Register by March 31, 2026, and save $100 on the 2026 Solo & Small Firm Conference.
DULUTH
Monday, August 4, 2025 - Tuesday, August 5, 2025
8:15 AM - 4:15 PM | Check-In: 7:30 AM
DECC
Duluth Entertainment Conv Ctr
350 Harbor Dr
Duluth, MN 55802
Created to Make Your Law Practice Better in Every Way!
The goal of the Solo & Small Firm Conference is to help you have a more satisfying practice – making your work easier, more efficient, less stressful, and even more profitable. That’s why we are offering so many practical and helpful sessions from which to choose. You create the Conference that best meets your needs and desires.
Helping You Take the Stress Out of Legal Practice!
Everyone knows that the practice of law can be very demanding and very stressful. That’s why so many of our sessions are meant to help relieve some of the difficulties of practice and, ultimately, relieve some of its stress.
Learning Should Be Fun – And It Is at the Solo and Small Firm Conference!
We combine great sessions with good teachers, numerous panel presentations, networking time to talk with faculty and other colleagues, and all in a fun and relaxing environment. If you want a better and more satisfying practice, join us in Duluth for great learning and a whole lot of fun.
Make It a Mini Family Get-a-Way!
We welcome families to our evening events and even to lunches both days. It’s an informal setting that will make your family feel welcome. There are so many things to see and do in Duluth – all in a beautiful setting on the shore of the largest freshwater lake in the world. Your family will love it!
Or, Make It a Firm Retreat!
It’s a ready-made retreat waiting to happen. Bring your entire firm and learn together, talk together and enjoy each other’s company. It will inspire great ideas for your firm and will be a great team-building time that will pay dividends many times over.
And, All Attendees Receive 6 Bonus Benefits!
FREE BONUS SEMINAR
Just Starting Out or Ready to Grow? A Workshop for Successful Small Firm Lawyers
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Pier B Resort & Hotel
Registration for this Bonus Seminar must be made separately HERE. To register for free, simply add the Bonus Seminar to your cart and use coupon code 25SOLO-FREESEM during the checkout process.
MLM WELCOME RECEPTION
4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Pier B Resort & Hotel
This year’s conference opens with the annual “Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Welcome Reception” Sunday evening from 4:30 – 6:30 at Pier B Resort & Hotel near Bayfront Park. Join the fun and reconnect with colleagues and friends in this beautiful setting! And be sure to stay for the prize drawings!
7:00 – 8:30 a.m.
CHECK-IN, CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST & NETWORKING
7:15 – 8:15 a.m.
SUNRISE SESSIONS
8:30 – 8:45 a.m.
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
8:45 – 9:30 a.m.
MONDAY KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Success on Your Terms: Clarifying What Matters Most to You
Erin Gerner; Powerhouse Lawyers; Canton, Texas
9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
NETWORKING & EXHIBITOR TIME
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION A
A1
Understanding Trusts – Practical Fundamentals, Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts, and How to Fix Problems in Administration
J. Steve Nys & Susan L. Waldie
A2
Family Law Update – Legislation, Cases and Practice Developments
Lymari J. Santana
A3
Residential Landlord-Tenant Law and Practice – With Emphasis on Evictions
Repeated at #G2
Robin Ann Williams
A4
Practical Everyday AI for Small Firm Attorneys – With Examples
Todd C. Scott
A5
Dollars & Sense: Pricing, Billing and Getting Paid
Leanne R. Fuith, Heather M. Gilbert & Patrick M. Spott
11:00 – 11:15 a.m.
NETWORKING & EXHIBITOR TIME
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION B
B1
Real Estate Mistakes Made by Estate Planning and Probate Attorneys
Marty G. Helle
B2
Winning at Mediation – Getting the Best Results for Your Clients
Diana B. Dodge & Honorable Eric L. Hylden
Steve L. Reyelts (moderator)
B3
Thriving in Practice: Strategies to Reduce Stress and Reclaim Balance
Erin Gerner
B4
How Small Firm Attorneys Are Using AI in Their Practice
Jess Birken, Heather M. Gilbert & Christopher D. Johnson
Eric T. Cooperstein (moderator)
B5
Thinking Outside the Box – Bringing Creativity to Your Law Practice and Your Life
Patrick M. Patino
12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
LUNCH & NETWORKING
1:15 – 1:45 p.m.
AFTERNOON PLENARY SESSION
The 2025 Minnesota Legislative Update, Including: The New Trust Code; Changes to Safe and Sick Time; Changes Impacting Homeowners Associations; DWI Changes; And More
Jacob J. Baker; Hanft Fride; Duluth, Minnesota
Jennifer L. Carey; Hanft Fride; Duluth, Minnesota
1:45 – 2:00 p.m.
NETWORKING & EXHIBITOR TIME
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION C
C1
Handling Probates With Ease – A Probate Workflow Model to Follow
Jill M. Sauber
C2
How to Put Together a Small (Under $1 Million) Commercial Real Estate Deal Efficiently – Complete With Sample Purchase Agreement
Marty G. Helle
C3
AI Ethics – Use, Protecting Client Confidences, Billing, Disclosure and More!
1.0 ethics credit applied for
Eric T. Cooperstein
C4
Lessons Learned While Building Our Small Firm Practice – Marketing, Technology, Financial, and Customer Service Ideas That You Can Implement Now!
Back by Popular Demand
Kay A. Biga & Patrick M. Spott
C5
Turning Your Plans Into Practice: Creating Standard Operating Procedures That Actually Work
Sarah Soucie Eyberg, Heather M. Gilbert & Matthew E. Ludt
Leanne R. Fuith (moderator)
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.
NETWORKING & EXHIBITOR TIME
3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION D
D1
Open Forum on Estate Planning, Probate and Medical Assistance – Ask Your Toughest Questions
Jennifer L. Carey, J. Steve Nys & Jill M. Sauber
D2
Open Forum on Tech Tools – Get Answers to Your Tech Questions
Jess Birken, Patrick M. Patino & Todd C. Scott
D3
Retain Your Clients – A Roadmap to Effective, Ethical Client Service
1.0 ethics credit applied for
Roy S. Ginsburg
JOIN US FOR THESE MONDAY EVENING ACTIVITIES:
7:15 – 8:15 a.m.
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST & NETWORKING
7:30 – 8:15 a.m.
SUNRISE SESSIONS
8:15 – 8:30 a.m.
INTRODUCTION TO DAY 2
8:30 – 9:15 a.m.
TUESDAY KEYNOTE ADDRESS
The 2025 Best Legal Tech Tips
Barron K. Henley; Affinity Consulting Group; Columbus, Ohio
9:15 – 9:45 a.m.
NETWORKING & EXHIBITOR TIME
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION E
E1
7 Hard Probate Questions and Their Answers – From Identifying Clients, to Creditor Claims, to Closing Statements, and More
Back by Popular Demand
Susan L. Waldie
E2
The Leave Mess – The New Minnesota Leave Laws Apply to Small Businesses – Including Yours!
Repeated at #H1
Leonard B. Segal
E3
Next Level Legal Drafting – Using the Power of Microsoft Word
Barron K. Henley
E4
Our Very Best Ideas for Making Your Small Firm Practice Better
Jess Birken, Heather D. Olson & Jill M. Sauber
Eric T. Cooperstein (moderator)
E5
Ideas for Website and Online Marketing – Complete With Examples
Christopher D. Johnson
10:45 – 11:00 a.m.
NETWORKING & EXHIBITOR TIME
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION F
F1
Using TODDs Effectively – And Avoiding the Potential Problems and Traps
Jennifer L. Carey
F2
What the Judges See in Their Courtroom – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Learn What Is Effective and What Is Not
Honorable Steven B. Hanke, Honorable Bhupesh Pattni & Honorable Shawn B. Reed
Scott A. Witty (moderator)
F3
Take the Work Out of Your Workflow – And It’s Not That Hard
Barron K. Henley
F4
Setting Your Goals and Then Designing a Firm That Works for You
Matthew E. Ludt
F5
Cybersecurity for the Small Law Firm – Beware! The Bad Guys Are Getting Better!
Repeated at #H2
Todd C. Scott
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
LUNCH & NETWORKING
1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
AFTERNOON PLENARY SESSION
The Art of Managing Clients for the Good of Everyone!
Heather D. Olson; Olson Law LLC; Buffalo, Minnesota
1:30 – 1:45 p.m.
NETWORKING & EXHIBITOR TIME
1:45 – 2:45 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION G
G1
Preparing Client Estate Plans: A Balancing Act Between Avoiding Probate and Avoiding Medical Assistance Recovery Claims
Back by Popular Demand
Jill M. Sauber
G2
Residential Landlord-Tenant Law and Practice – With Emphasis on Evictions
Repeat of #A3
Robin Ann Williams
G3
How to Rid Your Practice of Inefficiency
Barron K. Henley
G4
Virtual Services Available for Your Firm – Ways to Make Practice Easier
Sarah Soucie Eyberg & Todd C. Scott
G5
Curveballs You Never Saw Coming: Ethics and Prospective Clients, Personal Relationships, and Who’s on First
1.0 ethics credit applied for
Eric T. Cooperstein
2:45 – 3:00 p.m.
NETWORKING & EXHIBITOR TIME
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION H
H1
The Leave Mess – The New Minnesota Leave Laws Apply to Small Businesses – Including Yours!
Repeat of #E2
Leonard B. Segal
H2
Cybersecurity for the Small Law Firm – Beware! The Bad Guys Are Getting Better!
Repeat of #F5
Todd C. Scott
H3
From Isolation to Connection: Supporting Mental Health in the Legal Profession
1.0 mental health/substance use credit applied for
Jon M. Tynjala
LIVE IN-PERSON
Sunday-Tuesday, August 3-5, 2025
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center
350 Harbor Drive
Duluth, Minnesota
Make Hotel Reservations Early!
Minnesota CLE has secured reduced room rates at the Canal Park Lodge. Make reservations early to ensure room rate and availability. Be sure to mention the Minnesota CLE Solo and Small Firm Conference when making your reservations.
Canal Park Lodge
$269-$329
250 Canal Park Drive
218-279-6000
Includes free breakfast, free parking, and great Canal Park location.
For additional lodging options, visit:
www.visitduluth.com/stay
$425 MSBA members / $425 paralegals / $495 standard rate
Other discounts that may apply:
Scholarships available!
Need-based scholarships are available for in-person and online seminars. For further information or to obtain a scholarship application, contact us at 800-759-8840 or customerservice@minncle.org.
Minnesota CLE is applying to the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 12.0 total CLE credits. We also have applied for 1.0 ethics credit for the “Networking Professionally and Ethically” sunrise session on Day 1 and sessions #C3, #D3 and #G5 and for 1.0 mental health/substance use credit for session #H3. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 12.0 credits.
