically, as well as corrective action to be taken, including: records retention, all things billing, trust accounts, image, forms files, system recovery, staff, insurance, marketing activities and more.

– Ann M. Guinn

 

4. How to Retire With Revenue, Relevance and Relaxation: Planning for Retirement, Valuing Your Practice and Structuring the Deal

– Roy S. Ginsburg

 

5. 60 Legal Tech Tips, Gadgets and Websites in 60 Minutes

The best of legal technology, practice management, electronics and incredibly useful websites for lawyers. This rapid-fire, entertaining hour is full of great ideas you can immediately incorporate into your practice.

– Barron Henley

 

6. WestlawNext TECH LAB

Creating a Paperless Practice – Using Scanners to Save Time, Money and Paper

– Eric T. Cooperstein

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.

NETWORKING & EXHIBITOR TIME

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 BREAKOUT SESSION B

 

7. Creditor Rights – Focus on Collection Practices

How to collect debts (pre- and post-judgment) while avoiding the significant traps and liabilities that await those who make collection missteps.

– George E. Warner

 

8. Keeping the Cabin in the Family: Estate Planning Strategies Using the Cabin Trust – Plus a Discussion of Other Options

– Leigh D. Mathison, John E. Olmon & Mark T. Signorelli

 

9. How to Ethically Collect Fees From Clients

1.0 ethics credit applied for

Even the best lawyers cannot succeed unless their clients pay their invoices. This session will focus on the best practices for ethically drafting fee provisions in representation agreements, managing retainers and using various fee collection tools.

– Eric T. Cooperstein

 

10. Growing Your Practice – E-marketing Tools You Can Use Right Now

– Susan D. Minsberg

 

11. How to Protect Yourself While Trading Documents Electronically

Today’s negotiated instruments are often never reduced to paper until they’re ready to sign. The negotiation occurs electronically with lawyers emailing documents (Word or PDF files) to one another (and clients) to indicate changes and proposed modifications. This seminar covers the tools available in Word and Acrobat for safely transmitting documents, comparing versions, tracking changes, and adding comments and other annotations. We’ll discuss "locking" a document down to prevent further changes, encryption, avoiding metadata and other collaboration tools.

– Barron Henley

 

12. WestlawNext TECH LAB

Productivity Tools and Services That Can Help Firms Increase Efficiency and Profitability

A small investment of time could make a dramatic difference in your practice. See how productivity tools help you better organize, analyze, store, communicate, and collaborate on all the law, information, and documents that a typical case generates. Westlaw Tools bring the same high levels of efficiency, productivity, and excellence to your work that WestlawNext brings to your legal research.

– Presenter from West, a Thomson Reuters business

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

LUNCH & NETWORKING – Families Welcome!
Lunch provided to all registrants and their families.

 

 OPTIONAL EVENT FOR YOUR FAMILY

Tour the Great Lakes Aquarium at a special group rate. Depart immediately following lunch at 1:00 p.m. for a 1:15 p.m. tour.

(If you register online for the conference, please CALL us at 651-227-8266 or 800-759-8840 to let us know if your family will be going to the Great Lakes Aquarium. Payment is required at the event.)

1:00 – 1:45 p.m.

 PLENARY SESSION

Innovative Lawyering: How to Free Up Time, Grow Profits, and Cut Costs Through Iterative Experimentation

The legal industry is historically way behind the curve when it comes to innovation. In reaction to that, lots of "gurus" have lots of "answers," but true innovation is not about adopting the latest magic tip. Innovation requires understanding the process of experimentation, testing, and assessment. In this presentation, Sam will demonstrate how to adopt a process for increasing efficiency and profitability through iterative experimentation.

– Samuel J. Glover; Lawyerist Media, LLC; Minneapolis

1:45 – 2:00 p.m.

BREAK

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

 BREAKOUT SESSION C

 

13. The Year in Review – What’s New and What Matters?

Sixty minutes of interesting things you ought to know about cases, legislation, filings and judicial appointments.

– Kent A. Gernander

 

14. Foreclosure Practice in 2011

Looking at the foreclosure process from both sides. Representing creditors or debtors in a troubled time. A discussion of key issues to consider when representing a client in foreclosure.

– George E. Warner

 

15. Strategic Planning Mini-Retreat with Matt Homann

2-hour session
Limited to 50 participants. Pre-registration is required to secure your spot at this session.

Participate in a law firm retreat designed just for you. Spend the afternoon thinking "outside the box" learning new strategies and planning an even better future for you and your law firm.

– Matthew Homann

 

16. Business School for Lawyers

2-hour session

Build your business acumen at this in-depth seminar. How should you be analyzing your law practice? Review your income sources, cost factors, marketing principles, tax and accounting matters and more. How to make "smarter" business decisions for yourself and your clients in 2011.

– J. Patrick Plunkett & Dudley Ryan

 

17. Malpractice and Ethics for the Small Firm Practitioner

1.0 ethics credit applied for

Learn about the most common mistakes that even good lawyers make and how you can avoid them. Find out how an understanding of the rules of ethics and applying them in your everyday practice can help avoid everyday errors and claims.

– Timothy J. Gephart & Richard J. Thomas

 

18. WestlawNext TECH LAB

Drafting Documents a Better Way – From Word Processor Automation to Document Assembly Software

Learn easier, better and safer ways to draft your documents. We’ll demonstrate how to use features already present in Microsoft Word which almost no legal users take advantage of; and how add-in programs can be used to further upgrade your productivity.

– Barron Henley

3:00 – 3:15 p.m.

BREAK

3:15 – 4:15 p.m.

 BREAKOUT SESSION D

 

Strategic Planning Mini-Retreat continued

Business School for Lawyers continued

 

19. "Cocktail Law" in 2011

Great answers to all those interesting legal questions you are sure to be asked at your next social gathering.

– Cheryl M. Prince, Steven L. Reyelts, Carolyn Agin Schmidt & Leonard B. Segal
– Roy S. Ginsburg, moderator

 

20. SoloSmall Live!

Let’s do peer-to-peer idea sharing, just like on the MSBA’s most successful electronic discussion list, SoloSmall. Think of something that’s worked in your practice – or, for the courageous, something that backfired. In 60 seconds, tell everyone else who, what, where, why, how, what it cost to try, or what happened. Our twin goals: each share a little; all learn a lot. Everyone’s a partcipant. You don’t have to be a SoloSmall member to participate. We need EVERYONE’S good ideas.

– LaVern A. Pritchard (moderator) & You

 

21. The $6,000 Law Office – The Best Value on Hardware and Software for Your Practice

The absolute, can’t miss, Henley review of the best products for attorneys on the market today!

– Barron Henley

 

22. WestlawNext TECH LAB

Productivity Tools and Services That Can Help Firms Increase Efficiency and Profitability

A small investment of time could make a dramatic difference in your practice. See how productivity tools help you better organize, analyze, store, communicate, and collaborate on all the law, information, and documents that a typical case generates. Westlaw Tools bring the same high levels of efficiency, productivity, and excellence to your work that WestlawNext brings to your legal research.

– Presenter from West, a Thomson Reuters business

4:15 – 5:00 p.m.

Introducing the "Un"-Reception

Un-Conferences are all the rage…so we’ve created the Un-Reception. It’s a perfect opportunity to combine a refreshment and a recap of the day with your peers and our national faculty. In this "organized un-reception" you’ll choose your expert, your topics and your beverage (beer, wine or soda) – fun and learning to the hilt. Carolyn, Sam, Ann, Barron and Matt are ready, willing and able to continue discussing the topics you care about most.

The perfect ending to a perfect first day.

Tuesday, August 9

8:00 – 8:45 a.m.

CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST & NETWORKING

8:45 – 9:45 a.m.

 PLENARY SESSION

Future Trends in Small Firm Practice – And How You Can Carve Out Your Niche!

Look into your future to see how changes in practice rules, technology, client demands and competition will impact your future. How you can stay ahead of the curve and be ready for tomorrow.

– Carolyn Elefant; Law Office of Carolyn Elefant; Washington DC

9:45 – 10:15 a.m.

NETWORKING & EXHIBITOR TIME

10:15 – 11:15 a.m.

 BREAKOUT SESSION E

 

23. Maintaining Boundaries in Family Law Practice: Practical and Ethical Issues

1.0 ethics credit applied for

Practical and ethical solutions to some of the stickiest issues in family law practice including cell phones, gifts, family members and more.

– Jason C. Kohlmeyer, Brenda S. Denton & Cheryl M. Prince
– Jack E. Setterlund, moderator

 

24. The Small Business Nightmare – When the Government Says Your Independent Contractors Are Really Employees

More and more businesses are attempting to use independent contractors to avoid tax and other liabilities. But when can they do it safely? Are independent contractor’s contracts helpful? Plus, a discussion of misclassification of employees as exempt employees. Learn best practices in this important session.

– Leonard B. Segal

 

25. "SOLOS ONLY"

How to Develop a Successful Niche Practice as a Solo

– Carolyn Elefant

 

26. Using Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs) to Transfer Real Estate

How do they work and how are they working? What interests in real estate can be transferred and how?

– Julian J. Zweber

 

27. Why You Shouldn’t Use Free Software

Lawyers should use the best tool for the job, not the cheapest. It doesn’t make sense to save pennies only to lose dollars.

– Samuel J. Glover

 

28. WestlawNext TECH LAB

Ten Tips for Improving Your Online Legal Searches

How to find the things you need more easily and more quickly.

– Peter H. Berge

11:15 – 11:25 a.m.

BREAK

11:25 – 11:55 a.m.

 PLENARY SESSION

President’s Address

– Brent E. Routman (invited), MSBA President 2011-2012
Merchant & Gould; Minneapolis

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

LUNCH & NETWORKING – Families Welcome!
Lunch provided to all registrants and their families.

 

 OPTIONAL EVENT FOR YOUR FAMILY

Tour the Great Lakes Ore Boat S.S. WILLIAM A. IRVIN at a special group rate. Depart immediately following lunch at 1:00 p.m. for a 1:15 p.m. tour.

(If you register online for the conference, please CALL us at 651-227-8266 or 800-759-8840 to let us know if your family will be going to the S.S. WILLIAM A. IRVIN. Payment is required at the event.)

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

 BREAKOUT SESSION F

 

29. DWI Practice in 2011

New legislation, the Intoxilizer 5000 decision, and current best practices from the client call to final disposition.

– Frederic K. Bruno & Carolyn Agin Schmidt

 

30. Medical Assistance Update 2011

In the midst of the projected budget deficit, Minnesota has committed to expansion of medical assistance benefits to include 98,000 adults with no children and income no greater than 75% of federal poverty guidelines. This presentation will discuss the Legislature’s solutions to this dilemma and provide the usual updating of medical assistance eligibility standards and estate recovery developments.

– Julian J. Zweber

 

31. "SOLOS ONLY"

How Solos Can Build a Client-Centered Practice

Serving clients better is good business. Learn new ideas for what clients want and what you can deliver.

– Matthew Homann

 

32. "The Most Successful Marketing Strategies I Have Ever Used" – Our Panel of Experts Share Their Secrets

– Roy S. Ginsburg, Ann M. Guinn, Susan D. Minsberg & Robert A. Woodke

 

33. Security and Ethics of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is "hot" but lawyers need to be aware of security and privacy-related "best practices" prior to entrusting confidential client data to "the cloud." A review of the ethics issues relevant to cloud computing and provide a survey of recent ethics opinions related to cloud computing.

– Jack Newton

 

34. WestlawNext TECH LAB

Bootstrapping a New Practice with Free Software

Free software can be an effective tool for new practices. Come to the lab to learn helpful software applications new lawyers can use to get up and running without spending a penny on software.

– Samuel J. Glover

2:00 – 2:10 p.m.

BREAK

2:10 – 3:10 p.m.

 BREAKOUT SESSION G

 

35. Back by Popular Demand!

Running a Successful Practice: What I Did Right and What I Did Wrong

Recently retired solo practitioner Jack Setterlund reflects on the challenges, opportunities and rewards of solo practice and shares advice on staffing, managing client expectations, advertising, firing bad clients, organizing files for maximum efficiency, monitoring others, and finding time for vacations.

– Jack E. Setterlund

 

36. Social Media Everywhere – What Everyone Should Know

From employment to business disputes, from defamation to litigators proof, from bullying to trade secret theft, social media is changing the landscape. You’ll benefit greatly by learning the issues and liabilities that can await the unwary.

– Leonard B. Segal

 

37. "SOLOS ONLY"

Solo Practice Systems for Success

What "systems" can you employ to make your work life easier and more efficient.

– Carolyn Elefant

 

38. Why Attorneys Under-Earn or How to Earn at Your Potential Using 7 Simple Secrets

In this popular program, we explore: identifying the signs of an under-earner, the difference between passive and active under-earning, how to assess the impact of your decisions, 25 ways attorneys under-earn and how to earn at your potential using 7 simple secrets.

– Ann M. Guinn

 

39. The Ins and Outs of Trust Accounts – Everything You Need to Know About Handling Your Client’s Money

1.0 ethics credit applied for

– Eric T. Cooperstein

3:10 – 3:20 p.m.

BREAK

3:20 – 3:50 p.m.

 PLENARY SESSION

The Final Word – Matt Homann’s Best Practice Advice for a More Successful and Happier 2011

– Matthew Homann; LexThink LLC; St. Louis, Missouri

3:50 p.m.

CONFERENCE ADJOURNS