Event Information

Need to cancel or transfer your registration? Simply notify us in writing no later than 24 hours prior to the published start time of the seminar at registrar@scbar.org. You will be eligible to receive a full refund, be transferred to the live webcast or archived on-demand version of the same seminar, if available, or to a live or archived seminar of equal or lesser value.  If you need to cancel within 24 hours of the start time of a program, you are eligible to take the program in its archived, on-demand format, if available.  Neither transfers to the live webcast, nor refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 24 hours of a seminar start time. 

Day 1: Thursday November 9, 2023

8 a.m.             

Registration

 

8:15 a.m.        

Opening Statement: Tips to Make the Beginning Process Easier and the Great Checklist

Stefan B. Feidler, Feidler Law Firm, LLC, Charleston

Stefan will discuss the initial process and steps to take when first considering starting your own practice. This includes family support, mental health options through the SC Bar, potential materials to read, and the advantage of creating and using checklists he has created based on the SC Bar's resources.

 

9 a.m.             

The Skinny is Running a Business; the Fat is Running the Firm

Deyaska Spencer Sweatman, Deyaska Spencer Law Firm, LLC, Columbia

Deyaska will offer step-by-step guidance on the keys to starting a business in South Carolina.  She will also discuss lessons she has learned from starting her own practice on how to effectively wear two hats - as both a business owner and a lawyer.  To illustrate the practical aspects of this discussion, she will use interactive activities with respect to hiring, client management, daily task management, and solo small firm tips etc. 

 

10 a.m.           

Break

 

10:15 a.m.      

The Playbook to Build and Grow Your Law Firm.

Mark J. Bringardner, Bringardner Injury Law Firm, LLC, Charleston

Mark will present the steps on how to grow your practice including how to attract new business, hire staff, and other steps you should take when growing your legal practice.

 

11:15 a.m.     

Do's and Dont's: The Practical Side to Practicing Law 

Shaheena R. Bennett, Bennett Law Firm & Mediation, LLC, Moncks Corner

In this session, Shaheena will focus on how to avoid common mistakes in starting and running their own law firms.  She will explain how important it is to be proactive in preventing mistakes rather than being reactive and “fixing” mistakes when they occur.  She’ll look at some of the simple, yet most common mistakes she sees lawyers make and how to avoid them.

 

12:15 pm       

Lunch (provided)

 

1:15 p.m.       

Working with Your Team: How to Engage with Accounting, IT and Marketing.

Douglas W. Kim, Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm, Greenville  

In this segment, Doug will host a question answer session with subject matter experts serving as panelists in three areas: Accounting, Marketing and IT and Data Security. When running a business, including a law firm, having your “team” in place can be critical. There are eight areas that generally need addressing and a founder is usually equipped to handle two, maybe three areas. Therefore, having your team in place to provide expertise and support in the other areas is critical.

This portion is designed to assist with the knowledge that the business owner (law firm founder or owner) needs to effectively communicate with the team, not micromanage, comply with applicable Rules or Professional Conduct, have a team that works together and understand the "business of law.”

Accounting: 

Mike Mellinger, Owner, Meilinger CPA Advisors to the 1%?

Marketing:

Kaleb Alexander, Marketing Director, RCMA (Redhype Creative Marketing Agency)

Ty Thornhill, VP Client Services, The Brand Leader?

IT, MSP, and Security: 

Greg Peralta, VP Business Development, Cantey Tech Consulting

 

           

3:15 p.m.       

Break

 

3:30 p.m.       

Representing the Hispanic Community

Estfany (Stef) I. Figueroa, Figueroa Law, LLC, Charleston

Stef will provide valuable guidance on representing the Hispanic community, including areas of law that commonly come up, and issues related to the Hispanic community’s access to legal representation.

 

4:30 p.m.       

Adjourn

 

 

Day 2: Friday November 10, 2023

 

8:30 a.m.        

Business Plan Workshop

Lindsay Loignon, Commonwealth Financial Group, Charleston

Michael Henry, Commonwealth Financial Group, Charleston

This session will be an interactive and practical business planning workshop.  Led by experienced consultants, Lindsay Loignon and Michael Henry, you will be offered the opportunity to start the process of creating your own personalized law firm business plan.

Financial Planning Basics

• Personal Financial Planning
• Financial Strategies
• Budget and Goals
• Lines of Credit
• Insurances
• Investing and Allocation (Modern Portfolio Theory)

 Transition to Ownership 

• Profit First
• Old Benefits vs New Benefits
• Disability Insurance
• Individual/Group
• Business Overhead
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Retirement Plan Options (Remain in old 401k; Move to new 401k; Move to IRA)

 Business Planning

• Developing your Team (CPA; Attorney; Financial Planner)
• Goal for the firm: Silo vs Growth Firm
• Maturity of the firm (Partnership; Key Man)
• Succession Plan 
• Buy/Sell Agreements

 

12 p.m.          

Lunch (provided)

 

1 p.m.             

12 Lessons from the Last 12 Years

Kenneth E. Berger, The Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger, LLC, Columbia

Kenny will present the 12 key lessons he has learned over the last 12 years of running his own practice, including things that have worked well, things that have not worked well, and things that he is currently implementing in operating his practice. These lessons consider all aspects of running a small legal practice, both from the business side of things and the actual practice of law.

 

2:15 p.m.       

Break

 

2:30 p.m.       

6 Ethical Considerations When Starting Your Own Law Practice.

Barbara M. Seymour, Clawson & Staubes, LLC, Columbia

It is essential to consider the ethical requirements and limitations of running a law office during the start-up process to avoid common mistakes that get small firm lawyers into disciplinary trouble. Barbara will review five important ethical considerations:  how to ethically leave your current law firm; how to establish a culture of ethics in your new law firm; setting up and maintaining a client trust account; dos and don’ts of law firm marketing; the duty of digital competence; and succession planning.

 

3:30 p.m.       

Closing Argument:  Addressing Stress & Burnout in the Legal Profession

Beth Padgett, South Carolina Bar Lawyers Helping Lawyers

Briana Suhr, South Carolina Bar Lawyers Helping Lawyers 

Studies have highlighted the substantial rates of behavioral health problems present in the legal community. One recent study of lawyers found that 28% of participants experienced depression, 20% screened positive for potentially alcohol-dependent drinking, 19% experienced severe anxiety, and 11.5% had experienced suicidal thoughts. During this program, we will examine behavior health problems present in the legal community and will provide you with an opportunity to assess your own burnout levels. 

Strategies for addressing these concerns will be examined. In addition, attendees will learn about educational resources related to mental health, wellness, and self-care to enhance their knowledge of their duties of competence, diligence, and honesty in the practice of law. 

 

4:30 p.m.       

Adjourn