8:15 - 8:45 am REGISTRATION/BREAKFAST

8:45 - 9:00 am WELCOME/ INTRODUCTIONS

9:00 – 9:30 am HANDLING THE STRESS OF SOLO PRACTICE
Law practice is tough but solo practice and a new solo practice can seem overwhelming. Hear how to handle these issues and where to find help and resources.
Lisa Caplan, MSBA Lawyer Assistance Program

9:30 – 10:00 am 25 TIPS NO ONE GIVES YOU
Practical and useful tips critical to your continued success.
Patricia A. Yevics, Director, Law Office Management Assistance, MSBA

10:00 - 10:15 am BREAK

10:15 - 11:15 am PRACTICAL BUSINESS TIPS: STARTING A SOLO PRACTICE
Topics will include budgeting and financial issues as well as practical management tips to make it work.
Sonya Smith-Valentine, Valentine Legal Group, Greenbelt, MD

11:00 – 11:15 am BREAK

11:15 am – 12:15 pm TECHNOLOGY EVERY SOLO NEEDS
Learn what technology equipment is necessary in starting and maintaining a solo practice
Timothy S. Faith, Esquire, Baltimore, MD

12:15 - 1:15 pm LUNCH (Provided)

1:15 – 2:15pm BUILDING A PRACTICE: HOW TO GET AND KEEP CLIENTS
Tips include selecting areas of practice, determining your legal strengths and weaknesses, determining and maximizing referral sources, client development, where clients come from and what marketing tools a new practitioner should use.
Sonya Smith-Valentine, Valentine Legal Group, Greenbelt, MD

2:15 -2:45 DEALING WITH CLIENTS: STOPPING PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY START
Getting clients is only part of the process of solo practice. You also have to know which clients to take (and which to avoid), how to prevent problems and what to do if problems happen.
Patricia A. Yevics, Director, Law Office Management Assistance, MSBA

2:45 pm -3:00 pm BREAK

3:00 – 4:00 PM AVOIDING GRIEVANCE & MALPRACTICE
Learn what steps to take as a solo practitioner to minimize your risk of legal malpractice and prevent problems before they happen.
Kevin F.Arthur, Esquire, Kramon & Graham, P.A., Baltimore, MD