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A Message from the Chair It is my privilege to introduce you to the newly-created Law Practice Management Division. As you are probably aware, the creation of a Division within the VBA is not a usual or frequent occurrence. During the VBA’s long history, it has created only one other, which all will agree has been extremely successful: the Young Lawyers Division. I am honored to have been asked to chair this new Division, and I can assure you that the Board of Governors and all others connected with the decision to create this Division are excited and enthusiastic about its potential. The Division will be built on a strong foundation developed by the
Law Practice Management Section. Created in 1992, the Section focused
on the operation and management of law firms, both large and small,
and the solo practitioner. It developed signature programs such as the
Managing Partners Roundtable and the Small Firm Practice luncheon conducted
at each Annual Meeting for the last several years. Its focus also included
technological advancements as they affected the practice of law, which
resulted in the LawTech conference conducted successfully for several
years. Under the chairmanship of Janet Thomas in 2000, the Section began a strategic planning process to establish long-term goals. At the same time, the VBA Executive Committee had begun its own strategic planning initiative which identified, as an element of the promotion of professionalism, a need to focus on the balance between a successful and rewarding practice and other lifestyle issues such as health, family relationships and intellectual development. The result of these two parallel processes was a recommendation from
the Law Practice Management Section, approved in the fall of 2001 by
the VBA Executive Committee, that the Section be converted to a Division
which would house the initiative on practice/lifestyle balance. As an integral part of this step, each of you will automatically become
members of the Law Practice Management Division without the necessity
of separate dues. The Board of Governors has approved bylaws similar
to those of the Young Lawyers Division which provide for an Executive
Committee of 11 individuals to be selected from diverse geographic areas
and practice settings. However, the real work of the Division will be
carried out through its substantive committees which will provide an
opportunity for interested VBA members to become involved with the Division
and to contribute to its operation and programs. The focus of the Division has expanded from that of the Law Practice
Management Section. While continuing to stress firm and other organizational
aspects of law practice management, the Division will add equal emphasis
on the individual and personal aspects of law practice management, such
as personal time management, professional skills development, personal
marketing, achieving an appropriate practice/lifestyle balance, and
promoting overall professionalism. The operation of the Division will initially be directed at three areas: •providing education; So how do we start this ambitious undertaking? The Board of Governors has given us an excellent springboard through the appointment of the members of the initial Executive Committee: A. Pierre Jackson, Law Office of A. Pierre Jackson, PC, Hampden-Sydney;
At its initial meeting in February the following committees were established: Administrative Committees: Member Services Committees: Our next step is to staff each of the committees with
an initial chairperson and membership. Business Practices: Wendy Inge The other purpose of this introduction, as you might have now guessed,
is to solicit your interest in serving on the various committees and
then to invite you to join us in the development of the Division’s
programs and objectives. I ask that each of you who have an interest
in participating with any committee let me know or advise the chairperson
of the committee, if one has been appointed. While there is, of course,
some practical limit on the size of a working committee, we hope to
be able to accommodate all of those VBA members who wish to become more
involved in the Division’s activities either through committee
membership or other means of active participation. I also solicit your thoughts on methods by which we can make the Division
a source of added value to you individually and to all members of The
Virginia Bar Association and the practicing bar in Virginia. Give us
your suggestions on desirable program topics and educational vehicles,
methods of communication and issues of concern. As a Division, we have
a primary mission to bring to our membership needed and valuable services.
Each of you can help us fulfill that mission, as it relates to both
personal practice management and organizational practice management,
by telling us how we can best serve you and your practice. Thank you on behalf of the Law Practice Management Division for your support and interest. |
Statements or expressions of opinion appearing herein are those of the authors
and not necessarily those of the Association.
Copyright 2003 The Virginia Bar Association
