By M. Echevarria, ADR LLC.

As a member of the ABA's Women in Dispute Resolution Committee (aka "WIDR"), a subcommittee within the Section on Alternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR") I found my path to becoming a neutral was not that different from other committee members. While I had been a FINRA Arbitrator for years handling securities disputes in aid of my practice in the financial services industry as an Insurance Attorney and, or Chief Compliance Officer, once I embarked on developing a full time career in the area I had to ensure that I was properly trained in the process. Quality training is widely available at schools (Pepperdine University), bar association programs (NYCBA) and by service providers such as the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"). Since my interest and prior career was commercially oriented after the basic 40 hour training required for process orientation in mediation, I took specific additional training in Commercial Arbitration and Mediation. At minimum, the court annexed programs require the 40 hour training program and prior experience as a mediator (See, Part 146 Requirements). Frankly I still continue annual training not only because of licensing requirements but also because the law in dispute resolution matters is very dynamic and continues to be a growing area of practice for many lawyers. Witness the fact that mediation and arbitration courses are now offered in many law schools. That was not the case when I went to Law School.

By Janet Falk, Chief Strategist, Falk Communications and Research

As you know, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional database, with nearly 700 million members. Surely some of them are looking for an attorney with your experience in intellectual property law, personal injury or bankruptcy law. How can you make sure you are found there?

By Rosanna Berardi, Esq. | Founder | Berardi Immigration Law

June is always a special month for me. Our son, Salvatore, was born on June 2, 2006 and my second child, Berardi Immigration Law, was born on June 24, 2005. It’s hard to believe that I have a 14-year-old son and 15-year-old law firm. I started my firm out of my dusty apartment in Buffalo, New York with one client and a dream. I did the unthinkable—I left the largest law firm in Buffalo to start my own firm. I went from having a team of people take care of my every need (paralegals, secretaries, marketing support) to becoming the Lawyer, HR person, tax expert and cleaning lady. The first years were tough, especially since our dear son didn’t sleep through the night for two years. So how did I scale my firm over the last 15 years? Here are some key lessons I’ve learned along the way:

By Nancy J. Mertzel | Founder | Mertzel Law PLLC

As a business owner, I think a lot about profitability. How can I make my intellectual property law practice more profitable and fulfilling while still reserving time for myself, my family, and my communities? I believe the answer is to know my priorities and become effective at delegation. 

By Kimberly Rice | President and Chief Strategist | KLA Marketing Associates

To take control of your legal career, you must become the CEO of your own one-(wo)man firm

By Nella Bloom | Managing Member | Bloom & Bloom, LLC

By Francine Friedman Griesing | Founder & Managing Member | Griesing Law, LLC

Business owners are responsible for protecting themselves against the risks that can negatively jeopardize their business and ownership interests. One of the most common issues that arises with entrepreneurs is having a relationship with a business partner or partners go sour. In my career, I have represented several business owners who have been pushed out of businesses they founded or have seen a significant decline in what their business is worth due to poor relationships with their business partners. I have also served as a neutral arbitrator or mediator in far too many cases where a successful business imploded when the partnership relationship when awry. By the time they seek help, the damage may be so great that it can’t be undone. So how do business owners get to this point and what can you do to avoid it?

By Lee Holcomb | Founder | Lawyer Yoga & Lifestyle Lawyer

 Throughout the course of our lives, we spend the majority of the time immersed in self-centered thoughts. Why did that person do this to me? Where am I going to go on vacation? Why don’t I have a better job? What would make me feel better? And most of these thoughts don’t make us feel better or bring us happiness. But honestly, it’s not the thoughts themselves that are the problem; it’s our desperate clinging to them and our resistance to what’s happening in the present moment that causes pain. Luckily, you don’t have to stop or get rid of your thoughts. Merely learning how you can become aware of the thoughts that are running your life can diminish their power. 

By Kei S. Tolliver|  Founder | Kei S. Tolliver Law, LLC

After nearly two decades in the start-up space, I finally pulled the trigger and started my own solo law practice 4 years ago. Having been closely involved in start-ups, I knew the fundamental process of starting a business. However, what I didn’t know and had never experienced firsthand were the well documented challenges female founders face. Moreover, as I started to assist my own start-up clients, I’ve come to realize how real these challenges are and how educating myself on these challenges can help me (and other female founders) tackle them. 

By Andrea Ewart |  CEO and Founder | DevelopTradeLaw, LLC

In today’s digital economy, it is possible to participate in international trade without ever leaving our desks. This reality is particularly true for attorneys and clients who frequently do business internationally, and  presents several opportunities and challenges. Attorneys need to be prepared to support clients as well as to address their own needs in this era of doing business without borders.

By Cheryl A. Brunetti |  Executive Chairwoman | RVM Enterprises, Inc.

Competency is a longstanding ethical obligation for attorneys, but what it means to be “competent” continues to evolve.  Its evolution is due to the growing prevalence of technology that impacts the legal industry – from discovery to day-to-day case management.  The result is that lawyers now know where to look to find the answers, either by improving their own understanding of the technology or by enlisting the proper resources.