What Have We Done For You Lately?
By Pat Yevics

Sometimes it is important to remind members of the services that the Department of Law Office Management (LOMA) provides. It is often difficult to remember what services we offer. So get ready, because we are going to let you know how we can help you. (Pay attention – there is going to be a quiz at the end…)

A Little History

LOMA was created as a result of a report presented by the Task Force on Solo and Small Firm Practitioners to the Maryland State Bar Association. The Task Force was created in June 1992 by then MSBA President Roger Perkins. Roger was the MSBA’s first president who was a solo practitioner. He believed that needs of this large segment of the membership were not being met. In October 1993, I was hired to assist solo and small firm practitioners, although I was not sure at the time what that meant.

In talking with the few state bar associations that had similar programs at the time, we started to formulate some ideas.

Resources and Information

Through LOMA, we provide information on many software applications. We have a small library of reviews and articles describing various software packages. We try to keep the reviews as up-to-date as possible. We will forward that information to any member who requests it. For a list of the reviews we have available please go to www.msba.org/departments/loma/infopacks.htm.

Our office receives many calls each week from new and experienced practitioners about such areas as equipment, accounting, technology, etc. We have created many information packets that assist solo practitioners with these requests. Some of the information is located directly on our website and some must be requested and mailed to you. For articles on the website, visit www.msba.org/departments/loma/articles
/articles.htm, and for a list of other articles please go to www.msba.org/departments/
loma/infopacks.htm. There is information on starting a practice, marketing and client development, office management, characteristics of an efficient practice and technology tips.

We have become the telephone help desk for law practice management and technology for solo and small firm practitioners throughout the state. We receive over 50 calls a week for advice or information. If you have any questions and do not know where to start, call our office. We may not be able to answer all your questions, but we can find someone who can.

We make available to our members ABA publications that relate to technology or law practice management issues. They are available for a discount at our website at www.msba.org/departments/membership/discounts.htm.

We have a “How to Start a Solo Packet” which is a package of items that must be considered when starting a solo practice. We also have an audio tape of one of our most popular programs, “How to Start a Solo Practice.”

Every month in the MSBA Bar Bulletin there is a “Solo and Small Firm Practitioner” column that includes topics of interest to solo/small firm practitioners, written by either a solo practitioner or myself. The column is practical and offers tips and suggestions on managing a small law office. Each of the articles offers free additional information on a variety of topics.

Education Programs

We co-sponsor programs with local bar associations on issues relating to efficiently managing a solo practice. These programs have been designed for experienced practitioners as well as new practitioners. Almost all of our programs are scheduled on Saturdays or evenings to make it easier for solo and small firm practitioners to attend. In addition to the law practice management programs with local bars, we present a Solo and Small Firm Conference each November. This is an all day program with as many as 30 different sessions. The topics include technology, profitability, employees, marketing, client development, stress and time management as well as other issues. In addition, MICPEL sponsors a track with legal topics. Also in attendance are many vendors with services and products specifically for solo and small firm practitioners.

In conjunction with the Solo and Small Firm Practice Section, we have two “How to Start a Solo Practice” programs each year to assist new practitioners in setting up a law practice. The programs are always the last Saturdays in January and June and are usually held in Laurel. This year’s program will be held on Saturday, June 28 at the Holiday Inn in Laurel. The topics covered are marketing, business aspects of starting a practice, how to avoid malpractice, attorney/client relationships, etc. All of the presenters are experienced members of the bar with practical advice for new practitioners.

In 1999, the Solo and Small Firm Section was able to sponsor Solo Day at the MSBA Annual Meeting. This was created specifically to give solo and small firm practitioners the opportunity to come to the MSBA Annual meeting for one day of educational programs specifically for solo and small firm practitioners. It is on a Friday and there is a one day registration fee.

This year’s Solo Day was on June 13, 2003, and the keynote speaker was Johnnie Cochran. Although you may have missed the program, you may still purchase his book at www.msba.org.

We also sponsor at least one technology program each year and co-sponsor a program with MICPEL called Practice Perfect. This program is designed to help experienced practitioners avoid problems. The speakers are Mel Hirshman and Al Frederick.

We also speak throughout the state at local bar associations on a variety of law office management or technology issues. Starting in September, we are planning a series of law office management topics on “Writing Your Own Marketing Plan” and “Billing and Collections” that we will present throughout the state.

In March, the Solo and Small Firm Practice Section presented Ross Kodner in an excellent technology program on “The PaperLESS Office: Myth v Reality”  and “Practicing Safe Computing: Protecting your System From Techno-Gremlins (Data Backup, Electrical Protection, Dealing with Viruses, Internet E-Mail Security and Disaster Planning)”

Between July and December, we will be having a series of video-replays of the program. The first program will be held from 4:00 - 6:00 PM on Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at the MICPEL Classroom in the Bar Headquarters Building, 520 West Fayette Street, Baltimore. More video replays will be scheduled.

www.msba.org

Although LOMA was initially instrumental in developing the website, all departments contribute information to the site. Listed are some of the information and services on the website.

• Member Directory: All MSBA members are listed on the website (unless you have requested to not be listed). It is possible to search for a lawyer in a variety of ways. The directory is available to the general public. Members of the public can search on last name, law firm, county, practice area, section membership and state. For example, a member of the public could find a family law lawyer from Baltimore County who is licensed in both Maryland and Pennsylvania.
• Change of Address/Membership Data: It is possible to change your membership data online by going to the Member Directory.
• Departments: A list of all staff members and their responsibilities is listed on the site. This will help you get the right person in the beginning.
• Sections/Committees: There is a list of all Section Council and committee members. In addition, each Section has a website with information specific to its practice area. As of May 15, all issues of Section newsletters will be available online (for the respective Section members only). There is a description of all Committees and the work that they do.

In addition, you can join all Section listserves at this site. All Sections have listserves where you can post questions and get answers.

Many of the Sections include minutes from council meetings as well links appropriate for Section members.

• ID Badges: Applications for Court House ID badges can be found at www.msba.org/departments/administration/idbadge.htm. They can be printed and mailed to the MSBA for your ID Badge.
• Calendar: A listing of all MSBA, MICPEL and many local bar programs/meetings are listed on the calendar. There are also directions to all MSBA approved restaurants on the calendar page.
• Member Benefits: There are many items listed on the member benefits page. This is where you can find the monthly list of members on the Ethics Hotline. You can also get information on all the vendor benefits that the MSBA offers and contact information. There is a link to the LOMA page which has many articles on office management and technology and lists of information packets that are available for members.

For Members Only

• Electronic Bar Briefs – This is a service that will e-mail you daily a synopsis of Court of Appeal and Court of Special Appeal opinions. It is free and for members only. You can choose from a list of 15 practice areas. (www.msba.org/members/ebb/index.htm)
• Ethics Opinions – A searchable list of all MSBA Ethic Opinions is online and can be printed. (www.msba.org/members/default.asp)
• Mentoring Program – This is a list of 250 members of the MSBA who have volunteered to answer questions on a variety of topics. They are listed by county and have practice area information. (www.msba.org/members/default.asp)
• Publications: The Table of Contents for each issue of the Maryland Bar Journal is listed. The complete Annual Report is online. Many of the articles from the Bar Bulletin are also online.

A list of all legal brochures and the text of all the brochures are available on line. There is also information on ordering the brochures.

Many other publications are also available, such as the Gender Equality Report and the Code of Civility.

• Career Center: The Young Lawyers Section sponsors the Legal Career Center where attorneys and employers can go to find or list jobs. This is a national search engine and can be found at http://msba.legalstaff.com.
• Legal Vendor E-Mall: This is the place to go to find vendors that provide services and products specific to the legal community in Maryland. This should be the first place you look to find what your firm needs. (www.msba.org/links/emall/default.asp)
• Legal Links: This list of links is specific for members of the legal profession. In addition to the usual government and court sites, we have links and information about all local and specialty bar associations in Maryland. We also have links to many of the agencies listed in the White Pages of the Maryland Lawyer’s Manual. This should be a bookmark on your computer. (www.msba.org/links/index.htm)

This is only a snapshot of all the services we provide through LOMA and the website, but there is so much more. For more information, go to www.msba.org or contact Pat Yevics at (800) 492-1964, ext. 243, or pyevics@msba.org. If I do not have the answer, I will help you find it.

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Publications : Bar Bulletin: June, 2003