Solo and Small Firm
Conference 2017
Building a Smarter Practice
THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2017 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen Street West, 2nd Floor, Toronto, Ontario
or LIVE WEBCAST
chairs
Kathleen Erin Cullin, C.S.
Allan Oziel
Wallbridge, Wallbridge
Oziel Law
Total CPD = 1 h Substantive + 5 h Professionalism
LSUC CPD is an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content.
$285 + tax LIVE WEBCAST
(includes PDF materials and access to the on-demand webcast)
LIVE IN TORONTO
$250 + tax
Register today at store.lsuc.on.ca/solosmall17
@LSUCCPD #solosmall17
AGENDA
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.Continental Breakfast sponsored by TitlePlus
Exhibitors, Networking
Dominion Ballroom Foyer
9:00 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Dominion Ballroom
Kathleen Erin Cullin, C.S., Wallbridge, Wallbridge
Allan Oziel, Oziel Law
OPENING PLENARY
SESSION: 9:05 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Question and Answer: 9:50 a.m. — 10:00 a.m.
Dominion Ballroom
The Innovative Lawyer’s Guide to a Modern Practice
(55 m
)
This might sound familiar: recent legal reports indicate that lawyers are spending more time on administrative
tasks and running their business and less time on billable matters. So what’s to be done? The innovative lawyer
will look to the data to determine how to manage his or her practice more efficiently and how to better compete in
the marketplace. Our presenter provides you with the tools to do this, and illustrates how a few discreet changes
to your technology can make a significant difference on how you spend your time each day. The fortunate part is,
you’ve likely gathered the necessary information already; you simply need to learn how to utilize it. Ultimately, the
innovative lawyer is one who delivers a better experience for his or her clients.
Jack Newton, CEO & Founder, Clio
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Coffee & Networking Break sponsored by LexisNexis
xhibitors in Dominion Foyer;
E
Ingenious Bar in City Hall Foyer (Outside Track C)
Our Exhibitors are happy to show
you the products and services that
EXHIBITORS
can take your practice to the next
level. Give them a visit.
(See Exhibitor list on page 9.)
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AGENDA
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Registrants attend either Track A, B, C, or D at each time. (Track D workshops for in-person attendees only.)
BREAKOUT SESSION ONE
SESSION: 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.
Question and Answer: 11:10 a.m. — 11:20 a.m.
TRACK A — Dominion Ballroom South
Building a Website That Suits Your Firm
(50 m
)
Law firms come in all shapes and sizes, and so should their websites. Building a law firm website requires
first identifying specific business goals and then working towards the appropriate “look and feel” that
captures and conveys this message to your target audience. Do you need more clients? Better clients?
Do you need to improve your firm’s workflows? Do you simply need something that looks professional and
acts as a “digital shingle”? This session focuses on managing expectations, budgeting, finding the right
help, and taking the steps to launch your new website.
Jeremy Hessing-Lewis, Small Law Corporation
OR
TRACK B — Dominion Ballroom North
Using Performance Data to Improve Your Law Firm
(50 m
)
You have a general sense of how your law firm is performing. But how do you measure this precisely?
You may not realize you already have the tools to do so but aren’t using them to capture and track this
important data. In this session, our speaker gives you practical step-by-step guidance on how to access
and analyze this performance data to evaluate and improve your law firm’s performance.
Christopher Heer, C.S., Heer Law
OR
TRACK C — City Hall Room
It Could Happen to You: Disaster Planning for Your Practice
(50 m
)
Imagine that a tornado touched down near your law practice, or a fire ravaged your newly renovated offices.
How would you handle it? Two of our presenters have faced exactly these challenges. They share their
experiences dealing with the aftermath, examining what they did right and what they would do differently.
You receive guidance on how to plan for a disaster in order to minimize your losses, as well as tips and best
practices you can rely on should that stressful day come.
Phil Brown, Counsel, Practice Management, Professional Development and Competence,
The Law Society of Upper Canada
Simona Jellinek, Jellinek Law Office Professional Corporation
Patrick Murphy, C.S., Donnelly & Murphy Professional Corporation
OR >
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SOLO AND SMALL FIRM CONFERENCE 2017
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AGENDA
TRACK D — WORKSHOP (In-person attendees only. Sign up early to reserve spot.)
Churchill Room
Communication Strategies: Learn How to Talk to Everyone
(50 m
)
Just because you say something, it’s not necessarily heard. This workshop teaches you how to make sure
people listen to, understand, and remember what you say—every time you talk to anyone about anything.
Using concepts from brain science and traditional storytelling, our facilitator explains the thinking behind
the simple techniques that can improve your pitches, advocacy, negotiations, and presentations. You then
get an opportunity to see how these techniques play out in real life, with a focus on specific scenarios drawn
from the experiences of practitioners.
Christopher Graham, Founder, TellPeople
(11:20 a.m. - 11:25 a.m. Room Change)
BREAKOUT SESSION TWO
SESSION: 11:25 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Question and Answer: 12:05 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.
TRACK A — Dominion Ballroom South
Building Your Team: Hiring, Firing, and Everything In-Between
A critical component of any successful practice is its support system; the people in your firm are your
strongest resource. Whether your team is composed of full- or part-time employees, or independent
contractors or agents, you need to know precisely how to manage the relationship from the interview
process to the termination of employment. Learn techniques and best practices for building a positive
working environment and managing your human resources effectively.
Amer Mushtaq, Formative LLP
Stuart Rudner, Rudner MacDonald LLP
OR
TRACK B — Dominion Ballroom North
Protect Your Digital Law Practice
(50 m
)
With digital technology comes the potential threats from digital technology. A threat to your practice
could land in your inbox, or lurk behind a clickable link, or infiltrate your system on a downloaded file. The
first step is to understand how these attacks work—how vulnerabilities are exploited to mine your private
information and how ransomware is delivered. Next, learn about some of the tools you can use and habits
you should form to protect your practice’s critical data, including how to “harden” your internet access
to reduce the likelihood you’ll be a target. A combination of smart practices and software tools can help
control what you access—and what accesses you—while maintaining your practice’s productivity.
David Whelan, Manager, Legal Information, The Law Society of Upper Canada
OR >
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SOLO AND SMALL FIRM CONFERENCE 2017
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AGENDA
TRACK C — City Hall Room
A Guide to Your Law Practice Insurance
(50 m
)
You can’t truly consider your practice a success unless its foundations are protected. It’s critical to have the
proper insurance for all aspects of your law firm. But do you know how to determine what your needs are?
Find out what is and is not covered by your LawPRO® policy and what you should do not only to cover the
gaps but to secure your future. Our presenters go over disability, property, run-off and excess insurance, the
growing areas of cybercrime protection, and more. As well, they provide helpful insights on how to determine
which insurance products are the right fit for your circumstances.
Morris Chochla, Forbes Chochla LLP
Ian Hu, Counsel, Claims Prevention & practicePRO, Lawyers’ Professional Indemnity
Company (LawPRO®)
OR
TRACK D — WORKSHOP (In-person attendees only. Sign up early to reserve spot.)
Churchill Room
Creative Problem-Solving Lab: The Limits of Your Imagination
Are the Limits of Your Practice (50 m )
It’s one thing to set goals, another thing altogether to realize them. How do you get to the promised
land? Whether you’re just starting a practice or looking to refocus, this workshop provides you with tools
and techniques to turn your goals into a reality. Our facilitators introduce you to three key attitudes/
behaviours integral to the work of an entrepreneurial lawyer: deferral of judgment, separating and managing
“divergence” and “convergence,” and embracing ambiguity. These thinking tools help you see your practice
in a more creative, adaptable light, and give you a perspective on productivity that you can apply—and
benefit from—right away.
Tim Hurson, Founding Partner, ThinkX Intellectual Capital
Robert Wakulat, Wakulat Dhirani LLP
12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Lunch sponsored by Thomson Reuters
Exhibitors & Networking in Dominion Foyer;
Ingenious Bar in City Hall Foyer (Outside Track C)
Dominion Ballroom Foyer and Dominion Ballroom
THE INGENIOUS BAR IS BACK!
For everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask, turn
to our Ingenious Bar. This year’s representatives are from Equity,
Homewood Health, Law Practice Program | Ryerson University,
Lawyers’ Professional Indemnity Company (LawPRO®), Law
Society Referral Service, Coach and Advisor Network, Practice
Management Helpline, Practice Review Department, Spot Audit,
and TitlePLUS®.
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SOLO AND SMALL FIRM CONFERENCE 2017
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AGENDA
BREAKOUT SESSION THREE
SESSION: 1:15 p.m. – 2:05 p.m.
Question and Answer: 1:55 p.m. – 2:05 p.m.
TRACK A — Dominion Ballroom South
What Lawyers Need to Know about Accounting
(50 m
)
Your accountant assumes you know something about your finances. Do you worry that it’s more than you
actually do? Are you too embarrassed to ask? Join us for a candid discussion between a sole practitioner
and her Chartered Accountant—who also happens to be her twin sister. Using real-life examples, they
will help you understand how and when to pay yourself, what documents to provide to your accountant/
bookkeeper and how to organize them, and common accounting mistakes to avoid.
Lisa Feldstein, Lisa Feldstein Law Office Professional Corporation
Sara Feldstein, CPA, CA, Mark Feldstein and Associates Chartered Accountants
OR
TRACK B — Dominion Ballroom North
Building Your Internet-Based Practice
(50 m
)
Welcome to a brave new (virtual) world. An Internet-based practice has its pros and cons; the challenge
is to enhance the former and mitigate the latter. Our presenter goes over the best way to interact with
clients and prospective clients online, and offers practical tips for a more seamless and efficiently run
practice. As well, find out how you can automate different components of your daily tasks, hear the latest
about online practice management software, and learn how to market your services.
John Wires, Wires Law
OR
TRACK C — City Hall Room
How to Collect Your Unpaid Accounts
(50 m
)
Are you spending billable time trying to collect unpaid accounts? Join the club. It’s one of the most
challenging aspects of running a solo or small firm practice. Our presenters offer strategies to deal with
this, beginning with the decision to take on a client and the steps to take to avoid a problem account at
the outset. Next, you learn how to manage the client relationship as it progresses, including those problem
accounts, as well as how to avoid complaints. Finally, our presenters go over the best practices that help
make your account collection as trouble-free as possible.
Richard Payne, Morrison and Payne
Ed Upenieks, C.S., Lawrence, Lawrence, Stevenson LLP
OR >
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SOLO AND SMALL FIRM CONFERENCE 2017
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AGENDA
TRACK D — WORKSHOP (In-person attendees only. Sign up early to reserve spot.)
Churchill Room
Building a Website for Your Practice
(50 m
)
You have identified your business goals for your law practice website. The next step is implementing them.
Not sure where to begin? Bring your device and join our facilitator for this hands-on session in a small group
setting. Learn the ins and outs of building a website for your practice and obtain hints to help you meet your
objectives. Make a start towards the web presence your practice deserves.
Jeremy Hessing-Lewis, Small Law Corporation
(2:05 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. Room Change)
BREAKOUT SESSION FOUR
SESSION: 2:10 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Question and Answer: 2:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
TRACK A — Dominion Ballroom South
Emerging Practice Areas: Building an Indigenous Law Practice
& Building a Cross-Border Practice
Looking to augment, expand, or change the focus of your law practice? You should consider these two
emerging areas. Indigenous law and cross-border law issues are developing fields that may already be
impacting your clients. Our first presenter explains how Indigenous law matters can arise in a wide range
of areas such as family, business, labour, and real estate, among others, and how you can meet the
evolving legal needs of this community. Our second presenter illustrates how cross-border issues might
affect a criminal law file, how to navigate jurisdictional issues, and how to build relationships with foreign
counsel, including marketing your skills and expertise to lawyers and clients outside of Canada.
Bernd Christmas, Chief Executive Officer, GITPO STORMS Corp
Nader Hasan, Stockwoods LLP
OR
TRACK B — Dominion Ballroom North
Using Technology in Will Planning
Will planning is a large component of many solo and small firm practices. It only makes sense that you
streamline your processes to be as efficient and customer-friendly as possible. Whether you currently
offer will preparation and estate planning or are thinking of doing so, this session can help you be more
productive. Maybe for you it’s starting to collect data, or standardizing the client interaction process
to protect yourself and save time. Our presenter explains exactly how to go about these steps as well
as many more: using software for will planning, visualizing the will plan, simplifying the decision-making
process, and employing Outlook to keep your practice organized.
Jordan Atin, C.S., TEP, Atin Professional Corporation
OR >
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SOLO AND SMALL FIRM CONFERENCE 2017
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AGENDA
TRACK C — City Hall Room
How to Make a Spot Audit Run Smoothly
(50 m
)
Have you been through a spot audit before? It’s in your power to make sure the next one goes smoothly. Our
presenters address the most common spot audit deficiencies and provide solutions on how to rectify them.
Learn how to implement suggested changes and improve and maintain your systems to ensure not only
compliance but also save valuable time when an audit comes around again.
Lidia Angelovski, CPA, CMA, Auditor, Spot Audit, Professional Development
& Competence, The Law Society of Upper Canada
Rimpal Hinduja, CPA, CGA, Supervisor, Spot Audit, Professional Development
& Competence, The Law Society of Upper Canada
Deborah Loh, CPA, CA, MAcc., Auditor, Spot Audit, Professional Development
& Competence, The Law Society of Upper Canada
OR
TRACK D — WORKSHOP (In-person attendees only. Sign up early to reserve spot.)
Churchill Room
Mindfulness: A Cup of Zen with Your Emotion
(50 m
)
Lawyers respond to and manage stressful situations in practice and everyday life, but not every strategy
to do so is a healthy one—nor one that can be sustained. This workshop highlights how mindfulness can
be used to alleviate the high stress that is typical of the profession and how it can positively impact dayto-day living. Our facilitator explains the concept of emotional intelligence and helps you to identify your
strengths and weaknesses; only then can you choose the appropriate tools and techniques to help regulate
your emotions and promote awareness of body and mind.
Nicolle Kopping-Pavars, NKP Law
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. @LSUCCPD #solosmall17
Coffee & Networking Break sponsored by LexisNexis
Exhibitors in Dominion Foyer;
Ingenious Bar in City Hall Foyer (Outside Track C)
SOLO AND SMALL FIRM CONFERENCE 2017
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AGENDA
CLOSING PLENARY
SESSION: 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Question and Answer: 4:20 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Dominion Ballroom
Talking with Andrew Arruda of ROSS Intelligence: How Artificial Intelligence Can Benefit
Your Firm Today (60 m )
Say “artificial intelligence,” and most people think “robots.” But this isn’t strictly accurate. If you use a virtual
personal assistant on your smart phone or tablet, or take advantage of speech recognition tools, then you’re
already familiar with artificial intelligence (AI) and the ways it can enhance your practice. And this is just the tip of
the iceberg. Listen to a conversation with Andrew Arruda—one of the leaders in this cutting-edge field—as he
puts AI into proper context and offers concrete suggestions on how to embrace the technology and incorporate
it into your practice. Not only can it provide value for your clients, it can empower you as the solo or small firm
lawyer.
Andrew Arruda, CEO & Co-Founder, ROSS Intelligence
Allan Oziel, Oziel Law
4:30 p.m.
End of Program
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Treasurer’s Cocktail Reception
Dominion Ballroom Foyer
EXHIBITORS
LIVE WEBCAST SPONSOR
LUNCH SPONSOR
BREAKFAST SPONSOR
COFFEE & NETWORKING BREAK SPONSOR
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SOLO AND SMALL FIRM CONFERENCE 2017
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