Summary

Pictures of this event can be viewed at http://www.pictage.com/394233

More than 170 administrators took part in this year’s Region 6 Educational Conference & Exposition held in Tucson, Arizona, on November 2-3, 2007. The panoramic offerings of professional legal management classes ranging from fundamental to advanced management skills provided attendees with multiple opportunities to enhance their professional development and career opportunities.

The Welcome Reception took place under the stars where an expansive view of the Arizona sky was seen by all. Entertainment for the evening included a tarot card reader and a professional astronomer who not only lent his expertise, but also his telescopes so everyone could enjoy a close up of the night sky.

The Keynote Address was delivered by Joseph Mancusi, Ph.D., of the Center for Organizational Excellence who talked about emotional intelligence [EQ] and how understanding one’s own EQ can lead to increased success in the legal workplace.

The Exhibit Hall showcased the best in legal industry solutions, suppliers, and legal technology and services. The day’s beverage breaks were held in the Exhibit Hall, so attendees and business partners alike had multiple opportunities to make or renew professional connections. As a special treat, three 10-inch flat screen televisions were given away to lucky winners throughout the day.

New this year, the conference included a Sessions-in-Series called EEK! focusing on e-discovery, ethics, employer liability and knowledge-based creative problem solving. In addition, a Session in Series on Charting Your Course Toward the CLM^sm was also introduced. Throughout the conference, expert speakers discussed important topics such as how to: “go green”, fulfill dreams and achieve success, effectively interview, overcome unintentional intolerance, implement effective financial practices, and manage difficult conversations. All of the educational sessions met with positive feedback from this year’s attendees - a result we typically find associated with significantly high learning outcomes.

Friday evening’s event was a Wild West adventure at the Coyote Corral, where everyone had a terrific time enjoying a delicious buffet dinner and learning to line dance. A particular treat was the Electronic Quick Draw competition – "gunfighters" from all over Region 6 took their turn attempting to become the fastest draw.

Saturday featured continental breakfast and roundtable discussions on key topics such as: solving the evolving role of the legal secretary, the benefits of ALA membership, small firm issues, employee retention, business partner relationships, and preparing for the CLM^SM.

Educational sessions continued throughout Saturday morning concluding with an overview of current ALA activities by ALA President Patti Groff and the closing general session presented by John Mancusi, Ph.D.

We look forward to seeing you along with Region 4 next year in Austin, Texas, October 24-25, 2008.