“The brown bag lunch was a terrific way to learn a variety of new legal administration topics in a relatively short time because there were always a variety of topics covered at each luncheon. I found I learned so much over my first two years.” 

- Julie Smith, Smith Law Group, ALA Member since 2012

The Small Firm Brown Bag Luncheon is held on the second Wednesday of every month from 11:45-1:00 at the Austin Bar Association.  This event is only available to members of the Chapter.

The Small Firm Administrators Group is a great way for administrators to share ideas in a small, informal setting. With a need to discuss issues that are specific to firms of 20 lawyers or less, this group meets monthly and takes turns meeting in each other's conference rooms, with around 10 or so participants each month. While the focus is always on relevant business topics, we often find one "hot" topic emerges and totally consumes the month's meeting. Small firm administrators get immense value from these sessions and come away with new and interesting perspectives. More than anything else, it gives us a venue for expressing concerns that everyone in the room can relate to.  According to Melissa Joe, a long term member of this group, "There's nothing more frustrating than feeling you're the only one who's dealing with a certain issue, and nothing more gratifying than to learn that others face the exact same thing. We get down in the trenches and help each other solve problems."

Although current administrators are fortunate to have abundant resources available online, our challenges and obstacles remain. With continuing changes, from the Affordable Care Act to fee-for-service arrangements to the rise of employee-employer lawsuits, our many responsibilities keep getting bigger and heavier. Nothing can substitute the support of others who can actually hear the details of your situation and help you reason through your latest dilemma.

If you’re in the pilot’s chair at a firm with 20 or fewer attorneys, please join us at our next small firm meeting. Whether you are new to law firm administration or a seasoned veteran, this is a great opportunity both to learn and mentor. Please email Christine Giles at or Ana Helton for more information.

Tickets

$0.00 Small Firm Monthly Meeting (Free Admission)