Acheiving Balance - GLA, ALAglaala.org/clubportal/clubdocs/194/ACF6FF4.pdf · The members of the board are busy at work planning a variety of educational, technical, social and community

JUNE 2005VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7JUNE 2005VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7

The Resource for Legal AdministratorsThe Resource for Legal Administrators

Acheiving

BalanceBetween Work & Pleasure

Leadership ExchangeThe monthly magazine of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter

of the Association of Legal AdministratorsCopyright © 2005 - All Rights Reserved

www.glaala.org

Steven Jones, Managing EditorLister Martin & Thompson LLP

T: 818-551-6444 • F: [email protected]

Wendy Sweet, CLM, Contributing EditorAndrews Kurth LLP


Janet Shaw, CLM, Publication TeamWickwire Gavin LLP


Mike Morales, Publication TeamSilver & Freedman, PLC


Michelle Liffman, Vendor LiaisonO’Melveny & Myers, LLP


Additional Contributers

Janis [email protected]

Karen [email protected]

Tracy Dragoo, Layout & [email protected]

Typecraft Wood & Jones, PrintingT: 626-795-8093

The GREATER LOS ANGELES LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE is published monthly to provide information for the education and benefit of legal administrators, law office managers, managing partners of law firms and of corporate law departments, and others interested in law firm management. The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators is not engaged in rendering legal, financial or tax counseling through this publication. No statement in this monthly magazine should be interpreted as legal, financial or tax advice.

Any article, letter or advertisement published in The GREATER LOS ANGELES LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE should not be considered an endorsement by the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators of the opinions expressed therein or any product(s) advertised. Contributing authors are requested and expected to disclose financial and/or professional interests and affiliations which may influence their writing position. All advertising is subject to approval by the Editor. Advertisers assume liability for all content of advertisements printed and assume responsibility for any claims based upon subject matter.

WHERE’S NEVETS?

Find Nevets hiding in one of our Vendor ads

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

AFLAC .................................................18

City National Bank ..............Back Cover

Concord Document Service ...............22

Davidson Legal Staffing .......................7

ESP...The IT Candidate People ..........18

HIRECounsel ......................................45

Humanscale ........................................38

Hutchinson & Bloodgood LLP ...........41

Innovative Computing Systems ........47

Legal Option Group ............................43

Legal Plus Agency ...............................46

Matura Farrington Staffing Services ...17

Merrill Corp. .......................................32

Narver Associates ...............................40

Overnite Express ................................39

Praxis ..................................................22

Providus ................................................9

Robert Half Legal ...............................35

Seamless Web .....................................37

Tra-Co Graphics .................................41

Typecraft Wood & Jones .....................41

WAMS ..................................................15

Win a $50.00 American Express Gift Cheque if you are the fi rst

to contact Steven Jones at [email protected]

June 2005 Greater Los Angeles Leadership Exchange • www.glaala.org2

WE WANT TO KNOW!It is important to our team that we provide valuable articles and features for you, our readers. Please take a minute to let us know your thoughts.

To show our gratitude for your time, the first 3 people to respond to the above questions will receive a $10 Starbucks card. Send responses to Steven Jones at [email protected]

David Quam and Pauline Schiff both received a $10 Starbucks card for sending us positive, constructive comments in response to our “We Want to Know” questions. Thank you David and Pauline for your feedback!

Also, we appreciate all the positive feedback we’ve received in response to the new magazine format. Comments were sent by not only our own chapter members, but also members of other ALA chapters, and our vendor partners.

Thank you for taking the time to send your comments and thank you for reading!!

• What would you like to see in future issues?

• Which article you found most valuable in this issue.

• Which feature you enjoyed most.

• Which vendor ad caught your attention.

• Which article/ad/piece needed the most improvement?

Top Row: Tracy Dragoo, Mike Morales, Naomi Haver and Steven Jones Bottom Row: Janet Shaw, Wendy Sweet & Janis Smith

Luncheon/Vendor Attendance

It is the policy of the Greater ALA

Los Angeles Chapter that only ALA

members and/or their qualifed guest(s)

may attend any Chapter or Section

luncheons or meetings. “Qualified

guests” include nonmembers who

would be eligible for ALA membership

under the By-Laws of the International

ALA, and employees of a member’s

firm. In general, vendors and

consultants would not be considered

as Qualified Guests.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEStriking A Balance by Brian Robbins ........................................................................... 4

Finding balance when your micro and macro equilibrium is disrupted is not easy. Challenge yourself to think of new and different ways to balance your life.

OFFICE OPERATIONSLaw Firm Administration: Best Practices by Jason Finger, Esq. .................................................................... 29

Law firms are following the paths of major corporations by automating non-core purchasing processes. See how you can reduce costs and gain greater control over employee food purchases and increase productivity.

OFFICE LEASINGIf Anything Can Go Wrong, It Will! by Scot McBeath .......................................................................... 23

Planning to relocate your office or extend your lease agreement? Defining your space requirements, identifying the alternatives and negotiating the lease transaction are just a few of the items you need to successfully complete your next leasing transaction.

LEGAL INDUSTRYStriking a Balance...An Ongoing Battle for Legal Administrators by Wendy Sweet ........................................................................... 34

Rebalancing your priorities. Is there a perfect balance and does it mean the same thing to everyone? Administrators are good candidates for rebalancing their priorities.

GLA-ALA 1ST ANNUAL WINE TASTING TRIPA Visit to the Wineries of Temeculaby Steven Jones ............................................................................ 26

Kastle Systems, The Scheffey Group,

American Language Services and afi nety

sponsors the 1st Annual Wine Tasting Tour

in Temecula, CA with Keyways and Wilson

Creek Wineries!

GENERAL MANAGEMENTThe Most Noble of Addictions: WORKAHOLISM by Jean Johnson, WSBA ............................................................... 10

The term “workaholic” is now a part of our vernacular and this reflects a genuine understanding of the workaholic phenomenon and how we use it to avoid psychological discomfort.

Articles Every Month

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORAcheiving Balance by Steven Jones .............................................................................. 5

What do you do to rejevunate your life? Spontaneous trips are full of adventure and lots of fun. Plan or don’t plan your next trip.

Calendar of Events ................................................................... 8

Chapter News ........................................................................... 12

Section Meetings .................................................................... 14

Continuing Community Challenge ................................... 16

Wellness Zone ..................................................................18 & 42

Member Information ............................................................ 19

Chapter Events ................................................................20 & 26

Chapter Leaders .............................................................24 & 25

Member Extra .......................................................................... 28

Membership Benefits ..................................................... 30 - 32

Vendor Spotlight ..................................................................... 36

Technology Tip ........................................................................ 40

Brain Teaser ............................................................................ 44

HUMAN RESOURCESStriking a Balance Between Business and Pleasure by Jan Christensen ........................................................................ 6

You’ve all heard the old adage: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. Well, the truth is, people who never take time off from work for pleasure are likely to become boring and bored.

Greater Los Angeles Leadership Exchange • www.glaala.org June 2005 3


STRIKING A BALANCE – Not an easy thing to do, is it ?I suspect we are all pulled by a multiplicity of forces in

our lives. We have physical and mental, internal and external

demands placed upon us by ourselves, our jobs, our families,

friends, colleagues, church, school….achieving a balance

between all these competing forces is not easy.

This month’s issue of the Leadership Exchange will explore

these issues and provide some ideas on how one might achieve

that all important “balance.”

Just recently, as I was taking over as President of our

chapter, I was reminded again of this topic (it never goes away,

it just fades in and out of the foreground). In February 2005,

I became the proud father of a beautiful baby daughter (Mary

Estelle Robbins). Where was I going to find the time to add my

new ALA duties and this wonderful addition to my life? Could

I just simply add these to an already full plate? Something(s)

would need to give. I had to adapt. My balance was disrupted

and a new equilibrium was needed.

This balancing happens on micro levels (e.g., a single day

at work) and macro levels (e.g., an entire career). ALA can

help you in your quest by providing a vast array of educational

offerings, reference materials, and networking opportunities.

Take advantage of what your local Greater Los Angeles (GLA)

Chapter and ALA International can offer.

WORK BEFORE PLEASURE?Hopefully, we find our jobs personally rewarding. But

even if the job is great there is more to life than work, no?

We all have our own passions, pursuits and things we do for

inspiration, education and relaxation. For me, I love to travel

as a way to regain perspective and to challenge me to think of

things in new and different ways. I need that time away from

work to recharge and refresh. Others will share their tips and

tricks in the pages ahead.

Read and enjoy!

Brian Robbins, [email protected]

STRIKING A BALANCE

OTHER CHAPTER NEWS...

The members of the board are busy at work planning a variety of educational, technical, social and community outreach activities. Here are just a few of the upcoming events and activities:

* Check out one (or more) of the sessions offered as part of the Certified Legal Manager (CLM) study program. These classes are open to all Chapter members and are not limited to only those who plan to take the CLM exam. The curriculum provides a broad and structured approach to gaining knowledge and competency in all the key areas needed to be successful as an administrator. Check the website www.glaala.org for details.

* Consider attending one or more Section meetings. There are currently (8) sections (IT, HR, Finance, Multi-Office, Small Firm, Corporate/Government, San Fernando Valley and Ventura/Santa Barbara). Each Section focuses on topics of particular interest to their member base. You are welcome to attend any meeting. See the calendar and website for details. The Section Chairs are noted in the centerfold of this magazine.

* Stay tuned for information on a July 2005 Seminar on Sexual Harassment Training. We expect a big turnout for this event.

* October 7, 2005 — 1st Annual GLA Golf Tournament. Plan to come out and chase the little white ball with your friends and colleagues. Details in the weeks ahead.

Get involved and get the most that you can out of your ALA.

“ So divinely is the world orga-

nized that every one of us, in our

place and time, is in balance with

everything else. ”

Johann Wolfgang von GoetheGerman dramatist, novelist, poet, and scientist

Greater Los Angeles Leadership Exchange • www.glaala.org June 2005 5Greater Los Angeles Leadership Exchange • www.glaala.org June 2005 5

Steven Jones818-551-6444

[email protected]

ACHEIVING BALANCE

Every year I take a few days off and go…no planning, I just

go. Last year, I went to Alaska and enjoyed the breathtaking

landscape and saw from a distance the majestic snow capped

Mt. McKinley rising sharply from the rolling green hills. At

midnight I saw the sky swirl with the amazing colors of the

Aurora Borealis (northern lights). I saw with my own eyes what

the photographers from National Geographic see when they

take those amazing pictures — a brown bear stealing his dinner

(a caribou) from wolves. I trekked on one of the hundreds of

Alaskan glaciers and saw a lake completely surrounded with

blue ice. But the one thing I

remember most was the water

served during breakfast at a

little café along the Matanuska

River. It’s better than any

bottled water we have here in

California.

I made a promise to myself

years ago that I would always take a yearly hiatus away

from everyone and everything. Adventures like these and

many others I have taken over the years are my release and

recuperation from working long, stress-fi lled hours. Don’t

misunderstand me — I do enjoy my job. But as managers,

we have one of the most stressful jobs in the nation…making

hundreds of decisions a week and keeping up with the demands

of our partners, associates and staff. Add whipped cream on

top if you are involved in your local chapter and a cherry if you

have a family.

For me, it is important that I get away at least once a year

— no phones, no people, and especially no place where my

Blackberry will pick up reception. For me, these get-aways

are a rejuvenation period. My trips are always exciting, and

I often fi nd myself thinking about the next adventure. My list

for the future includes attending the 2008 Summer Olympics

in China, primo seats on the 50 yard line at a Super Bowl game,

watching the spectacular view of a space shuttle taking off, and

one day smoking a cigarette while drinking really strong coffee

at a small table in France (that will be a sight because I don’t

smoke cigarettes or drink coffee).

A few of my adventures have already been completed

— a round of golf at Hilton Head Island (it was humbling),

kayaking up the Colorado

River and sleeping over night in

a cove (I was so excited I forgot

my staple foods, but luckily

I brought my fi shing gear),

snowboarding on a double

black diamond mountain (the

fi rst trip down was mostly

on my butt), and, of course, skydiving from 12,500 feet (free-

falling is the only way to go).

I realized early on that the days do not wait for me. They

come and go and therefore I must capture each one and

enjoy it to its fullest. My outlook on life is pure exuberance,

and every experience is an adventure. I share this with you

because I know most of you work long hours and rarely take

breaks. Plan a trip, or not, and go jump out of a plane or slide

down a mountain or watch the night sky change colors. You

all deserve some time to yourselves…some time to enjoy your

own adventures.

In fact, you OWE it to yourselves. g

Mendenhall Glacier Mt. McKinley Denali Waterplane Airport

“ It’s time to start living the life you’ve imagined. ”

Henry James


Jan [email protected]


You’ve all heard the old adage: “All work and no play makes

Jack a dull boy.” Well, the truth is, people who never take time

off from work for pleasure are likely to become boring and

bored. Of course, taking time off and establishing a life outside

the office is easier said than done. But with a little planning, I

believe it’s possible.

HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:• Delegate when possible.

• Don’t micromanage (but do keep track of what you’ve

delegated).

• Don’t be available to everyone all the time; schedule your

day as much as possible. Sometimes problems take care of

themselves when you wait a day.

• Don’t increase the scope of your job unnecessarily.

• Work a reasonable day and then leave, except when you

have a true emergency. Trust me, the work will be there when

you return.

• Schedule dates — at the gym, with friends, dates,

husbands, wives, children, pets and hobbies — and put them

on your calendar.

• Try not to talk about work at home or with friends. This

is time to talk of other things.

• When leaving work for the day, don’t handcuff yourself to

the office by checking your voice mails and e-mails constantly;

people will find you if there is something that can’t wait until

the next day.

• Start using all of your vacation time. Leaders who never

distance themselves from work don’t have the opportunity to

recharge their batteries

• When on vacation, try to leave the laptop at home and

avoid calling the office and checking e-mails. This time should

be devoted to your passions in life, be they people or hobbies.

Again, if there’s an emergency, they’ll find you.

Basically, remain committed to your job, always strive to do

your best work, but once you leave the office at the end of the

day or for vacation, realize the importance of the other facets

of your life. An environment that emphasizes work without

play is unhealthy, and anything unhealthy is bad in the long

run. A culture of endless, pervasive work leads to burnout.

People need time to refresh. This time often opens our minds

creatively and helps us to come up with new ideas.

This goes for not only administrators, but for our staff

members as well. A well-rested, happy staff member will have

much more to offer in terms of productivity and helping to

ensure a pleasant working environment.

Remember, life is not measured by how many breaths we

take, but by those moments that take our breath away. This is

your life. Take time to do your job well and to live life fully.

As we’ve heard said many times, no one wants their epitaph

to read “I wish I’d spent more time at the office.” Now’s the

time for us to take a look at how we live our lives and what

changes we can undertake to make more time for those people

and hobbies that are important to us and make us more

interesting individuals. g

NEWS ALERT: 4/25/05, LOS ANGELES:“A legal administrator was found unconscious in her office,

buried under a stack of papers. Staff members noticed she was

missing when their paychecks had not been delivered.” Silly?

Yes. But far from the truth? Maybe not. We need to take care of

ourselves and our loved ones, which will give us the energy and

the comfort to do our jobs well.

STRIKING A BALANCE BETWEEN BUSINESS AND PLEASURE

“ Ask yourself the secret of your

success. Listen to your answer,

and practice it. ”

Richard David Bach


DATE EVENT TIME LOCATION CONTACT E-MAIL

1 GLA ALA Board Meeting 5:00 - 9:00 pmBeverly Hills Country Club

3084 Motor Avenue (at Manning)Brian Robbins, CLM [email protected]

2

8th Annual “Hope for Firefi ghters” charity

event for the L.A. Fireman’s Relief Orphans and Widows Fund

6:00 - 8:30 pmJeffers, Mangels, Butler &

MarmaroSusan Seales213-633-6810

[email protected]

3 Magazine Articles to Editor Steven Jones [email protected]

8GLA ALA Chapter Luncheon

Speaker: Dr. Jerry Teplitz of Teplitz Enterprises, Inc.,

Topic: Increasing Your Professional Power

11:45 am - 1:00 pmLos Angeles Omni Hotel

251 South Olive StreetLos Angeles, CA 90012

Viviane A. Abraham 310-553-0451

Mary Holland 310-785-5354

[email protected]

[email protected]

10-12ALA – Chapter

Leadership InstituteWestin Tabor Center,

Denver, CONicole Larson 847-267-1252

[email protected]

19-22SHRM Annual

Conference & ExpositionSan Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California ALA will be exhibiting

21ALA Webcast: Law Firm Profi tability

Enhancement, Speaker: Richard Turnbow, Executive Director of Capell & Howard

9:00 – 12:30 pm (PST)Jan Marshall 847-267-1252

[email protected]

22ALA – Teleseminar; Management and Marketing: “Coordinating for Better Strategy

and Performance.” Co-presented by ALA and the Legal Marketing Association

11:00 am – 1:00 pm (PST) ALA Members $169, late $179; Non-Members $179, late $189 (late registration is less

than 5 days prior to the program date)

Jan Marshall 847-267-1252

[email protected]

22San Fernando Valley Section Meeting – Roundtable Discussion

12:00 pm – 1:00 pmSteinbrecher & Associates, 16830 Ventura Blvd., Ste. B,

Encino

Janis Smith 818-528-7600

[email protected]

23 Small Firm Section Meeting 12:00 - 1:30 pmDickstein Shapiro Morin &

Oshinsky LLP10866 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300

Mary McDonnell 213-629-5700

[email protected]

28

CLM Study GroupManagement Systems

Operations and PlanningEd Poll, J.D., M.B.A., CMC

6:00 pm – 8:30 pmAllen Matkins

515 S Figueroa Street, 7th Floor

Susan Seales213-633-6810

Martha Bernard 213-955-5554

[email protected]

[email protected]

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND FUTURE EVENTS SEE WWW.GLAALA.ORG AND WWW.ALANET.ORG



September 15-17, 2005Region 5/6 Conference

Bally’s - Las Vegas, Nevada

October 10, 20051st Annual GLA ALA Golf Tounament

California Country Club Whittier, California

CertificationProgram

Information and ApplicationPacket

2005

August 5, 2005CLM Application Deadline

September 15, 2005CLM Exam Date

!!SAVE THE DATE!!

www.providusgroup.com

CONTRACT AND PERMANENTATTORNEYS • PARALEGALS

HOUSTON LOS ANGELES

213.244.9994CHICAGO

Cheryl Moore, Sandy Ayeroff, Karyn SchlinkertDeb Post, Lisa Laursen

November 14 - 16, 2005Law Firm Management: Essential

Competencies for Legal AdministratorsWestin Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia

November 3-4, 2005Intellectual Property Retreat

Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

November 2-4, 2005Corporate/Government Fall Forum

Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

September 29 - October 1, 2005Large Firm Principal

Administrators Retreat,Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey

Ranch, Scottsdale, Arizona

September 29 - October 1, 2005Law Firm Financial Management

Conference & ExpositionInterContinental Dallas, Addison, Texas

Not long ago I was waiting in a ferry line and overheard

a conversation between two people discussing a mutual

friend. Both had noticed and were concerned about her

workplace “addiction.” They easily used the term “workaholic”

as they described how she kept taking on more and more

“valid” projects that kept her distanced from her life and its

problems — essentially providing her an escape hatch from

the world. It struck me that the term “workaholic” is now part

of our vernacular and that this casual conversation reflected a

genuine understanding of the workaholic phenomenon and

how we use it to avoid psychological discomfort.

Strangely enough, we can live in the clutches of a full-

blown addiction and feel a sense of pride and satisfaction

about it. The accolades of responsibility, dedication, and

reliability are bestowed upon countless people who work

those extra hours and who

perform above and beyond the

call of duty. In America we

pay homage to diligence, hard

work, and success. One is often

rewarded with money or status.

To complicate matters, mixed

messages are routinely doled

out, touting the importance of

a balanced life and of time spent with family and friends. Yet,

people are often penalized or subtly chastised for not making

the expected commitments and sacrifices. This promotes

and institutionalizes a socially acceptable and destructive

addiction. however, the appearance of diligent work can

be the deceptive guise of a more ominous reality — that of

compulsive behavior run rampant. Earnest work efforts can

insidiously transmute into addictive tendencies with dire

consequences.

It is a hardwired human need to experience a sense of

competence. From learning how to tie our own shoes to

winning “Most Valuable Player” in the World Series, the work

ethic is a firmly implanted American cultural norm. Our daily

lives are made up of myriad tasks that we have mastered. But

at what point do we slip over the line and fully engage in a

compulsively driven mode that has little to do with completing

the task at hand?

On the surface, workaholism may look no different from

working hard. But for the workaholic, work is the buffer between

oneself and unwelcome moods and feelings. It becomes the

only haven that provides meaning, identity, and self-worth.

Work may also feed the inclination to make us indispensable

in the futile effort to satisfy the insatiable — the need to feel

needed. Fertile ground for workaholism occurs when self-

image is deeply embedded in vocational achievements. We

work longer hours and take on more projects to enhance our

self-worth. Our perceived value is then precariously linked to

work-related performance and accomplishments, leaving us

extremely vulnerable to psychological devastation when the

outcome is disappointing or when we fail. The work place may

evolve into the only arena where “life” truly plays out. Family

and friends exist somewhere in the dim periphery. With the

absence of connection and interaction, the quality of those

relationships inevitably erodes.

The common denominator

of workaholics is that they all

work too much; however, there

are different manifestations of

the same underlying condition.

Therapist Bryan Robinson,

Ph.D., author of Chained

to the Desk: A Guidebook for

Workaholics, Their Partners

and Children, and the Clinicians Who Treat Them identifies

four major styles of workaholism.

• Bulimic Workaholic Style — where the internal message

is “I need to do this perfectly or not at all.” It resembles the

bulimic eating disorder with its fluctuation between self-

imposed hunger and binge eating, as one cycles through

procrastination, then the eventual excessive work effort

that often includes all-nighters and finally, total exhaustion.

Intense anxiety lurks during the procrastination phase,

generated by worrying over the work not getting done. Central

to this style is the fear of not doing the task perfectly, making

mistakes, and experiencing failure. The only thing that can

override the obsessive, perfectionistic self-criticism is the

terror of not getting the project done before the deadline.

• Relentless Workaholic Style — where there is a breathless

pace with no letup. We impulsively take on too much, are not

able to say “no,” cannot prioritize, and are unable to delegate.

At times, the quality of work suffers because we are unable

to incorporate thoughtful reflection into the project at hand.


THE MOST NOBLE OF ADDICTIONS: WORKAHOLISM by Jean Johnson, WSBA

‘ ...workaholism may look no different from working hard. But for the workaholic, work is the buffer between oneself and unwelcome moods and feelings. ’

1111Greater Los Angeles Leadership Exchange • www.glaala.org June 2005

Often characteristic of this style is a dependence on others’

approval for a sense of self-worth.

• Attention-Deficit Workaholic Style — Robinson describes

this approach as a form of self-medicating by “living on the edge”

in order to trigger the adrenaline response. The desired result is

the rush of new ideas and the surge of energy and excitement

at the initiation of a slew of projects that are left unfinished

because of poor execution and the boredom that inevitably sets

in. Some people may gravitate to this style as a way of combating

depression.

• Savoring Workaholic Style — manifests itself in a

painstakingly slow and deliberate manner. We become overly

attentive to details, savoring tiny minutiae, but in the process

inadvertently prolonging the endeavor, creating additional

work, and eventually coming up against a deadline that leaves

us feeling dissatisfied with our efforts. There’s a strong whiff of

perfectionism inherent in this style; as a result, we feel our work

is never good enough.

In reality there may be permutations of any of these styles,

creating a little discomfort or a great deal of havoc in our lives. As

with many addictions, people may have to “hit bottom” before

change can be seriously contemplated. A precious relationship

is lost, sustained stress eventually manifests in a disabling

physical or psychological problem such as migraine headaches

or clinical depression, or a catastrophic “crash and burn” episode

may require hospitalization.

To shed some light on workaholic tendencies, try the quiz,

officially known as the Work Addiction Risk Test (WART). Put

the number that best describes your work approach beside

each statement: 1-never true; 2-sometimes true; 3-often true;

4-always true.

After responding to all 25 statements, add up your score. The

scores are divided into three categories: those scoring 67-100 are

exhibiting highly workaholic behavior; those falling in the middle

range (57-66) are considered mildly workaholic. Those falling in

the lowest range (25-56) are not engaging in workaholic behavior.

continued on page 33

__1. I prefer to do most things rather than ask for help.

__2. I get impatient when I have to wait for someone else

or when something takes too long.

__3. I seem to be in a hurry and racing against the clock.

__4. I get irritated when interrupted while I am in the

middle of something.

__5. I stay busy and keep many irons in the fire.

__6. I find myself doing two or three things at one time,

such as eating lunch and writing a memo while talking on the

telephone.

__7. I over-commit myself by biting off more than I can

chew.

__8. I feel guilty when I am not working on something.

__9. It’s important that I see the concrete results of what

I do.

__10. I am more interested in the final result of my work

than in the process.

__11. Things never seem to move fast enough or get done

fast enough for me.

__12. I lose my temper when things don’t go my way or

work out to suit me.

__13. I ask the same question again without realizing that

I’ve already been given the answer.

__14. I spend a lot of time mentally planning and thinking

about future events while tuning out the here and now.

__15. I find myself continuing to work after my coworkers

have called it quits.

__16. I get angry when people don’t meet my standards of

perfection.

__17. I get upset when I am in situations where I cannot

be in control.

__18. I tend to put myself under pressure with self-

imposed deadlines.

__19. It is hard for me to relax when I’m not working.

__20. I spend more time working than socializing with

friends or on hobbies or leisure activities.

__21. I dive into projects to get a head start before all the

phases have been finalized.

__22. I get upset with myself for making even the smallest

mistake.

__23. I put more thought, time, and energy into my work

than I do into my relationships with loved ones and friends.

__24. I forget, ignore, or minimize celebrations such as

birthdays, reunions, anniversaries, or holidays.

__25. I make important decisions before I have all the

facts and have a chance to think them through.

WORK ADDICTION RISK TEST (WART)Put the number that best describes your work approach beside each statement: 1-never true; 2-sometimes true; 3-often true;

4-always true; then add up your score.

Larry R. Richard. J.D., Ph.D, who specializes in behavioral

science, gave the attendees at our May 10, 2005 luncheon an

impressive seminar by outlining the qualities of a true leader

and how an understanding of emotional intelligence can help

us improve our roles as leaders in our firms.

Effective leadership basically deals with the dynamics of

one’s personality and an in depth understanding of emotional

intelligence. We all know that an individual’s personality is

an important factor in determining if a person is an effective

leader. However, understanding how your emotions affect

your decisions and interactions with others gives you a

cognitive view of your own strengths and weaknesses with

respect to your leadership

abilities. According to Dr.

Richard, emotional intelligence

is the capacity for recognizing

one’s own feelings and those

of others, and managing those

emotions in ourselves and in

our relationships. In short, administrators need to understand

the basics of psychology to be effective leaders. When Dr.

Richard speaks of “emotional intelligence,” he is describing

a person’s abilities distinct from, but complementary to,

academic intelligence, or a person’s cognitive capacity.

Obviously, this type of cognitive skill is developed over

time and through exposure to people and relative experiences.

Depending on your environment, you may excel at reading

and understanding people and understanding how your

emotions affect your decisions. However, in other situations

you may not do so well. Specifically, different environments

and relationships require different cognitive or emotional

intelligence skills. You may be a great leader in the office,

but given a catastrophic or an emotionally charged situation

in which you’ve had no experience, your leadership abilities,

which include understanding how you react during such

situations, can greatly affect your decisions and interaction

with others. An awareness of your emotional intelligence

greatly reduces the possibility of you “losing it” when faced

with the unfamiliar or unexpected.

Your response to a crisis is a good indicator of your

emotional intelligence awareness. Managing your emotions

requires you to regulate your own emotional reactions

appropriately and “strategically.” This allows you to maintain

effective, productive and satisfying relationships with others.

Now the question is how do you improve your emotional

intelligence skills? First, there must be a reason to change. If

you find that you often “lose it,” you will probably benefit from

changing your outlook or understanding the affects of your

emotions in certain situations.

Next, you must give yourself time to self-assess your

reaction. Ask yourself after a pleasant or not-so-pleasant

encounter how the scenario affected your behavior. Did you

get emotionally charged and, if so, why? Did another person’s

emotions affect your behavior? Was it something they said?

Was it something they did or didn’t do? Did the situation require

you to become emotionally

happy, sad or angry? Ask

yourself these questions and

think about what you would

do differently next time. Then,

should the same situation arise,

think seriously about these

questions and analyze yourself during and afterwards. Are

there ways you can improve?

State your personal goals. These could include such

things as remaining calm when that difficult person walks

into your office demanding special treatment; staying on

point during meetings and not allowing others to digress into

other less important issues; setting short medium and long-

term goals and meeting them, despite obstacles along the

way; analyzing your weaker areas and taking steps to become

stronger. Prioritize them and tackle one at a time rather than

all at once.

Develop a plan. Know beforehand what you want to say

and not say during your next “tough” encounter. Understand

what triggers certain emotions in yourself and develop a

strategy to help you circumvent or better control them. Plan to

solicit feedback from people you trust and use them as a way

to gauge your progress.

Behavioral change takes time and practice. Know that you

are not going to change overnight but do have the confidence

in yourself to know that persistence and drive does offer many

rich rewards. To turn a new behavior into a habit, you have to

be diligent. Reward yourself when you set and reach specific

goals. Revisit and perhaps re-evaluate your goals periodically

to keep yourself on track and to revise the goals if necessary.

WHY LEADERS NEED TO BE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT


Steven [email protected]

‘ ...your emotions affect your decisions and interactions with others... ’


Ongoing support is vital for change. Discuss with your

peers, friends or mentors how they handle certain situations

and allow them to give you positive feedback on areas in which

you need to improve. Keep in mind that your experiences

and situations are unique and the advice you receive, which

is unique to your coach’s experiences, must be dissected and

applied appropriately to your situation.

We generally have little choice as to who we work for and

with, and we cannot prevent all negative situations. However,

we can choose how we react and respond to the people who

surround us and the situations we encounter. We can also take

a proactive role in our emotional development by following the

steps outlined above and by realizing that it’s not just about

reaching a destination but also the journey that takes us there. g

Dr. Richard referenced several “must–reads,” which are listed below.

•Raising Your Emotional Intelligence

by Jeanne Segal, Ph.D.

•The Emotionally Intelligent Manger

by Peter Salovey and David Caruso

• The EQ Edge by Stephen Stein

• www.elconsortium.org — DanGoldman

• www.emotionsrevealed.com — Dr. Paul Ekman

About the speaker: Larry R. Richard, a former trial lawyer,

is a principal with Altman Weil, Inc., specializing in behavioral

science consulting, training, and leadership development for

the legal profession. Mr. Richard earned his J.D. degree from the

University of Pennsylvania Law School and his Ph.D. degree in

psychology from Temple University. He is an expert in applying

principles of Emotional Intelligence to help people improve their

roles as leaders. Other areas of expertise include: Managing

Internal Conflict, Improving Associate Retention, Guiding Planned

Change, Improving Communication and Leading Retreats. He

has provided consulting services to the legal profession since

1984 and utilizes behavioral science principles in the areas of

communication, motivation and personality to improve the

functioning of law firms and corporate law departments.

Luncheon Speaker Dr. Larry Richard

Viviane Abraham and Dr. Larry Richard

Brian Robbins

Tracy Hunt and Dr. Larry Richard

Shiv Keyal, GS Jha and Michael Steiner


SMALL FIRM SECTIONThe Small Firm Section met on

Thursday, May 5, 2005 for a great Cinco de

Mayo lunch and roundtable discussion.

The primary topic of discussion was the

Antitrust Guidelines for Association of

Legal Administrators. The group was

reminded of the strict guidelines not

to discuss future fees, wages or other

economic matters concerning our law fi rms. The Antitrust Guide

is available online at http://www.alanet.org/members/solution/

fax/10040.html. A good resource to obtain key economic

information on law fi rms is to review the RBZ Survey. Everyone

was encouraged to participate in the survey conducted by RBZ

who collects data in July. Rosela Marin and Jim Van Dusen, CLM

also shared some insight on the training received at the ALA

National Convention in San Francisco. Other issues discussed

were accrued vacation, e-billing, offi ce policies, computer

disposal and current openings.

Jerry Calcagno is moving on to another position in Chicago,

Illinois and will no longer be the chair for the Small Firm Section.

Mary McDonnell has graciously accepted the position for the

remainder of the year.

The next Small Section meeting will be on the Westside at

Erin Walsh’s fi rm, Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP, 10866

Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90024 on Thursday,

June 23, 2005 - 12 Noon to 1:30 p.m. Next meeting’s exciting

topic is undetermined, but as always Small Firm Section will

be open to roundtable discussion on any issues the small fi rm

administrator may have.

Hope to see you there! g

TECHNOLOGY SECTIONNo matter what any founding,

managing or “rainmaking” partner

may tell you, your fi rm’s most valuable

asset is actually its work product. Today

much of that work product is stored in

electronic documents and the May 12,

2005 Technology Section Meeting was a

great opportunity to learn how to manage

those documents from three of the industry’s leaders. ALA

members and their guests were joined by professionals

representing Interwoven (www.interwoven.com), Netdocuments

(www.netdocuments.com) and Worldox (www.worldox.com).

Each provider has a unique product with a different set of

features tailored for different uses.

Interwoven, represented by Michael Kemps of Innovative

Computing Systems ([email protected]), is

the maker of the WorkSite Server. The WorkSite Server is the

foundation for the Interwoven solution, which provides a

platform that supports geographically dispersed teams with

project pages where users can create content, collaborate and

co-ordinate business-critical activities. The newest release,

WorkSite 8, is the biggest innovation in software for law fi rms in

several years. WorkSite 8 brings a practical approach to Matter

Centric Collaboration by working the way most lawyers do,

instead of the other way around.

NetDocuments, a company created by the founders

of SoftSolutions, represented by Alvin Tedjamulia

([email protected]), its Chief Technology Offi cer, provides

a Web-hosted document, email and records management service

that enables law fi rms of all sizes to have a global repository,

extranet functionality, and built-in business continuity solution,

while reducing costs, eliminating the hardware, client software,

and ongoing administration of a LAN-based technology model.

World Software Corporation, represented by Michael Crouch

of Baker and Cadence Solutions, LLC (mcrouch@bakercadence.

com), is the maker of Worldox. Worldox is a multi-award-

winning Document Management System, which incorporates

document management and e-mail management. Worldox is

installed directly onto a fi le server. The only additional hardware

requirement is a dedicated PC for indexing.

Each solution presented had its benefi ts and drawbacks and

each representative also gave us permission to publish their

contact information in this article so that members who may

have questions, but were unable to attend the meeting, could

get more information. Please join us July 14th at the Beverly

Hills Country Club for our next section meeting titled *Disaster

Recovery Made Simple*. g

Mary McDonnellSmall Firm Section Chair

Robert SantosTechnology Section Co-Chair

“ There are only two ways to live

your life. One is as though nothing

is a miracle. The other is as though

everything is a miracle. ” - Albert Einstein (1879-1955)


Your full service systems

integrator installing and

maintaining computer

systems for law firms

and businesses since

1974. Call us, let’s talk

about your firm’s IT

needs – we get IT.

(800) 421-7151 • www.wamsinc.comContact: Kevin Haight • [email protected](800) 421-7151 • www.wamsinc.comContact: Kevin Haight • [email protected]

colorhalfpage.qxd 12/27/04 1:03 PM Page 1





























































HUMAN RESOURCES SECTION

This meeting focused on dress code

policies – the offenders, the outrageous

and what administrators are doing about

the more risqué dressers. Attendees shared

their current policies and discussed issues

they’ve experienced when employees

wander outside the fi rm’s dress code

policies. The discussion proved to be

very informative and provided additional

insight on how other fi rms operate and

address these issues.

The next meeting will be held on

Tuesday, July 26, 2005 at Morrison

& Foerster. Joyce Murdock, Human

Resources Consultant, will be speaking on

the topic of “How to Handle Poor Performers.” Every fi rm has

one, or two, or…okay, so poor performers exist, now let Joyce

help us determine the best solutions for how to deal with these

under-performing employees. Have you and the fi rm done

everything you need in order to try and help this employee? If

so, and performance has not improved, how can you navigate

the oh-so-sensitive issue of terminating an employee? Find the

answers to these and other questions at this meeting (fl yer and

RSVP will be sent in early July). g

Kelly McGeheeH. R. Section Co-Chair

Kim RobinsonH. R. Section Co-Chair


WE ACCEPT:

Air Conditioning & Heating Units

AppliancesBathroom Fixtures

Brick & Block Cabinets

Carpet & Flooring Doors

FurnitureHardware

Home Accessories Lighting & Electrical Lumber

Outdoor Living Paint

PlumbingRoofing

Tile, Marble & Stone Trim & Molding

Windows & Coverings

Unique & Vintage Items

17700 S. Figueroa Street Gardena, CA 90248

Tues.—Sat., 9am—6pm www.shophabitat.org

Make a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation to Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity South Bay/Long Beach has opened a Home Improvement Store and needs your new and gently used materials. The store depends upon donations from

contractors, developers, remodelers, designers, businesses and individuals.

CALL (310) 323-5665 or (866) SHOP-HFH or EMAIL [email protected]

Donation Drop-offs Delivering donations directly to the store saves Habitat for Humanity valuable time and money. Donations are accepted at the Home Improvement Store during busi-ness hours.

Donation Pick-upsCall to arrange for a free pick-up. For the safest and most efficient collection of your donation, please follow these simple guidelines: �� Have all materials boxed (if applicable), stacked and readily accessible �� Mark all items with a note that reads "For Habitat for Humanity" �� Absolutely no hazardous materials or waste items �� We are unable to haul away trash or sort items from those that do not meet our

criteria. Some donations may be declined because of safety concerns, facility limitations, or marketability.

What is the Home Improvement Store? The Home Improvement Store is an enterprise of Habitat for Humanity South Bay/Long Beach (HFH SB/LB) that sells new and gently used furniture, building and home improvement materials to the public. All merchandise is donated and sold at fifty percent or more below retail value.

What is the purpose of the Home Improvement Store? The Home Improvement Store was established to provide a self-sustaining funding source to HFH SB/LB and to support the local community through access to low-cost furniture, building and home improvement materials. The Home Improvement Store also recycles usable materials to reduce waste in local landfills and to protect the environment. Proceeds from the Home Improvement Store are used by HFH SB/LB to further its mission of providing homeownership opportunities to low-income fami-lies in need of safe, decent and affordable housing.

Building Hope, Lives and Communities

Donate YourMaterials to aGood Cause

By donating surplus or deconstruction materials you save disposal fees and receive a tax deduction for the value.


Tel: 213.553.8451 Fax: 213.553.8878660 S. Figueroa Street Suite 1420 Los Angeles, CA 90017

www.maturafarrington.com

Matura Farrington Staffing Services–Because candidates aren’t always what they seem.

Was your last temp a wolf in sheep’s clothing?Using temporary help can be the perfect solution for many staffing needs, but not all temporariesare the sheep they appear to be. You’ve been there…after a sheep worked a week at your firm yousuddenly met the wolf! You called the agency to fix the problem, but somehow things got worse –not better!

Maybe it’s not that you chose the wrong temp. Maybe you chose the wrong agency.

At Matura Farrington, we know that resolving problems is just as important as filling your temporaryorders. We understand the obligations and responsibilities of the co-employment relationship wehave with our clients, so we’re ready for the unexpected! With over 10 years in the staffing industrymanaging the daily risks associated with employment, we’re problem solvers – not creators. Andisn’t that why you needed a temporary in the first place?

We match employers with employees to form successful work relationships.


SOS (Succeed Over Stress)

“A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses.”

----Chinese proverb

Kindness Really Is ContagiousYou know that fleeting fizzy feeling you get when someone compliments

you? It turns out that complimenting someone else can do even more to lift

your mood.

Happiness depends on how full your metaphorical bucket of positive,

affirming experiences is at any given time, according to How Full is Your

Bucket? by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D. Every interaction you

have adds to or subtracts from your bucket and your well-being. The best

way to keep your bucket overflowing is to fill someone else’s.

Bucket-filling, the authors attest, is contagious: Your act of kindness

sparks a chain reaction. To keep your bucket filled, they recommend aim-

ing for five positive encounters to every negative one. Reach that goal by shedding light on what people do right. Support your

friends. Give real recognition and sincere smiles. The fuller you sincerely fill the buckets of those around you, the happier they

and in turn you will be.

So, remember, slow down, find gratitude in what you have, take time to take care of yourself........and BREATHE.

About the Author: Gloria Albert, Director of WellnessWorks, has been a health consultant

for over 20 years. Her approach to reducing stress and adding wellness to one’s life is practical,

hands-on, proactive and fun. To find out more information, request a brochure or schedule a

class please contact Gloria at 310-393-6078, [email protected], or visit our website

at http://www.WellnessWorksUSA.com.

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An Independent Agent Representing Afl ac

Don’t let an accident or illness compromise your standard of living. Afl ac insurance policies may help you with those

expenses not covered by your major medical plan.That’s why businesses everywhere fl ock to Afl ac as they

seek to expand benefi ts without adding costs!

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christine_fi [email protected] ac.com


Where Are You Now?Has your contact information changed? Call or e-mail

Maureen Varnes 213-895-4900 • [email protected] Rosela Marin 213-972-0119 • [email protected]

Robin D. Thomas-Miles 310-228-3712 • [email protected] and remember to notify National at www.alanet.org

Retired? Retiring Soon? Contact Maureen Varnes, Rosela Marin or Robin D. Thomas-Miles

…there are some continuing ALA benefits of which you may not be aware.

We are sad to say that Jerry Calcagno will be leaving the Los Angeles chapter and heading to back to his hometown of Chicago. Of course that means he will be resigning from his board

position as Small Section chair and we are happy to announce that Mary McDonnell of Clark & Trevitchik will be taking over his position.

As excited as I am about returning to my hometown of Chicago I know how much I’ll miss the

friendships and all the people I’ve met in ALA. It’s been a lot of fun and a lot of laughs and some

pretty long meetings, but it was sure worth it.

I’m looking forward to seeing you all at either Regional or National Conferences.

“Thanks for the memories…. It’s time to say so long, see you later, but never good by.

See you later,

Jerry Calcagno

In Between Jobs? You may want to join in on the networking group Ilona Reddick has put

together to assist out of work members.

Feel free to contact Ilona at [email protected] or 310-556-2356

“ Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.

Delicious ambiguity. ” - Gilda Radner

GLA members and vendors “Mix It Up” once again at the second

mixer. The event took place on May 19th at Lunaria located just

outside of Century City. The second mixer introduced new vendors

from various industries and some who visited from as far away as

San Francisco. Lunaria provided a perfect setting for our Westside

event. With close to 90 members and vendors, Lunaria’s staff did

an excellent job of serving an assortment of delicious appetizers.

Brian Robbins, Board President, raffl ed off a scholarship for the

2005 Regional Conference in Las Vegas. Congratulations go out to

the winner, Mary McDonnell of Clark & Trevithick.

This event is quickly growing in popularity as evidenced by

the increase in attendance by both members and vendors. Several

vendors commented on the relaxed nature of the event and how

much they appreciate the opportunity to create new relationships

and maintain existing ones. Vendors are beginning to bring the

“Mixer” concept to other local chapters throughout the region.

Members also enjoy the opportunity to meet vendors with whom

they have a telephone relationship, but have never met in person.

Such was the case when Judy Fleisher introduced herself to member,

Norma Ayala. The two have had many telephone conversations

over the years and met for the fi rst time at the mixer!

The ongoing “Mix It Up” events are a perfect way to foster

relationship between members and vendors. The event provided

an opportunity for a few members to reunite with the Chapter for

the fi rst time in several years. The next member/vendor mixer

will be held in the downtown area. Although a date has not yet

been set, the overwhelming success of the event means it is sure

to continue. If you would like to get involved and help plan the

next mixer, this is a great way to have fun, meet people and share

your ideas. g


Barry Berkowitz of Now Legal Services and Maureen Varnes

Benjamin Chetrit of Beverly Hills Express Attorney Services

Brian Robbins and Catherine Singh of Innovation Computing Systems

Dina Spevack of American Language Services and Barry Berkowitz of Now Legal Services

Greg Tuszynski of Colliers Seeley International, Inc, Janis Smith and Harvey Thompson of Humanscale

Helen Youngblood, Eric Crowther of Crowther Consulting Corp and Michael Steiner

Ian Koniak of Lanier and Angela Ungurean Jim Van Dusen and Helen Youngblood

Joseph Martinez of Oce Business Services, Inc. and Janis Smith

Manuel Navarro of Praxis and Rosela Marin Mark Ledesma of afi nety and Lory Thorley Marsha Cohen of Pride of Los Angeles


Lisa Brown of Happy Planet Massage, Angela Ungurean and Scott Burton of Uniscribe

Wendy Sweet, Alex Hanan of SeamlessWeb and Michelle Liffman

Tara Perry of Chosen Few and Karen Wilson Tim Sheehan of Merrill Corporation Brian Robbins congratulating Mary McDonnell on winning the sponsorship for the Region 6 Conference

Dina Spevack of American Language Services, and Diane Wood of Narver Associates

Steven Jones, Cheryl Moore of Providus and Andi McPherson of Bekins - BMS Holdings, LLC

Lisa Brown of Happy Planet Massage, Elizabeth Smartt of Sharf, Woodward & Associates Inc

and Michael Steiner

Maureen Varnes and Ned Christensen of Legalink Rosela Marin, Tim Sheehan, Ian Koniak of Lanier, Jim Van Dusen, Wendy Sweet, Michael Steiner, Mary

McDonnell, Scott Burton of Uniscribe, Brian Robbins and Janet Shaw

Harvey Thompson of Humanscale, Paul Hekimian of Overnite Express, Barbara Wood and

Diane Wood of Narver

Roger Bloom of Catalyst, Jerrold Cowan of The Ligature and Manfred Look of Rentacrate Inc

Sally Cano and Park Meiter of DDS Sonia Morgan and Elizabeth Smartt of Sharf, Woodward & Associateis Inc

Brian Robbins Pamela Toro of Davdison Legal Staffi ng and Luci Hamilton

Park Meiter of DDS and Barbara Wood Reginald Barrientos and Judith Fleisher of Profi les Personnel

Melissa Bailey and Teresa Cherman

Michael Lazcano of Worldwide Network and Ian Koniak of Lanier


Don’t wait to find out how much a

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Contact Praxis Computing at 310-312-1015, or visit us online at www.praxis.com to find out how you can save time and money—all while protecting yourself against business disruptions—with a Self-Defending Network.

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The situation • You are subleasing or leasing office space and your

expiration date is quickly arriving; or

• You are establishing a new office location.

You know that it takes a while to do everything required to

ensure you don’t spend too much money and suffer needless

stress. Your question is just how early? Once you find out how

long, you will probably wonder why it takes so long.

Whether you plan on extending your current location or

actually relocating your office, you should always assume that

a relocation is in order. Work with this premise until there is a

fully signed document extending your current lease in case an

agreement is not met or the building wants to lease your space

to a more lucrative tenant.

The answer isAny firm with space requirements ranging from 1,000 to

50,000 square feet will need to address the following points

and understand the timing requirements for each task:

• Defining your space requirements — one to two

months.

• Identify and review the alternatives — one to three

months.

• Negotiate the lease transaction — one to six months.

• Build out Tenant Improvements — one to nine months.

• All the above tasks — four to twenty months (generally,

the larger the space requirement, the longer the process will

take).

Keep in mind that all the above tasks can require additional

time. Understand that “if anything can go wrong, it will”. Here

are a few examples of schedule-delaying problems:

• The space requirement changes as it flows through

multiple decision-makers in your firm.

• You start negotiating for a certain office location and

then you discover that the landlord misrepresented what they

could provide.

• Another tenant outbids you for your location.

• Unforeseen problems are encountered during

construction of tenant improvements.

• It takes longer than anticipated to get delivery

of materials required in the construction of your tenant

improvements.

• City inspection of your tenant improvements results in

delays and extra work orders.

• Key people go on vacation at points where they are

required for the schedule to move forward.

Additionally, you can benefit from working with a broker

that:

• Anticipates scheduling problems and has two or three

backup plans for things that go wrong.

• Constantly works at moving everything forward as

quickly as possible.

If you have an unlimited amount of money and enjoy a high

level of stress — don’t worry about starting early. Otherwise

follow the points listed above and get an start early. g

For more information or help:

When it’s time to renew or relocate, do you want free help

doing the above and all the other tasks that need to be done?

Do you want more information? Do you want to receive a

monthly e-mail newsletter regarding the latest that is going on

in the Downtown Los Angeles office market? If so, call me at

cell phone 213-949-4824.

About the Author: Scot McBeath is a commercial real estate

broker. He specializes in being an office tenant representative

in Downtown Los Angeles and surrounding areas. He has

22 years of negotiation and project management experience,

plus a BS and an MBA.

Scot McBeath213-949-4824

[email protected]

IF ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG, IT WILL!

“ It has been my philosophy in

life, that diffi culties vanish when

faced boldly. ”

- Isaac Asimov


Seminars Co-ChairTanya M. Russell Tyre Kamins Katz Granof & [email protected]

Programs Co-ChairViviane A. Abraham Herzfeld & Rubin [email protected]

Programs Co-ChairMary Holland Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro [email protected]

Seminars Co-ChairTeresa ChermanLuce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps [email protected]

Membership Co-ChairRobin D. Thomas Miles Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton [email protected]

Membership Co-ChairRosela MarinKamine Ungerer [email protected]

SecretaryKelly ShultzParker, Milliken, Clark, O’Hara & [email protected]

Membership Co-ChairMaureen Varnes, CLMRodi, Pollock, Pettker, Galbraith & Cahill [email protected]

President-Elect & Contributing EditorWendy Sweet, CLMAndrews Kurth [email protected]

HospitalityAngela Ungurean Hennelly & Grossfeld, [email protected]

PresidentBrian Robbins, CLMHunt, Ortmann, Blasco, Palffy & Rossell, [email protected]

Treasurer &Publication TeamJanet Shaw, CLMWickwire Gavin [email protected]

Managing EditorSteven JonesLister Martin & [email protected]

Job Referral ServicesIlona ReddickSilver & Freedman, PLC [email protected]

Past-PresidentLuci [email protected]

Publication TeamMike MoralesSilver & Freedman, [email protected]

Seminars Co-ChairJanet I. Krause, CLM Weinstock, Manion, Reisman, Shore & Neumann, [email protected]

WebmasterDebbie MogrenErvin, Cohen & Jessup LLP310-281-6358, ext [email protected]

CLM Program Co-ChairMulti-Offi ce Section ChairSusan SealesDavis Wright Tremaine [email protected]

CLM Program Co-ChairMartha Bernard Allen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory [email protected]

Programs Co-ChairTerri L. Wind Freeman, Freeman & Smiley, [email protected]


SECTION LEADERS

25

Chapter HistorianJim Van Dusen, CLMPond North [email protected]

Region 6 Director Erica TamblynMilbank, Tweed, Hadley & [email protected]

Region 6 Communications Offi cerJoyce Patrick-BaiSchmeiser, Olsen & Watts [email protected]

Region 6 Communications Offi cerMark VerbeckenJeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP310-201-3565 Email: [email protected]

Region 6 Education Offi cerDeborah Piker SandersRehon & Roberts, APC [email protected]

Vendor Liaison Co-Chair Michelle Liffman, PHR Brown & [email protected]

Vendor Liaison Co-ChairNorma AyalaGipson Hoffman & [email protected]

Small Firm Section ChairMary McDonnellClark & [email protected]

Human Resources Section Co-Chair Kelly C. McGehee Reish Luftman Reicher & [email protected]

Corporate/GovernmentSection Co-ChairBella D. SerranoDepartment of [email protected]

GLA ALA MISSION STATEMENTThe Association of Legal Administrators’ mission is to improve the quality of management in

legal services organizations; promote and enhance the competence and professionalism of legal administrators and all members of the management team; and represent professional legal

management and managers to the legal community and to the community at large.

Vendor Liaison Co-ChairMichael Steiner, CLMFrandzel Robins Bloom & Csato, [email protected]

Corporate/Government Section Co-ChairIris Stein City Attorney’s Offi [email protected]

Human Resources Section Co-Chair Kim Robinson Morrison & Foerster LLP213-892-5661 [email protected]

Technology SectionCo-ChairRobert F. Santos Manning & Marder, Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez [email protected]

San Fernando Valley Section & Publication TeamJanis SmithSteinbrecher & [email protected]

Finance Networking Group ChairG. Wayne Mitchell Weston Benshoof Rochefort Rubalcava & MacCuish [email protected]

Region 6 OfficersRegion 6 Officers

Ventura County Section Chair June I. Hilton Ferguson Case Orr Paterson & Cunningham [email protected]


Wow! What a great time everyone had that attended

GLAALA’s 1st Annual Wine Tasting Tour, sponsored by Kastle

Systems, The Scheffey Group, American Language Services,

afi nety, and Steinbrecher & Associates. Saturday morning

couldn’t have been more perfect as we met at the pick-up

site to begin our day with fresh coffee and doughnuts.

The “Tasters” were anxious to get the trip on the road. As

the motor coach pulled away from the site and headed south

towards Temecula, Norma Ayala got the party started with

Bloody Mary’s for all. Our sponsors then briefl y introduced

themselves and told us a bit about their fi rms’ services.

Janis Smith tested us with trivia questions provided by

her and her history buff husband, Jim. Norma Ayala was

the big winner, winning fi ve Starbucks cards for correctly

answering the most questions.

Our fi rst stop was Old Town Temecula, where we met

our tour guides, Dave and Efrin. They supplied us with

food and refreshments and directed us to the local stores

and a fabulous farmers’ market. After our brief stop, we

reboarded the motor coach. En route to the fi rst winery,

Efrin provided a brief history of Temecula and its Indian

culture. Did you know that Temecula is one of the few

towns in California with an authentic Indian name?

Our next stop was the Keyways Winery, where

owner Don Frangipani personally welcomed us, gave

us a private tour of his winery including an abridged

version of how grapes are picked, processed and

eventually produced into a great bottle of vino.

Did you know that the skin of the grape gives red

wine its color? Did you know that there is a white

cabernet? We learned that the wood barrels used for

storing wine, and the type of cork used for bottling,

contribute greatly to the taste and aging process of

wine. Thanks, Don. Your hospitality and wines

were a hit with the Tasters!

Our last stop was the Wilson Creek Winery,

where owner Mick Wilson (who is also a

minister and holds church services

at the winery) reserved a special

gazebo just for us, complete with misters to keep us cool and

the company of his laidback Lab retriever, Merlot. Lunch

was provided by chef Gerry Kent of The Forge Catering.

Everything — and I mean everything — was delicious . . . the

salads, the meats, the vegetables, the desserts, and, of

course, the wines. Just thinking about it makes my mouth

water. (Gerry, you are the man!) Mick taught us how to

properly taste wine (see Rosela Marin’s supplemental article

for details). The “oh my gosh” almond champagne was a hit.

Janis and Jim Smith personally provided us with an

extra treat by letting us get carried away with port and

champagne-fi lled chocolate cups (remember, sip and

nibble). Look closely and you may still see the chocolate

on Janis’ nose. Mick, you are a class act. Thank you for

everything.

The party didn’t stop until we arrived home. Wendy

Sweet was the life of the party during the ride home (no

surprise to anyone who knows her)! She kept us all laughing

with non-stop entertainment. We all had expected people

to fall asleep on the way home, but not this group. It was

noisier coming home than it was going!

We must thank Tim Hubbard and Andrew Beyer for

carrying those heavy coolers, for sharing their pockets,

and for closing the top hatch that Janis opened during

our trip home (you had to be there). Thanks to Norma

for making sure the Riesling wine made it to the back

of the bus. And to Sam, our bus driver, thanks for your

patience and concentration on the road with such a wild

and crazy group of people.

To our sponsors, Clay Dunning

and Clay Duchin of Kastle Systems,

Patti McGovern of The Scheffey

Group, Dina Spevack of American

Language Services, Sheila Berru of

afi nety: Thank you for making this

trip possible and lots of fun.

And last but certainly not least,

thanks to Janis for coordinating this

fantastic event. g

Wow! What a great time everyone had that attended gazebo just for us, complete with misters to keep us cool and

GLAALA’s 1st Annual Wine Tasting Tour


GLAALA’s 1st Annual Wine Tasting Tour

The Tasters are anxious to goThe Tasters are anxious to go

The gates to Temecula

Rick Shaw - fi rst in lineRosela Marin - When are we leaving

Sponsors - Clay Dunning and Clay Duchin of Kastle Systems

Ana and Oscar Robledo and Ernie Marin enjoying the shade

A reserved gazebo courtesy of Mick Wilson of Wilson Creek Winery.

Andrew Beyer - I just want one drinkRick Shaw - fi rst in line

Betty Archer, Sonia Morgan, Mary Howard and Fannie Davison enjoying the sun at

the Temecula Farmers Market

Ana and Oscar Robledo and Ernie Marin enjoying the shade

Janis Smith toasting a port fi lled chocolate cup and her husband Jim

Mick Wilson giving us a tasting tip

Don Frangipani, owner of Keyways Winery gave us a private tour

A reserved gazebo courtesy of Mick Wilson of Wilson Creek Winery.

Mary McDonnel and Rosela Marin

Wendy and Dan Sweet, Tim Hubbard and Andrew Beyer enjoying the ride

Wendy and Dan Sweet, Tim Hubbard and Andrew Beyer enjoying the ride

The food was outstanding! Courtesy of Gerry Kent of The Forge Catering

Andrew Beyer - I just want one drink

Andrew Beyer and Tim Hubbard checking out the tweetie birds

Rosela Marin - When are we leaving

Tour guide Dave giving us free information, food and drinks

Mary McDonnell and Brian Robbins guarding the barrells

Don Frangipani reserved two barrells of wine just for us

The Tasters at Keyways Winery

Clay Dunning of Kastle Systems, Steven Jones and Clay Duchin of Kastle Systems

Patti McGovern of The Scheffey Group, Steven Jones and Dina Spevack of

American Language Services

Our tour guide from France - Efrin

Patti McGovern of The Scheffey Group, Steven Jones and Dina Spevack of

American Language ServicesAmerican Language Services

Karen Wilson with a new tattoo from Wendy

Steven Jones, Shelia Berru of afi nety and Janis Smith

Still in one piece after the trip

Mick Wilson giving us a tasting tip

Wilson Creeks’ mascot - Merlot Patti McGovern of the Scheffey Group giving us after tasting tips


During our second stop on our wine tasting excursion,

Mich Wilson of Wilson Creek Winery conducted a fun class on

how to properly taste and enjoy the full essence of fine wines.

Below are the four steps you should follow to enjoy your next

glass of vino.

First, hold the glass by the stem. Otherwise the body

heat from your hand may raise the temperature of the wine

and affect its taste. Next, hold the glass in front of a white

background and tilt it so you can see the clarity and color of

the wine along the edges. If the edges appear brown the wine

has oxidized and may not be at its best. For a full-bodied red

wine, a rust color is preferable.

The aroma of the grape, or its “bouquet,” is developed

in the bottle and requires aerating for the wine to release its

fragrance. Place the foot of the glass on a flat surface, grasp

the stem, and swirl the glass as if you were drawing small

circles on the table. The wine will spin outwards which allows

it to breathe and release the bouquet.

After swirling the wine, stick your nose deep into the glass

and sniff slowly. Be careful not to inhale the liquid! If it’s

a white wine, you may smell vanilla or green apples. A red

may offer the scent of cherries or strawberries, chocolate or,

believe it or not, leather. If it smells like mold or fingernail

polish, or is otherwise obviously offensive, SEND IT BACK.

Then for the finale, take a sip of wine and hold it in your

mouth for a moment. Tilt your head down slightly and lightly

suck air into your mouth through pursed lips. Swish the wine

around in your mouth before you swallow. A “structured”

wine has a beginning, a middle, and a finish…meaning you

can taste the wine on the front, middle and back of your

tongue.

Tasting in this way will

give the flavor of a wine

a whole new dimension,

especially when accom-

panied with a meal.

For example, prime rib

will make a tannic wine

taste more fruity. This is

important when “pairing”

wines with foods. g

For more tips on wine

and food pairing, serving

and storing wines, visit

Wilson Creek Vineyard’s

website at http://www.

wilsoncreekwinery.com/

FunStuff/ Entertaining_

Wines.asp. Cheers!

WINE TASTING TIPS FROM MICK WILSON OF WILSON CREEK WINERYby Rosela Marin and Lynn D. Lonjers

Rosela [email protected]

For more tips on wine

and food pairing, serving

and storing wines, visit

Wilson Creek Vineyard’s

wilsoncreekwinery.com/


BACKGROUND

GE estimates that by automating its processes via the

Internet and purchasing raw materials online, it will save over

$10B annually. The building blocks of law firms are employees

and the raw materials these folks need, such as desks,

computers, and food. Just as GE is able to leverage the power of

the Internet to procure its raw materials, so, too, can law firms.

A Web-based system for managing food ordering, billing,

and reimbursement processes can help law firms reduce

costs, gain greater control over employee food purchases, and

increase productivity.

THE CHALLENGES

Accounting scandals and resulting mindsets and

regulation have again pushed compliance and fiduciary

responsibility to the fore front. Companies are increasingly

being forced to tighten accounting controls, provide more

transparency to shareholders, and, in the case of law firms,

to clients. However, the decentralized nature of law firm

purchases – with lawyers and staff working on disparate

matters for different clients, frequently on the same day, and

needing to order food and other supplies in real-time – causes

an inherent conflict. How can firms empower employees

to make individual purchasing decisions while enhancing

financial controls and budgetary/business rule compliance

in order to bill clients more quickly and accurately?

Cafeterias, seldom profitable in the evening, are being

closed earlier and earlier. While closing a cafeteria earlier

is economically beneficial to firms, what can employees do

when they’re working late at night and need to eat? And, of

course, what is a firm to do that does not have an in-house

dining facility to provide catering and other meals?

With aggressive head count reduction in the back office,

employees who have survived layoffs are overworked. As

there is always an enormous amount of paperwork and data

entry involved with managing food orders, receipts, T&E

forms, and petty cash, where can firms find relief?

THE SOLUTION

Automating non-core purchasing processes has worked

for GE and it can work for law firms. Economic necessity and

other factors, including a demand for variety, are leading

companies to order from local restaurants and caterers for

client meetings and overtime meals, often in lieu of in-house

dining facilities. And firms that do not have an in-house

facility are looking for better ways to manage all of their food

ordering and billing. But, aren’t the billing hassles of dealing

with dozens of outside providers too onerous?

Not any more. Companies like SeamlessWeb, the nation’s

leading food ordering and billing service, are helping law

firms benefit from local providers while streamlining billing

processes. By enabling companies to implement business

rules related to food purchases (overtime meals working

lunches, and client meetings) as well as gift basket, flower,

pantry and liquor buys, and order from hundreds of local

vendors – including in-house dining services – clients of

these technology providers can offer variety to employees

and still bill clients quickly and efficiently.

So, whether law firms have an in-house cafeteria or use a

local delivery service, automating food purchasing processes

can help them operate the GE way — quickly and efficiently.

Employees love these services, which let them order from

their favorite restaurants without the need to deal with

reimbursement. Technology has inundated the practice of law

and enabled attorneys and staff to work more productively.

Now it’s possible to eat more productively, too. g

About the Author: Jason R. Finger, Esq. is the co-founder

and Chief Executive Officer of SeamlessWeb Professional

Solutions, Inc. (www.seamlessweb.com), the nation’s premier

vendor ordering and billing system with service in 9 markets

nationally and a client base of over 200 law firms (including

over 80 of the AmLaw 100 and 40 firms with fewer than

100 employees). Mr. Finger has been a featured speaker on

cost reduction in foodservice and accounting at several ALA

symposia and LegalTech Expos, has lectured on cost-recovery

at NYU Stern School of Business, NYU School of Law, Baruch

College and the New School, and has been featured in The New

York Times, Newsweek, Institutional Investor, Inc. magazine,

the New York Law Journal, the Financial Times and other

publications. With over 530 corporate clients, SeamlessWeb is

the 4th fastest-growing company in the country as ranked by

Inc magazine and Deloitte & Touche.

LAW FIRM ADMINISTRATION: BEST PRACTICESStreamlining Accounting and Reimbursement Processes with e-Procurement

Jason R. Finger, Esq.


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Seminars, Conferences & Events

Teleseminars

Marketing Topic (TBD)

June 22, 2005

Co-presented by ALA and the Legal Marketing Association

Specialized Programs & Retreats

Law Firm Management: Essential Competencies for

Legal Administrators

November 14 - 16, 2005, Westin Buckhead, Atlanta, GA.

February 6-8, 2006, Carefree Resort, Carefree, Arizona.

For more information contact Jan Marshall at ALA Headquarters.

Law Firm Profi tability Enhancement Program

June 21, 2005 (Webcast)

Law Firm Financial Management Conference & Exposition

September 29 - October 1, 2005, InterContinental Dallas,

Addison, Texas.

For more information contact Pam Stong at ALA Headquarters.

Large Firm Principal Administrators Retreat,

September 29-October 1, 2005, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale

at Gainey Ranch, Scottsdale, Arizona.

For more information contact Lisa Mikita at ALA Headquarters.

Corporate/Government Fall Forum

November 2-4, 2005, Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas,

Nevada.

For more information contact Pam Stong at ALA Headquarters.

Intellectual Property Retreat

November 3-4, 2005, Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas,

Nevada.

For more information contact Madeline Parisi at ALA Headquarters

Regional Conferences

Regions 1 & 2 Educational ConferenceSeptember 23-24, 2005

JW Marriott

Washington, DC

Region 3 Educational ConferenceOctober 7-8, 2005

Minneapolis Marriott City Center

Minneapolis, MN

Region 4 Educational Conference October 21-22, 2005

Hilton Americas

Houston, TX

Regions 5 & 6 Educational ConferenceSeptember 16-17, 2005

Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel

Las Vegas, Nevada

Check out the ALA’s Legal Management Resource Centerfor the following articles relating to

“Creating Balance”

Life in the BalanceAchieving Equilibrium in

Professional and Personal Life

What is job stress?

YOUR LEADERSHIP REPORT CARDHow Do You Stack Up?

Work-World Rage: Coping with Anger in the offi ce

You can fi nd these articles and more online at the Legal

Management Resource Center at www.alanet.org.


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M E R R I L L C O R P O R A T I O N

A MESSAGE FROM THE REGION 6 MANAGEMENT TEAM

Similar to your chapter’s Board, the Region 6 Management

Team changes every year at the Annual Conference. At this

year’s conference, which was held in San Francisco, your new

team met. That team is: Erica Tamblyn, Director; Patti Groff,

CLM, At Large Director; Joyce Patrick-Bai, Projects Offi cer;

Debbie Sanders, Education Offi cer; and Mark Verbecken,

Communications Offi cer.

Our role as Regional Management Team is to act as a resource

to each of the chapters within our region. Our priority is to plan

for our regional conference which will be held September, 16-

17 in Las Vegas. This should be a very exciting conference and

one of the most widely attended as we are joining Region 5 this

year. The combined resources of both regions will provide for

broader educational opportunities and we are promising a very

interesting keynote experience.

Besides the Region Management Team, Region 6 also

establishes a Council. The Regional Council consists of one

representative from each chapter in the region along with the

Region 6 Management Team. Each Regional Council in ALA

is responsible for addressing various regional issues such as

establishing the Regional Nominating Committees, regional

educational programs, chapter management support, leadership

development and coordinating with other law-related

organizations.

Your Region 6 Council also met in San Francisco to discuss

various issues facing ALA, the Region and the chapters. Those

topics included: the Chapter Leadership Institute which will

be held in June in Denver; how the Association and Regional

Nominating Committees work; Antitrust Guidelines; ALA

committees and how you can serve on them; the new membership

process; and the Presidents’ Award of Excellence. Each of the

chapters who make up Region 6 also gave a brief report on

chapter activities. More information from the Council meeting

can be found in the Minutes posted soon on the ALA website at

www.alanet.org in the Chapters section. g

Your Region 6 Management Team,

Erica, Joyce, Debbie, Patti and Mark


So, you’ve flinched at more than a few of those statements,

recognizing yourself in some of the descriptions of workaholic

behavior. The following list provides some concrete and

philosophical suggestions that are neither novel, nor

earthshaking, nor sure-fire “cures,” but they can create subtle

and even profound changes in a person’s life.

For the workaholic, work is the buffer between oneself and

unwelcome moods and feelings.

• Believe that vacations, breaks, and “down time” actually

enhance your professional efforts. When work overshadows all

other activities, stress results. Habitually working long hours

with minimal relief leads to less productivity and increased

inefficiency and skewed perceptions of what is truly important.

• Gradually cut down the number of hours you work each

day or week. Identify some logical steps such as not working

on weekends and reducing your workload by delegating or

eliminating unnecessary tasks.

• Establish a firm delineation between work and other

areas of your life such as play, relationships, self-care, and

spiritual needs. Recognize how modern technology such as fax

machines, pagers, and cell phones can invade, weaken, and blur

those boundaries, allowing work to seep into every facet. Renew

neglected relationships and develop new ones. Believe this is

time wisely invested.

• Learn to recognize that the need to control other people,

external situations, and outcomes has as its genesis one’s own

internal chaos.

• Ask yourself what all this busyness is about: what are you

distracting yourself from or valiantly trying to avoid? Are you

afraid of what will come to mind if you slow down or stop? What

changes might you have to make? You might not feel up to the

task or may be afraid of where those changes may lead.

• Make the distinction between perfectionism and

respectable standards. Underlying perfectionism is a deep sense

of inadequacy.

• Don’t burden yourself with unrealistic notions of your

unique set of skills or unparalleled level of competence; it is

camouflage for a sense of self-worth that is dependent upon

others’ approval.

It is crucial to remember that workaholism is not a malady

that appears suddenly. It is not caused by the particular work

environment, nor is it an ugly but inevitable aspect of certain

professions. It is a genuine psychological condition manifested

by enduring behavioral, feeling, and thinking patterns that

people bring with them — whatever the job.

The effects of this addiction are dramatic and ultimately

destructive. Take stock of what is important to you and what is

possibly being short-changed. Call upon professional counseling

assistance if you need someone alongside you to sort it out. g

Reprinted with permission of the Washington State Bar News

and the author. Copyright 2002.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT continued from page 11

Congratulations to Our Chapter’s Newest Certifi ed Legal Manager!

Patti DeBenedictis, CLMCathcart, Collins & Kneafsey LLP

A great deal of dedication, determination and hard work went into reaching this goal. The experience, friendships and

extended peer network that studying for the exam provided was invaluable.

Way to go, Patti!

“ If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’re going to keep getting what we’re getting. ”

- Steven Covey

Seeking “balance” for many of us is somewhat of an elusive

concept. It doesn’t seem to mean the same thing for everyone.

Some of us (me included) are not very good with setting aside

“down time.” If relaxing makes you anxious and you feel more

comfortable multi-tasking and fi lling the “void” with something

or any thing, you’re a good candidate for rebalancing the

priorities in your life. I have personally struggled with this

many times in the past and have wondered, on more than one

occasion, how other people seem to achieve balance. The idea

of a day at the spa or a leisurely walk on the beach doesn’t make

me go as weak in the knees as it does for a lot of my peers and

friends. Sitting down and relaxing is nice, but my mind never

seems to stay idle.

Every day we are constantly

balancing our time between

work, home, kids, health,

and a myriad of other things

that fi ll our lives. We, as

administrators, have learned

to juggle these things well.

We are experts at multitasking

and solving problems but

receive low grades when it comes to achieving down time or

rejuvenation. I don’t think there’s a way to truly achieve a

perfect balance between work and home, and if it is achieved,

it doesn’t last very long. Rather, I believe that sometimes one

area of our life “outweighs” the others and occupies one side of

the scale while all the rest of our obligations occupy the other

side, thus achieving a skewed form of balance. The primary

area that garners the disproportionate attention changes just

like the seasons. One day it’s the offi ce budget; another it’s a

health issue. Children are born, start driving, graduate and

get married. Offi ces downsize, merge, gain new clients and

lose others. Our weight fl uctuates, our health suffers, and our

parents age and need our attention. We only have so much

control over these things, and sometimes we have no choice

but to focus on them, to the exclusion of other things.

Over the last decade, people working in the legal industry

have tried to fi nd a balance as well. Attorneys have balked at the

expectation of high billable hours, knowing that those hours can

only be met by sacrifi cing most evenings and weekends. Some

fi rms are aware of this and have responded by offering part time

or fl exible schedules for attorneys who are more interested in

spending time with their families than the partnership track.

It is a diffi cult task to maintain a sense of personal balance

with fi rms looking for management professionals who can

meet the fi rm’s challenges, increase productivity and keep the

fi rm profi table. Our choices as administrators are: manage

more effectively, delegate as many tasks as you can, or move

on to a less demanding position. According to Larry Richard,

PhD, of Altman Weil, who spoke to our chapter at the May 10,

2005 luncheon, those administrators who possess high levels

of emotional intelligence are best equipped to deal with the

constant demands inherent in law fi rms.

You may or may not have noticed that recently there has

been a lot of movement in the

legal industry with respect

to management positions.

Some of these openings arose

because our peers have made

lifestyle changes such as early

retirement or have accepted

positions in non-legal arenas.

I couldn’t help but wonder

how fi rms would respond, who

would end up fi lling the voids, and if this was going to become

a trend. I took this a step farther and decided to ask some of our

ALA partners about this issue and discovered some interesting

things.

Pamela Toro of Davidson Legal Staffi ng supplied me with an

interesting article from The Herman Group, Inc., that discusses

the effects of downsizings, technology advances, and mergers.

It was not surprising to read that “recent surveys suggest

that as many as 85 percent of today’s workers are dissatisfi ed

enough to move to different jobs in the next 12 months.”

(The Herman Trend Alert, 2005) . Reasons given for this trend

include burnout due to increased productivity expectations

by fewer employees after layoffs experienced over the past few

years. Also, although employers are happy with the increases

in productivity, they are not showing their appreciation in

tangible ways, and The Herman Group suggests that this has

or will lead to workers “escaping” to other employers who will

show that they appreciate it.

Not surprisingly, when asked what advice she had for the

legal manager who wants to strike a better balance between

work and play, Leba Finkelstein of Attorney Network Services

STRIKING A BALANCE . . . An On-Going Battle for Legal Administrators

Wendy Sweet, CLMAndrews Kurth LLP • [email protected]



“ If you refuse to accept anything

but the best, you’ll get the best.

Begin to live as you wish to live. ”

– Anonymous


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5482 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 190

Los Angeles, CA 90036

917-647-0146

[email protected]

BIOAlex Hanan is SeamlessWeb’s West

Coast Sales Manager, responsible for

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in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Hanan formerly worked for PointRoll,

an Internet advertising technology

provider, where he expanded the

company’s entertainment business and

developed its client base on the West Coast. Prior to working at

PointRoll, Alex managed national healthcare, pharmaceutical,

and real estate accounts for New York Times Digital. Alex

graduated from the State University of Oswego with a Bachelor

of Science in Psychology. He enjoys a good round of golf and is

frequently mistaken for Alec Baldwin.

CONTACT INFOCampbell FosterSeamlessWeb Professional Solutions, Inc.

232 Madison Ave., Suite 1409

New York, NY 10016

212-944-7755 ext. 235

[email protected]

BIOAs SeamlessWeb’s Director of

Marketing, Campbell Foster oversees

various aspects of client acquisition

and retention. In addition to handling

the company’s relationship with the

Association of Legal Administrators,

Foster’s role encompasses strategy,

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CONTACT INFOTodd ArkySeamlessWeb Professional Solutions, Inc.

232 Madison Avenue, Suite 1409

New York, NY 10016

212-944-7755 ext. 232

[email protected]

BIOTodd Arky is SeamlessWeb’s

National Sales Manager. Todd worked

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in Washington, D.C. prior to joining

SeamlessWeb in April of 2000. Todd

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COMPANY PROFILELaunched in 1999, SeamlessWeb Professional Solutions,

Inc. provides firms and their employees with a Web-based

system for ordering from restaurants, caterers, florists,

gift-basket purveyors, and other local vendors. The service

streamlines billing and reimbursement, enhances expense

control, and reduces administrative overhead, helping law

firms cut costs by as much as 30% annually. SeamlessWeb

offers a cost-effective alternative to in-house dining facilities

for small to mid-size firms, and a solution that optimizes the

value of cafeterias for large companies. SeamlessWeb’s clients

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information about SeamlessWeb’s cost-cutting solutions, visit

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Up Close & Personal with. . .


THE SMART WAY TO EAT...


What do you believe is the most important component of the vendor-client relationship?

Open dialogue and realistic expectations. We help law firms cut

costs and save time by streamlining the way their employees order

from local restaurants, caterers, florists, gift-basket purveyors,

and other providers. We appreciate and welcome the chance to

speak with firm administrators: to understand how they currently

manage their relationships with vendors, to learn about their

favorite restaurants and caterers, to listen to their specific needs,

and to see if SeamlessWeb might be a benefit. As a vendor, all we

ask for is the opportunity to sit down with potential clients, learn

about their needs, and explain how we might be able to help.

What characteristic do you possess that helps you to be successful?

We listen, and we’ve been there. Our company was founded

by four attorneys (Jason Finger, CEO; Paul Appelbaum, President;

Stefanie Finger, Catering Director; Todd Arky, Sales Director

– lawyers, all of them!), so we have a good understanding of law

firms’ needs – how they operate, where opportunities for cost-

reduction exist, what administrators and staff value. We also

recognize that every firm is unique, and that part of our job is to

learn exactly where a particular firm’s pain points are so we can

work together on a solution.

What makes Seamless awesome? SeamlessWeb helps companies, employees, and vendors alike

– it’s win-win-win. Firms benefit from the time- and cost-savings

the system provides. Employees enjoy the variety of providers,

ease of ordering, and elimination of paper-based reimbursement

hassles. Vendors see their businesses grow as SeamlessWeb

introduces them to new corporate clients. A no-brainer for

firms, a service that people love enough to refer to colleagues and

friends, and a system that helps restaurants and caterers, too.

What could be more awesome than that? g

From Left to Right: Alex Hanan, Campbell Foster and Todd Arky

only half-jokingly suggested that we “get out of law fi rms!” I

asked her whether she’s seeing administrators making any moves

to achieve some sense of balance between work and play, and

she shared a story about a group of people with whom she had

recently shared a table at a local seminar. Of the folks at her table,

half were current administrators and the other half had moved

on to become consultants or vendors to the legal industry, and

one was working in-house at a corporation.

Gary Matura of Matura Farrington Staffi ng Services says that,

to him, it seems there is more of a separation now between the

major large corporate law fi rms, which have high billable hour

requirements and goals focused on growth, monetary success

and industry position, and the small-to-mid-size fi rms, which

also focus on growth and success but on quality of life as well.

Gary feels it is important when you are considering changing

fi rms to fully understand the philosophies of the various fi rms

and attorneys with whom you are interviewing to be sure they

align with your own.

According to Gary, people in legal management must realize

that there’s a give and take that goes along with the career. “Stress

equals money,” and that can also equate to more time on the job

and less time at home. Gary suggests we focus on the bigger

picture, decide on our priorities and realize that we can’t have it

all. He also commented that for those looking for a better work/

life balance, working in a legal department of a corporate entity

could be an alternative to the traditional law fi rm environment.

Jean Sinatra, whose practice concentrates on the placement

of legal management professionals, provided me with excellent

insight into the trends she has witnessed in our industry.

According to Jean, as law fi rms continue to become more

sophisticated in the operational side of management, the

demand of management professionals becomes more focused

on the intellectual capability and reliant on the track record of

professional achievement. Accordingly to Jean, working hard has

always been a constant for those in leadership positions, but in

today’s market, working smart is equally important, if not more

so. If you attended Dr. Richard’s session in May, you will recognize

this as a solid description of being “emotionally intelligent.”

Jean speaks regularly with people who are accustomed to

working very hard, but she shared that some of those people face

an ongoing struggle with an out-of-balance relationship between

work and play. Jean further stated that changes in lifestyle have

been more often centered on the way in which individuals lead

their personal lives, as opposed to pursuing a job change to

improve this dynamic change. According to Jean, some people

are carefully planning for retirement at an earlier age. Others are

making it a priority to carve out more family time and achieve

their personal goals now rather than later.

When asked what advice she has for those seeking to strike

a better balance between work and play, Jean suggested that we

put as much time into planning or play time as we do when we

plan our issues or solving problems at work. According to Jean,

some of the happiest, “balanced” people she knows in leadership

positions have a great amount of self-discipline and, while they

work hard, they also fi nd a way to play hard as well. Jean points

out that it is a matter of managing your body, mind and spirit so

you can be at your very best — at the offi ce and at home.

So, now you know a little bit more about what it takes to

achieve a sense of balance in your life. Think about some of the

things you’d like to do, places you want to see and people you’d

like to spend your valuable time with and do it. You are an expert

at managing your fi rm. How are you at managing your personal

time?I appreciate all the input I received in compiling this article.

As one who is happier when busier, the forecast is good. For

those seeking that elusive “balance,” I wish you the very best in

your pursuit of that goal. g


Let me help you to make your work environment safer.

We can achieve this through sound ergonomic products and solutions.

Harvey ThompsonOffi ce: 213 439-9050 ext:1005Cell: 310 486-6119E-mail: [email protected]: www.humanscale.com

LEGAL INDUSTRYcontinued from page 34

If not, help your firm learn what your clients want and need by investing in a NEW service offered by the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) — the Client Satisfaction System (CSS)!Developed by the AndersonBoyer Group (ABG) and Applied Statistics Laboratory, this customized surveysystem creates the opportunity for successful law firms to learn from their clients and see how theycompare to the competition.

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Outstanding work results

Excellent counsel and advice

Expertise in specific areas

Personal interest in client’s legal matters

High-quality written products

Keeping clients informed of firm’s progress

Exceptional verbal skills

Here are some well-known factors that clients considerwhen evaluating and choosing a law firm. Does your lawfirm distinguish itself by these measures of excellence?

Lessons from a Butterfl yA man found a cocoon of a butterfl y

One day a small opening appeared

He sat and watched the butterfl y for several hours

It struggled to force its body through that little hole

Then it seemed to stop making any progress

It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could

And it could go no farther.

So the man decided to help the butterfl y

He took a pair of scissors and snipped off

The remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfl y then emerged easily, BUT,

It had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings

He continued to watch the butterfl y

He expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge

And the body would contract

Neither happened!

In fact, the butterfl y spent the rest of its life crawling

Around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.

It was never able to fl y.

The man acted with well-intentioned kindness

But he didn’t understand the consequences.

The restricting cocoon and the struggle required to get

Through the tiny opening, were nature’s way of forcing fl uid

From the body of the butterfl y once it achieved it’s freedom

From the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life.

If nature allowed us to go through life without any

Obstacles, it would cripple us.

We would not be as strong as we could have been

And we could never fl y

Have a great day, great life, and struggle a little.

Then fl y!

Author Unknown


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Lessons from a Butterfl yA man found a cocoon of a butterfl y

One day a small opening appeared

He sat and watched the butterfl y for several hours

It struggled to force its body through that little hole

Then it seemed to stop making any progress

It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could

And it could go no farther.

So the man decided to help the butterfl y

He took a pair of scissors and snipped off

The remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfl y then emerged easily, BUT,

It had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings

He continued to watch the butterfl y

He expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge

And the body would contract

Neither happened!

In fact, the butterfl y spent the rest of its life crawling

Around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.

It was never able to fl y.

The man acted with well-intentioned kindness

But he didn’t understand the consequences.

The restricting cocoon and the struggle required to get

Through the tiny opening, were nature’s way of forcing fl uid

From the body of the butterfl y once it achieved it’s freedom

From the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life.

If nature allowed us to go through life without any

Obstacles, it would cripple us.

We would not be as strong as we could have been

And we could never fl y

Have a great day, great life, and struggle a little.

Then fl y!

Author Unknown


USE VOTING BUTTONS TO SAVE TIME AND COLLECT RESPONSES

Do you ever send out an e-mail message hoping for a simple

answer, only to get a long, rambling message that you have to

wade through to understand? Do you ever need to compile

responses from a lot of people? If so, you can save yourself

some time with Outlook’s Voting Buttons option.

When you send a message with voting buttons, you make it

easier on the people you need the information from, and also

make it easier on yourself when you gather all their responses.

To add voting buttons to a message:

1. Click the Options button inside a new e-mail message.

2. Check the box next to Use voting buttons. 3. Type the phrases that you want to appear on the buttons,

separated by a semicolon. For example, if you want to ask

everybody in the firm what they would like to do for a summer

part, you can type “Island Picnic; Bay Cruise; Casino Night.”

4. Send the message.

(Below is an example of the Voting Buttons defined in Step

3 above.

RESPONDING TO VOTING BUTTONSThe recipient of your message will see three buttons with

the text you typed in the Voting Buttons area at the top of their

message. They can just click on their choice and send the reply

back to you.

CHECKING ON EVERYONE’S RESULTSTo see the voting results, you have to go back to your

original message in your Sent Items folder, open it, and then

click on the tab marked Tracking (or click the notification

message, depending on your version of Outlook). There you’ll

see a record of the replies sent to you so far. All the responses

in one place, on one message!

About the Author: Dodie Edelstein is the owner of

Legal Information Systems Training (LIST), which

specializes in helping you get the most from the

software you have. She provides customized legal-

specific training and support services for document processing,

e-mail and document management software.

Dodie Edelstein Legal Information Systems Training • 707-776-4695 [email protected] • www.aboutlist.com

WANT A QUICK RESPONSE FROM E-MAIL? (All Version of Outlook)

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I was rummaging through my many stacks of books and

newsletters trying to find a great article for this month’s

Wellness Zone, when I realized that I have read enough

about getting healthy to fill an entire 4-drawer filing cabinet.

I thought this month, I’d just take a stab at some wellness

tips myself, with a few interesting excerpts from some other

sources.

I believe good health is a lot about attitude. We’ve all heard

it said that we can’t control what happens to us, but we can

control how we react to it. As someone dealing with a chronic

disease, I am speaking from personal experience. Daily pain

is oppressive and can bring you down pretty hard. An injury

can produce the same results. Being overweight can make

you tired. Being stressed can turn your stomach inside out or

cause terrific headaches and back pain. It is up to us to figure

out a way to break free of those things, or at least find a way

to live with them. A combination of exercise, diet, medica-

tions and other homeopathic remedies are all good options.

However, I believe none of these things will be completely

effective without a positive outlook and attitude.

So, what can you do to lift your mood or change your

attitude? First, I’d suggest sitting down and doing some soul-

searching, and then making a list of all the things that make

you truly happy. The pure happiness that fills you up inside

and strains to burst free; puts a smile on your face without you

even knowing it’s there; or gives you the chills. I have to admit

that for me, it was pretty hard to come up with a long list, and

I think that’s sad. If your list is on the short side too, then I

would suggest next making a list of the things you believe

would make you happy and start visualizing yourself doing

them or making them happen. Being or getting happy should

be one of our goals.

Sometimes the things that do or would make us happy are

a bit beyond our reach, or so we may think. For example, I love

to dance. It makes me very happy. I feel young, free and it’s

pretty good exercise as well. The problem is that my arthritis

I usually flares up pretty badly when I dance. But, you know

what? I still do it and I hope for the best. In the days after I’ve

had the opportunity to dance, you’ll see a smile on my face

even if I’m limping around. That’s because every time my hip

or ankle screams, I remember the great fun that caused the

pain. Here are some fun facts about dancing that I found in

the May 2005 Hope Health Letter:

1. You can burn between 200 and 400 calendars per half hour.

2. It helps strengthen leg and hip bones.

3. It improves flexibility.

4. It increases your energy level.

5. It’s more fun (to me) than jogging or aerobics.

6. It’s a social activity.

7. It helps build self-confidence.

8. You can do it at any age.

So dancing is one way to find balance outside the work-

place. What about all the stress administrators have on the

job? I personally think attitude applies here too and, for me,

laughter is an awesome stress-reducer. I also found some tips

for workplace stress reduction on the Careers page of MSN.

com. A lot of these are common sense but it never hurts to

revisit them occasionally.

1. Work on things that are important. Try not to always go

for the easy tasks first but rather tackle a big one and get it over

with. Procrastination causes stress.

2. Keep an “activity log.” I’m not sold on this idea person-

ally but I have heard from a lot of our peers that it really works

because it helps to figure out what we’re spending our time on.

It reminds me of preparing a budget and if you’re “spending”

too much time on inconsequential, time-sucking things, then

it’s time to cut back on those expenditures.

3. Set daily goals. This is a tough one for most of us. If

you’re like me, I might come into the office with specific goals

in mind, only to be confronted with one ordeal or interruption

after another. Sometimes I think taking a bathroom break and

breathing should be on the list of goals because they too seem

to get lost at times. According to the MSN article, we should

assume the unexpected will happen and build that into the

timing of our goals. Otherwise, we might be creating stress

with our self-imposed deadlines. They suggest we “under-

promise” and “over-deliver.”

4. Be gentle with yourself. Administrators are typically

high achievers who have very high expectations of themselves.

This is okay as long as we remember that it’s not necessary to

be perfect. Also, delegate routine tasks, even if you think you

could do a better job at them. I believe that showing another

person one or two times will ultimately save me a lot of time.

5. Avoid interruptions. This is a hard for me. The article

suggests that you return phone calls and e-mails at a certain

FINDING A HEALTHY BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE


Wendy Sweet, CLMAndrews Kurth LLP • [email protected]




THE TWO SIDES OF AN ADMINISTRATOR…A BALANCING ACT

Administrators are multi-faceted people. They are babysitters, jugglers, fire fighters, counselors, strategists, and so much more.

Sometimes an administrator’s days and weeks get all mixed up it becomes difficult to reach a healthy balance between work and play.

Unscramble the letters on both sides of this table to discover some adjectives which describe an administrator. If your personal list

isn’t filled with similar attributes, perhaps it’s time to unscramble some things in your own life. Good luck!

WORK

THE TWOSIDES

OFAN

PLAYVAISEERST A TVAIEC

NEDROCEMTU D AIGRDN

RTMNOE M UMLRATSFE

EIUNLATLECLT I NEIGNUDTL

LTENUAR N RNUDREUT

WINRVITEREE I EPDIRINS

OEVSPSIURS S ISTPDEIR

IERTNRA T VRTEUDENJEA

ATRONLIA R RTEIFVLEEC

YLANCLTAIA A MARVOENSTEUDE

ITLCNCHEA T ELTDTNAE

GOZIRAENR O SOPITPIONRUT

USRROCELEUF R RAANIDTPrepared by Wendy Sweet, CLM

See page 46 for the solution

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time. You might even consider creating an auto-reply and spe-

cial phone greeting indicating that you will be out-of-pocket for

a certain period of time and directing people to someone else in

case of an emergency.

6. Don’t let other people’s problems become yours. Again,

this is tough for an administrator because we’re typically hired

to solve the problems. Instead of accepting another’s problem

as your own, try to limit to input to advice about how they can

solve it. Of course, this won’t work if the problem is coming from

your managing partner.

7. When you are feeling overwhelmed, say so. Personally, I

think this is probably the best advice. It is okay to admit you

have too much on your plate. Instead of just saying “no,” explain

that you don’t think you can take on the task at that moment, and

then try to work out another solution, or extend the deadline. It’s

important, though, to do this before you accept the task and miss

the deadline.

My final advice is the next time you find yourself experienc-

ing one of those “happy” moments, pause or a bit and enjoy the

heck out of it! g

WELLNESS ZONE continued from page 42 June 2005 Brainteaser Solution

ASSERTIVE A ACTIVE

DOCUMENTER D DARING

MENTOR M MASTERFUL

INTELLECTUAL I INDULGENT

NEUTRAL N NURTURED

INTERVIEWER I INSPIRED

SUPERVISOR S SPIRITED

TRAINER T REJUVENATED

RATIONAL R REFLECTIVE

ANALYTICAL A ADVENTURESOME

TECHNICAL T TALENTED

ORGANIZER O OPPORTUNIST

RESOURCEFUL R RADIANT


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