Spring 2023 Managerial Skills
The IPMA Managerial Skills Seminar is designed to develop and refine practical managerial skills involved in the supervision of paralegals, law clerks, litigation support, docket, technology, and other legal-related positions. This eight hour program is the first and only seminar designed by and for active managers in law firms, corporate legal departments, and government, judicial, and legal agencies and presented by IPMA members.
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Gary Melhuish, Senior Manager of Litigation Support Services, Ballard Spahr, LLP Gary Melhuish is the Manager of Litigation Support Services in the Philadelphia office of Ballard Spahr, LLP. Prior to joining this firm in 2006, he was the Legal Assistant Director in the Washington, D.C. office of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. Gary has over 40 years' experience as a paralegal including more than 30 years as a paralegal manager. He is a Past President of the International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA). He was Adjunct Faculty at the Georgetown University Paralegal Studies Program from 2002 through 2005 where he taught Legal Ethics and Legal Technology. Gary is former member of the ABA’s Approval Commission of the Standing Committee on Paralegals and served on the National Federation of Paralegal Association’s PACE Advisory Committee. |
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Brian Bernhard, Office Administrator, Dentons Brian Bernhard has served in management roles in law firms for over 20 years, having supervised practice support professionals in every sized law firm setting. Currently, he is the Office Administrator for the Denver office of Dentons US LLP, where he is responsible the day-to-day office operations and staff supervises the office Business Services Professionals. Brian has been a member of the IPMA since 2007, was the association president from 2013 – 2014, was awarded Lifetime Membership in 2020 and currently serves as the Secretary/Treasure on the Board of Directors. In addition to his work and contributions to the legal industry, in 2016 Brian also co-founded Foster Source, a non-profit empowering Colorado’s foster and kinship families. In his free time, Brian enjoys community theater, golfing and spending time with his wife and three children. |
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Angela Monroe, Paralegal Services Administrator, Dentons US LLP Angela Monroe, Paralegal Services Administrator, based in Atlanta, Georgia office for global law firm, Dentons US LLP. As a Paralegal Services Administrator, Angela works with the Director & Management Team in overseeing the Paralegal Services program implementing, and aligning the firm wide mission of the paralegal program with the firm’s overall strategic objectives. She is also responsible for the daily supervision of 31 Paralegal Services team members within a wide range of practice areas in the Atlanta, New Jersey and New York offices. Dentons’ Paralegal Services program consists of 100+ paralegals, case assistants, analysts and other timekeepers supporting lawyer and other professionals in twenty-three (23) offices in the United States. The Paralegal Services Management Team handles various management and supervisory duties, including recruiting, hiring and training, encouraging continuing legal education, and promoting efficient and optimal utilization of non-attorney timekeeper professionals. Ms. Monroe has almost 25 years of legal experience, most specifically in the litigation practice area and is a Certified Litigation Support Project Manager. Ms. Monroe earned her undergraduate degree from California State University - San Marcos and her Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Personnel Management from Troy University. She is a member of IPMA and currently serves as Co-Chair the Management Resources Committee and a member of the IPMA Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board. During the 2020 IPMA Conference, Angela Monroe, received the prestigious Rising Star award for her individual contributions to the IPMA organization and was honored to receive along with her Dentons colleagues from the US and Canada the 2020 President’s Award from the International Practice Management Association (IPMA), the first time the association has bestowed its top honor on a crossborder team. |
Patty Maxwell, Litigation Specialist, Arnold & Porter LLP Patty is a Past President of the IPMA has been a member since 2006. She has served on the IPMA Board since 2015, chairing several different committees during her tenure. Currently, Patty is the Fixed Fee Litigation Specialist at Arnold & Porter. Before moving into this position, for 13 years she was the firm-wide paralegal manager at A&P, where she has been since 2005. Prior to joining A&P, Patty was at Cadwalder, Wickersham and Taft in NYC as well as Whitman Breed Abbott (Breed Abbott and Morgan) where she was a senior litigation and trial paralegal. She also did a short turn as a corporate record keeping paralegal at Schlumberger, Ltd. Patty has been a paralegal (primarily focused on litigation) since 1980. Patty earned her undergraduate degree from The University of Virginia. |
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Laura Porter, Manager, Corporate Services at Fogler, Rubinoff LLP Over 25 years of experience in a legal environment. Prior to joining Fogler, Rubinoff LLP, she was at OMERS as the Manager, Corporate Secretariat for 8 years. Laura has been responsible for department administrative matters, budgeting, staffing, developing, implementing departmental policies and procedures, providing information regarding corporate procedures, conducting seminars for students and lawyers and monitoring workflow. Corporate and security matters including, incorporation, amendments, amalgamations, continuances, revivals, asset and share transactions, reorganizations, corporate record keeping, drafting closing agendas, agreements, prospectus documents, coordinating complex transactions, regulatory filings for SEDAR and SEDI including preparation of public filing documents.A member of the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario and International Practice Management Association. Past-President and Director of the International Practice Management Association. |
Skills Part I: | Thursday, April 27, 2023 |
12:00 – 12:05 PM | Introductions & Announcements |
12:05 – 12:30 PM | Icebreaker |
12:30 – 1:15 PM | What It Takes to Lead Leadership Establishing Credibility Setting Goals Continuous Self Improvement Continue to Be You |
1:15 – 1:30 PM | Break |
1:30 – 3:00 PM | Recruitment Convincing Administration You Need More Staff Locating Candidates Interviewing Techniques Checking References Group Discussion |
3:00 – 3:30 PM | Orientation Programs Structuring Orientation for Remote Workforce Streamlining Process |
3:30 – 3:50 PM | Successful Collaboration Delegation and Follow Through |
Skills Part II: | Friday, April 28, 2023 |
12:00 - 12:30 PM | Training Programs Determining Training Needs Identifying Training Resources |
12:30 - 1:00 PM | Managing Different Groups Managing Different Types of Teams Managing Across Locations Managing Multiple Generations |
1:00 – 2:00 PM | Coaching, Criticism and Evaluations Coaching Positive Change Evaluation Meetings Group Discussion |
2:00 – 2:15 PM | Break |
2:15 – 3:15 PM | Performance Management Progressive Discipline Terminating an Employee |
3:15 – 3:55 PM |
Positioning Your Program for Success
Creating Your Plan
Program Structure
Promoting Your Paralegals
Recognition Programs
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3:55 – 4:00 PM | Wrap Up |