GP|Solo Division Notes:

Thanks to everyone who made this year’s Fall Meeting and the National Solo & Small Firm Conference such a success!

Over the weekend of October 4-6, 2007, more than 250 solo & small firm lawyers assembled at the Hyatt Regency Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia, PA, for the GP|Solo Division's Fall Meeting and the Second Annual National Solo & Small Firm Conference.

Past Chair John Macy is a dead-ringer for Ol’ Ben.

By all accounts, the event was not only productive but great fun too. Thursday night, attendees were greeted by none other than the greatest Philadelphian, Benjamin Franklin. By the time people figured out Ben was actually Past Chair John Macy, the Mummers had already struck up the music again, providing a festive atmosphere for our Welcome Reception.

On Friday we enjoyed a “Night at the Museum” with an exclusive private tour of the National Constitution Center and scavenger hunt.  The museum was followed by the elegant Difference Makers Awards Dinner, at which many admirable recipients were honored for their commitment to making a difference in the profession and in their communities.

Other highlights included the Division's law student program at Temple University's Beasley School of Law, where experienced GP|Solo members shared their “keys to the kingdom” for getting a law job with over 70 interested students some of whom traveled from distant states.

 The two-day National Solo & Small Firm Conference was chocked full of useful tips and valuable networking opportunities for more than 250 attendees from all over the country.  Many attendees are already making plans to attend the Third Annual National Solo and Small Firm Conference next fall in Santa Fe, NM. The Division also held a series of productive administrative meetings, capped off by the Division’s Council Meeting.

Below we've included some photos from the weekend. Thanks again to everyone who came, and I look forward to seeing you at our future meetings: Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on February 7-10, 2008; New Orleans at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on May 1-4, 2008 (during Jazz Fest!), and the ABA Annual Meeting in New York City at the Westin Times Square on August 7-10, 2008.

Sincerely,

Keith B. McLennan
Chair, General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division

At our Difference Makers Awards Dinner on Friday evening, October 5th, at the National Constitution Center, we honored six lawyers who have made a difference to the Bar, the Community, Pro Bono and Breaking Barriers. In a crowded field, this year’s winners were:

• William T. Robinson III (Florence, KY) for Community Service
• C. Dale McClain (Worcester, PA) for Service to the Profession
• Wendy Demchick-Alloy and Mary Coyne Pugh (Montgomery County, PA) for their work with the Child Advocacy Project
• Harvey F. Strauss (Maple Glen, PA) as Co-Director of Legal Aid for Southeastern PA
• Judge Pamila J. Brown (Ellicott City, MD) for Breaking Barriers

The evening began at 4:30pm with our Night at the Museum including an exclusive tour of this magnificent new facility and testament to our most vital document. We then convened a reception at the Center to loosen up the awardees and the crowd for Philly's hottest blues band, Blues Anatomy. After an elegant dinner, the awardees shared their heartfelt stories and received their well-earned Difference Makers Awards.

Difference Makers Award Recipients: Wendy Demchick-Alloy and Mary Coyne Pugh (Montgomery County, PA) William T. Robinson III (Florence, KY) C. Dale McClain (Worcester, PA).

Gary L. Anderson presents the Difference Makers Award to Judge Pamila J. Brown (Ellicott City, MD) for Breaking Barriers.

Harvey F. Strauss (Maple Glen, PA), Co-Director of Legal Aid for Southeastern PA, receives a Difference Makers Award from GP|Solo Division Chair-Elect Robert A. Zupkus.

The accolades for this year's National Solo & Small Firm Conference are already pouring in on SoloSez, GP|Solo's listserve for solo and small firm attorneys.

There was a ton of really useful information, and the seminars and other activities were interesting and enjoyable.

- Mitch

As a solo starting out, besides getting good information that will help me right away, I heard about little future gotchas that I should watch out for that easily paid for the expense of the weekend. If you didn't get to this one, try to get to the next one.

- Craig

I have attended many ABA meetings over the years and this one definitely was a "cut above" the rest.  Great people & a very useful program.  My only complaint is that.....well, I can't think of one.  Well done and thanks to all for all the obvious hard work that made it possible!!

- Wayne

CLE materials from the conference are available for download [19MB]. A specific date is still being worked out for next year's conference, but it is planned for fall 2008 in Santa Fe, NM.

On Saturday, October 6, Chair McLennan convened the GP|Solo Division Council Meeting to close the administrative portion of the 2007 Fall Meeting. This year four new Council Members-at-Large were inducted.

New GP|Solo Council Members-at-Large: Jennifer J. Ator (Miami, FL), Bruce E. Hopson (St. Louis, MO), Division Chair Keith B. McLennan, David Levesque (Damariscotta, ME) and George C. Johnson (Columbia, SC).

A special thank you to our sponsors for making the meeting possible!

Click on any of the sponsors below for more information.

Thomson-West is the primary sponsor of the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division.