insights, news and announcements for our members, colleagues and community
Our annual Bench & Bar Dinner on March 29 was a huge success. The event was once again held at the Emory Conference Center Hotel. Enjoy more scenes from the event:
The Bench and Bar dinner is an annual event jointly hosted by the DeKalb Bar Association and the DeKalb Lawyers Association. It is made possible through the generous contributions of lawyers such as these.
Platinum
Bendin Sumrall & Ladner, LLC
Butler Wooten & Fryhofer LLP
Childers Schlueter & Smith, LLC
The Cochran Firm
Fried Rogers Goldberg, LLC
The Orlando Firm, P.C.
Owen Gleaton Egan Jones & Sweeney, LLP
Pope McGlamry Kilpatrick Morrison & Norwood, LLP
Law Offices Of Steven Salcedo LLC
Thompson Hine
The DeKalb County Law Library is selling some of its used books. Most are two-year-old editions of Georgia practice materials. The books are being sold as-is, on a first-come first-served basis, and most titles are priced $40-$125. Cash, money orders…
"Sweet April Showers Do Bring May Flowers" – Anonymous With the early advance of spring, the ever-present dusting of pollens, and the burgeoning heat of summer invading our spring months, I thought it would be a good idea to focus…
by Michelle Cooper, CPO, and Linda Lanier
Put It There Professional Organizing
While the goal of getting more organized may be lofty for some, even small steps can help you get where you ultimately want to be or allow those that consider themselves fairly organized to feel even more so. After all, the goal of good organizational systems is really to increase one’s efficiency. Neat, clean and tidy may or may not mean the same thing as organized.
The first question to ask yourself is, “Why do I want to be more organized?” You cannot expect to meet any organizational goals without first knowing why it is important to you and what you hope to gain from the change in habits and routines that are sure to come with the plan.
Do you want to represent your clients more effectively? Do you find that you are not as productive as you would like? Have you fallen prey to missed opportunities? Have you missed deadlines? Do you want to present a more professional image? Are you ashamed to meet with your clients in your office? Do you want to balance work and family commitments better? And as rare as it may seem, have you been threatened with a malpractice claim?
by Jeri Kagel, M.Ed., J.D.
Trial Synergy, LLC
www.trialsynergy.com
Wikipedia tells us that the term “Spring Cleaning” may date back to the Iranian Norouz – the Iranian New Year, which takes place on the first day of spring. The Iranian practice of Khouneh Tekouni (literally means “shaking the house”) or “complete cleaning of the house” is commonly performed before Norouz.
When I hear the phrase “Spring Cleaning” I am reminded that it is time to put my winter clothes away and take spring clothes out, to look through drawers and cabinets to decide what needs to be kept and what needs to be thrown out and to start scrubbing places always hard to get. For some reason, this time of year and this event (spring cleaning) also motivates me to take on projects around the house – painting a room, staining outside steps (this year’s project), or, admittedly, less often, doing something with the load of “stuff” we have amassed in the basement. With regard to my business, I often think of this as a time to get my affairs (billing, papers, even phone calls) in order.
What about litigation? What can this Litigator’s Playbook offer you regarding “spring cleaning”? Cleaning and organizing are the two areas associated with spring cleaning; both apply to litigation.
by W. Blair Meeks
Communication Strategist
Jackson Spalding
As the trees and flowers of Atlanta burst forth into spring, it’s a great time to reflect on how you and your business are perceived by others. In this time of fleeting attention spans and flickering Internet sensations, now, more than ever, the brand or image you project is critical to building success.
Jackson Spalding just hired Brett Player as its new creative director and I sat down with Brett to discuss what members of the legal community should focus on in this time of spring cleaning. He says, as with many things, the first step is reflection – a long look in the mirror to see how people perceive you or your firm, and a close examination of the tools with which you are communicating your brand.