Family Law Docket

Fall CLE Conference
The Section's Fall CLE Conference was held October 25-28, 2006, in Santa Fe, NM, and provided a wealth of information via its plenaries and CLE sessions.

If you were unable to attend, you can purchase the materials (as a cd-rom or a compendium) to get up to speed on such topics as: the role of the lawyer in relation to the client; what to do when your client is accused of domestic violence; the Indian Child Welfare Act; and much more.

The conference also provided wonderful opportunities for networking and socializing. Many thanks to Little & Gilman Tepper, P.A., Walther Family Law, P.A., and Atkinson & Kelsey, P.A. for graciously sponsoring networking receptions.

The Section also wishes to thank Meyners & Company, L.L.C., for sponsoring the art soiree at the Gerald Peters Gallery. This event allowed participants the opportunity to enjoy authentic southwestern food while surrounded by sculptures and sketches.


Pro Bono Award Winner
Congratulations to Kenneth G. Egan of Las Cruces, NM. Mr. Egan was recognized at the Section Council Meeting of the Fall CLE Conference for his dedication and good works.

Publications

Creating Effective Parenting Plans
John N. Hartson, Ph.D.
Brenda J. Payne, Ph.D.


Product Code 5130141

An essential tool for anyone dealing with resolution of custody matters, this book will assist you and your clients in developing a parenting plan that effectively meets the needs of children at the time of divorce from birth through age 18.

More information (including a sample chapter and table of contents)

To order today, call the ABA Service Center at 800-285-2221 and request Product Code 5130141 or order online.

Author, Author!

Let Us Put Your Name in Lights
Have you developed a niche practice? Handled a trendsetting case? Or simply mastered a narrow area of practice or found a few interesting ways to provide stellar service to clients? Then take a marketing tip from the Fall 2006 issue of Family Advocate: Build your CV and brand yourself as a family law expert by writing an article for Family Advocate!

Send an e-mail to eiseld@sbcglobal.net, detailing what you want to write about, why you are particularly qualified to write on the topic, and include writing samples, if you have them.

Some future themes we're planning are: Coparenting After Divorce: A Handbook for Clients; What Judges Think; What If?: A Client Manual; Juvenile Law; and more. See a listing of future themes.

Write a column
If a feature article seems daunting, consider contributing a "Hot Tips" or "Fast Forward" column. "Hot Tips" focuses on substantive tips or techniques that help family lawyers litigate or settle cases, while "Fast Forward" columns feature a practice management or technology tip to help manage a family law practice, staff, or client relationships better, smarter, and with greater efficiency.
— Deborah Eisel

Article

Law Practice Marketing for Those Who Don't Like Marketing
By Mark Chinn

This month's featured article was part of the Hot Tips program at the Annual Meeting.

Looking for more information from the author? Buy his book, How to Build and Manage a Family Law Practice.

CLE Calendar

Spring CLE Conference
April 25 - 28, 2007
Portola Plaza Hotel
Monterey, CA

Save the date! The Section's Spring CLE Conference will offer a variety of CLE and plenary sessions sure to further your knowledge and increase your networking.

More information will soon be available online, so keep checking the Section of Family Law website.


TeleSeminars
Want to gain CLE credit from the comfort of your own office? The teleseminar series can help! To keep abreast of future topics, visit the Section calendar online at www.abanet.org/family/events.

January 24, 2007
Tax Issues in Family Law
Pat Thompson
Christina Hilton

Details and registration information forthcoming; visit the Section calendar linked above.

See past CLE materials available

Save the Date!
Mark your calendars for upcoming Section of Family Law conferences and teleseminars. Check back for registration details and the latest course offerings.

See the schedule

Section Staff Update

Two New Staff to Serve You
In October, the Section gained two new staff members to help serve your needs.

Alissa Brugger is the new Programs and Committees Manager. She can be reached by e-mail at bruggera@staff.abanet.org or by phone at 312-988-5613. Alissa comes to the Section from the ABA Section of Law Practice Management.

Hilary Glazer is the new Marketing and Communications Manager, and can be reached by e-mail at Hilary.Glazer@americanbar.org or by phone at 312-988-5603. Hilary previously worked in the ABA's Division for Public Education.

The Write Stuff

We're Looking for a Few Good Reporters
The Family Law Quarterly is looking for a few reporters for "Law in the 50 States," the annual roundup of cases published in each winter issue. The summary of cases covers approximately August 1 through July 31 of the preceding year and highlights important family law cases from across the country. To become a reporter, send an e-mail to eiseld@sbcglobal.net.

Here's what's involved:
Being a Law in 50 reporter requires only that you read your state reporter regularly and jot down important (likely to be trendsetting or precedent-busting cases). Take a look at the winter issue of the Quarterly for writing style and presentation. Then toward the end of the reporting period, send us an e-mail with the full case cite and a brief paragraph stating the important family law issue and how and why the court ruled.

Reporters are needed for the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

But...
We can make mistakes....If you are already a reporter but see your state listed above, please e-mail us ASAP so that we can update our records. — Deborah Eisel

Deborah Eisel
Family Advocate/Family Law Quarterly
1600 S. Main St.
Racine, WI 53403
Tel: 262-619-1334
Fax: 262-619-1335
eiseld@sbcglobal.net