Oct. 2 PhiLAWpalooza Moved
to Field House, 1150 Filbert St.

CMSResources/ooza.jpgThe Young Lawyers Division will host its second annual PhiLAWpalooza on Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Field House, 1150 Filbert St., with an exciting line-up of bands comprised of Philadelphia lawyers of all ages and practice areas. Please note the new location.

This year's line-up includes fan favorites A Band Called M (Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP) and Class Action (Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin) playing rock-n-roll hits. Newcomers include Mommy's Little Monsters (Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein, Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd.), Roger Delco (Law Offices of David W. Wolf) and special guest Paula Boggs, general counsel for Starbucks.

PhiLAWpalooza will be held on Thursday, Oct. 2, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for Association members ($15 at the door) and $15 for non-members ($18 at the door). Admission includes rock-n-roll, drink tickets, heavy hors d'oeuvres and $4 Absolut drink specials! The Field House is located at 1150 Filbert St. and has plenty of big-screen TVs to watch the Phillies face the Milwaukee Brewers in the playoffs. Click here to purchase tickets. PhiLAWpalooza is sponsored by Summit Court Reporting Services.

Chancellor's Diversity Training Series Oct. 7

Learn about creating, developing and growing your legal practices at the first session of the Chancellor Diversity Training Series on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Come and learn about these practices from those who have "been there" and understand the process...READ MORE

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Reassure Your Clients in Tough Times

By Stacy West Clark
The news is bleak and the trickle-down effect is in full force. Businesses and professionals at all levels in most industries are feeling the economic turmoil. What should you be doing now for your clients – even if they are not contacting you with a new matter?

First, visit them on your nickel. The surest way to new business is meeting with your clients on their turf for free to find out how their business is going.

Pick up the phone today and arrange to take a tour, provide a free briefing or take your client to lunch near his or her office. Explore how the recession is helping/hurting his or her business. Learn what some of the client's professional and personal challenges. Listen. Ask. Listen some more. Then, return to your office and immediately act on what you heard. Try to be of help quickly.

Second, consider how secure your client's position is within his or her company. Today, many individuals fear for their jobs. If one of your client's situations seems precarious in some way – try to be of help. Make introductions for them. Treat them to something entertaining and fun. Be a friend during the bad times and they will remember you fondly when the crisis has passed.

Third, go out of your way to ratchet up your level of service. Make the last quarter of the year truly "all about the client." Look for ways to improve your communications, responsiveness, knowledge of the client’s business and industry and more.

Fourth, forget the holiday card this year. Instead, take the money you would have spent on cards and take your clients out for coffee or a drink. Now – and for the foreseeable future – one-on-one contact activities will be much more important and fruitful than any impersonal communications. If you have to send a holiday card, write one out in your hand with a very personal message.

As I like to say: get set, get up and get GOING!

Stacy West Clark, Esq. is president of Stacy Clark Marketing LLC, a firm dedicated to helping lawyers and law firms grow their business. She can be reached at: www.stacyclarkmarketing.com. Stacy is on the Steering Committee of the Delaware Valley Law Firm Marketing Group, a free group that holds monthly lunch programs for lawyers and marketers on important marketing topics. If you would like to receive invitations to upcoming events, please email Stacy or go to www.dvlawmarketing.org.

YLD Family Fall Festival Oct. 19 at Philadelphia Zoo

The Young Lawyers Division will hold its 2008 Family Fall Festival on Sunday, Oct. 19 at the Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 Girard Ave.

Admission includes all-day access to the zoo between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The YLD Family Fall Festival event will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Peacock Pavilion and includes a picnic BBQ with dessert. Access to Pavilion is available between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Admission is $20 for adults and $12 for children ages 2 to 12. Children under 2 are admitted for free. Activities include the Zoo on Wheels from 12 to 2 p.m. and face painting from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Children are encouraged to dress in costume. Click here to purchase tickets for this event.

Quarterly Meeting Monday, Oct. 20

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Senior Judge Albert W. Sheppard Jr. and former Women in the Profession Committee co-chair Roberta D. Liebenberg will be presented with two of the Association's most prestigious awards at the Monday, Oct. 20 Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon.

Judge Sheppard is the recipient of the 2008 Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Distinguished Jurist Award. Liebenberg will receive the 2008 Sandra Day O'Connor Award.

The meeting will also include a panel discussion with women leaders from across Philadelphia. The panelists include Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman, superintendent/CEO of the School District of Philadelphia; Ahmeenah Young, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority; Tara Weiner, managing partner, Greater Philadelphia region, Deloitte and Touche; and Nina M. Gussack, chair of Pepper Hamilton LLP. The panel will be moderated by Mary Stoker Smith of CBS3 Eyewitness News.

Tickets are $55 for members and $60 for non-members. Click here to purchase tickets for this event, which begins at 12 p.m. at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue.

Candidates Sought for YLD Executive Committee

Pursuant to the YLD Bylaws, every year seven new members are elected to serve three-year terms on the Executive Committee. This year's Election will take place on Dec. 8, 2008, in conjunction with the Association's Annual Meeting.

Any Voting Member of the Division shall be eligible for election to the Executive Committee provided, however, that the term of office for which the individual runs shall not extend beyond his or her membership in the Division. You are eligible if you are 37 years of age or less in the year 2011, or if you are older than 37, you will not be celebrating more than your third year of practice in 2011. The Nominating Petition and Personal Statement must be returned to the offices of the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th Floor, no later than 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. At 5 p.m. that same day, we will have an information meeting in the 10th Floor Board Room at the Bar Association where ballot positions will be drawn.

If you have any questions regarding the Executive Committee, or the election process, please feel free to contact Tracey McCloskey, Director of Meetings and Special Events, at 215-238-6360.

Chancellor's Diversity Training Series Oct. 7

Learn about creating, developing and growing your legal practices at the first session of the Chancellor Diversity Training Series on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Come and learn about these practices from those who have "been there" and understand the process.

Panelists for the program, to be held from 4 to 6 p.m. in the 11th Floor Conference Center of Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St., include Christopher A. Lewis, Blank Rome LLP; Charisse R. Lillie, Comcast Corporation; Chuck Polin, The Training Resource Group; Bernard W. Smalley of Anapol, Schwartz, Weiss, Cohan, Feldman & Smalley, P.C.; and Joan Stern of Blank Rome LLP. The program will be moderated by Chancellor A. Michael Pratt.

A light snack and beverages will be provided to all attendees. There is no fee to attend this program but you must RSVP. Click here to RSVP for this program.

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