Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 82, No. 9, September 2009

With the economy appearing to be slowly climbing out of the abyss, though still far from solid ground, this year’s Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference will focus on the business side of the practice of law.

The annual conference, sponsored by the State Bar in conjunction with the Milwaukee Bar Association, starts with a preconference this year. On Thursday, Oct. 29, Dustin Cole’s 2.5-hour session, “How to Survive and Thrive in a Down Economy,” will cover strategies for dealing with these tough economic times. Cole’s early appearance, provided by the State Bar’s Law Office Management Section, is free to its members and to conference registrants. Section members may choose to attend Cole’s session only, but they must register in advance. Individuals who are not section members or who are not planning to attend the conference may register for Cole’s preconference session only – tuition is $50 (or join the section and attend for free).

Nationally known author and speaker Jay Foonberg, who literally wrote the book How to Start and Build a Law Practice, will speak at the Friday noon luncheon on “Ten Steps to a Happy and Successful Practice.” His presentation is sponsored by Clio (www.goclio.com), one of the many sponsors and vendors at the conference. Foonberg also will answer your questions in the vendor hall.

Two speakers with nationwide reputations will provide this year’s plenary sessions. Jim Calloway, director of the Practice Management Assistance Program for the Oklahoma Bar Association and host of the ABA’s Law Practice Management Section Digital Edge podcast series, will speak at Thursday noon about building the perfect client-centered practice. Calloway also is the coauthor of several ABA Books, including Winning Alternatives to the Billable Hour.

Friday’s plenary speaker is Reid Trautz, former practice management advisor for the District of Columbia Bar and now director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association Practice and Professionalism Center. The coauthor of The Busy Lawyer’s Guide to Success: Essential Tips to Power Your Practice will tell everyone “Everything I Know About Practicing Law I Learned from Rock and Roll.”

All together, there will be 32 programs in four tracks, covering additional business practice concerns, substantive law (such as recognizing nursing home abuse), and the developing world of social media like Facebook and Twitter.

This year’s Solo & Small Firm Conference will be held Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 29-31, at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. Registration fees vary, with discounts for early registrants who are members of the General Practice Session and for holders of the State Bar’s Ultimate Pass. This year’s registrations are well ahead of last year’s, so hurry or you might miss out on one of the best programs of the year.

For more information and to register for the Solo & Small Firm Conference, please visit www.wssfc.org.

Wisconsin Lawyer