Nation - How to get the most out of your CLE classes

By Tony Ogden The Daily Record Newswire BOSTON, MA -- For most lawyers, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) classes are just another hoop they have to jump through in order to keep up their law licenses. They rack up just enough credit hours to fulfill the requirements and then move on, yet in so doing they sell themselves short. "In general, CLE is one of those things you 'have' to do," said Geri L. Dreiling, a legal publicist and attorney in St. Louis, Mo. "But it's actually one of the biggest opportunities, and missed opportunities." "Sometimes when you mandate something it leads to ticket-punching, but [you can] invest in [your] education," added John Olmstead, President of Olmstead and Associates, a legal management consultant firm in St. Louis, Mo. Here are a few suggestions for lawyers who want more from their CLE classes: -- Pick a diverse set of classes While it is important to keep up on your practice areas, also go further afield. "Lawyers should look at where they feel they have some skill deficiencies," said Olmstead. "Even if some of the CLE is not accredited, that's the education they need to take." "Pick a CLE that complements your practice area but is not the same," Dreiling suggested. "If you're [a] personal injury [attorney], go to a basic estate planning CLE. When one of your PI suits settles, you might need to refer your client to an estate planning lawyer to help keep the settlement intact." Both Dreiling and Olmstead also advised taking CLE classes on practice management. -- Focus on networking "CLEs are a way to meet other attorneys with whom you may be able to have a reciprocal referral relationship," Dreiling said. To help facilitate this, she recommended setting a specific number of people to meet. "Some of that is your comfort level, but try to you make it a goal to talk to the person on your left and on the right and expand it as you get more comfortable," she said. -- Retain the information "There is a dramatic drop of retention in the first few days," Olmstead said. "After a week, you retain only 10 percent. "We've made a heck of an investment for only 10 percent." Olmstead suggested reviewing your notes and any handout materials for ten minutes after the class and then again a week later. "Don't wait until you get home," he said. "Lock in some of that content." To make the most of your networking efforts, Dreiling recommended writing down where you met each lawyer on the back of his or her business card before you drive away from the conference. -- Take steps to implement After a CLE class, "send an e-mail to each person you met," Dreiling said. "Make it a goal to send the e-mails in the next three days." If you plan to use any information you learned as part of a marketing effort or blog post, she recommended doing so sooner rather than later. "If I file my materials first, that'll be the end of it," Olmstead said. "So I don't let myself take the notebook off my desk until I decide what I will implement." He suggested focusing on only one To Do item at a time to make sure they actually get done. Published: Thu, Aug 26, 2010

––––––––––––––––––––
 Subscribe to the Legal News!
 https://test.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available