Market Areas > Practice Management > Paralegals

Utilizing Paralegals to Increase Firm Profits and Client Satisfaction

Course Description:

Looking for a quick, low-cost way to increase firm efficiency and profitability?  Well, look no further because that profit center is sitting right outside your office.

Paralegals already support daily firm functions and act as liaisons between attorneys and clients.  Yet, top-tier paralegals that are often underutilized can handle much more than you may think. 

In fact, in this competitive climate where clients are placing increased pressure on firm billing rates, more and more firms are utilizing their paralegals to handle many of the invaluable tasks normally performed by associates.  

Discover how you can cash in on the cost savings to clients and turn paralegals into sources of profit at your firm in this invaluable CCM teleconference. 

You’ll learn how the proper use of paralegals can increase turnaround time on projects and boost firm morale.  Plus, our faculty experts will show you:

• How to distribute workloads to paralegals for maximum efficiency
• Ways to manage the use of paralegal skills for better time management
• Methods for increasing paralegal retention with career goals
• How to train lawyers on best, most profitable use of paralegals
• What constitutes a top-tier paralegal and how to document skill levels
• How paralegals can help you achieve higher billable hours
• Best practices for getting paralegals on board for client recruitment and retention

Featured Faculty:

Arthur G. Greene, Principal, Boyer Greene, LLC

Arthur G. Greene is a Principal of Boyer Greene, LLC, a law firm consulting organization with locations in Michigan, New Hampshire and Nevada (www.boyergreene.com). Following a successful career as a practicing lawyer, during which he served as managing partner of firm that grew to 70 lawyers, Arthur has turned his professional focus to management consulting with law firms. In recent years, his consulting practice has included profitability studies, revenue enhancement, firm audits, strategic planning, governance, succession planning, compensation plans, alternative billing methods, and other aspects of maintaining a healthy firm.

He has lectured, conducted workshops and authored articles and books on a variety of law firm issues. His most recent book is The Lawyers Guide to Increasing Revenue: Unlocking the Profit Potential of Your Firm was published by the ABA in 2005. His next book, The Lawyer’s Guide to Governance will be released by the ABA in early 2009.

Annmarie Simeone, Esq., Member, Norris McLaughlin & Marcus P. A.

Annmarie has a wide range of experience in both state and federal courts, primarily defending management in claims made under state and federal employment laws, including claims for sexual harassment, race, gender, national origin, and disability discrimination. She also has been involved in cases alleging constructive discharge, wrongful termination, retaliation, breach of express or implied employment contracts, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and violations of restrictive covenants. Her work includes the defense of corporate defendants, as well as individual officers, directors and employees, addressing issues unique to small businesses, as well as challenges faced by large public companies.

In addition, she has significant experience in complex commercial litigation, focusing on business disputes such as shareholder actions, restrictive covenant claims, and breach of contract matters. In a recent case, Annmarie helped in attaining two victories for the client—prevailing on summary judgment, which resulted in the client being afforded coverage under a workers' compensation policy that the plaintiff insurance company sought to rescind, and prevailing on a motion to recover counsel fees and costs associated with the defense of the case.

MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE:

Pricing:

Unable to Attend?  Order the CD!
Your CD recording includes the complete audio conference presentation, audience Q&A and presentation materials.

CLE:

CCM provides audio conference attendees with CLE credit processing services. To expedite CCM processing your CLE request, please complete and submit the evaluation form available from CCM at the conclusion of the audio conference. It will be necessary to enter the following information: name of each attorney requesting CLEs with full contact information, including e-mail address, bar number, and the state in which the attorney wants credits. Each attorney requesting credits must submit an evaluation.

Please be advised CCM audio conferences are subject to approval from each CLE issuing organization and approval is not guaranteed (state bar associations in Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania do not grant CLE credits for audio conferences). The approval process takes approximately 6 - 8 weeks for most organizations but can take as long as 3 - 4 months. You will be notified via e-mail with the final status of your CLE application.

Any person applying for CLE credits must attend the audio conference from start to finish (attendance will be taken for compliance reasons). Requests for CLE credits must be received no later than two weeks following the conclusion of the audio conference or live conference. CLE credits are not available for CD recordings.

If you have any questions regarding CLE credits, contact Jill Adler at 631.368.2082 x 21 or jill.adler@meeting-matters.com.

Each CCM event presents a variety of information and is presented for each organization to develop its own approach and methodology.