Virtual Member Meetups
ALA Roundtables
Upcoming ALA Roundtables
- Overcome the challenges of pricing legal services in client proposals.
- Create, track and update client budgets.
- Analyze what areas your attorneys are actually practicing in, how long certain matters typically take and what resources they require.
Most Recent Recording
Past Roundtable Recordings
Responding to the Second Wave of COVID-19
Originally aired December 11
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The roundtable was facilitated by New Jersey Chapter members Veronica Hurless and Elyssa A. Goldstein, CLM, PHR, SHRM-CP, who also serves on ALA’s Membership Development Committee.
Special Edition: Mentorship and Sponsorship Programs
Originally aired December 4
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The roundtable was facilitated by Barbara J. Paige, CLM, a member of the Puget Sound Chapter, and Pamela Tobin, a member of the South Florida Chapter.
Wrapping Up 2020 and Looking Forward to 2021
Originally aired November 13
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The roundtable was facilitated by South Florida Chapter President Nilka Gomez and ALA Membership Ambassador Sharon Meit Abrahams, EdD, from the same chapter.
Are You Ready for the New Hybrid Workplace?
Originally aired October 9
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The roundtable was facilitated by Kevin S. Lee, JD, MDiv, a member of the Chapter Resource Team and the Silicon Valley Chapter. He invited several other members with different perspectives and from different parts of the country to serve as cofacilitators: Sarah E. Cramer of the Greater Kansas City Chapter, Chernice Dieudonne of the Atlanta Chapter, Donna Moser of the Oregon Chapter, Mary L. Randolph of the Capital Chapter and Louise M. Spinelli of the Western and Central New York Chapter.
Reviewing the Performance Evaluation Process in the New Normal
Originally aired September 11
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The roundtable was facilitated by Shelley A. Strong of the Silicon Valley Chapter, a member of the Product and Service Review Committee and the Awards Program Project Team, and Lisa A. Waligorski, CLM, of the Orange County Chapter, who also teaches ALA’s financial web-based courses.
Staying Connected to Your Colleagues and Attorneys While Working Remotely
Originally aired August 21
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The roundtable was facilitated by Angela Tyson, a member of the Capital Chapter, and Erica Fine, an independent member. Here are some topics that were explored:
- What are firms doing to keep people connected?
- What are firms doing now that may be different from the initial burst/wave of activities and meetings in the spring and early summer?
- What does the new normal look like both at your firm and in your personal life?
Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Hybrid Workforce
Originally aired August 7
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The roundtable was facilitated by Karie D. Rivkin, CLM, a member of ALA’s Board of Directors, and Holly K. Pulido, a member of the Chapter Resource Team.
Managing Your Office in a Virtual World
Originally aired July 24
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The roundtable was facilitated by Barbara L. Fisher and Rachel Anne Robert, independent members from Ontario, Canada. Here are some topics that were explored:
- Addressing loneliness and burnout among staff
- Encouraging improved communication to resolve conflict
July 10 Roundtable
This roundtable was hosted by ALA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Committee. Find out more here.
June 26 Roundtable
This roundtable was hosted by ALA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Committee. Find out more here.
COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal — Possible Handbook and Policy Changes in the Wake of the Pandemic
Originally aired June 19
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The roundtable was facilitated by the New Jersey Chapter's Katherine E. Dart and Elyssa A. Goldstein, CLM, PHR, SHRM-CP, a member of the Membership Development Committee. Has your firm or is your firm considering modifying and/or developing:
- A work-from-home policy?
- A visitors' policy?
- A travel policy?
June 12 Roundtable
This roundtable was hosted by ALA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Committee. Find out more here.
COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal — Preparing Your Office for Staff to Return
Originally aired June 5
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The roundtable was facilitated by Teresa J. Walker, Chair of the Professional Development and Advisory Committee (PDAC) and a member of the Middle Tennessee Chapter, and Terri J. Oppelt, CLM, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Vice Chair of PDAC and a member of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter. Here are some topics that were explored:
- How are firms responding to the new CDC guidance?
- What physical changes are firms considering to workstations and reception areas?
COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal — Remote Working: Is It Here to Stay?
Originally aired May 29
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The roundtable was facilitated by Stacey J. Ransleben, CLM, a member of the Chapter Resource Team and the Houston Chapter, and Jessica L. VanTroost, a member of the Membership Development Committee and the Jacksonville Chapter. Here are some topics that were explored:
- Alternative work-from-home options going forward
- Office space/rental structure
- Client response to law firms working from home
COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal with a Focus on Keeping Employees Engaged and Maintaining Firm Culture in a Virtual Workplace
Originally aired May 22
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The roundtable was facilitated by Denise Gaskin, PhD, MS, a member of the Professional Development Advisory Committee (PDAC), and Gail Reysa of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter. Here are some topics that were explored:
- Using technology to build engagement
- Maintaining firm culture with partially or fully remote staff
COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal with a Focus on PTO Policies and Potential Changes
Originally aired May 15
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The roundtable was facilitated by Elyssa A. Goldstein, CLM, PHR, SHRM-CP, and Audrey M. Serban of the New Jersey Chapter. Here are some topics that were explored:
- How to handle an influx of paid time off (PTO) requests after returning to work
- Whether you should consider reducing PTO for the year
- Whether you should offer more flexible schedules for child and/or elder care reasons in lieu of PTO
COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal with a Focus on Implementing a Communication Strategy from the Change Management Process
Originally aired May 8
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The roundtable was facilitated by Dawn H. Anderson, JD, PHR, SPHR, of the Atlanta Chapter and Teresa J. Tipton of the Austin Chapter. Here are some topics that were explored:
- Communicating the reason for change
- Communicating the danger in not changing
- Determining the right spokesperson for each audience
- Ensuring consistent messaging
Resources mentioned in this Roundtable: "The ADKAR Model: Why It Works" and "Communication Checklist for Achieving Change Management," Prosci; "Leading Through Change," Legal Management
COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal with a Focus on Returning to the Workplace, Part 2
Originally aired May 1
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The roundtable was facilitated by Dawn H. Anderson, JD, PHR, SPHR, and Laura K. Waterman of the Atlanta Chapter. Here are some topics that were explored:
- Re-entry of attorneys and paralegals
- Employees that rely on public transit
- Looking at space needs
- Someone presents ill at work
COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal with a Focus on Returning to the Workplace, Part 1
Originally aired April 24
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The roundtable was facilitated by Louise M. Spinelli and Sarah A. DiChiara of the Western and Central New York Chapter. Here are some topics that were explored:
- Planning process for re-entry
- Phase-in return
- Requirements to return to work
- Policy to incorporate remote workers and/or other policy updates
COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal with a Focus on Financial Considerations
Originally aired April 17
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The roundtable was facilitated by Terri J. Oppelt, CLM, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, and Jennifer J. Bradshaw of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter. Here are some of the topics that were explored:
- Paycheck Protection Program
- SBA loans
- Emergency loans
- Summer programs
COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal with a Focus on Stress and Mental Health
Originally aired April 10
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The roundtable was facilitated by Veronica Sutton, SHRM-SCP, SPHR PHRca, and Ann S. Callahan, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CLM, of the Puget Sound Chapter. Here are some of the topics that were explored:
- How do we get a temperature check? With no or limited nonverbal cues, how can we assess the stress levels in our employee ranks?
- How does stress manifest in behaviors? How do we assess these behaviors and when do we get involved personally vs. when do we encourage people to seek other resources?
- What do we already know from dealing with other crisis situations? While not the same, are there tips to be had from other plans/experiences with extreme weather, other infectious diseases, fires, earthquakes, etc.?
COVID-19: Adapting to the New Normal with a Focus on Operations
Originally aired April 3
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This roundtable was facilitated by Tara Ghannam Binge and Michelle Mahan Smith of the Puget Sound Chapter. Here are some of the topics that were explored:
- What kind of communication or communication plan has been instituted in your firm to internally deal with the change in operations due to COVID-19?
- How are you handling the day-to-day deliveries (e.g., standard mail, FedEx, coffee and refreshments for the office, etc.)?
- What procedure have you put in place regarding handling internal self-reported cases of COVID-19?
ALA Hangouts
Upcoming ALA Hangouts
- Tuesday, February 9, at 1 p.m. Central
- Tuesday, March 9, at 1 p.m. Central
- Tuesday, April 13, at 1 p.m. Central
- Tuesday, May 11, at 1 p.m. Central
- Tuesday, June 8, at 1 p.m. Central
Recordings
Small Firm Meetups
Upcoming Small Firm Meetups
- Wednesday, January 20, at 2 p.m. Central
- Wednesday, February 3, at 2 p.m. Central
- Wednesday, March 3, at 2 p.m. Central
- Wednesday, April 7, at 2 p.m. Central
- Wednesday, May 5, at 2 p.m. Central
- Wednesday, June 2, at 2 p.m. Central