Washington Lawyer - April 2019 - 17

GET TO KNOW
Considering the evolving and globalizing nature of the legal profession, the
lingering effects of the 2008 financial downturn, and the unique environment
of the nation's capital, the PMAS has emerged as a key resource for attorneys
who are starting, growing, and managing a practice in Washington, D.C.
When Aaron Pease, founder and principal attorney of Highbridge Law Firm, LLP,
relocated from Florida to Washington, D.C., he found that the PMAS was a great
way to orient himself with the D.C. legal community and learn more about
managing a firm in the city. Pease immersed himself in the PMAS's training
seminars and quickly became a fan of practice management advisors Mills and
Washington.
"In the Basic Training & Beyond class, they work in tandem," Pease says. "Dan lays
down a great fundamental baseline in the first session, and in the second,
Rochelle builds on it in a way that's necessary. Together they provide a very
rounded educational experience."
Mills joined the staff in 2008, bringing nearly three decades of small firm experience to the role. Formerly a small firm lawyer in Maryland and the District of
Columbia, Washington joined the PMAS in 2013. Together, Mills and Washington
are the face of the PMAS, leading the training seminars, conducting confidential
practice management assessments, and fielding business and ethics questions
from attorneys.
"D.C. is a very unique place to have a law firm, and we spend a lot of time
helping people start and grow their firms," says Mills. "What we do is designed
to help lawyers do a better job in running their business, representing their
clients, and avoiding disciplinary issues in their business."
A topic that Bar members frequently bring up is technology and how best to
integrate it into their firms. In the first session of Basic Training & Beyond, Mills
primarily handles the general questions, and in the second session, Washington
dives deeper into technology and IT selection and security issues.

THE DEPARTMENT OF REGULATION COUNSEL
The Practice Management Advisory Service is only one
facet of the D.C. Bar's Department of Regulation Counsel,
which offers a range of programs and services to attorneys.
All of these services are confidential and either free or
low-cost.
Legal Ethics. The Legal Ethics Committee issues formal opinions on
questions arising under the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct. Legal
ethics counsel provide confidential, informal advice and guidance
in response to telephone inquiries or emails about legal ethics issues.
202-737-4700, ext. 1010; ethics@dcbar.org
Lawyer Assistance Program. The LAP provides free and strictly confidential support and counseling to lawyers, law students, and D.C. judges
who experience substance abuse, mental health problems, and stressrelated issues that interfere with their personal lives or professional
careers. 202-347-3131; lap@dcbar.org
Fee Dispute Program - Attorney/Client Arbitration Board. The
board provides confidential, final, and binding arbitration of fee disputes
between members of the D.C. Bar and their clients or former clients for
a small filing fee. 202-780-2779; acabinfo@dcbar.org
Clients' Security Fund. This service reimburses clients up to $100,000
per claim for losses caused by embezzlement or the wrongful taking or
conversion of money, property, or other valuables by D.C. Bar members.
202-780-2780; csfinfo@dcbar.org
Rules of Professional Conduct Review Committee. This committee
regularly examines the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct to determine
if changes are necessary. Proposed changes are then considered by
the Board of Governors and the D.C. Court of Appeals. 202-780-2766;
ethics@dcbar.org

"Technology can be extraordinarily overwhelming, especially when beginning
your firm," says Washington. "There are questions about case and document
management, budgeting and billing software, and more. So we guide attorneys
to identify what they need, look more at their workflows, see how they want to
manage their firm, then incorporate the appropriate tech, not just what
everyone else is using."

We guide attorneys to identify what they need, look
more at their workflows, see how they want to
manage their firm, then incorporate the appropriate
tech, not just what everyone else is using.
ROCHELLE WASHINGTON
PMAS Senior Staff Attorney

For Pease, his involvement with the PMAS led to new opportunities and
chances to network. He was invited to lead a Small Firm Lunch and Learn Series
on blockchain technology, and he now serves on a Hearing Committee for the
Board on Professional Responsibility. For attorneys managing their own
practice, the PMAS is vital, says Pease.
"Attorneys are really good at certain things, but business and managerial
aspects are probably not at the top of the list," he says. "And that's what really
comes through in Dan and Rochelle's presentations - all the business
elements they don't teach you in law school. It's super relevant for a solo or a
small firm practitioner, particularly in a hypercompetitive market like the District.
It's indispensable."
For more information on the D.C. Bar Practice Management
Advisory Service, visit dcbar.org/bar-resources/
practice-management-advisory-service.

APRIL 2019

WASHINGTON LAWYER

https://www.dcbar.org/bar-resources/practice-management-advisory-service/ https://www.dcbar.org/bar-resources/practice-management-advisory-service/ http://dcbar.org

Washington Lawyer - April 2019

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