Hanging Your Shingle
August 2011
Hanging Your Shingle
Program Highlights
Keynote Presentation: Solo by Choice
Carolyn Elefant, Esq.
For a decade, Carolyn Elefant has been a resource, an advocate, and an inspiration to lawyers around the country who are either currently solo or considering solo. Elefant's blog, My Shingle, is one of the most popular resources for solo lawyers online and she's grown it while practicing energy law-as a solo, of course!
Technology: Your First Partner
Due to popular demand, we are bringing back the half-day Saturday session on technology. This year, you'll learn:
The Basics: Using Technology to Launch Your Practice
Phil Shuey, Esq.
Englewood, CO
Get Your Head in the Clouds: Cloud Computing for Solo Lawyers
Larry Port, Co-Founder
Rocket Matter, Boca Raton, FL
Ethics of Cloud Computing
Amy C. DeVan, Esq.
Colorado Supreme Court, Office of Attorney Regulation, Denver, CO
Program Description
You might be going out on your own, but that doesn't mean you have to do everything solo.
Opening your own law firm can be the most rewarding and most challenging endeavor you'll encounter in your career. So why go it alone?
Our experienced faculty is made up of attorneys and professionals who have either been in your shoes or who have helped attorneys just like you, and they will walk you through the process-from deciding to hang your shingle to actually doing it-with valuable ethics lessons and precautions all along the way.
This will be a popular program and attendance is limited. Register today!
Agenda
Thursday, August 18
8:30 - 9:00 am
Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 10:00 am
Keynote Presentation: Solo by Choice
Carolyn Elefant, Esq.
Blogger, MyShingle.com
Solo, Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant
Washington, DC
10:00 - 10:15 am
Networking Break
10:15 - 11:15 am
Setting up Your Office
-Office Sharing - Ethics Opinion 89
-Home Offices
-Space, Staffing and Technological Considerations
-Temporary and Contract Work
-Use of Common Resources
-Financial and Lease Agreements
-Ethics Considerations
-Confidentiality and Client Considerations
-Avoiding the Involuntary Partner
Bonnie P. Bowles, Esq.
Goodman | Bowles LLC
Littleton, CO
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Choice of Entity
-Options and Alternatives
-Why It Matters
-Tax Considerations
-Advantages and Obligations
-CRCP 265 - Professional Service Companies
-CRPC 5.4 - Professional Independence of a Lawyer
-Partnership and Operating Agreements
Jacqueline M. Benson, Esq.
Moye|White
Denver, CO
12:15 - 1:20 pm
Lunch
Q&A with Carolyn Elefant, Esq.
1:20 - 2:20 pm
Developing a Business Plan
-Importance of Having a Plan
-Advantages of a Business Plan
-Advantages of Budgeting
-Financing the Start-Up Period
-Tax Considerations
-Evaluating Costs of Doing Business
-Death and Taxes
-Being an Employer and Employment Controls
-Setting Billing Rates and Billing
-Monitoring the Evolving Plan
Ron Seigneur, CPA/ABV/CFF, CFA
Seigneur Gustafson LLP
Lakewood, CO
2:20 - 2:40 pm
Networking Break
2:40 - 4:10 pm
From the Trenches: A Panel Presentation
-The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
-We Wish We Had Known…
-Separating Good Advice from Bad
-CRPC 3.4, 4.1 - 4.5
-Questions?
David Graf, Esq.
Moeller Graf
Englewood, CO
Emanuel N. Anton, Esq.
ALG | Attorneys
Denver, CO
Rehan Hasan, Esq.
Denver, CO
Barbara Cashman Hahn, Esq.
Denver, CO
Moderator: The Honorable Christopher Cross
18th Judicial District Court
Castle Rock, CO
4:10 pm
Adjourn to Reception
Sponsored by CBA Solo/Small Firm Section
Friday, August 19
9:00 - 10:00 am
Managing Your Malpractice Exposure
-Malpractice Insurance
-CRPC 1.7 - Recognizing and Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
-CRPC 1.5, 1.16 - How to Accept or Reject a Client
-CRPC 1.2 - Scope of Engagement and Identifying the Client
-Unbundling - CBA Ethics Opinion 101
-Ways to Limit Your Liability
-CRPC 1.16A - File Retention
-CRPC 1.1 - Asking for Help - Don't Dabble
-CRPC 1.0 - Informed Consent
-CRPC 1.3, 1.18 - Duties to Client
-Ethically Networking - CRPC 7.1 - 7.5, CBA Ethics Opinion 106
John M. Palmeri, Esq.
Gordon & Rees
Denver, CO
10:00 - 10:50 am
Practical Application of the Rules of Professional Conduct
David C. Little, Esq.
Montgomery, Little & Soran
Greenwood Village, CO
10:50 - 11:05 am
Networking Break
11:05 am - 12:05 pm
Practice Management
-File Setup, Review, Diligence
-Fee Agreements and Engagement Letters
-Client Intake
-Working with Legal and Non-Legal Support Staff
-Diaries, Calendars, Tickling, Backup
-Managing Your Time
-Bank Accounts and Ledger Systems\
-Alleviating Clients' Confidentiality Concerns
-Billing Discipline
-Relevant CBA Ethics Opinions
Reba Nance, Director of Law Practice Management
Colorado Bar Association
Denver, CO
12:05 - 1:15 pm
Lunch (Provided): CBA Resources
Reba Nance, Director of Law Practice Management
Colorado Bar Association
Denver, CO
1:15 - 2:15 pm
Marketing and Business Development
-Soft Selling (in a Hard World)
-The Differences Between Marketing, Personal Branding and Business Development
-You're Selling Legal “Services”
-Who Are You Advertising To?
-The Marketing Wheel of Fortune
-Client Relationships - Providing Legal “Services”
-CRCP 7.1 - 7.5
Gregory Goodman, Esq.
Goodman | Bowles LLC
Littleton, CO
2:15 - 2:30 pm
Networking Break
2:30 - 3:20 pm
Bookkeeping, Record Keeping and Billing
-Maintaining Your Checking Accounts - Trust v. Office
-Keeping a Check and Client Ledger
-Understanding a Balance Sheet and Income Statement
-Reports You Will Need to Prepare
-Am I Making Money Yet?
-Optimizing the Billing and Collection Cycle
-Outsourcing with a Bookkeeper or Accountant
-Credit Cards (CBA Ethics Opinion 99)
-Keeping Track of Your Time
-Bills and Billing
-Account Reconciliation
Brenda Clarke, CPA/ABV, CFF, CVA
Seigneur Gustafson
Lakewood, CO
3:20 - 4:10 pm
Trust Account Management
-CRPC 1.15 - Safekeeping Property
-Trust Account Requirements and Management
-COLTAF Accounts
-Approved Financial Institutions
-Disclosure of Accounts
-Records: Requirements, Retention and Availability
Margaret B. Funk, Esq.
Office of Attorney Regulation
Denver, CO
4:10 pm
Adjourn
Saturday, August 20
Technology: Your First Partner
9:00 - 10:00 am
The Basics: Using Technology to Launch Your Practice
-What Will You Need and What Does It Cost?
-Defining Your Needs in Relation to Your Skills, Budget, Practice and Firm Size
-Key Hardware and Software for Managing a Successful Practice
-Case Management and Analysis, Timekeeping and Billing
-CRPC 1.5: Ethical Issues When Billing Your Clients
-E-Filing
-CRPC 7.1 - 5: Establishing a Web Presence
-Metadata - CBA Ethics Opinion 119
Phil Shuey, Esq.
Englewood, CO
10:00 - 10:15 am
Networking Break
10:15 - 11:15 am
Get Your Head in the Clouds: Cloud Computing for Solo Lawyers
Larry Port, Co-Founder
Rocket Matter
Boca Raton, FL
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Ethics of Cloud Computing
Amy C. DeVan, Esq.
Colorado Supreme Court, Office of Attorney Regulation
Denver, CO
12:15 pm
Adjourn
Faculty
Emanuel N. Anton, Esq.
ALG | Attorneys
Denver, CO
Jacqueline M. Benson, Esq.
Moye|White
Denver, CO
Bonnie P. Bowles, Esq.
Goodman | Bowles LLC
Littleton, CO
Brenda Clarke, CPA/ABV, CFF, CVA
Seigneur Gustafson
Lakewood, CO
The Honorable Christopher Cross
18th Judicial District Court
Castle Rock, CO
Amy C. DeVan, Esq.
Colorado Supreme Court, Office of Attorney Regulation
Denver, CO
Carolyn Elefant, Esq.
Blogger, MyShingle.com
Solo, Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant
Washington, DC
Margaret B. Funk, Esq.
Office of Attorney Regulation
Denver, CO
Gregory Goodman, Esq.
Goodman | Bowles LLC
Littleton, CO
David Graf, Esq.
Moeller Graf
Englewood, CO
Barbara Cashman Hahn, Esq.
Denver, CO
Rehan Hasan, Esq.
Denver, CO
David C. Little, Esq.
Montgomery, Little & Soran
Greenwood Village, CO
Reba Nance, Director of Law Practice Management
Colorado Bar Association
Denver, CO
John M. Palmeri, Esq.
Gordon & Rees
Denver, CO
Larry Port, Co-Founder
Rocket Matter
Boca Raton, FL
Ron Seigneur, CPA/ABV/CFF, CFA
Seigneur Gustafson LLP
Lakewood, CO
Phil Shuey, Esq.
Englewood, CO
Video Replays: September 7-9, 2011
Denver: CLE Classroom, 1900 Grant Street, Suite 300
Grand Junction: 1250 East Sherwood Drive
Colorado Springs: 421 South Tejon Street, Suite 100
Location Information
CLECI Large Classroom
1900 Grant Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80203
Get directions
1900 Grant Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80203
Registration Fees
| Non Member | $339.00 |
| CBA | $299.00 |
| SO/SM | $269.00 |
| New Lawyer | $249.00 |
| CBA | $249.00 |
- General Credits: 17.00
- Ethics Credits: 6.00
- EDI Credits:
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