YLD Photo Contest Entries Due Aug. 24; Theme is Standing Out from the Crowd

The Young Lawyers Division welcomes submissions from all members of the Bar Association for "Standing Out from the Crowd," a photography contest in which the winner and runner-up will receive great gift certificates as well as have their images featured in The Philadelphia Lawyer, the Association's quarterly magazine...READ MORE

Former Solicitor General Clement to Speak July 16

Paul Clement, former solicitor general of the United States, will be the guest speaker at the Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies 9th Annual Supreme Court Roundup on Monday, July 16.

The event begins with registration and a reception at 5:30 p.m. at The Union League of Philadelphia, 140 S. Broad St. The program begins at 6 p.m. Check in and reception will be in the Grant Room (Central and West). Hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be provided.

Admission is $25 for non-members, $15 for Federalist Society members, law students and clerks. Payment accepted at the door by cash or check. Preregistration is required for security purposes. Preregister via e-mail to CLEadmin@philafedsoc.org, or call Meredith Cooper at (215) 569-5500.

YLD to Receive LCD Founder's Award Sept. 28

The Young Lawyers Division will receive the Legal Clinic for the Disabled's Founders' Award at the LCD 25th Anniversary Celebration and Auction on Friday, Sept. 28 at the Westin Philadelphia.

The YLD co-founded LCD in 1987 along the the Pennsylvania Bar Association YLD and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. The YLD's fund-raising efforts and pro bono recruitment also helped LCD open its doors in 1990 amd provide services to its first clients.

For more information, contact LCD Executive Director Linda Peyton at 215-587-3214 or at lpeyton@lcdphila.org.

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Naturalize Your Networking Skills for Success

How do you measure your networking success? Does it include "whoever has the most business cards, wins?" How about "I gave out all my cards, so I must be doing something right" WRONG!

As you are out and about this summer hanging out with friends and colleagues, don't miss the opportunity to practice and improve your networking skills. You will find through the course of your career, there are few skills as impactful as becoming an effective networker and learning the art of making successful connections.

Sure, you may be a spoke (aka associate) in a very large wheel (your law firm), but there is no substitute to cultivating strong, sustainable relationships on a one-on-one basis to build a strong, prosperous practice. It is, after all, individuals who actually retain your services. Subtract the "human element" of the connection, and there is no connection. That is why it's so important to naturalize and grow more comfortable in talking with strangers (sorry, Mom, I realize this goes against earlier teachings), making easy conversation with other professionals, and learning how to easily navigate the impactful rules of networking.

For purposes of this short article, I’ve outlined five tips to master to become an effective networker:

• Choose Wisely. If you're thinking of attending a networking event and you're nervous about it, select an event with content - a speaker or a panel. That way, you won't be forced to spend several hours networking without a net.

• Plan Ahead. If you want to avoid overwhelm at an upcoming networking event, arrive when the networking portion of the event is halfway done. People will be chatting away, and you can join in a group conversation knowing that in 20 minutes, the speaker presentation will begin.

• Be More Interested Then Interesting. If you are not a big "talker," you will be relieved to know that asking opened-ended questions to learn as much as you can about your networking partner is one of the secrets to networker. Try using an ice breaker such as "So, what brings you here this evening?" and then let the other person talk. If a conversational spark develops, you can follow it wherever it leads. Asking questions about themselves and their interests is a great way to learn new things and to build rapport.

• Wrap up. End a conversation by thanking your networking partner for his or her time, and expressing your admiration for the person. "I'm so glad I got to meet you - it's been lovely to learn about you!" is a pleasant way to part. If you feel like asking for a business card, by all means do it, but don't ask for it if you just plan to throw it away. Likewise, don't offer your business card to everyone you meet, just because it's a networking event.

If you feel there is some business synergy between you and another person, you may ask "Would you like to grab coffee or lunch one day soon?" You can generally judge that person's interest by their next response.

• ALWAYS follow up. The day after a networking event, send an email to the individuals you most enjoyed meeting and thank them for their sparkling conversation. If you can manage it, send something of value along - the link to an article that's relevant to your new friend's interests, for example.

KLA Marketing Associates is here to assist and support your practice growth. Reach out if we can help!

Kimberly Alford Rice is principal of KLA Marketing Associates, a business development advisory firm focusing on legal services. As a law marketing authority, Kimberly helps law firms and lawyers develop practical business development and marketing strategies which lead directly to new clients and increased revenues. Additionally, Kimberly provides career management services to lawyers in transition. She may be reached at 609.458.0415 or via email at kimberly@klamarketing.net.

YLD Photo Contest Entries Due Aug. 24; Theme is Standing Out from the Crowd

The Young Lawyers Division welcomes submissions from all members of the Bar Association for "Standing Out from the Crowd," a photography contest in which the winner and runner-up will receive great gift certificates as well as have their images featured in The Philadelphia Lawyer, the Association's quarterly magazine.

Entrants are asked to submit an image that captures the people, buildings, sites or anything else that make Philadelphia unique. Creative interpretations of this year's theme are encouraged!

One submission per entrant can be emailed to Kaitlin Picco at YLDphotos@hotmail.com in JPG format. A professional panel of judges will select the winner. The deadline for entries is Friday, Aug. 24.

Quizzo Night Benefits Juvenile Law Center July 18

The Second Annual Quizzo Night for Juvenile Law Center hosted by Fergie's Pub, 1214 Sansom St., will be Wednesday, July 18 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Put together a team for your firm or organization and show your trivia genius while supporting the great work of Juvenile Law Center! Interns and summer associates welcome!

The winning team will receive $100 off its tab! The second-place team will receive $50 off its tab.

Teams of eight or less should register as individuals for $20 per person. Teams of eight to 10 can register as a team for $150. Teams should consist of no more than 10 players total. All proceeds from this event benefit Juvenile Law Center. Questions? Email event@jlc.org.

Click here to register your team now!

ABC's Ann Compton, Inquirer's Dick Polman to Speak at Bench-Bar

This year's Bench-Bar & Annual Conference will offer an insider's view of the 2012 presidential election, as we welcome ABC News White House Correspondent Ann Compton as our Opening Plenary speaker. Additionally, at our Saturday breakfast, we'll hear from The Philadelphia Inquirer's national political columnist Dick Polman, offering his own special brand of election insights.

The 2012 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference, featuring 21 CLE seminars, will be held at the new beachfront Revel resort in Atlantic City, N.J., on Oct. 5 and 6.

The Bench-Bar & Annual Conference provides attendees with the opportunity to earn CLE credit while networking with colleagues and members of the bench. Hundreds of attorneys and judges are expected to attend. A total of 6 CLE credits are available. Enjoy special early-bird savings on the full conference when you register by Sept. 14.

Maria A. Feeley, a partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP, is chair of the Bench-Bar & Annual Conference. Molly Peckman, director of professional development at Dechert LLP, is programming chair of the Bench-Bar & Annual Conference. Jeffrey S. Gross, a principal with Batt & Gross, is serving as sponsorship chair and Jennifer Segal Coatsworth, an associate with Margolis Edelstein, is sponsorship vice chair. Regina Foley of Raynes McCarty is chair of the scholarship subcommittee.

Sponsors for the 2012 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference include USI Affinity, First Judicial District, Love Court Reporting, Robson Forensic, JAMS, US Claims Inc., LexisNexis, Round Table Thomson Reuters Expert Witness Services, Special Counsel, Applied Discovery, LawCash, O'Neill Consulting Corporation, Lien Negotiation Counsel, Iron Mountain, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, FTI Consulting and The Legal Intelligencer. Special acknowledgement - Family Law Section, Real Property Section and Workers' Compensation Section. For sponsorship information, please contact Tracey McCloskey at 215-238-6360 or via email at tmccloskey@philabar.org. Learn more at benchbar.philadelphiabar.org.

Drafting Better Trusts to Accomplish Your Clients' Estate Planning Goals

The Pennsylvania Bar Institute will present the CLE program "Looking Under the Hood: Drafting Better Trusts to Accomplish Your Clients' Estate Planning Goals" on Friday, July 20.

Examine several basic types of trusts, what purpose they serve, and how to customize language so it will be specifically tailored to your client’s estate planning goals. Look at both tax planning aspects of trusts, as well as non-tax related planning goals. The core provisions of several types of trusts will be discussed, including Special Needs Trusts, Marital Trusts, Revocable Trusts, Testamentary Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, and more! This 4 substantive CLE credit program begins at 9 a.m. at The CLE Conference Center on the 10th floor of the Wanamaker Building, Market and Juniper streets. Click here for more information.

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