Management Information Exchange announces the 2008 National Conference for Legal Services Administrators, September 18 and 19, 2008, at the Historic Menger Hotel, 204 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, Texas 78205, 210-223-4361.



This conference is for you!

T If you work in a legal assistance program serving low-income clients, and

T If your duties include some of the broad range of administrative functions: fiscal, grant writing, contract and regulatory compliance, benefits administration, human resources, training, technology and general office management.



Download the conference announcement attached, and register by August 25, 2008.



MIE’s 2008 National Conference for Legal Services Administrators will include these and other sessions:



PLENARIES AND ESSENTIALS

Opening Plenary Speaker: “The Changing Role of the Legal Administrator: Bigger and Better,” by Betty Balli Torres, Executive Director, Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation. The demands on legal services programs have grown exponentially over the last couple of decades. Technologies, diverse workforces, increasing revenue streams have changed the way legal services administrators function. The role of the legal services administrator is key to keeping programs functioning and prospering.



Professional Development Workshop: The Basics of Persuasive Legal Writing for the Legal Aid Administrator, by Wayne Schiess, Director, Legal-writing Program, University of Texas School of Law. Learn quick tips on improving your writing through examples of good and poor legal writing, explanations of common errors and how to fix them, advice on sentence structure, and guidance on organization, tone, format, and document design.



Closing Plenary: What Technology Can Do For You!

This session will introduce you to cutting edge technology ideas that anyone can implement. These are low cost, user friendly tech solutions to some of the day to day legal aid office problems facing attorneys, managers and admin staff.



HUMAN RESOURCES ESSENTIALS



Managing Health Care Costs

Managing health care costs is not just about finding the most cost-effective and affordable plans, but also looking at options to help minimize costs associated with absenteeism and promote good health.



Life Happens I: Leadership Development, Retention, Succession Planning

What if you get hit by a bus tomorrow? Could someone pick up where you left off? Are you helping to develop staff to assume leadership positions? Are you creating an environment where staff members can envision themselves sticking around and growing?



Life Happens II: Issues Relating to Aging and Health in the Workplace

Let’s face it. We all are working as we are temporarily able. As an employer we may confront issues related to aging, health problems, FMLA, ADA, accommodations, etc. in the workplace.

Do you know how to respond with compassion and within the law?



Working with Unions

Many legal services programs have unions, but are you comfortable with what’s expected of you and your organization to make those relationships work? Learn more about unions, how

the collective bargaining process works, and what you can do to ensure that your legal services organization maintains good positive employee relations.



Retirement Plans for Non-profits

Contrary to popular belief, non-profits have more retirement plan options than just the 403b. Come learn about 401k’s, 403b’s, 401a’s, etc. and the pros and cons of each. Also get an update on

the changes ahead with the new 403b regulations.



Employment Law Update

In its last term, the U.S. Supreme Court issued several important employment law decisions that will impact how business is run and how employment lawsuits are handled. The Employment

Law Update will address these Supreme Court decisions as well as other recent developments in employment case law and legislation.



Human Resources Affinity Group

Have a burning HR issue on your mind? Bring it to the table. Your issues and interests will shape the agenda of this session. You’re sure to find colleagues with similar challenges and others

who have already tackled them.



OFFICE MANAGEMENT ESSENTIALS



Time Management

Doing more with less takes a toll on our time, resources and energy. Keeping up with multiple roles — professional, partner, parent, friend, caregiver — leaves us feeling like we’ll never catch up. Let’s stop, take a breath and establish some boundaries! We will then be better equipped to keep stress at bay, work more productively and enjoy life more. Come and recharge your batteries

and learn to live life on purpose.



Disaster Planning

Does the thought of disaster planning have you paralyzed with fear (thus keeping you from doing it)? Turn your thinking around and learn how to do simple things to help prepare

yourself and your agency so you can survive, thrive and prosper when a disaster strikes (because someday it will).



Improving Employee Performance: Motivation and Morale, Supervision and Evaluation

What key factors are needed to bring out the best in every employee? What techniques are essential for evaluating performance? Why is it important to motivate and encourage staff?

This innovative session will help you develop the skills to motivate employees, supervise effectively and create a more productive environment.



Dealing with Difficult People: Effective Internal Communication

Client service is what distinguishes a good law firm from a great law firm. Many firms focus on client relationships, and train lawyers on the skills they need to exceed client expectations.

Building a culture of client service with your internal “clients” — from secretaries and paralegals to the receptionist to the file clerks — is just as important. This session is beneficial to anyone

who supervises or manages staff.



FINANCIAL ESSENTIALS



Non-Profit Financials 101

Confounded by your program’s audited financial statement? Puzzled by the purpose of a balance sheet? Unclear about the meaning of “temporarily restricted revenues”? In this session on accounting basics, our panel of experts including Certified Public Accountants and practicing Chief Financial Officers will explain the meaning behind the numbers and help unravel the mystery

of your program’s financials. Whether you are an accounting neophyte or a seasoned professional, you’ll find useful information in this nuts and bolts session.



Take Me to Your Leader

It’s the accounting professional’s responsibility to provide the Board of Directors, Executive Director and other influential managers with the information they need to make prudent financial planning decisions. Providing the right information at the right time and knowing the difference between too little and too much can prove challenging. If you’ve wondered whether your management team is getting the information they need to assess the organization’s financial position or asked yourself how you could improve your management reports and strategic planning, then this session is for you!



The Brave New World of Accounting

Keeping current with new audit and internal control requirements has never been more important or more demanding. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was geared toward for-profits, but

increasingly applies to non-profits and their Boards of Directors. For that reason, now is a good time to take stock of your organization’s internal controls. We can help get you started with this

session presented by accounting professionals and auditors who will discuss the latest regulatory requirements and provide tools you can use to assess your own organization.



Follow the Money: Grants Management

How many times have you thought “there must be a better way”? Well, you’re not alone. Managing grants, and the staff and funders who are connected with them, can be a complex and delicate task. In this double session on grants management, you’ll learn new ways to tackle the process of applying for, securing, implementing and reporting on an ever-expanding matrix of funding sources.



TECHNOLOGY ESSENTIALS



Risk Management and Metadata

Metadata in the form of revisions, comments, track changes, macros and hidden text is imbedded in every document you create. If you don’t take steps to erase this data before sending it outside your office, your opposing counsel could find a surprise package. This session will inform you of the dangers and risks to your program and attorneys and how to best address and lessen those risks.



Current Issues in Technology: The Outsourcing Dilemma

Outsourcing technology responsibilities may make sense for your program depending on the complexity of the task and the limitations of your staff. On the flip side, your program could

benefit from developing in-house expertise to handle certain routine tech issues and projects. This session will compare the pros and cons of in-house versus outsourced technology applications.



Technology Affinity Group: A Roundtable Discussion of Technology Issues

You got a problem? We got an answer! This session is a spirited discussion of tech problems and challenges —including the new LSC Baseline Suggestions. No problem is too big, too small or too weird for this group!



SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES



Administrators’ Speed Networking

Because the bigger your number of contacts, the better! Pre-register for speed networking on Thursday with an additional $20 fee for a box lunch.



Pre-conference Welcome Dinner

If you are arriving in San Antonio on September 17, plan to join us at 7:00 pm in the lobby of the Historic Menger Hotel for a walk to the Riverwalk and dinner.