In this three-part professional development series, academic faculty and fellow ACC members will introduce you to essential business skills required to succeed in today's competitive corporate legal environment. You will gain a foundational understanding of business concepts and principles that can develop your business acumen and sharpen your management skills.
Learn how to elevate your role to a strategic thinker who can ask the right questions and help design real-world solutions to issues that your organization faces. This program will allow you to acquire knowledge on a streamlined schedule, so you can continue to manage your day-to-day professional commitments while learning.
Join us for three consecutive Friday mornings, August 2, 9, and 16, 2024, from 9 AM to 11 AM via Zoom. Registrants can opt in for complimentary Uber Eats vouchers and enjoy a meal while you learn.
An optional in-person capstone celebration is included with registration.
This program is open to ACC members and in-house counsel guests. Admission is $99 for ACC members and $199 for non-members.
6.0 Standard CLE credits are pending in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
SESSION 1: Human Resources
Aug 2, 2024 | 9 AM - 11 AM CT
The mobilization and management of human assets are critical to effective management for both nonprofit and commercial organizations. In this workshop, participants will learn about the challenges and practical applications for managing human resources in mission-based and commercial organizations across a diverse workforce, including considerations for directors, employees, independent contractors, and volunteers. Several aspects of human resource management are discussed and examined from this perspective, including job analysis; acquisition and expertise; motivation; onboarding; reward and control; organization development; compensatory systems; performance appraisal and career development; documentation; policies; compliance; leave and accommodations; risks and mitigation; safety and security; selection and diversity; terminations; and training amidst ever-changing (and sometimes conflicting) laws and regulations.
SPEAKERS: Douglas M Ihrke, Sarah Sederstrom, MBA, CIPP-US, CPA, Karin Simonson
SESSION 2: Finance/Accounting
Aug 9, 2024 | 9 AM - 11 AM CT
It is critical for a lawyer to understand basic accounting concepts and how they can impact corporate financial decision-making. This introduction to accounting and other financial concepts for non-accountants will include
- Accounting 101, understanding the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows, financial terms such as EBITDA, and the impact of noncash items like depreciation and amortization, goodwill testing and impairment, and stock-based compensation
- Understanding how a company recognizes and books revenue and how it can impact a lawyer’s role in the organization
- SEC reporting, including the use of non-GAAP financial metrics, understanding industry-specific accounting issues, and subsequent event accounting
- Working with internal accountants, including use of a disclosure committee and processes for legal accruals
- Interacting with outside auditors, including the audit opinion, audit materiality thresholds, and obtaining litigation letters from outside counsel
SPEAKERS: Jaquilla Allen, MPA, Kirk Johnson, Kent Schoen
SESSION 3: Corporate Communication and Strategy
Aug 16, 2024 | 9 AM - 11 AM CT
Legal team + communication team = an unstoppable force for your organization
Join Julia Schultz, Marquette University communication professor and consultant; Erin Davenport, Associate General Counsel, Johnson Brothers; and Mike Mather, General Counsel, HealthEZ; to learn how working with your communication team can help further your organization's goals and benefit your internal and external stakeholders. This panel will address:
- How an organization's reputation is built, along with approaches that can help maintain or repair it
- Why clear and consistent internal communication is essential to building strong relationships with employees, board members and other key stakeholders
- Techniques for bridging the gap between the hyper-technical practice of law and hyper-practical business operations
- Ways to work with the media for a mutually beneficial relationship that can help further the organization's efforts
- How communication and legal teams can work together on common goals and challenges
SPEAKERS: Julia Schultz, Erin Davenport, Mike Mather