Day two was social media day at the Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA) 46th Mid-Year conference in Orlando.
It began with a panel discussion at the magnificent conference center (pictured), led by keynote speaker, Kevin O’Keefe, a leading voice on the use of blogs and social media for law firm marketing. Moderated by Nathaniel T. Trelease, the vibrant panel also included Peter Berge, Amy Danziger Shapiro and Alli Gerkman (picture below snapped by Kevin)
Taking the social media lessons to heart, ACLEA members live tweeted information from the conference. Highlights from social media sessions:
uMCLE: Social media accelerates peer review – @kevinokeefe at #ACLEA
matthomann: Social media is relationship engine. #ACLEA
rocketmatter: Leaders need to understand the reality. They need to LEAD their orgs on social media. Not just let the young one run wild. #ACLEA
uMCLE: Don’t wait for Bar Assoc and Supreme Cts to lead on social media. They’re not -@kevinokeefe #ACLEA
rocketmatter: Some of the demand of quality blog content is driven by the decrease in news production from traditional media. #ACLEA
rocketmatter: Definition of success is moving forward. For Social Media, don’t just focus on # of followers and activity. #ACLEA
rocketmatter: Social Media ROI: Am I expanding my reach? Am I engaging target audience? Am I building influence? Audience requesting action? #ACLEA
kevinokeefe: My ACLEA Orlando Social Media Presentation available to download at RLHB http://bit.ly/cVZ58Y
Highlighting day three of the conference was a panel presentation and break-out sessions about the Critical Issues Summit, a joint effort from the American Law Institute-American Bar Association Continuing Professional Education (ALI-ABA) and ACLEA held October 15-17, 2009 on issues facing continuing legal education providers, law schools, and the legal profession in equipping today’s legal practitioners:
SmallFirm: “Skills training” = practice management – Critical Issues Summit review at #ACLEA – lawyers/law students need more
matthomann: How do we address changing needs of lawyers when model for in-person delivery of CLE hasn’t changed for over two decades?
rocketmatter: At #aclea summit, dominant convo at law school breakout sessions is difference between law school academia and what happens in real world.
matthomann: Aren’t getting good clients and serving them well inextricably intertwined? Why do we think the former is less worthy of CLE credit?
rocketmatter: Discussion at summit: law firms and cle providers want 2 know why soft skills are not MCLE since they’re crucial 2 a lawyer’s success
SmallFirm: Critical Issues Summit – distance learning – regulators need better standards for evaluating
SmallFirm: #1 wish of lawyers for CLE course topics was “rainmaking” and “networking” – from Critical Issues Summit
matthomann: How does one measure attention and engagement of CLE attendees, whether in person or online?
matthomann: Does the fact that many state supreme court justices (who set CLE req’s) never practiced as solos explain disdain for soft skills?
rocketmatter: Competing with the Walmarts of CLE is an issue for local CLE providers. Contraction of programming and law firm $$ real
SmallFirm: CLE survey – overwhelmingly lawyers want CLE provided as lectures – including skills courses — I’m shocked!
SmallFirm: Purpose of CLE regulators is not to enforce rules but to make lawyers more competent
More in-depth coverage to follow as the intersection of social media with continuing legal education (CLE) and advocating for MCLE rule changes are two of the primary issues covered here on uMCLE.
As always, your comments and suggestions and welcome.
