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Kendra Spearman: Dismantling Systemic Inequity, As a Lawyer and Citizen Alike | THE 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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Kendra never envisioned herself becoming a lawyer, per se. Like becoming a minister, earning her J.D. and opening her law firm became a way to drive positive change within minority communities – improving access to justice as an agent inside the system. Recently, Kendra also launched The Justice Renewal Initiative, a faith-based non-profit also supporting her singular goal through alternative methods.

Key moments:

  • Conception and struggles for a firm built to bridge the Justice Gap (1:00)
  • The Justice Renewal Initiative’s three focuses for change (10:45)
  • Case Study: A man stuck in the broken criminal justice system (14:18)
  • What Kendra Spearman wants to see changed in law (35:43)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“The bar exam poses a major impediment [to more minorities becoming attorneys]…everything that it asks is stuff that you can kind of look up, it’s not a test about intelligence, but some people just don’t do well with tests.”

“What I hope to do through the Justice Renewal Initiative is bring all backgrounds together. All private citizens: I want judges, police officers – and that’s a group that tends to be excluded because of the mistrust – private citizens of the church…. People tend to ignore an issue if it does not affect them. So, I wanted to create this space where everybody could feel like they’re involved.”

“The other uncomfortable thing for me in that setting is that black women tend to have this stereotype that we’re angry… And I’m pretty confident that had I not lost my temper, that my client would have been taken into custody, and from what I was hearing from the different numbers that they were throwing out, we’re talking about years.”

“One of the main things I tell people is to talk about it. People look at racism and systemic racism and these issues as, you know, the awkward conversation to have.”

CONNECT WITH KENDRA SPEARMAN

CONNECT WITH KENDRA SPEARMAN

Kendra is a civil rights attorney and minister. She is the owner and founder of Spearman Law LLC, a civil rights law firm, and founder of The Justice Renewal Initiative, Inc., a faith-based, non-profit that is dedicated to criminal justice reform. She works diligently to fight injustice on the behalf of disadvantaged populations, in particular, those impacted by mass incarceration and racial disparities.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preacherlawyer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kendraspearman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spearmanlaw/

Spearman Law: www.spearmanlaw.com

Justice Renewal Initiative: www.thejri.org

ADDITIONAL READING

Kendra, and The Justice Renewal Initiative, was featured in Chicago Lawyer! Read the full article: https://ablog.amatacorp.com/blog/posts/rearranged-as-covid-19-drags-on-law-firms-assess-their-largely-empty-offices/

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

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Judge Erika Orr: Women in Law, Parenthood, and Asking for What You Want | THE 1958 LAWYER Podcast

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It’s our first episode and the Honorable Erika Orr helped us launch with a bang. Determining what you want and then asking for it is a key driver of personal success and greater social change. Erika’s insights as woman on a journey to becoming a judge – owning her own law firm, working in corporate, and tackling motherhood – prove this over and over.

Key moments:

  • Hanging up her own shingle after the 2008 recession (8:40)
  • Conflicts for women developing career and family in America (10:13)
  • Asking for what you want (15:05)
  • What Erika Orr wants to see changed in law (19:06)

Follow “The 1958 Lawyer” on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

MEMORABLE QUOTES

“Part of [bridging the pay gap] is making sure women know they can make the ask, don’t be afraid to make the ask…. Even as a child I was empowered to speak my piece.”

“At some point [we’re going to have to] assess what our value system is around the working family…. There’s a cost factor to it but cost really is associated with whatever your value system is. It’s not an expensive proposition if certain things are important to you. We as a country are going to have to make a determination about what it is we want.”

“We need more people to dive deep and not be afraid to ask the questions of themselves.”

ERIKA ORR

CONNECT WITH ERIKA ORR

Erika Orr is currently a full circuit Cook County judge where she is seated in the Domestic Violence Division.  Prior to that, Erika was a solo practitioner and owner of the Orr Law Group, Ltd. in Chicago, where she specialized in domestic relations law.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erika.orr

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-orr-4a55971a/

Cook County Court, Judges Pages: http://www.cookcountycourt.org/Judges-Pages/Orr-Erika

FURTHER READING

Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at [email protected]

“The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” still defines the business of law…
It’s time for a change.

If you’re a lawyer, you’re familiar with the ABA article “The 1958 Lawyer and his 1938 Dollar” which gives our podcast its title, and its inspiration. That article was the start of the billable hour for law firms…And the last major change to the business of law, 70+ years ago now. Well, it’s past time for another change.

This podcast is all about bucking the status quo of the business of law. Your hosts Ron Bockstahler and Kirsten Mayfield run Amata Law Office Suites, providing law firms an alternative to the traditional fixed-cost business model that places unwanted stress on attorneys to work long hours that often-times lead to burn out, broken relationships and in many cases substance abuse. Each week they’ll discuss alternatives to the 12 hours days, endless rotation of clerks and paralegals, and the expensive offices leased to impress clients who rarely show up in person anymore. They’ll interview successful lawyers who are doing law differently, and finding a work-life balance while still running a successful firm.

Do you want to find a better way to run your law firm? It’s time for the next big change in the business of law, and you’ll get it here on The 1958 Lawyer.

More episodes of The 1958 Lawyer podcast

Discover our networking events for Chicago lawyers.

PPP: IRS and SBA Issue New Guidance

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Salary Loans Historical Photo

Like most new government programs, the PPP has been followed by a stream of clarifying guidance from the relevant federal agencies. Whether you have such loans already or are seeking to get them, you should be aware of the details.

Tax Responsibilities

The IRS has clarified that no deduction is allowed under the Internal Revenue Code for an expense that is otherwise deductible if the payment of the expense results in forgiveness of a covered loan pursuant to the CARES Act. Also, the income associated with the loan forgiveness is excluded from gross income for purposes of the IRC. Further details are available in IRS Notice 2020-32.

Disbursement Rules

The SBA has issued guidance that answers questions about the PPP loans. A key question for businesses is whether a borrower can take multiple draws from a PPP loan and thereby delay the start of the eight-week covered period. No, says the SBA. The lender must make a one-time full disbursement of the PPP loan within 10 calendar days of loan approval. For the purposes of this rule, a loan is considered approved when the loan is assigned a loan number by the SBA. Further details are available in Docket Number SBA-2020-0022.

Corporate Group Loans

The SBA addresses an issue much covered in the press: Can a single corporate group receive unlimited PPP loans? The answer is no. Notes the SBA: “To preserve the limited resources available to the PPP program, and in light of the previous lapse of PPP appropriations and the high demand for PPP loans, businesses that are part of a single corporate group shall in no event receive more than $20 million of PPP loans in the aggregate. For purposes of this limit, businesses are part of a single corporate group if they are majority owned, directly or indirectly, by a common parent.” Further details are available in Docket Number SBA-2020-0023.

Businesses should note that guidance is subject to change, and for the latest information, they should stay in touch with financial professionals.

The Importance of a Professional

Many companies who are seeing success in applying for loans have been very active with their bank representative. It’s a difficult time and many are further exhausted from the first round of applications and rejections in, what feels like to many, a rigged game. However it is important you do not give up and continue keeping in touch with your bank representative; actively following up and applying for these programs.

Additional Readings

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Lead Generation for Attorneys

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Lead Generation for Attorneys

Lead generation can be a very scary prospect for someone who has never done marketing before. You’re probably a terrific lawyer, but that doesn’t make you an expert at sales. Nevertheless, finding new clients is a critical part of running a firm.

So what are the best ways to generate new clients if you’re a marketing beginner?

Network in your community

You probably plan to garner new clients in your local community. So you have to start networking locally! Go to local events, volunteer for causes that are important to you (and relevant to your practice) and let your face be seen. This will help you establish credibility as someone who works with and within the community.

The American Bar Association puts it best in their article about successful networking:

Ask any successful lawyer how he or she built a practice, and you’ll hear, “It’s all about relationships.” The success of a law firm depends on maintaining and expanding relationships with existing clients and attracting new ones. You can’t do that unless you’re engaging with people and genuinely committed to helping others.

Join social media sites

Of course, networking hasn’t been the same since the advent of the Internet. Social media has changed everything, but that doesn’t mean you should sign up for every site that exists. Choose the right social media sites for you and your practice, ones that reach your target clientelle. The most common and useful for professionals are LinkedIn and Twitter, but 40% of attorneys also use Facebook.

Tips for…

Create a marketing letter to collect new interest from old clients

Client referrals are a great way to build a practice, but clients may not realize you want to be referred much less depend on it to grow your business! By crafting a marketing letter and reaching out to previous clients through snail mail, you put a personable touch in a digital world. No one needs yet another email, but we all love receiving letters and postcards from people we know.

Learn the basics of creating a marketing letter with this handy guide. And don’t forget to mention the obvious: you appreciate referrals!

Do you have any lead generation tips and tricks that have worked for you?

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Tax Considerations & Benefits for Law Firms

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Tax Considerations & Benefits for Law Firms

Whether you’re a partner or an associate in a law firm, the Internal Revenue Service has rules that apply specifically to you as well as several opportunities. Following is a list of tax provisions that affect attorneys in particular.

Tax Benefits for Partners in a Law Firm

Home office deduction

The home office deduction may be available to practitioners who run their business out of their home. This deduction is not as straightforward as it may sound: the space must be dedicated to running the practice. In addition, the deduction is based on the square footage of the dedicated space, not the total square footage. Once the square footage is calculated, a proportional share of expenses, including mortgage interest, real estate taxes and utilities, may be deducted. The deduction does come with a cap.

Unreimbursed expenses

Law firm partners may be able to use Schedule E to deduct business expenses that were not reimbursed by the firm. This is a valuable deduction because it reduces both taxable income and the self-employment tax.

Capital account loans

Interest paid on capital account loans also are deducible on Schedule E.

State taxes

State taxes are tricky. The total allowable deduction for all state and local taxes is limited. As long as the amount isn’t exceeded, you may be able to deduct any state taxes the firm pays on your behalf on Schedule A of your personal return. Ensure that you are filing in all relevant tax jurisdictions and document your filings and consider filing composite state returns.

Self-employed health insurance

If your firm shows a profit for the year, medical, dental and long-term care insurance costs may be an above-the-line deduction. This deduction is worth more than an itemized deduction.

Retirement savings

Take advantage of tax saving offered by your firm’s retirement plan. Deferring income can result in substantial tax savings.

Tax Considerations for Associates

Associates are salaried employees at their firms who have federal and state income tax taken out of their paychecks and whose income is reported on Form W-2. Consequently, they have fewer options for deductions. They cannot take itemized deductions unless they exceed the standard deduction amounts.

While more restricted in their options, associates may benefit from the following:

Unreimbursed business expenses

These expenses can no longer be deducted as a line item, but associates can ask their firms to implement an accountable reimbursement plan. Such a plan would allow associates to be reimbursed without having to report the reimbursements as income, and the partners would be able to deduct the amounts on their Schedule E.

Income deferral

Deferring income by maximizing use of the firm’s retirement plan may reduce taxable income.

Student loans

If your firm has a student loan payment program, the amount they pay may not be taxable if certain parameters are met.

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Do You Maintain These Key Management & Financial Reports?

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Do You Maintain These Key Management & Financial Reports?

Numbers may not be your forte but keeping track of certain numbers is key to the success of any law firm. Here are some key management and financial reports you should prepare – or have an outside source prepare for you – to understand the business health of your law practice.

  • Cash-flow projections:

    Spreadsheets that show how cash comes in, and flows out of, your business – usually 12-18 months of revenue and expenses. Most firms run these reports annually and update them monthly.

  • Balance sheet:

    List of a firm’s assets and liabilities on a particular date.

  • Profit-and-loss statement:

    Charts a firm’s profitability, either annually or quarterly. Shows revenues, costs, and expenses, and signals to a firm that, to become profitable, it must either cut expenses, increase revenue, or both. (Also called an “income statement” or “P&L” for short.)

  • Accounts payable aging:

    Gives a picture of how much money a firm owes, to whom, and when. This valuable planning tool tells a firm which bills are due this month or somewhere down the line, usually in 30-day increments.

  • Accounts receivable schedule:

    A monthly schedule that shows how much each client owes the firm. This schedule is key to keeping on top of collections.

  • Accounts receivable aging:

    A periodic report that shows how long clients’ bills have been outstanding. Collections that are slower than normal can be a warning that a firm is slowing down or taking on risky clients.

  • Hours worked:

    Every lawyer knows there’s a difference between hours worked and billable hours; both are included in this regular report that compares these hours to a daily, weekly, or monthly billing goal. A 2012 LexisNexis survey of about 500 attorneys showed a 33 percent gap between average hours worked and hours billed to clients. The biggest non-billable time-eater was “practice management and administrative tasks,” like billing, accounting, and filing. According to the survey, bigger firms typically report fewer non-billable hours than small firms with one or two lawyers.

  • Write-offs:

    Lists bills a firm never expects to collect from clients. Write-offs can result from a client complaint about service or billing, or they can result from hours spent on cases that a firm decides not to collect. Write-offs are often used as a snapshot of a firm’s efficiency.

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American Bar Association Chicago 2018 Annual Meeting

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American Bar Association Chicago 2018 Annual Meeting

ABA’s 2018 ANNUAL MEETING LOCATED IN CHICAGO

Is it summer yet? If you are like me, you are chomping at the bit to kick off your winter shoes for a pair of flip flops & hang out at one of Chicago beautiful roof top restaurants. It’s no wonder Chicago was named ‘2017’s Restaurant City of the Year’ by Bon Appetit & ‘Top City’ in Conde Nast’s “Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.”

As your calendar fills up for the summer do not forget to save the dates of August 2-7 for the American Bar Association’s Annual Meeting. Open Enrollment has begun, and you don’t want to miss some of the cool sessions they have scheduled for our fabulous city. This week-long event of CLE seminars, networking events & more starts August 2, 2018 and continues through August 7th.

The meetings will take place in nine of Chicago’s prestigious downtown hotels, with Hyatt Regency as headquarters. Registration packages range from an all access pass at $495 for ABA members ($695 for non-members) to an ABA Limited Registration at $95 for members ($295 for non-members).

A few sessions included in this year’s ABA annual meeting

Aug 4
Dispute Resolution @ Marriott 540 North Michigan Ave P 312.836.3010

Aug 2-4
Family Law InterContinental @ InterContinental 505 North Michigan Ave P 312.944.4100

Aug 3-4
Labor & Employment Law @ Swissotel 323 E Upper Wacker Dr P 312.565.0565

Aug 2-5
Solo, Small Firm, General Practice Division @ Swissotel 323 E Upper Wacker Dr P

Aug 2-4
Litigation @ Swissotel 200 North Columbus Dr P 312.565.8000

Aug 3-4
Real Property, Trust & Estate Law @ Fairmont Millennium Park 200 North Columbus Dr P 312.565.8000

Experience what the ABA Annual Meeting has to offer and save money by checking out CLE in the City – Chicago

Not interested in spending that much money? Check out CLE in the City where Chicago Law Firms open their doors for CLE courses on 8 specialty tracks. Earn 3.0 CLE credits during 16 CLE sessions while networking at Chicago area law firms. Sessions begin at $35 and include topic such as Cybersecurity Law (presented by Locke Lord LLP), Family Law (presented by Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP) & Litigation (presented by Jenner & Block LLP).

If you are interested in attending please see below for a few handy links for you to find what you need.

After you done feeding your brain, feed your stomach for lunch or dinner at rooftops of Raised or London House all while enjoying some breath-taking views of this city we love so much!

DIANA GARCIA, PARALEGAL WITH AMATA LAW OFFICE SUITES

Diana Garcia, Paralegal with Amata Office Solutions

She began with the company in 2010 as a Client Consultant and moved up to Paralegal in 2016 after attending DePaul University’s Paralegal Studies Certificate Program. In addition to being a Paralegal, Diana is fluent in Spanish and hold a BA in Public Relations also from DePaul University.

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Union League Club Chicago is Hosts Special Social Featuring Guests of Honor Judge Jamie Shapiro and Judge Erika Orr

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Union League Club Chicago is Hosts Special Social Featuring Guests of Honor Judge Jamie Shapiro and Judge Erika Orr

This social event is sponsored by the ULCC and attendees will have the opportunity to meet members of the ULCC Board of Directors, view the second largest private art collection in Chicago, and network with other Amata clients at this special event.

Special guests of honor will be the recently elected Judge Jamie Shapiro and Judge Erika Orr.

When: Thursday, May 3rd, 2018
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Where: Union League Club of Chicago
65 Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL

An RSVP is required to attend

Sign in for more info & to RSVP

Here’s What You’ve Been Missing at Union League Club of Chicago

  • Expand your professional and social network
  • A historic club committed to community, country, and culture
  • Temporary reduced initiation fee of $125
  • World-class art collection of more than 700 works
  • Award-winning chefs providing some of the best dining experiences
  • Access to unique experiences featuring at least 60 events per month
  • Family programs available every month
  • State-of-the-art health and fitness center
  • More than 25 interest groups
  • A public affairs committee committed to improving Chicago
  • Complimentary shuttle service

For reservations, email [email protected]

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2017 Spirit of Courage Benefit

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Spirit of Courage Benefit

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is celebrating 40 years as an international Jewish human rights organization that defends the safety of Jews worldwide, confronts anti-Semitism, hate and terrorism, and teaches the lessons of the Holocaust for future generations. It is involved in a multitude of community programs, events and social action including lectures and discussions with renowned speakers.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is also hosting the 2017 Spirit of Courage Benefit this Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 with keynote speaker, General David H. Petraeus. During the event, they will be honoring Leo Melamed with the International Leadership Award.

Leo Melamed

Having found long-awaited shelter in the U.S. during World War II, Leo survived the holocaust as a child after escaping Poland with his parents in a feat that took two years and spanned three continents. He grew to become globally recognized as the founder of financial futures.

Leo Melamed currently serves as Chairman Emeritus at CME Group (the Chicago Mercantile Exchange) and has received numerous awards including:

  • The 2005 CME Melamed-Arditti Innovation Award
  • The 2016 State of Illinois Order of Lincoln Award (the highest award conferred by the State of Illinois)
  • The Order of the Rising Sun, bestowed in 2017 by the Emperor of Japan for achievements in advancing world markets

As Chairman and CEO of Melamed & Associates, Inc., a global consulting enterprise, Leo Melamed has revolutionized futures trading and financial markets and was previously named by the former editor of The Chicago Tribune “among the ten most important Chicagoans in business of the 20th Century”.

Also being recognized during this event is Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, recipients of the Guardian of the Future Award, and Kinue Tokudome, who is being honored as a Medal of Valor recipient.

To learn more about the Simon Wiesenthal Center or how you can help support their cause, visit their website at www.wiesenthal.org.

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Growing Your Law Practice CLE with Steve Fretzin and Dan Lear

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Steve Fretzin and Dan Lear

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to sit in on the CLE hosted by Steve Fretzin, Attorney Coach, contributing writer for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, and Attorney Dan Lear, Director of Industry Relations at Avvo. I am not an attorney, but since my clientele is made up of over 800 attorneys I make it a point to stay up to date on as many legal matters as possible.

The subject matter was of particular interest to me since I have been all-hands-in with my own online marketing efforts lately. To be honest, the presentation and materials were great and about 10 minutes into the class I was sitting at attention and taking notes, no small task for someone who has dealt with a level of ADHD all his life. When Dan starting talking about branding a law firm, he keyed in on three themes: authenticity, knowing your ideal client and consistency. I guess these are all easy concepts to understand, but try practicing them and see how easy they are.

As you would expect from someone with experience working at Avvo, Dan brought up several examples to demonstrate these three points, but two really stood out for me. The first was an east coast law firm that specializes in 2nd amendment compliance & consulting. The firm is named Think Pink Law and uses the tagline “We do law. Differently”. Pink is not the last name of a partner, but it sure stands out and is very memorable. If I ever learn of someone in need of legal advice dealing with the 2nd amendment, I am quite sure I will remember Think Pink Law.

The second example I clearly remember from Dan’s presentation is from an immigration attorney who targets a specific clientele by offering assistance in filing Form I-864 for financial support. The target audience is divorced spouses of green card holders. Now I am sure this is only one part of their immigration law practice, but this one very targeted campaign really hits home with their clientele. After they provide quality service to this group, how many client referrals are they adding to their monthly intake? Target marketing such as this is a great way to grow a law practice.

Dan then went into a Top 10 Intake list for lawyers which was very insightful. You can view Dan’s entire list here. Many parts of this list is inspired by this article by Chicago-based Gyi Tsakalakis Lawyerist.

Then if all this wasn’t worth the price of admission (and the free lunch), Steve launched into understanding the “buyers’” mindset and started asking questions like, “What is your motivation for doing business development?” and “What makes someone successful at business development?” (I guessed at this one, somewhat incorrectly). Just for clarification, I translate “business development” to “keeping your new client intake machine churning even when you are on vacation.” Steve explained how behavior influences attitudes which in turn affects beliefs.

To me, this partially explains how a very knowledgeable attorney with a discomfort of speaking to strangers (think networking in an unfamiliar group) is able to change their attitudes and beliefs by attending more networking events and interacting with others. Steve also discussed how to choose the best networking opportunities and how to make the most of these sometimes-difficult learning experiences. If you are serious about growing a thriving law business while also enjoying the business of life you really need to attend Steve’s classes.

Steve has a great understanding in the field of building successful law businesses. After all, he has consulted hundreds of attorneys, both experienced and new practitioners, written two books on the subject, and speaks to lawyer groups around the country. Steve’s full presentation can be found here. You can also visit his web site and learn more about his newest program for attorneys, Origination Station, at www.fretzin.com.

As I mentioned earlier, Steve Fretzin is a contributing writer for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, and his June article, which can be found here, analyzes if the Differences Between Sales and Legal Business Development are just Semantics? and is a great read, offering some great tips to get away from the traditional “pitch” to clients and how to hold back to better understand what will motivate the client to hire you.

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Ron Bockstahler has has worked with individual attorneys and law firms for the past 30 years, gaining an in depth understanding of the business of running a law practice. He is the co-founder and CEO of Amata Law Offices and Managing Broker for Amata Realty Group, LLC, a real estate firm dedicated to consulting attorneys on their office space needs. Ron can be reached at [email protected] or (312) 924-0204.

Steve Fretzin is an Author and Attorney Coach and can be reached at [email protected] or at 312-981-0119.

Dan Lear is the Director of Industry Relations for Avvo and can be reached at [email protected] or 206-508-3012.

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