administra tor’s advant age · 2019-09-02 · administra tor’s advant age inside: annual...

ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE

INSIDE:Annual Conference Issue

10 The Changing Role of the Legal Secretary

By: Sue Suchy 12 My L.A. Experience as a First Time Attendee

By: Hope Grace

14 A Long Time Member, First Time Attendee’s

View of the National ALA Conference in L.A.

By: Sheri Stone

18 Formula to Successful Law Firm Financing

By: Ana Parada

20 New Ideas to Utilize Your Real Estate to

Support and Implement Change

By: Randi Kohn

MAY / JUNE 2016 ISSUE FOR THE GREATER CHICAGO CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATORS


22 Speed Dating at the ALA Annual National

Conference & Expo

By: Alan Goldman

23 ALA Conference Keynote Speaker,

Daymond John

By: Barbara Javorcic

24 My First National Conference Experience

By: Kat Denk

26 Business Partners Perspectives

By: Susan Jacobs

2 The Administrator’s Advantage May / June 2016

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May / June 2016 The Administrator’s Advantage 3



From the Editor

Contents

The Administrator’s AdvantageMay / June 2016

Newsletter Editor: Lisa Van Sant, CLM [email protected]

Newsletter Committee:

Susan [email protected]

Julie Van [email protected]

Jane [email protected]

Deborah Kuchta, [email protected]

Printing: Elk Grove Graphics 847-439-7834

Design:Heiniger Design, Inc. [email protected]

Photos: Front: ShutterstockBack: Shutterstock

ALA Mission Statement: The Association of Legal Administra-tors’ mission is to promote and en-hance the competence and profes-sionalism of all members of the legal management team; improve the quality of management in law firms and other legal service organizations; and repre-sent professional legal management and managers to the legal community and to the community at large.

A Chapter of theAssociation of Legal Administrators

Annual Conference Articles Features Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Business Partner Profile . . . . . . . . . 13

Welcome New Members . . . . . . . . . 17

Legal Levity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Annual Conference Photos . . . . . . . 32

Got CLM? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

The Changing Role of the Legal Secretary ...............10 By: Sue Suchy

My L.A. Experience as a First TimeAttendee ............................................................12 By: Hope Grace

A Long Time Member, First Time Attendee’s View of the National ALA Conference In L.A. ...........14 By: Sheri Stone

Formula to Successful Law Firm Financing ..............18 By: Ana Parada

New Ideas to Utilize Your Real Estate to Support and Implement Change ...............................20 By: Randi Kohn

Speed Dating at the ALA Annual NationalConference & Expo ....................................................22 By: Alan Goldman

ALA Conference Keynote Speaker,Daymond John ...........................................................23 By: Barbara Javorcic

My First National Conference Experience .................24By: Kat Denk

Business Partners Perspectives ................................26By: Susan Jacobs

Summer is upon us. Swimsuit season, SPF 50, mowing the grass, gardens growing, vacation time! Los Angeles…Hollywood…Pacific Ocean…this year’s Association of Legal Administrator’s Annual Conference was held in LA. And the Midwest farmer’s daughters they all make you feel alright. And the Northern girls with the way they kiss, they keep their boyfriends warm at night…. Wish they all could be California Girls...-Beach Boys

We had quite a few members of our Chicago Chapter attend this year’s Annual Conference, and in this issue, you can enjoy reading some of their favorite accounts of the week. The member writers were winners of scholarships to the conference. A few of them were first time attendees of the conference,

and are probably not last time attendees now that they have had a taste of the networking and educational values.

In the Legal Levity section Susan Burdett wrote an excellent article about the sights and sounds of Los Angeles, a firsthand accounting as she attended the conference. Jane Klenck wrote a must read article for all you cyclists and casual riders out there about bicycle trails in the Chicagoland area .

Enjoy your summer. If you have anything to include in the newsletter, please feel free to contact one of the newsletter committee members. We are always looking for new ideas and new members to join our committee.

Lisa Van Sant, CLM, Newsletter Editor


Business Partner Sponsors and Advertisers

Advertisers Index:

Algonquin Studios ..................................... 19

DTI ............................................................. 21

FSO Outsourcing ....................................... 27

Garvey’s Office Products .......................... 15

Genesis Technologies................................ 17

Keno Kozie ................................................ 11

Konica Minolta ............................................. 7

Next Day Plus .............................................. 2

Project Leadership Associates .................... 5

Ricoh Legal ............................................... 11

UPS .......................................................... 31

Warehouse Direct Workplace Solutions ... 26

Business Partner SponsorsThe Greater Chicago Chapter wishes to thank all of our sponsors for their generous contributions and support:

Platinum Sponsor:

Next Day Toner Supplies, Inc.

Gold Sponsors:

DTI

FSO Onsite Outsourcing

UPS

Silver Sponsors:Garvey’s Office Products.

Genesis Technologies Inc.

Keno Kozie Associates

Konica Minolta Business Solutions

Novitex Enterprise Solutions

Project Leadership Associates

Ricoh Legal

Warehouse Direct Workplace Solutions

Bronze Sponsors:

1st & Fresh

ABA Retirement Funds Program

Advantage Technologies

ALL-STATE LEGAL

Avanti Staffing, Inc.

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP

Beacon Hill Legal

Call One, Inc.

Canon Business Process Services

Canon Solutions America, Inc

CBRE, Inc.

Chicago Athletic Association Hotel

Coffee Unlimited

Compass Group / Canteen

CORT Furniture

Cushman & Wakefield of Illinois, Inc.

Fifth Third Bank / Paycor

First Choice Services

Gregg Communications Systems

Gunlocke

HiTouch Business Services

ICG-Interior Construction Group, Inc.

IICLE

Impact Networking LLC

InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile

IST Management Services

Jensen Litigation Solutions

Kraft & Kennedy Inc.

LaSalle Solutions

Lettuce Parties & Special Events

LexisNexis

Lower Electric

M.G. Welbel and Associates, Inc.

Miller Bros. Engraving Co.

MilliCare by Floor Innovations

National Office Works

Optimized Benefits

PerfectLaw Software

Pohlman USA Court Reporting & Litigation

Services

Porcaro Stolarek Mete Partners, LLC

Proven Business Systems

R4 Services, LLC

Rippe & Kingston

Robert Half Legal

SL Pensions

The Horton Group

Tuttle Printing and Engraving

Werner Printing

Workwell / Formerly The Classic Group

Website Sponsors:

Algonquin Studios


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UPCOMING EVENTS:

**PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK THE CHAPTER WEBSITE FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON UPCOMING EVENTS

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 12:00 – 1:00 P.M. Joint Small/Mid-Size Firm Meeting (GCC Members Only)Where: Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hilliard & Geraldson LLP. 200 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2900

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 12:00 – 1:00 P.M. Bi-Monthly Educational Meeting: Current Issues and Challenges Facing Law FirmsWhere: Maggiano’s, 516 N. Clark St.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 12:00 – 1:00 P.M. Large Firm Secretarial Managers/Supervisors RoundtableWhere: TBD

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, at 8:00 A.M. – SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, at 5:00 P.M. ALA Large Firm Principal Administrators RetreatWhere: Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa, CA

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 12:00 – 1:00 P.M. LUNCH AND LEARN WEBINAR: Legal Practice Through Talent ManagementWhere: Goldberg Kohn55 East Monroe, Suite 3300

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 12:00 – 1:00 P.M. Small Firm Meeting (GCC Members Only)Where: TBD

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 12:00 – 1:00 P.M. Mid-Size Meeting (GCC Members Only)Where: Leydig, Voit & Mayer, Ltd.180 North Stetson AvenueSuite 4900

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 8:00 A.M. to FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, at 5:00 P.M. ALA Law Firm Management EssentialsWhere: Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile - Chicago, IL


President’s Message

It is my honor and privilege to be your Greater Chicago Chapter President for the 2016-2017 year. I am pleased to be working with an extremely talented group of volunteers who are members of the board for this year. Together, we hope to do our part to provide our members with the best education, resources and networking that will elevate our members’ knowledge, skills and sense of community this coming year.

I just returned from the 2016 Annual Conference in Los Angeles, California. The conference was attended by more than 1,000 members from all over the world. The best part of the conference is connecting with not only our Greater Chicago Chapter members, but also members and leaders from chapters across the United States and several different countries. It was also a time to visit with our invaluable business partners. The educational sessions were top notch and provided an opportunity to learn new information about the business of law as well as enhance our own leadership skills.

The keynote speaker at this year’s conference was Daymond John, the founder of FUBU and also a regular on the TV show Shark Tank. He provided us with “Five Shark Points: Fundamentals for Success in Business and Life”. As a fan of the show, I have always been fascinated by how people can come from the most dire circumstances with such drive and determination and become successful business owners and entrepreneurs. It is important to think like an entrepreneur in helping our attorneys run successful law practices. Shark Point #1 – Set A GoalWe have several goals this year for the chapter. • Provide high level educational sessions with

Charting a Course for Success!

dynamic speakers on topics that are relevant to our members.

• Connect with our peers in various ways, including meetings, socials and other gatherings and through our listservs.

• Engage with our business partners and collaborate with them on solutions for products and services at our law firms and law departments. It is important to thank them for supporting our chapter and our firms.

• Give back to our community. We are very fortunate to have the resources to help others. We will be providing several opportunities to donate not only resources but time to various charities.

Shark Point #2 – Do Your HomeworkOur board will be asking our members and business partners throughout the year what challenges and needs they have and looking for ways to provide resources for working on those areas.

Shark Point #3 – Adore What You DoIt is very important to be passionate about what you do. This definitely helps you get up in the morning. It is also important to care about and respect your co-workers and colleagues. We are all in this together and have the same goal – making ourselves and our firms successful.

Shark Point #4 – Remember, You Are The BrandDaymond says that you should have two to five words to describe your “brand.” I am still thinking about this one, but it makes sense that you define the value that you bring and back that up with intention and action.

Shark Point #5 – Keep SwimmingThe fifth Shark Point is to “keep swimming.” To me, this means never giving up. We are always making progress and need to make sure to take care of ourselves so that we can bring our best selves

to the table each and every day. To start the year off on the right foot, the board attended a half-day retreat to discuss our focus for the coming board year and put together some initiatives that we will work on throughout the year. Steve Wingert, CLM conducted a workshop on leadership and strategic planning to help us focus on key areas we wish to improve for the coming year. One important initiative that I would like to address is in line with ALA’s theme this year to “Elevate ALA.” The work we do in our respective positions is vital to the business of law and we are tasked with the day-to-day operations in our law firms and law departments that assist our attorneys in serving their clients, providing the support and services they need in order to do this. Much of our work is behind the scenes

Mary Lynn Wilson, CLMCray Huber Horstman Heil & VanAusdal [email protected]


Learn. Connect. Lead.

providing support services and back office operations to help our attorneys. The board is working to provide the best speakers and programs to provide all of our members with the knowledge that will be helpful to them no matter what level or position they hold. We will continue to give back to our community with various activities and programs throughout the year. We will provide several opportunities for networking and socializing with each other and our valuable business partners. We look forward to connecting with many of you during these events. We are also always looking for volunteers to work with the various committees on our programs and events. Working on a committee is a great way to “get your feet wet” and meet other members and help put together the venues and programs that

will enhance our knowledge and skills in various ways. I encourage all of you to lend a helping hand to one of the committees. There are several different ways to be involved. We are looking for new and innovative ways to provide information and resources to our members. We know that the landscape is rapidly changing for our law firms and that we are all being asked to do more with less. It is even more important to support each other through these changes. Please help us by responding to our surveys and coming to our networking events to tell us what we can do to help you.

I am thrilled to have this position and I am constantly amazed by the camaraderie and support that we give each other. I know I would not be as successful in my own position at my firm without all of the Greater Chicago Chapter members. I am always willing to listen so feel free to reach out to me at any time.

I look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events. Hope all of you get a chance to get out and enjoy your summer as well! ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE

Mary LynnMary Lynn Wilson, CLMCray Huber Horstman Heil & VanAusdal LLCPresident, Greater Chicago Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators

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Board Members and Chapter Advisors

2016-2017 Greater Chicago Chapter Board of Directors

PresidentMary Lynn Wilson, CLMCray Huber Horstman Heil & VanAusdal [email protected]

Vice President / President-Elect/Region 3 RepresentativeTravis A. LarsonMorgan Lewis & [email protected]

SecretaryJane M. KlenckWhyte Hirschboeck Dudek, [email protected]

TreasurerMichael P. MotykaMarshall Gerstein & Borun [email protected]

Past President / HistorianJohn T. Podbielski, Jr., Esq.Arnstein & Lehr, LLP [email protected]

Vice President-Elect / Business Partners Relations DirectorBetsy Amaya KopczynskiEpstein Becker & [email protected]

CLM DirectorMary Ann Rojas, CLMPugh, Jones & Johnson, [email protected]

Communications/Website DirectorDeborah A. O’Donnell, CLMPattishall, McAuliffe, Newberry, Hilliard & Geraldson [email protected]

Large Firm DirectorCourtney M. Landon, Esq.Lathrop & Gage [email protected]

Mid-Size Firm DirectorKim Hull-WyrwasHall Prangle & Schoonveld, [email protected]

Small Firm DirectorJaquie [email protected]

Membership DirectorSusan BurdettSugar, Felsenthal, Grais & Hammer [email protected]

Director of Member ExperienceSheri M. StoneAronberg Goldgehn Davis & [email protected]

Newsletter DirectorLisa Van Sant, [email protected]

Professional Development DirectorAmy [email protected]

Community Relations DirectorIvie CohnChicago Law [email protected]

Special Events DirectorLaura SearsGould & Ratner, [email protected]

Survey DirectorLarry J. FujaraPattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hillard & Geraldson [email protected]

Finance AdvisorAlan GoldmanBarack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg [email protected]

Human Resources AdvisorDeborah A. Kuchta, CLMLanger & [email protected]

Legal Industry/Business AdvisorMark Bridgeman, CLM, CRMU.S. Attorney’s [email protected]

Operations/Communications AdvisorPatty WinterForan Glennon Palandech Ponzi & [email protected]

Career Services AdvisorMichelle HoweDrinker Biddle & Reath [email protected]



Member Spotlight

My name is: Jose Cheesman, CLM

I work for: Baker & McKenzie, LLP

The firm & practice is: Global in nature for all aspects of Banking, IP/Tech, Litigation, Tax, Int’l Commercial, Corporate & Securities, Employment.

My title is: Client Services Manager

I have been working in the legal field for: 22 years

I have a degree in: Psychology from Florida Int’l University; Masters in Legal Administration from the Sturm College of Law, University of Denver.

I joined ALA Chicago Chapter because: I wanted to continue to develop my skills and further my awareness of the legal industry at a local level by networking with highly specialized and knowledgeable individuals.

To be successful in legal administration:

1) Keep up with trends and continue learning;

2) Have a tough skin;3) Be patient.

The thing I like best about being a Client Services Manager is: Pretending to be a forensic accountant to investigate problems and follow the money trail to resolve issues.

One of the challenges of being in legal administration is: The balancing act between servicing the clients and servicing the partners while keeping everyone happy.

The best advice I’ve ever received is: See it from others’ point of view - thanks grandma.

The best advice I would give to someone who is just entering the legal management field is: Legal is all I know, so I can’t compare it to other industries, but I would say get involved and volunteer with ALA - meet and mingle with others in the industry; you never know who will connect the dots for your firm’s problems during a casual conversation.

I try to motivate my staff by: Threat of violence (kidding, kidding). I treat them like professionals and I don’t babysit them. Yet I set high expectations and demand positive and timely results. We like to play as hard as we work.

If I weren’t a Client Services Manager, I would: Want to be a law firm operations consultant for international firms.

The last good book I read was: The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen.

The last good movie I saw was: Spotlight.

The last vacation I took was: I won the Grand Prize at our office’s Holiday Party - It was a 7-night all inclusive trip to Barbados with all transport + 5 days PTO. I took it with my family in March and it was as glorious as it sounds.

The one appointment I never miss is: MNF - Monday Night with the Fellas. I have been going out every Monday night for 15 years with a close group of friends.

In my free time, I enjoy: Biking along the wave-breaker boulders where lake Michigan meets Montrose Beach. ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE

Jose Cheesman


Annual Conference

During the ALA Conference in Los Ange-

les, I was able to attend this informational

presentation by Jennifer Hill, the Prin-

cipal/Senior Recruiter of JHill’s Staffing

Services based in Los Angeles. Jennifer

has been a long time recruiter working

with the legal industry and was able to

provide some great insight. As we have

all seen, the role of the legal secretary has

changed significantly in the past five years

in all size firms. Technology has played

a sizable role in this shift. Attorneys and

specifically new associates are able to do

much of their own work which leaves less

work for the traditional legal secretary.

Law firms are trying many different mod-

els to try and adapt to these changes.

The Changing Role of the Legal Secretary By Sue Suchy

Secretarial teams or pods have been de-

veloped. Also secretaries are being cross-

trained on different types of law firm

support so that they can support a variety

of lawyers and practices. Firms are also

focusing on additional training of Word,

Excel and other software

programs for their sec-

retaries. Some firms are

hiring project assistants

to help more experienced

secretaries with the more

routine duties such as ex-

pense reports or filing.

In Jennifer’s presenta-

tion, she envisions that

the legal secretary of the

future (or “LSF” as she calls them) will

likely have a paralegal certificate and will

also have a Bachelor’s Degree. She envi-

sions they will only commit to this posi-

tion for 2-5 years and then will move

on. The LSF will have strong technology

skills and be very adaptable. They prob-

ably will not have a typing speed above 50

wpm. She envisions that this role and the

responsibilities of this position will con-

tinue to evolve as technology and the legal

workplace change.

Jennifer is a strong supporter of doing

a skills evaluation of new candidates to

determine their personality – such as the

DISC or Emerald/Ruby/Sapphire/Pearl

personality tests. Having these insights

will assist when pairing LSF’s with attor-

neys to ensure more successful and pro-

ductive matches.

In order to fill these vacancies in the fu-

ture, Jennifer suggests creating alliances

with local colleges and universities, lever-

aging social networks like LinkedIn and

offering strong in-house referral bonuses

for good candidates. In order to keep

good candidates once you have found

them, she indicates you may need a com-

bination of money, acknowledgement

and appreciation and/or growth, respon-

sibility and challenges. Hiring the best

person is only the beginning. Continued

mentoring and development are crucial. ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE

Sue SuchyOffice AdministratorJones Day


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Annual Conference

My name is Hope Grace, and I am the Of-fice Manager for Monahan Law Group, LLC in Chicago, Illinois. I became a member of the ALA approximately two years ago, and this was my very first con-ference! I was provided the opportunity to attend the Los Angeles conference by winning a scholarship at last years’ Chi-cago Chapter holiday cocktail party. I started my conference experience by fly-ing in a day early to take advantage of see-ing some of the many sites that Los An-geles has to offer. I took a five hour tour my first day and visited the Griffith Ob-servatory, which provided a remarkable view of the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park and the famous Hollywood sign! It was breathtaking and while Chicago offers some amazing views, Los Angeles equally

has some wonderful sites to see. The tour also took us to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Dolby Theatre and Farmer’s Mar-ket. Not only did I take a guided tour, but I visited the Santa Monica Pier twice! It’s beautiful and I watched the sun set over the ocean. The surrounding area has so many places to shop. I left Chicago with one suit case, and flew back with two!

I must say that initially I was a little wor-ried about attending the conference be-ing a “newbie.” However, the organizers of this conference, in sponsorship with Thomson Reuters, hosted a Leadership/Newcomers Connection event and they did a remarkable job in opening up the communication by hosting a game that all attendees could participate in. Sev-

eral of the ALA board members wore costumes of many of the famous from years’ past. I think my favorite costume was Lucille Ball. It helped get the group laughing and mingling. Attending this event certainly helped me to connect with several people, not only from Chi-cago, but from across the United States and a few from Canada. In connecting with my fellow Office Managers/Admin-istrators, I not only learned so much, but met a few members that I will continue to stay in contact with long after the conference. It was an amazing meeting and talking to members that have similar responsibilities was invaluable. It helped to know that others experience the same challenges that I do, and they are equally open to exchanging ideas.

I attended many sessions during the conference, but there were a few that I walked away from feeling truly inspired and wanting more. Particularly, Five Shark Points: Fundamentals of Success in Business and Life given by Daymond John from the television show Shark Tank and Creating a Great Workplace through the Gift of GAB: Goals, Attitude, Behav-ior given by Conor Cunneen. Thank you Greater Chicago ALA Chap-ter for providing me with the scholarship so that I could attend this years’ confer-ence. It was an incredible experience and I cannot wait to attend the next confer-ence. ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE

Hope Grace, Office ManagerMonahan Law Group

My L.A. Experience as a First Time AttendeeBy Hope Grace


Sara Zezza

Business Partner Profile

My name is: Sara Zezza.

I work for: Kraft Kennedy.

The company’s product or service is: IT Consulting for Law Firms.

The company is: Kraft Kennedy has been the leading technology consulting firm for law firms and corporate legal departments since 1988. We offer a broad range of services including strategic planning, network design, disaster recovery and business continuity planning, data center consolidation, desktop deployment, relocation consulting, training, network support, security reviews, and digital forensics.

My title is: Account Executive.

Before becoming a business partner to the legal market: I was an Account Lead for AT&T, selling an array of Technology Products and Services.

I entered the legal market because: I wanted to work with the great cutting edge technologies that lead law firms to succeed.

I have a degree in: Marketing and Business Administration.

I support ALA because of ALA’s strong commitment to the Chicago community and its enthusiasm about new technologies.

To be successful in the legal market, one has to: understand the general challenges facing the legal industry while providing the right solutions for specific firms. Every legal entity is different and has its own wants and needs.

The thing I like best about being a business partner to the legal market: is helping the end users with current and new technologies.

The best advice I have received: is to listen and develop a relationship first.

The best advice I would give to someone just entering the legal market: is to understand that every firm is different. Listen closely to discern each firm’s particular wants and needs.

I try to motivate myself and/or my staff by: staying positive and always being honest.

Three things I do well are: I am responsive and direct, manage my time well, and always want to learn more.

While I love my current job, my dream job would be: working for myself.

The last good book I read was: The Untethered Soul.

The last good movie I saw was: The Choice.

The last vacation I took was: to St. Thomas.

In my free time, I enjoy: CrossFit, going to the park with my boyfriend and our two Yorkies and Husky and enjoying the Chicago summer. ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE


Annual Conference

While I have been an ALA member for many years, I was only an avid listserv user mostly due to my location outside the loop. When I took the job with my current firm, which is located downtown, I was no longer geographically challenged and started attending more chapter events. It was a great surprise to win a scholarship to the 2016 National Confer-ence in Los Angeles (I think I hurt some ears while screaming with delight when the announcement was made). Of course going to Los Angeles was a big bonus! Wisely, I took advantage of the early bird discount offered by the conference (hey it was $100!). While the host hotels were very nice and the conference discounts were deep, I opted for an apartment across the street from the convention center. I also took advantage of the long flight to L.A. by adding on Thursday and Friday as vacation days and brought along a friend willing to entertain himself while I was at the conference. Despite news of a TSA temper tantrum by a stranded Midway Airport traveler only days before leaving, we sailed through security (also due to TSA pre-check; I highly recommend it). I was following other ALA members via FaceBook and ev-eryone was reporting easy access through security. Of course that gave us extra time for a glass of wine and some relaxation be-fore boarding the plane.

Another motivation for attending the

A Long Time Member, First Time Attendee’s View of the National ALA Conference In L.A.By Sheri Stone

conference was my desire to acquire my CLM certification. As part of the process I need 10 prerequisite hours of study and the national conference has a track for that. I picked up a form on my way in and went through the Con-ference Journal. Of course there were more sessions of interest to me than time to attend, so I carefully mapped out my schedule to maximize pre-req credits while attending other sessions of personal interest.

We landed right on time in L.A. One of the great things about our Greater Chi-cago Chapter is there are many mem-bers who are active and therefore several members I knew were attending the con-ference. It was no surprise that our folks were at different parties, restaurants and hotel bars after the educational sessions. There was more socializing than I could fit into my stay and if you know me, that is A LOT of social opportunities.

Sessions I attended included tactical budgeting, creating a great workplace, leadership techniques, change manage-ment, workplace civility, identifying personality styles and updates in fed-eral employment law. While initially I thought my eyes would glaze over at some of those topics, I was pleasantly surprised at the different ways the speak-ers held my attention. Some by using humor, some by making attendees travel around the room to demonstrate a point

or some by packing in so much informa-tion my pen could not keep up with the notes I was taking.

In between educational sessions, many of our chapter members met, especially during lunch sessions, and we broke into small groups to go to sessions together. I also met several members from other chapters which was interesting since all chapters differ in size, offerings and expe-riences.

During the David M. Brezina Memorial Session, Christine Porath discussed how “Civility Pays.” While I consider my firm to be filled with very nice people, I still found her talk to be a super boost to keep-ing my co-workers positive and “civil.” We all strive for a “nice place to work,” but Dr. Porath really hit it home with sta-tistics on emotional intelligence includ-ing the cost of just one toxic employee. It takes only one bad apple to wipe out the gain from 2 or 3 superstars. I have already started researching new ways to encour-age a positive work environment and am looking to add some things to my firm’s wellness programming.

I am certain that each session I attended was not only beneficial, but will also help me in my legal management career.

In between educational sessions and meals I stopped in the Exhibit Hall. When I attended our Chicago Bi-Annual


Annual Conference

Conference last year, I made a point to check out all the exhibitors. I have found many new resources via other members, and networking doesn’t hurt, as it’s great to help another ALA member find a re-source they were not aware of. Trying to minimize the promotional chachkies was tough. I ate a lot of chocolate and col-lected pens. We write a lot, right? I am always surprised that I do not know ALL the key vendors in our legal space, so I gained a lot of information and donated a lot of business cards for drawings. I am unhappy to let you know that I did not win even one lousy gift card. Oh well, maybe better luck next year.

All State Legal threw a wonderful cocktail party, full dinner included and I’m sure many of our other great Sponsors did as well. On our final night at the awards dinner there was a full multimedia pre-sentation including a lot of information on what ALA National had been doing, what the chapters had contributed and awards for all kinds of accomplishments. While I did not attend the concert and finale party, those who did said they had a great time. I needed to get to bed early, Mickey Mouse was waiting for me the next day. After a visit to California Ad-venture Park, Disneyland, Venice Beach and Santa Monica it was time to head home.

Overall I think I picked up skills to help me at work and also in my role as Direc-tor of Member Experience. I am getting great feedback from the conference. For those of you who attended the confer-ence, please drop me an email and let me know what your experiences were and what suggestions you might have for our chapter. If you did not attend and have any questions, please let me know. ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE

Sheri StoneAronberg, Goldgehn Davies & [email protected]


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The Greater Chicago Chapter Welcomes its Newest Members:

New Members - Kyle WoodwardDirector of Human Resources and DiversityFreeborn & Peters (125 attorneys)311 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 3000Chicago, IL 60606

Mary HerreraOffice ManagerVedder Price (200 attorneys)222 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2600Chicago, IL 60601

Lucia FalcoAdministratorCuda Law Offices, Ltd. (2 attorneys)6525 North Avenue, Suite 204Oak Park, IL 60302

William O’ConnorOperations ManagerHanley, Flight & Zimmerman (25 at-torneys)150 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2200Chicago, IL 60606

Anna SorensenBranch ManagerStradley Ronon Stevens& Young, LLP (5 attorneys)191 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1601Chicago, IL 60606

On the Move – Courtney LandonChief Financial OfficerLathrop & Gage 155 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 3000Chicago, IL 60606

Jena NeislerFirm AdministratorRiley Safer Holmes & Cancel LLP (22 attorneys)70 W. Madison St. Suite 2900Chicago, IL 60602


The first step for successful financing is realizing there is no easy formula, nor is there a one size fits all answer.

We are all familiar with the basic formula that can give a quick snapshot of what our profits are at a given point

Revenue-Direct Costs

-Indirect CostsProfit

The law firm financing segments of the conference challenged us to look past the basics and analyze other factors that in-fluence profitability. We were encour-aged to find the right indicators to not only help us identify our profits, but to enhance the way we budget and finance the firm’s cash flow.

How do our firm management leaders measure success? Is success measured based on comparisons to what others are doing? Are we trying to keep up with the Joneses? The speaker for the session on “Keeping Partners Informed,” Jay Erd-man from Rippe & Kingston, a Law Firm Management Solutions Company, questioned whether we have a “herd mentality” and only do what other firms are doing.

The goals that need to be set are those that measure the performance and prof-itability of each of our individual firms. We need to measure against our own past performance. When doing so, it will provide firm management with bet-ter indicators of where improvements are needed. This will also allow us to develop goals and formulate strategies. What about keeping up with the successes of other law firms? Any industry knowl-edge that we get from formal or informal surveys can be a great source of supple-mental information to help in the devel-opment of our strategy and goals, but it should not define nor be the one guide to our profitability and success.

What is relevant to our firm? Each firm has the ability to gather information and statistics that are relevant and important to their own individual culture. Some basic information that can be easily gath-ered are financial statements, balance sheets, income statements and statements of cash flow. When compared against prior years these items can give us a basic picture of our firm’s profitability and our success from year to year. However, to have a better picture of our profitability we should analyze other factors that in-fluence it. For example, if we look at our revenues we should take a look at what influences our revenue, such as the hours worked, the billing rates, our billing pro-

cedures, our collection success, and time-keeper realization, just to name a few.

One example of analyzing factors that affect profitability can be as simple as analyzing how our firm keeps track of the time. Do we only keep track of billable time or do we also include non-billable time? It was highlighted that ABA studies show that by keeping track of a full day accounting of time increases billable time by at least eight percent. Why should we take the time to audit how we keep track of our resources such as our timekeepers’ time? Analyzing our procedures can help us match our assignments to our available resources.

The speaker made an observation, “should billing attorneys stay awake at night wondering how to feed the time-keepers?” “Or should the timekeepers worry about being fed next week?” A smart managing partner will always be concerned about the survival of the firm and about the need to continually “feed” the timekeepers; however, the speaker was highlighting the point that the time-keepers should be held accountable for their time. Timekeepers should commu-nicate and plan ahead their availability for new assignments. If our timekeepers are now communicating their availability for new assignments, the firm’s account-ing department can review the utilization

Formula to Successful Law Firm FinancingBy Ana Parada

Annual Conference


and prepare a capacity analysis of each individual working attorney. This will give firm management a good insight as to the utilization resources.

Our analysis in reviewing profitability should not be limited to our timekeepers; it should also be done at individual client matter level. Why should we take the time to do so? Doing so will give a full picture of where some adjustments may be needed. Do we have clients who are using too much of our resources? What clients have large WIP balances or have aging receivables that are well past their due date? When taking the time to review allocation of resources at client level it will give originating attorneys the opportunity to think whether each individual client is profitable for the firm.

Another suggestion to improve on firm profitability was to review and analyze if all new clients opened in the last 365 days were paying on time. The speaker suggested that at the onset of the engagement, ask whether the new client has been helped to understand the engagement agreement. For example, did anyone read the expectation of payment with the new client? Has a credit limit been set for each new client? Is the originating attorney familiar with the client’s ability to pay or is this step forgotten, just because we are happy to have a new client? All these questions should be asked when engaging a new client. By hav-ing a clear view of the potential client’s ability to fulfill their financial responsibility, this will help the originating attorney determine whether the relationship is a good fit.

The review of firm indicators of profitability should not be limited to the examples above, but rather to provide an idea of what information is available and what we can glean from it.

There are many statistics, indicators, and analytics that can be great tools when we are ready to reassess our financial goals, productivity, and strategy.

Ultimately the objective of gathering the information is to provide our firm management with useful indicators to help them in the decision making process of the firm’s financial goals. We want to have enough information that is tailored to the specific needs and goals of our firm.


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Ana ParadaController/Human Resource SupervisorFunkhouser, Vegosen, Liebman & Dunn


Annual Conference

The 2016 ALA Conference in Los Ange-les was both informative and enjoyable, and I was privileged to receive a scholar-ship this year from the ALA Greater Chi-cago Chapter. As my firm is considering either moving or refurbishing our offices, I was especially interested in attending seminar topics relating to the new and innovative trends in the office space en-vironment.

Same-size private offices are a red-hot topic. Not all law firms will embrace this trend, however many firms are scaling back the private office size and focusing instead on creating a more functional and welcoming conference center for cli-ent meetings. One speaker compared the concept of a renovated conference center to an open-space upscale airport lounge.

Trendy all-employee break rooms that embrace and encourage teamwork gath-erings is another new and exciting idea for renovating office space. Another con-ference speaker shared that the concept of a clever and colorful all-employee huddle room with several seating options is a wonderful value-added environment to encourage brainstorming and collabora-tion for both attorneys and staff.

Randi S. Kohn, Director ofAdministration and DevelopmentFunkhouser Vegosen Liebman & Dunn Ltd.

New Ideas to Utilize Your Real Estate to Support and Implement ChangeBy Randi S. Kohn

Listed below are more office trends dis-cussed at the sessions:

• Create a new office space that match-es your firm’s strategic branding theme.

• Consider more glass walls and less drywall to bring in additional natural light into dark spaces.

• Install a strong Wi-Fi signal through-out the office space to encourage employees to get out of their office or away from their desks and still be connected to their laptops and soft phones.

• Plan for an interesting and unusual all-employee lounge: i.e., coffee bar, television and food area(s). Encour-age informal collaboration through-out the work day.

• Use soft seating and counter height seating in the all-employee lounge. Anticipate using this space for casual and informal meetings.

• Purchase headsets for employees to minimize the noise of louder voices. Minimize the use of speaker phones in private offices. Speakerphones are very annoying to other employees.

• Insist on topnotch soundproof walls for the smaller private offices.

• Offer programmable sit/stand desks to attorneys and staff. Remember, “Sitting is the new smoking!”

• Order standard furniture for all pri-vate offices. Fewer decisions to be made.

• Isolate private office space from the conference center in order to keep clients away from confidential work-space areas.

Many thanks to ALA Chicago for a won-derful learning experience. If anyone would like to discuss this topic and share their own ideas for new office trends, please feel free to contact me. ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE


Annual Conference

I recently re-turned from Los Angeles from the ALA Annu-al National Conference and Expo and wanted to share one of the high-lights for

me. It is the Expo itself where more than 200 of our business partners are exhibi-tors and sponsors. The exhibition hall is open at limited times be-tween education sessions so time is at a premium to make your way around the floor. This experience reminds me very much of the concept of “Speed Dating” (although I have never actually participated in such an event). Every exhibitor wants to show you their newest product or in-troduce you to their services, but there is pressure to make it to all the booths and spend time with the best suitors for your firm. I don’t get to see many of the business partners our firm does business with as many of them are not located in the Chi-cago area. So, the annual conference is a great time to catch up on their new prod-ucts, get to know them better, bring to their attention problems our firm may be having with them or make suggestions as to how they could service our firm bet-

ter. Then, it’s off to the next booth to see what my next date will be like. Many business partners are selling prod-ucts or services that I have no interest in or that I just don’t control the purchasing of their wares. I still try to stop by and say hello, thank them for supporting the ALA and drop a business card in their charitable prize give away. Although I hate to admit it, I do like to increase my odds of winning a raffle (which there are over 200), so I do drop a lot of business cards in fish bowls. Then off to my next date.

There are business part-ners that support the ALA at the national annual conference every year and although our firm may not currently do business with them, I have become friends with many of these

people and their firms over the years. It is nice to catch up on what has happened over the last year on a personal and busi-ness level since the last annual confer-ence. By the time I am about half way around the exhibit hall, I have now accu-mulated 6 hand sanitizers, 2 flashlights, 12 pens and 4 flash drives. Every poten-tial vendor wants to provide you with a memento with their firm logo on it. I have to say my favorite give away is the cell phone holder from UPS (women’s fancy shoe – see photo). Time for my next date and I need to hurry as another educational session starts in 5 minutes. Maybe I’ll stop by one more exhibitor

and get some lip balm or a package of breath mints first. In all seriousness, the exhibitors do a great job of trying to make business connections with our members without trying to hard sell. I really enjoy talk-ing with them and trying to get a better understanding of the changing landscape in the legal marketplace. Our business partners have a great insight into what other firms are doing to gain a competi-tive advantage in the legal sector. The exhibit hall is closing in 5 minutes – time to grab a cappuccino from Royal Cup and move onto another date. Thank you to all our business partners for their sponsorship and support at this year’s annual national conference. Happy speed dating to you all and hope you can make it next year. You may make a connection that will last for years to come. ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE

Alan GoldmanBarack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP

Speed Dating at the ALA Annual National Conference & ExpoBy Alan Goldman


Annual Conference

I confess. When I first heard the keynote speaker was Mr. Daymond John, I had no idea who that was. I had never seen “Shark Tank.” After hearing his words of wisdom, I may start watching!

Mr. John’s story is truly inspirational. He started out in Brooklyn in his mother’s basement. He started his first business at age six. He had business ups and downs, always trying harder. He worked as a waiter at Red Lobster, putting his earnings into his dreams. His experiences, and others, formed the basis of his book “The Power of Broke”.

After borrowing $40 from his mother, he was inspired to create the FUBU clothing line. With the $40, he created ten shirts. With connections he had developed over time in the sport and music communities, he persuaded various athletes and performers to wear those ten shirts and be photographed wearing them. The free publicity led to large orders and his company soared. He has won many major entrepreneurial awards and has been honored by the White House. He has since developed more clothing lines and other businesses.

Mr. John said his magic secret to power and success is decisiveness. He said “20% is what happens, and 80% is how you respond”. You can’t react, you

have to respond. So true of law firms! People who manage and understand the business help avoid chaos. He places huge emphasis on business relationships and not taking others for granted. Also relevant to law firms was his statement “Responsibility is something that is taken; it can’t be given.” Responding to constant change and instigating change is entrepreneurial – within a company, he uses the term “intrapreneur.”

He is now a “shark” on “Shark Tank,” advising and investing in other potential entrepreneurs. Mr. John has five “Shark Points” that he lives by:

1) Set a Goal. You need to visualize what you want. You can’t hit a target you can’t see.

2) Homework. Our homework now is Analytics and researching competitors.

3) Amor. Do something you love. Life is short and work takes you away from your family. You should love what you do. If you don’t, change the firm or the job.

4) Remember. YOU are the brand. When marketing, pitch for what the other person wants, not what you want. You will get their attention that way. If they have a problem, figure out how to solve it.

5) Keep Swimming. Just keep trying to reach your goals – don’t give up. You won’t succeed every time; no one does. Just keep trying.

He also stated “We don’t invest in companies; we invest in people.” By attending the ALA conference, “we are all investing in ourselves by being here.” Think about that – it’s a great way to motivate yourself to go to educational events, even though those emails will still be there when you get back to the office.

If we don’t invest in ourselves, who will? And remember to keep swimming! ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE

ALA Conference Keynote Speaker, Daymond JohnBy Barbara Javorcic, CPA, MBA

Barbara Javorcic, CPA, MBACFO at Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP


Annual Conference

My First NationalConference ExperienceBy Kat Denk

This was my first ALA National Conference. Full disclosure, it was only my second ALA conference ever. The days were packed with meeting new people, learning a lot about the administrative side of law firm life, and filling my bag with as much swag from our business partners as possible. The final night of the conference was slated to start with an awards dinner, then a concert, followed by dancing and dessert. But what it really started with was a quick power nap. Feeling rested, I made my way back to the convention center, ready to close out this conference with a bang. I didn’t know what to expect at the awards dinner. This being my first conference, mainly I wondered how they tie awards into the ALA. I soon began to understand. To be honest, lots of names

were read that I probably won’t remember. What I will remember, though, are their faces and the emotions. As people were

being called up, you could clearly see how much this meant to them. These people really have made the ALA a significant part of their lives and it was great to see what

an impact that has had, not only on their professional growth but personally as well. After the awards, we headed over to the Orpheum Theater for a special concert. I got to sing along to “Sister Christian” with the actual singer from Night Ranger. Bucket list – check. Everyone had a blast dancing and rockin’

out. But the dancing wasn’t over. Back at the hotel, the DJ was just getting started and the dessert tables were loaded up. You

Kat DenkBRYAN CAVE [email protected]

would think after three days of non-stop action that we’d all be done, but you’d be wrong. Law firm administrators are great dancers! All in all, this night capped off a great week. I met a lot of new people. I got to collaborate and share ideas with so many of them. And I left the conference feeling invigorated and ready to go back to my office to share everything I had learned – mostly that an organization of people who can teach me so much, open me up to so many opportunities AND dance all night is one I am glad to be a part of. ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE


The Greater Chicago Chapter would like to congratulate Chicago law firm

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and our member

Kerry Mansfield for the IDEA award which they received at the 2016 ALA Annual Conference.

Skadden Chicago developed a program titled “30 Acts of Giving” as a new approach to public service by organizing a series of projects that together made a greater impact than any single project might, raising over $165,000 and contributing more than 1,500 hours of service. The series of pro bono service and fundraising initiatives addressed poverty, hunger, health, diversity, education, veterans’ care, the environment and the arts.

ALA’s IDEA Awards program is designed to recognize unique programs, services and events that improve the legal community and advance the business of law. There are no predetermined categories, and participants are encouraged to “think outside the box.” The award is open to:

ALA chapters • ALA committees • ALA regions • ALA members • law firms • business partnersFor more information on ALA’s IDEA awards, go to the following link:

http://www.alanet.org/chapters/ideaawards.asp

Please join us in congratulating Kerry and her firm on this prestigious award. You have set a great example of how to give back to our community.

CONGRATULATIONS GREATER CHICAGO CHAPTER2015 PRESIDENTS’ AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AT THE PLATINUM LEVEL

The highest level awarded to a chapter is the Platinum Level. Mary Lynn Wilson accepted the award at this year’s Annual Conference in LA.

The Presidents’ Award of Excellence, named in honor of ALA’s Past Presidents, was established to recognize chapters for their effective and collaborative action in support of ALA’s mission to promote and enhance the competence and professionalism of legal administrators and all members of the legal management team; improve the quality of management in law firms and other legal service organizations and represent professional legal management and managers to the legal community and to the community at large.

Annual Conference

Kerry Mansfield

Conference Kudos


Annual ALA Conference, Business Partners Perspective By Susan Jacobs

Annual Conference

There are very few things in life that are guaranteed, most are a privilege, and for ALL-STATE LEGAL attending the ALA annual conference it is both. The following describes the core benefits we enjoy by attending the Annual Conference, as a business partner since 1971, to yield the greatest return on its potential.

Market Knowledge: To thrive as a business you must remain knowledgeable about the market and professionals you serve. It is a vital part of business planning both short and long term. Without fail, the diverse attendees, educational sessions as well

as other business partners remain our greatest source of market knowledge.

Networking: As a business partner investing the money to be present is a great start but it’s not enough to make the most of this opportunity. Engagement is key! Beyond working hard to attract attendees and provide value in the exhibit hall, we leverage every opportunity to engage with attendees - from the welcome reception, early morning walks (not brave enough to embarrass myself at Zumba class), attending classes, pre-planned get togethers and our cocktail party to honor the incoming President. Through

all these activities we work hard to meet new people and use our existing relationships to make new connections for others.

Awareness: As Director of Marketing I love hearing attendees say, “we know ALL-STATE LEGAL.” However, while we may have name recognition there is no attendee that knows us for all we can do for them. Also, it is reported that up to 20% of business to business contacts change from one year to another, and therefore the need to build awareness never ends.

Goodwill: ALA as an association and its members are loyal and appreciate business partners. Any business partner must prove trustworthy, demonstrate their expertise, and prove value to gain consideration for business opportunities. Our support as a business partner gives us access to key decision makers and influences.

While the conference has ended, much of our work begins now to make the most of realizing all its potential. Looking forward to 2017 in Denver!


Susan Jacobs, Director of Marketing at ALL-STATE LEGAL®[email protected]

Left to Right: Anne Itri, Regional Sales Manager, ALL-STATE LEGAL, Vicki LaBarge, Regional Sales Manager, ALL-STATE LEGAL, Laura Broomell, 2016-2017 ALA President, Brandon Miller, Director of Sales, ALL-STATE LEGAL, Susan Jacobs, Director of Sales,

ALL-STATE LEGAL


One North Wacker, Chicago, IL 60606


Legal Levity

Now that summer is here, explore the Chicagoland area on miles of wonderful Bike Trails. Highlighted below are a few of the area’s interesting bike routes. For more information on these and many more Chicagoland trails, visit: www.traillink.com. For maps of bike routes, visit www.mapmyride.com and www.Chicagobikes.org/bikemaps. And if you need a break from the office and get the urge to ride during the day, remember that you can always grab a Divvy Bike at any number of stations throughout the city!

1. The Bloomingdale Trail: Cook County; 2.7 miles; Concrete trail. Part of “The 606” park system, this is a brand new 2.7-mile, elevated rail-trail on Chicago’s northwest side. Built on a former rail line, the trail sits nearly 20 feet above four of the city’s neighborhoods: Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square. The elevated trailway runs from Ridgeway Avenue to Marshfield Avenue with bridges over all the city streets it crosses, and access ramps down to street level below. The 606 project has not only improved local parks, but also created community artwork displays near many of these lower access points. Parks below and a wonderful linear parkway above.

2. Chicago Lakefront Trail: Cook County; 18.5 Miles; Asphalt, Concrete. Located east of Lakeshore Drive, the Chicago Lakefront Trail is an 18.5-mile linear park along Lake Michigan that includes beaches, volleyball courts, playgrounds, baseball diamonds, tennis courts and soccer fields. The trail unites a variety of neighborhoods, including South Shore, Hyde Park, Lincoln Park and Lake View, and serves as both a recreational and transportation resource. Beginning at Ardmore and Sheridan Road, and ending at East 71st Street and Lake Shore Drive at the South Shore Cultural Center, the Chicago Lakefront Trail also provides direct access to a number of amenities popular with locals and tourists alike, and thus is often crowded on warm days. Some of the notable cultural landmarks along the way include: the Museum of Science and Industry; the Field Museum of Natural History; Shedd Aquarium; Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum; the Chicago Children’s Museum; the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum; and the South Shore Cultural Center. Other popular destinations along the trail include Lincoln Park and its famous zoo; Soldier Field; McCormick Place; Burnham, Grant and Jackson parks; and Belmont and Monroe harbors.

3. The Illinois Prairie Path: Cook, DuPage, Kane County; 61 Miles; Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone. The Prairie Path is one of the country’s first rail-trail conversions. It consists of five connected trail segments with three main branches that converge at Volunteer Park in Wheaton. The 61-mile trail follows the historic path of the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin electric railroad. The Prairie Path’s 17-mile main branch is the most urban of its corridors. In Wheaton, the main stem of the trail begins along city streets on bicycle-friendly extra-wide sidewalks. Distinct green trail markers shepherd you east through the lively shopping district of this college town. As you leave downtown Wheaton, Metra commuter rail tracks share the corridor, allowing you about 2 miles of rail-trail experience. The trail maintains a distinct urban ambiance, passing through the heart of the western suburbs. About midway to Forest Park, in Villa Park, a lovely restored train depot houses great historical displays as well as a

chance for water and restrooms. The trail appears to end where it hits 1st Avenue in Maywood, but a short trek along Maybrook Drive leads to a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over the Des Plaines River. The Aurora Branch of the Prairie Path runs 13 miles and the Elgin Branch runs 14 miles.

4. The Des Plaines River Trail: Cook and Lake Counties; 54.8 Miles; Crushed Stone. This Trail and Greenway traverses north–south along the route of the Des Plaines River along its course through both Lake and Cook counties. The corridor protects 85% of the riverine habitat in the county. The 55-mile trail connects numerous forest preserves, parks and communities between the Illinois–Wisconsin border and south, well into the western Chicago suburbs. This path runs from Russell Road east of Route 41 and Jerome Huppert Woods in Oak Park.

5. The Fox River Trail: Kane, Kendall, McHenry Counties; 43 Miles; Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone. This trail features 43 miles of spectacular biking, hiking (and cross-country skiing in the winter) along the scenic Fox River. The paved path can be challenging at times, but the extra pedal pushing is rewarded with some impressive scenery along the trail and in the small towns. In addition, you can link with other trails in the region directly from the Fox River Trail for a multi-day journey (the Prairie Trail in Algonquin and the Virgil Gilman Trail and Illinois Prairie Path in Aurora).

The signage along the trail is good in most parts, but be sure to consult a map before heading out for a longer trip. The Fox River Trail offers six bridges along the way, some of them specifically for bicycles and pedestrians. These are perfect spots for some of the best photo opportunities to be had along the trail.

The path was built on stretches of three former railroads: Chicago, Aurora & Elgin; Aurora, Elgin, & Fox River Electric; and Chicago & North Western. Today, it hosts a multitude of different birds, trees and wildlife, including bald eagles, herons and woodpeckers. The Fox River Trail draws a lot of visitors, and many of the towns (and business owners) along the trail have embraced the tourism. You will find restaurants, cafes, bike shops and souvenir shops. Small parks that dot the landscape throughout the trail are perfect for picnics or a well-earned break. Fishing haunts can also be found along the way. The Fox River Trail runs between Souwanas Trail in Algonquin and Washington Street at the Oswego Village Hall in Oswego. 6. Tinley Creek Trail: Cook County; 18.8 Miles; Asphalt. This trail is currently in two segments. This northern segment stretches from Palos Heights to Oak Forest and largely falls within several Cook County Forest Preserve areas, including Rubio Woods, Burr Oak Woods, Turtlehead Lake, Bachelor Grove Woods, Nelson Woods and St. Mihiel Reservation. The trail traverses wooded area interspersed with open green space and passes by a few small lakes and wetlands. There are some street crossings, which are marked with crosswalks. Along the way you’ll find picnic areas, restrooms and drinking water. Also, visit the southern segment in South Green Belt Forest Preserve. ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE

Summertime and the Cycling is Easy

By: Jane Klenck


Legal Levity

Our annual conference was held in Los Angeles. There are many things to see and do there.

In my opinion, the most famous sight is the Hollywood sign. The Hollywood Sign is a landmark and American cultural icon. It is situated on Mount Lee, in the Hollywood Hills area of the Santa Monica Mountains. The sign overlooks Hollywood, Los Angeles. It was conceived as an outdoor ad campaign for a sub-urban housing development called “Hollywoodland.” Although the Sign’s appearance and purpose have evolved over the years, its basic message remains the same: This is a place where magic is possible, where dreams can come true. Back then, the dream was a beautiful home and lifestyle. Today, the Sign’s promise is more subtle - and can only be described as the parade of images, desires and ideas conjured by the word “Hollywood.”

Several conference goers went to Venice Beach. Venice Beach has long been known as the kooky Mecca of California, and while it gets more than a fair share of mainstream tourists, the area nurtures its eccentric spirit. Skateboarders, radical pamphle-teers and body builders populate the area. People-watching is a favorite pastime at Venice Beach which effectively continues from the southern end of Santa Monica Beach without a break.

Los Angeles is the home of legendary studios. Tours of Uni-versal Studios, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures are a great time for fans. Attend a taping of a game show or talk show at a major network studio and you will have a chance to get on TV yourself. Universal Studios takes you behind the scenes to see how Hollywood movies are made. They offer rides and attractions that will bring out the kid in the most mature adult. Warner Bros. Studio has tours that take you to see sets and sound stages where actual movies and shows are filmed. You can tour the legendary backlot where classic movies and TV shows like Casablanca, Batman and Friends were created. You can also see authentic sets and soundstages where hit shows like Ellen and The Big Bang Theory come to life.

Sights and Sounds of L.A. By: Susan Burdett

Continued on page 30


One of the most unique places I visited while in LA was this little known coffee shop

Of course Los Angeles was the destination of our “Educational Con-ference.” I did not see the amazing sights I mention above. I spent my days at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Conven-tion Center, designed by architect Charles Luckman, opened in 1971 and expanded in

1993 and 1997. It is one of the largest convention centers in the United States with over 720,000 square feet. I believe we utilized every one of those feet. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Los Angeles Auto Show and Anime Expo (Japanese hand-drawn or computer animation), and is best known to vid-eo game fans as host to the Electronic Entertainment Expo, also known as E3. Its newest major events are the Primetime Emmy Awards’ Governors Ball, Microsoft WPC, Abilities Expo, and frequent TV show and movie filming. I’m sure they will add our National Convention to that list.

I did see the most famous attraction of the week. Our Presi-dent, Mary Lynn Wilson, accepted the President’s Award of Ex-cellence on behalf of the Greater Chicago Chapter. The Award is a chapter performance guideline to encourage chapters to take effective and collaborative action in support of ALA’s mission to promote and enhance the competence and professionalism

Legal Levity

of legal administrators and all members of the legal manage-ment team; improve the quality of management in law firms and other legal service organizations; and represent professional legal management and managers to the legal community and to the community at large (I’m quoting this). Pretty impressive, huh? The Superstars I met were my fellow attendees from the Great-er Chicago Chapter. We learned together, laughed together and had a really great time. It was fun to hang out, swap stories, unwind and compare notes from the lectures, sessions and exhi-bition hall. I highly recommend traveling 2,000+ miles to bond with your fellow Chicagoans. I can hardly wait to see the sights and sounds of Colorado next year when we will all meet at the Annual Convention in the Mile High City of Denver. It is called the Mile High City because… oh wait that is the lead in for next year’s article. ADMINISTRATOR’S ADVANTAGE

Sights and Sounds of L.A.


Congratulations to Lisa Van Sant on the birth of her beautiful granddaughter, Olivia Rose Redieske, born May 24, 7 pounds, 11 ounces.

Legal Levity

1. B, The White Sox hold the all-time record 55-49

http://www.baseball-reference.com/games/head2head.cgi?teams=CHW&from=1901&to=2015&submit=Submit

2. D, 26 Runs scored, Cubs W 15-11, 07/02/06

http://www.crosstownclassic.com/

3. B, 23 http://www.thisdayinchicagocubshistory.

com/Cubs-uniform-numbers.html

4. A, Wrigley Field holds 42,495, US Cellular holds 40,615

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-wrigley-bleachers-fans-20150511-story.html

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/al/USCellularField.htm

8. A, the Cubs, the Cubs have been a team since 1876, the White Sox have been a team since 1901

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/

9. A, True, Ron Santo played 15 years: 14 for the Cubs and one for the White Sox.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santoro01.shtml

10. A, The Cubs, The Cubs have a total of 59 players and managers who play and coach the team, The White Sox have a total of 40 players and managers who play and coach the team.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/hof.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/hof.shtml

Cubs and Sox Trivia Answers

5. C, 35 http://www.baseball-reference.com/

players/t/thomafr04.shtml

6. A, True http://www.baseball-reference.com/

players/s/sosasa01.shtml

7. B, False, Both teams were in the playoffs in 2008, however this was the first time both teams were in the playoffs together since meeting in the 1906 World Series. The White sox won the series in six games.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-10-01/news/0809300690_1_sox-manager-ozzie-guillen-sox-fans-cubs-manager-lou-piniella


Remembering Our Time in L.A.

Annual Conference



Test your knowledge

Got CLM?

1. Job specifications include: a. Description of the work detailing nonessential tasks b. Description of the working conditions c. Qualifications necessary for an incumbent to have a reasonable chance of being able to perform the job d. Description of the work detailing essential tasks 2. A short term objective is generally completed within: a. one month b. six months to a year c. one to two years d. three to five years 3. An executive of a law firm makes

sexual innuendos to his secretary. However, the Human Resources department and the rest of the organization are unaware of the Answers are C, B, B, D

We are in the process of forming a

study group for the November 4, 2016

exam. Review sessions will start the

week of June 27th, and will take place

weekly through the exam date. Even if

you are unsure about sitting for the Fall

exam, or would prefer to sit for the May

2017 exam, please feel free to join our

group and learn more about the process.

You have nothing to lose, and a CLM

designation to gain, along with great

knowledge and lasting friendships.

If you are interested in participating,

please contact Mary Ann Rojas, CLM

Director, at 312-768-7810.

situation. Which of the following doctrines would still imply the organization is at fault?

a. Punitive damages b. Vicarious liability c. Hostile environment d. Quid pro quo harassment

4. What is the primary benefit of appointing a chief ethics officer? a. Other managers in the organization do not have to handle ethical issues. b. It reduces the number of employee complaints and dispute resolution sessions. c. Legal counsel does not need to be consulted on ethical issues. d. It allows for consistent communication of values and standards to the organization.

The Greater Chicago Chapter would like to congratulate the following members on achieving their CLM designation this year:

Margaret Hagerman, CLMJoanna Pichla, CLM

Mary Ann Rojas, CLM, CLM DirectorPugh, Jones & Johnson, [email protected]


Event Photos

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© 2013 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. UPS, the UPS brandmark and the color brown are registered trademarks of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

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DIGITAL VS. PAPERMARKETING & BRANDING

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A Chapter of theAssociation of Legal Administrators

P.O. Box A 3936Chicago, IL 60690

Special Thanks to Elk Grove Graphics for printing this issue of Administrator’s Advantage.