Fall 2003

In This Issue

Profile: Carole Morris President's Message: AALA to Host First Nude Luncheon for Members Suicide in the Workplace: In the Aftermath of Suicide The Hiring Process: Then and Now Get Out the Back, Jack!: Establishing a Disciplinary Program and Terminating Law Firm Employees Business Strategies: Enhancing Cash Flow National/Regional Update Vendor Partner Luncheon: A Success for the Community Relations Committee Budgeting: How to Deal With the Dreaded "B" Word (Budget) and Survive Beyond the Office: Exploring Our Not So Familiar Surroundings News From the Editor The Legal Community: An Administrator's Perspective

Profile: Carole Morris
By: June D. Bell

Carole Morris has spent 42 years with the same law firm. The Atlanta native has lived almost her entire life in the Peach State. She’s on the board of directors of the Valencia Hills Condominium Association and attends Eastside Baptist Church. Ho hum, right? Not quite. The same Carole Morris has led the charge to push Mabry & McClelland, LLP, to adapt to increasingly sophisticated technology. She’s been repeatedly sighted clocking 120 words a minute on a Selectric typewriter. Carole, 60, has held a motorcycle license for 30 years and loves to ride. She’s been skydiving, parasailing and wave running. And her daddy taught her well; she can diagnose car problems and replace a faulty alternator. Click here to hear Carole's reflections on life and work at Mabry & McClelland.

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President's Message: Did I Get Your Attention?

Now that I have your attention I would like to discuss an important subject. Soon we will begin the process of recruiting members for nomination to the 2004-2005 Atlanta Association of Legal Administrators (AALA) Board of Directors. If you have ever been involved in this process, it can sometimes be a difficult assignment. The Chapter Nominating Committee (Kristie Brewton, Kerri Gurty, Margo Hall, Amy Webster and Michael Stephens) will be asked to select seven members (our 2004-2005 President will be Robin Buckley) to lead our organization and its vision into the future. Click here for further details.

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Suicide in the Workplace: In the Aftermath of Suicide
By: John Richard Breland

For some, the moment of becoming a survivor of suicide is permanently etched into their memory with every excruciating detail clearly recalled, whereas for others, it is obscured in the haze of confused numb shock. While each individual becomes a suicide survivor in his or her own way, there are common phases of pain that most will experience at some time during the grief process. Suicide is a traumatic event and while most survivors long to forget this trauma, many will in fact re-experience the event instead. Click here for further insights, including links to sites with helpful resources.

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The Hiring Process: Then and Now
By: Kay Stanley, President, Paces Personnel, Inc.

Many changes have taken place in the hiring process over the years. Thirty years ago, a good legal secretary was qualified on two basic characteristics — speed and accuracy, and the interviewing process was fairly simple. Today, human resource professionals must not only be well versed in how to conduct interviews, but also be aware of federal and state legislation that precludes them from asking certain questions during the interview process. Click here for further insights on the hiring process.

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Get Out the Back, Jack!: Establishing a Disciplinary Program and Terminating Law Firm Employees
Mary Anne Ackourey, mackourey@fmglaw.com, Freeman, Mathis & Gary, LLP, Atlanta, Georgia

Employment-related lawsuits have continued to increase at an unprecedented rate throughout the past ten years. In fact, the number of discrimination cases filed in federal court has more than doubled during this time. Professional organizations such as law firms have not been spared and are commonly defendants in harassment, discrimination, and termination cases. Click here for practical advice to legal administrators and managing partners for reducing the likelihood of employment claims resulting from adverse employment actions.

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Business Strategies: Enhancing Cash Flow
By: Joel Rose

Managing partners, financial partners, members of executive committees and administrators must devote more of their time today, than in the past, to planning and managing their firm's finances and those functions that improve the cash flow. Click here for six aspects of law firm management and economics which the author has recommended to managing partners, financial partners, members of management committees and law firm administrators to assist them in improving their firm’s cash flow.

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National/Regional Update
By: Susan DeVore, Region 2 Director & Member of AALA

As you read this column many of your Atlanta Association of Legal Administrator (AALA) friends just returned from New York City from the combined Region 1/2 Educational Conference and Exposition. I hope you are one of those folks who benefited from all the legal management knowledge you gained, hearing about the latest equipment and services from over 150 vendors to help you do your job, as well as seeing old friends and making many new ones. Click here for further details.

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Vendor Partner Luncheon: A Success for the Community Relations Committee

Every year as part of the Atlanta Association of Legal Administrator's (AALA) Annual Vendor Partner Luncheon, the Community Relations Committee arranges a drive for a charitable organization. This year they chose another worthwhile organization called My House. Click here for further details.

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Budgeting: How to Deal With the Dreaded "B" Word (Budget) and Survive
By: Gary Feinberg

So, your managing partner walked into your office and said, "I've been thinking, we never had a budget before…. and I think we should have one." Now you start thinking, "*$#^&##*, now what do I do?" A firm budget is one of the most disliked aspects of financial management. In many firms it is considered a necessary evil and your initial emotion is similar to being told you need a root canal. Click here for helpful tips on budgeting.

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Beyond the Office: Exploring Our Not So Familiar Surroundings
By: Reinhard Breckner

The sometimes peculiar sites in our cityscapes tend to elude our observations during our daily commute from the mainstream American suburbs to the mainstream American office tower, our brief escapes to one of hundreds of standard eateries or our short congregations for a monthly luncheon at one of dozens of venues routinely used for conferences and business meetings. More unusual views remain obscured by features that have by now ingrained themselves into our perception of everyday familiar surroundings. Click here to read more.

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News From the Editor
By: Debra F. Goldman, Goodman McGuffey Lindsey & Johnson, LLP

Click here for miscellaneous “tidbits” that may be of interest.

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The Legal Community: An Administrator's Perspective
By: Debra Goldman, Goodman McGuffey Lindsey & Johnson, LLP

The legal community is unique in many respects - and yet, each law firm has its own unique culture. So, how do administrators handle the pressure, responsibility and challenges presented by this industry? Very simply, with a lot of hard work, hard knocks, experience and HELP. Click here to read more.

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Editor: Debra F. Goldman (dgoldman@gmlj.com)

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