We have just concluded the bulk of the Academy’s 2013 Fall Summit here in San Diego and what an event it has been! It seems hard to believe that just five days ago we descended upon the Coronado Marriott Resort and Spa on Coronado Island with the myriad of materials it takes to successfully put […]

Does your law firm have official Facebook, Twitter or other social media accounts? Have you taken steps to protect them from unauthorized access? In recent months, some large corporations, including McDonalds, HMV, and the Associated Press have had their social media accounts hijacked – in one case, by a former employee. Don’t let it happen […]

I am eagerly awaiting the Academy’s Fall 2013 Summit here in San Diego (Coronado)! The Summits are a time for our Members to learn about the latest in practice management and substantive law, as well as to rekindle friendships and make new ones. As I look over the agenda, I’m excited about several presentations. In […]

I’m really excited and always nervous about our big conferences twice a year. Our conference starts in Coronado SOON and we’re expecting a huge turnout. There are literally 7,432,098 details to iron out so that the event comes off without a hitch and participants feel like this is the best educational event they’ve ever attended. […]

The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly. —Jim Rohn We all have a notion about what we should “lead” like or […]

There are many milestones on the way to adulthood. Almost every American reMembers those rites of passage, like getting a driver’s license. The age of majority is 18 (in every state of which I am aware) and is one of these milestones. It is the age at which an individual may make decisions for themselves […]

What makes you different? This is a common question that marketers ask when developing a marketing plan. The fact is that you look pretty much the same as everyone else within your industry unless you can show and tell how you are different. Personality is the key to differentiating yourself and your firm from the […]

The excitement is building here at the Academy as we gear up for our 20th annual Fall Summit happening at the beginning of October in San Diego. We can’t wait to reconnect with our Members and their teams. They serve as our inspiration and motivation to keep following our “why,” which is to help attorneys […]

People think trusts are all about probate avoidance. Sure, a living trust allows the grantor to avoid probate. That may or may not be a big deal, depending on the jurisdiction. Certainly, if the grantor owns real estate in multiple jurisdictions, a trust is the way for them to go to avoid multiple ancillary probates. […]

If your clients can enjoy a film with subtitles, the 2008 Japanese movie Departures presents a beautiful and humorous meditation on life, death and funeral rituals. This Oscar-winner for Best Foreign Language Film can help open the door to funeral planning conversations. Viewing scenes from Departures also facilitates discussion of the value of funeral rituals […]