The Law Society provides organized conferences and events that help members fulfill the unique mission of the Law Society.
Consistently joining with others who share like-minded goals and values allows Law Society members to more effectively affirm the Law Society’s unique mission through public service and professional excellence. Holding meetings and events on a regular basis provides vitality to individual Chapters and a forum for fellowship, communication, mentoring, networking, and motivation to achieve the goals declared in the Law Society’s mission statement.
Chapters should produce a calendar of events on a yearly basis and post it as part of their Chapter page on jrcls.org. Notice of the updated calendar of events should be sent around to Chapter members.
Chapter events should be publicized at least via e-mail and websites, and if appropriate by mailings, flyers, newsletters, and other means. Experience shows that maximum attendance occurs when the Chapter Board and other volunteers make personal phone calls and other direct one-on-one contact inviting Chapter members to attend and to RSVP as necessary. Establishing and promoting a Calendar of Chapter Events or at least a regular meeting schedule also results in greater attendance.
Chapters are free to select the types of events that are most appropriate for their Chapters and the needs of their members. However, regular Chapter events should be held. The following are some of the types of events that many Chapters have held.
Our most successful Chapters usually have one major annual event. Any affiliated Student Chapters usually participate in this event as well. Often the annual event takes the form of a dinner or lunch. Some Chapters hold these in connection with a presentation by a significant key-note speaker, the annual fireside broadcast, an annual award presentation, or some other attraction that will help draw their members to the event. Some Chapters use their annual event as a means for generating revenue for the Chapter. New Chapters often use kick-off events to start their Chapters, which then become the basis for their annual event. Some Chapters have found an annual event is an excellent time to:
Successful Chapters hold regular meetings throughout the year. Sometimes these take the form of monthly or quarterly lunches or breakfasts featuring an invited speaker or a specific topic of discussion. Student Chapters in particular might meet as often as weekly throughout the school year and study from the lesson outlines available at this location. For some Lawyer Chapters these meetings often provide opportunities for Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) credit if the proper procedures are followed as outlined by the jurisdiction in which CLE is being sought. Some Lawyer Chapters have become accredited CLE providers to accommodate this. Chapters should make sure they have reviewed and complied with local CLE requirements if they elect to promote an event as being a source for CLE credit.
If there is a charge for members to attend such meetings, the costs should be reasonable or subsidized by sponsors or other Chapter revenue so as not to exclude members from attending these regular meetings. Lawyer and Student Chapters in the same areas are encouraged to coordinate their meetings and invite each other to attend them as appropriate.
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