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Volume 59, December 2008
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In This Issue:
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Business Continuity Plan - The Latest Business Fad or a Necessary Tool for Survival?
By Christopher J. Couch, Managing Partner of Couch, Stillman, Blitt & Conville
How often have you heard or read about business continuity over the past 36 months? Countless times, I am sure. It almost seems that clients, peers, and industry leaders have uttered the words "disaster plan" or "continuity plan" more often than any other concept, including liquidation rates, market share, and profit margins. But ask yourself, "Have I really taken business continuity seriously?"
While all of us realize that preparing for catastrophic events is vital, all too often we place it on the "back burner." What causes this human reaction? I believe that the procrastination associated with business continuity planning stems from the, "that only happens to other people" attitude.
Our firm maintains three offices in the Gulf South, so the need for a detailed, tested plan seems obvious. However, the natural disasters of the last several years, including landslides, brush fires, hurricanes, and massive flooding, have threatened businesses all over the United States. One of my client's offices in Ohio lost power for several days due to Hurricane Ike. In fact, according to FEMA, the Midwest has experienced 62 federally-declared disasters since 2006, which is 33% of all federal disasters during that time. It now appears that your prior procrastination must come to an end!
Read the complete article "
Business Continuity Plan - The Latest Business Fad or a Necessary Tool for Survival?".
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Getting Active and Staying Active in the Collection Industry
By Theresa A. Weinberg, Partner Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co., L.P.A
Perhaps you are a newly licensed attorney, just starting your legal career at a law firm. Maybe you have been in practice for a few years but are not making any progress in your professional development. Or perhaps you have been practicing law in another industry and now find yourself in the world of collections. Getting active in the industry can help you advance your career but what can you do to become active and stay active in the collection industry?
The best place to start is to join and become active in one of our industry's associations. There are various associations in the collection industry that can best match the nature of your practice. The major national associations are National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA), Commercial Law League of America (CLLA), Debt Buyers' Association International (DBA International), and National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP). Each association has a website that you can use as a starting point to get more information on their purpose and their events. The websites can also give you information on how to become a member. Many states
also have state bar creditor's attorney associations that you can consider joining. There are also groups targeted to specific types of members, such as Professional Women in the Collection Industry (PWCI).
Joining and becoming active in one of these associations is a great place to start on your road for professional development. If you are a new attorney or new to the industry, you are mainly associated with the law firm that you are a part of. When you are in court, or with a client, your association with the law firm is what gives you credibility with people that don't know you. A way to achieve success at your firm and to develop new business is to begin to develop a name for yourself in the industry. If you become active in an association, you will have the opportunity at association conferences to meet with existing and prospective clients.
Read the complete article, "Getting Active and Staying Active in the Collection Industry".
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Press Releases
Board of California Creditors Bar Association Announces New Officers
Harvey Moore, Esq. of The Moore Law Group, Orange County, California, has been elected president of the California Creditors Bar Association for the 2008 - 2010 term. As head of the largest creditor bar association in the western United States, Mr. Moore will lead the association in its diverse education and advocacy opportunities for its members.
Read the complete press release Board of California Creditors Bar Association Announces New Officers.
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National Business Institute (NBI) - Continuing Education
Our partner in continuing education National Business Institute, the nation's largest public provider of continuing education, offers tuition savings on ALL NBI continuing education courses for NL Members & Registered NL Users!
Check out some hot topics offered in the coming months (check out the Teleconferences too!)
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