Oct. 20 Live GoToWebinar by Danielle Babcock of Thomson Reuters. Building law firm awareness is the key to increasing your business and profits. Your law firm can be promoted in everything you do from websites and social media, to blogging efforts, client communications, branding, managing Google, and law firm public relations.  Join Danielle Babcock of FindLaw to explore ways to increase your bottom line by learning about the tools you can use to reach your best clients. Course number 4062. Approved for 1.0 General CLE credit. REGISTER NOW

Danielle Babcock is a digital marketing strategist for FindLaw, a division of Thomson Reuters. For the past thirteen years, she has exclusively worked with small business owners in helping them protect, grow and market themselves. Since 2007, she has assisted over 800 businesses, including law firms, in protecting or growing their brands.  When working with clients, she finds the greatest importance lies in focusing on how the firm differentiates itself.  By creating a unique strategy to market strengths, it ideally drives retaining the ideal client on a more consistent basis. Her hobbies include weight training, running, personal training, friends and international travel. Danielle and her husband of two years, Ben, had their first child named Braxton, on May 9, 2020.  Her favorite pastime now is spending time with her baby boy and two dogs Titan and Sophie.

“Conducting Remote Proceedings: From Presenting Evidence During Hearings and Trials to Participating in Zoom Mediations.” October 21, 12 – 1 PM Wednesday Wisdom Zoom webinar, free CLE. Presented by Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Hunter Carroll, Third Judicial Circuit General Magistrate Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin, Renee Thompson and Liz McCausland. Course number4210. 1.0  Technology  CLE  credit.  REGISTER

Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin is the General Magistrate for the Third Judicial Circuit in North Central Florida and presides over probate, guardianship, domestic relations and foreclosure matters. She is a former chair of The Florida Bar Solo & Small Firm Section. Jennifer’s past Bar experience includes service as President of the Third Judicial Circuit Bar Association and on various committees of The Florida Bar Family Law Section. As the Third Judicial Circuit Young Lawyer’s Board of Governor’s Representative, she oversaw the development and launch of the YLD’s  “Mentoring With the Masters” video program. Jennifer also is the author of “Deadly Escape,” a crime thriller novel that has been used as a course textbook for Stetson Law School’s Criminal Procedure class.

Renee E. Thompson is a solo civil trial attorney and mediator from Ocala, Florida. She is an active leader in The Florida Bar, serving on the Board of Governors as the current Technology Chair and Member Benefit Liaison and on the Executive Council of the Solo and Small Firm Section. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law in the area of Practice Management and Technology and has received the General Practice/ Solo and Small Firm Section’s Walter S. Crumbley Award for her contributions in the area of practice management. She established a  reputation at a young age as a high achiever, as President of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division and inaugural Chair of The Florida Bar Leadership Academy, and received the President’s Award of Merit twice while serving on the Board of Governors.

Liz McCausland has been practicing law for over 20 years after graduating from the University of Florida with both her Bachelor of Arts and JD degrees. She practiced civil litigation representing both individuals and national corporations before starting her own firm. Ms. McCausland now concentrates in bankruptcy and mediation. She is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator. She served on committees to establish both the Orlando Bankruptcy Division’s Mortgage Modification Mediation Program, as well as the Orange County Mortgage Modification Program.

She has conducted over 4,000 Mortgage Modification Mediations in every district in Florida, as well as in Indiana, California, Nevada, and Arizona. She travels throughout the US to teach other attorneys and mediators how to successfully obtain and mediate mortgage modifications in bankruptcy.

Liz has served in leadership positions in many voluntary bar associations and has won awards for her devoted service including being recognized with the Lawrence G. Matthews Professionalism Award. She is a past president of the Orange County Bar Association, and serves on the executive board of the Florida Bar’s Solo and Small Firm Section. She has also previously served on the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Section, The Florida Bar’s Leadership Academy Committee and on the executive board of the Central Florida Association For Women Lawyers.

Liz is a self-proclaimed gadget geek and has never met an app she didn’t try. Unfortunately, the nuances of Microsoft Excel still confound her.

Born and raised in Sarasota County, Hunter W. Carroll is a circuit judge in the 12th Judicial Circuit. For the last two years, he has been the administrative judge for the circuit civil division in Sarasota County. Prior to his 2015 appointment to the bench, Judge Carroll’s law practice focused on complex commercial litigation matters, although he practiced in other areas of the law as well, including appellate law. He is a past president of the Sarasota County Bar Association and Judge John M. Scheb American Inns of Court. He previously served as a governor from the 12th Circuit on The Florida Bar Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Division. Judge Carroll began his legal career as a staff attorney to then Chief Justice Wells of the Supreme Court of Florida. Judge Carroll attended the University of Florida for both undergraduate studies and law school.

Oct. 28 Wednesday Wisdom free CLE on Zoom for Solo & Small Firm Section members by Margaret “Peggy” Hewitt of Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co., Bryan Barnhart of Infiltration Labs and Third Circuit General Magistrate Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin. Join us for a primer for the Florida solo and small firm practitioner following the pandemic-driven flight to the home office and virtual courtroom. Peruse the pitfalls and solutions of the insecure network, the Alexa overheard client conference and the nursery-turned-hearing-room. Course number 4065. 1.0 Technology CLE credit. REGISTER

Before coming to Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, Peggy Hewitt was a 20-year partner of Jones, Hurley & Hand, P.A.  Before joining a law firm, Ms. Hewitt was in-house counsel for the Walt Disney Company; before Disney, she was Counsel to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and an Assistant State Attorney.  Her practice experience included over 120 jury trials, and countless administrative hearings and appeals in the areas of Insurance Defense, Employment and Labor Law, and Workers’ Compensation.

Bryan Barnhart is owner/operator of Infiltration Labs, which specializes in forensic investigations, penetration testing, and education services. He is a former Cyber Crimes Investigator, Police Detective and SWAT Operator/Instructor. Bryan is a former Network Intrusion Incident Responder and Digital Evidence Forensic Examiner with the U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force. He serves as a Network Intrusion response instructor to the U.S. Secret Service.

Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin is the General Magistrate for the Third Judicial Circuit in North Central Florida and presides over probate, guardianship, domestic relations and foreclosure matters. She is a former chair of the Solo & Small Firm Section. Jennifer’s past Bar experience includes service as President of the Third Judicial Circuit Bar Association and on various committees of The Florida Bar Family Law Section. As the Third Judicial Circuit Young Lawyer’s Board of Governor’s Representative, she oversaw the development and launch of the YLD’s  “Mentoring With the Masters” video program. Jennifer also is the author of “Deadly Escape,” a crime thriller novel that for several semesters has been used as a course textbook for Stetson Law School’s Criminal Procedure class.

Tuesday, Nov. 17 live GoToWebinar by Tim Chinaris. Even the most ethical lawyer faces challenges presented by today’s technology.  Former Bar Ethics Director, Dean Tim Chinaris, will outline several areas in this presentation in which an otherwise ethical lawyer could unknowingly cross the line and find himself or herself in ethical problems.  Ways to avoid these “technology traps” will be addressed. Course 4079. Approved for 1.0 General CLE credit, all of which may be applied to Ethics, and 1.0 Technology CLE credit. Section members register for only $50. REGISTER

Tim Chinaris is Associate Dean for Information Services and Professor of Law at Belmont University College of Law in Nashville, Tennessee, where he teaches courses in legal ethics, torts, insurance law, and other subjects.  Professor Chinaris was Ethics Director of The Florida Bar from 1989-1997, where he ran the popular “ethics hotline” service that answers more than 25,000 calls annually from bar members.

Free Wednesday Wisdom CLE for Solo & Small Firm Section members.* Nov. 18 live Zoom webinar presented by Lee “Pete” Muschott. “Essentials of Sovereign Immunity Litigation Under §768.28” will provide the foundation for prosecuting claims against governmental entities or defending those entities against claims for negligence. Course number 4250. CLE credit approval pending. *Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed. REGISTER

Dec. 2 Wednesday Wisdom free CLE on Zoom for Solo & Small Firm Section members.* Join attorney Joshua Hertz and business development and law firm coach Paula Black for an informative Wednesday Wisdom about the different ways to ethically generate passive income. As a solo or small-firm attorney, we know all too well that there are only so many hours in a day and adding one more thing to our to-do list is unthinkable. But what if that one thing could be revenue-generating to help you through the times when business is slow? Such as serving as coverage counsel or signing up for conflict cases. Join us for a lively discussion about ethically supplementing your income. Course number 4251. 1.0 General CLE credit, all of which may be applied toward Ethics. *Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed. REGISTER

• Joshua J. Hertz is solo at The Law Offices of Joshua J. Hertz, P.A.  He began his legal career clerking for his brother law firm Eric Hertz P.C., in Atlanta in the late 90s.  He assisted with many personal injury trials in which some have reached record-breaking verdicts in the state.  After graduating from law school he opened his own law firm concentrating in personal injury law in 2001.
• Paula Black is one of the leading business development coaches for lawyers. She regularly shows her clients how to attract more clients and grow their businesses while still having the personal life they really want. Black’s most gratifying work is one-on-one coaching where she can witness the growth and change that individuals experience with her guidance. She was voted one of the Top Legal Business Development Coaches and is on Forbes Coaching Council. She is an award-winning and bestselling author of The Little Black Book series and has published her fifth book, A Lawyer’s Guide to Creating a Life Not Just A Living, available on Amazon.

Tuesday, Dec. 8 live InReach webinar presented by Bill Curphey. This seminar will provide examples of unprofessional behavior and suggest how to deal with it.  Also discussed will be the Professionalism Expectations included in key Florida Bar documents; the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar upon which disciplinary action is usually based for unprofessionalism; informative cases; local professionalism panels; the Attorney Consumer Assistance Program; the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism; and the 17th Judicial Circuit Pilot program on professionalism and civility. Course number 4252. 1.0 General, 1.0 Professionalism credits. Section members register for only $50.  REGISTER

Bill Curphey has been practicing for over 45 years, beginning as a trial attorney for the U.S. Dept. of Labor prosecuting companies for violations of federal labor and employment laws and then associate counsel for a Fortune 200 company where he coordinated litigation nationwide.  He has been with Big Law firms before starting his own practice 20 years ago, mainly as a commercial litigator representing businesses large and small nationwide mostly in federal court. He has built a national practice while maintaining a small-town lifestyle in Bradenton, Florida.

Tuesday, January 19, 2020. Live GoToWebinar presented by Luca Hickman, Registered Patent Attorney, Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. of Fort Myers. Moderator: Chris Johnson. Course 4276. approved for 1.0 General; 1.0 Technology CLE credit. REGISTER

“Digital IP: Helping Clients Protect, Defend & Recover Intellectual Property Rights Online, In Social Media & E-Commerce Platforms” will discuss strategies to protect increasingly important digital IP by registering domain names and social media handles, and by using Trademark and Copyright Laws. Luca L. Hickman, Esq., Registered Patent Attorney, will highlight proactive defense strategies to defend and attack against third party infringement of digital IP rights, including social media takedowns, and using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”).  Recovering converted social media accounts and fighting cybersquatting via the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution will also be covered.

Luca is a registered U.S. patent attorney and a Canadian foreign Trademark Agent at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. in Fort Myers. After graduating with degrees in electrical engineering from universities in both the U.S. and Germany, he earned his Juris Doctorate from the Ave Maria School of Law – graduating first in his class. With his scientific background, Luca understands the unique technical and legal challenges his clients face, and uses that knowledge to represent engineers, architects and other design professionals against design defect and professional liability claims. He also works with inventors, artists and musicians in high profile matters, including multi-million dollar mergers and acquisitions involving publicly traded companies and celebrities, oversees the creation and management of global intellectual property portfolios, brand licensing and anti-counterfeiting work, and was called upon to assist in a complex U.S. Supreme Court case. Luca and his wife, Erica, live in Estero, Florida.

January 27, 12 – 1 PM Wednesday Wisdom Zoom webinar, free CLE for Solo & Small Firm Section members.* Presented by Rob Howard, President/Principal of RC Howard and Associates, LLC; a certified Sandler Training Center. Course 4204. Approved for 1.0 General CLE credit. REGISTER

“Professional Approach to Managing the Client Experience” will demonstrate advanced communication techniques incorporating a repeatable systemic approach and supporting processes for managing the overall client experience that can impact client satisfaction, sustained positive financial performance and growth for the firm or practice. Topics will include how being intentional with client care and voice of the client can shape an approach and methodology to manage your client’s perception and experience while addressing issues in “real-time,” how to avoid a “transactional” impression and ways to establish professional rapport and trust, the foundation for referrals. Course number and 1.0 General CLE credit pending. *Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.

Robert C. Howard is founder and president of RC Howard and Associates, LLC; a certified Sandler Training Center. Robert has 39 years of domestic and international experience in leadership and other roles across business development, client care, development, and management. Sandler Training is a global learning & development (L&D) company and provider of specific training and L&D platforms for leadership, management, client development, and client management to professional services. Nationally recognized L&D provider to law firms in the U.S.

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Friday, February 12 live GoToWebinar. “Virtually Irresistible:  Tech Tools and Strategies for Solo and Small Firms.” 8 A.M. – 12:55 P.M. $185 Section Members, $230 Non-Section Members, 5.0 General; 3.0 Technology CLE credits. Course number 4253. Registrants will have 90-day, on-demand access. REGISTER NOW

Don’t miss the all-new Solo & Small Firm Conference, featuring prestigious speakers and timely, engaging topics to benefit YOUR practice.

8–8:10 AM Welcome and introductions.

8:10–9 AM  Let’s Talk. Improving Team Building and Communication Skills in A Virtual World.   One of the challenges of the virtual world is learning how to work effectively as a team. In addition, working remotely adds new wrinkles to how we communicate – not only with the team but with clients. This session will provide strategies that will help you more fully engage your team and tips to improve your communication with both your team and with clients. Presented by Nora Bergman of Real Life Practice.

9–9:55 AM  Systems Thinking and Technology for Running The Lean Law Firm. While nearly every industry has jumped with both feet into the future, law firms have mostly failed to capitalize on the “science of industrial management.” No more. Learn how to transform your law firm using Lean methods and technologies pioneered by Toyota and relied upon by the world’s most profitable and highest performing companies from Dave Maxfield, lawyer and co-author of the ABA’s bestselling book,  “The Lean Law Firm.”

9:55–10:10 AM  Break

10:10–11:05 AM  Virtual Law Clerks and Contract Lawyers: Hiring, Training and Firing; Outsourcing. How do you find contract lawyers, integrate them into your practice, and provide sufficient oversight? What are the employment law considerations when hiring, training and firing law clerks and contract attorneys, particularly when working virtually?  How do you determine the appropriate rates? Presented by Kristin Tyler of LawClerk.

11:05 AM–12 PM  Law Firm Autopilot. Effectively leveraging technology and automating aspects of your practice will free you up to focus on meaningful work. Presented by “Ernie the Attorney” Ernie Svenson.

12–12:55 PM  How to Sustain and Grow a Solo and Small Firm Practice With the Use of Technology. A panel discussion with practitioners who have established successful solo and small firms will discuss their practice models and use of technology. Moderator: Cristina Alonso of Alonso Appeals. Panelists: April Martindale of Martindale Law, Camara Williams of Smith & Williams Trial Group, and Liz McCausland of Liz McCausland, P.A.