Philadelphia Bar Honored with Project Award from ABA GP|Solo Division

CHICAGO, June 10, 2009 – The General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division of the American Bar Association will recognize the Philadelphia Bar Association with its Solo and Small Firm Project Award during its Division Council Meeting Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Swissotel Hotel in Chicago as part of the ABA Annual Meeting.

The Philadelphia Bar Association will receive the award for work by its Law Practice Management Division that supports the work of solo and small-firm lawyers.

The bar began the project in 2006 in recognition of the fact that, while lawyers learned how to practice law successfully in law school, few lawyers were taught the skills necessary to build a successful business around their practices.

The Philadelphia Bar’s LPM Division provides a one-stop support for members with committees to offer resources in business management, financial management, marketing, technology and vendor/consultant relationships.  It also offers CLE programs on topics relevant to solos and small-firm lawyers throughout the year.

Its Vendor/Consultant Referral Program interviews and vets potential vendors and consultants who can offer practice management assistance in such categories as accounting and bookkeeping, client development, business coaching, information technology, web support, marketing and public relations.  The program then matches members with approved vendors and consultants that best suit their needs.  Through an online service the Philadelphia Bar’s LPM Division also facilitates self-referrals by members.

“By dedicating association resources to this endeavor, the Philadelphia Bar Association leads by example in providing support for solo and small-firm lawyers within a major metropolitan bar,” said Robert A. Zupkus, chair of the GP|Solo Division.  “This unique and valuable program is meeting a real need as supported by the positive comments from members and consultants.”

West, a Thomson Reuters business, is the sponsor of the GP|Solo awards.

With more than 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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