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| Annual Meeting Schedule |
EVENT MATERIALS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 910:30 a.m.– NoonISBA Board of Governors Orientation
Noon – 1:00 p.m.ISBA Board of Governors Lunch
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.ISBA Board of Governors Meeting
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.House of Delegates Meeting 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.Reception
6:45 p.m.Social at Bistro 33 Restaurant
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 108:15 – 9:00 a.m.Breakfast and Homeroom Roundtables
(0.8 hr. NLS)
9:05 – 10:05 a.m.Session 1: What’s Not Taught in Law School: How to Succeed and Feel Confident in the Modern Law Office (1.0 hr. CLE/.5 Ethics) Law school teaches theory, but the transition into real-life practice requires application. From writing concise and persuasive communications to finessing billable hours, success as a new attorney depends on mastering soft skills and understanding the unspoken expectations of a modern law office. In this session, Cari Sheehan and Chasity Thompson Osborn will walk you through the skills most needed in today’s legal profession. You’ll gain strategies for clear writing, learn how to track and summarize billable hours, and understand what being a “legal professional” even means. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Newer legal professionals who want to close the gap between law school and real-life practice, better understand the environments in which they work, and/or strengthen their professional skillset.
Session 2: Beyond the Case: Communicating with Empathy and Clarity to Build Strong Client Relationships (1.0 hr. CLE/.5 Ethics) In this session, Melissa Keyes and Ashley Hart will share practical strategies for client-centered lawyering. You’ll gain insights into how trauma, cultural backgrounds, and lived experiences may shape your client’s reactions and responses. You will also learn techniques for building empathy, delivering difficult news, meeting your client where they are, and maintaining healthy boundaries. By the end, you will leave with concrete tools to build stronger relationships with clients and strengthen your reputation as a trusted advocate. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Attorneys who want to level up their client relationships or those looking to refine their communication skills, create a strong and lasting client base, and balance professional empathy with personal resilience
Session 3: Leading Through Change: Strategy, Innovation, and Communication (1.0 hr. CLE) The legal profession is constantly changing. Artificial intelligence and new technologies raise questions about what it really means to be a lawyer, while attorney shortages across the state drive new approaches to practice. For legal leaders, success depends on how effectively you guide your team and organization through these changes. That can’t always be accomplished with the same strategic plans and approaches you’ve used previously. This session will explore the concept of dominant logic—the assumptions and mindsets that may be holding your firm back. You will learn how to challenge the belief “that’s how it’s always been done,” draft strategic plans that create space for innovation, and communicate change in ways that motivate and empower your team. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Firm and organizational leaders who want to find new ways of solving professional challenges, develop strategies that move their organizations forward, or strengthen their leadership approach 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.Session 1: The Fundamentals of Communication: How to Craft and Tailor Clear Messaging (1.0 hr. CLE) Strong communication is at the heart of lawyering. From breaking down complex legal issues for a client to drafting an email to a partner, your ability to tailor a message to your specific audience makes all the difference. In this session, William Gulley will share practical strategies for building and refining your communication skills. You’ll learn how to identify your audience and adapt your messaging, distill complex topics into clear points, and use storytelling to enhance your arguments. By the end, you’ll be equipped with tools to communicate more clearly, advocate for your goals, and build stronger relationships with your clients and colleagues. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Newer lawyers who want to refine their communication skills, increase trust with clients and colleagues, and reduce the amount of miscommunication that arises in daily communications Session 2: What’s Not Taught in Law School: Strategies for Managing Workflow and Workload (1.0 hr. CLE/.5 Ethics) Once you’re established in your practice, the demands only multiply—billable hours, partner assignments, client expectations, and questions from newer associates can all compete for your attention. Law school may prepare you to juggle exams and deadlines, but it doesn’t compare to the fast pace of a law office. In this session, Cari Sheehan and Chasity Thompson Osborn will dive even deeper into the soft skills that drive success. You’ll learn strategies for managing your workload, delegating tasks, and setting realistic expectations. By the end, you’ll leave with practical tools to manage your time more effectively, collaborate with your team, and handle rising caseloads without burning out. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Practitioners balancing heavy caseloads, client expectations, and growing leadership responsibilities, or those seeking to improve their time management and delegation skills
Session 3: ChatGPT and the Law Office: Practical Tips for Everyday Use (1.0 hr. CLE) This session will walk you through the fundamentals of ChatGPT and how it can be applied within your law practice. We’ll examine the strengths and limitations of ChatGPT and highlight practical ways you can use it to simplify routine tasks, improve communication, and supplement the tools you already rely on. Find ways to free up time for higher-value work and the parts of practice you enjoy most. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Attorneys who are curious and open to adopting new technology into their workflow. This session will be most valuable for practitioners who want to experiment with ChatGPT to improve efficiency and client communications, without sacrificing accuracy or professional responsibility. 11:25 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.Session 1: Ethics and Business Development: Building Your Reputation Early (1.0 hr. CLE/Ethics) Business development can feel daunting for newer attorneys, but it’s a necessary part of building a legal career. In this session, James Bell will introduce the fundamentals of business development and the ethics rules every attorney should keep in mind.
You’ll gain tips for networking in ways that feel approachable, strategies for improving your work product and communicating your value to partners, and guidance on marketing and advertising to set your career on the right track.
Key Takeaways
Who Might Enjoy This: Newer attorneys who want to build confidence in networking, learn more about marketing and client development, and begin building their professional reputation with both clients and colleagues
Session 2: Building Trust and Managing Conflict Through Communication (1.0 hr. CLE) Mid-career attorneys are frequently the “middle person,” managing conflict across different perspectives while still working to establish their own credibility. In this session, William Gulley will share strategies for using communication to build rapport, strengthen relationships with colleagues and clients, and manage friction in the workplace. You’ll learn how to handle difficult conversations, adapt your communication style to different generations, and lead from the middle. You’ll also explore how to embrace feedback as a tool for growth, and how to begin offering feedback of your own. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Emerging leaders who often find themselves in the middle. This will be especially valuable for those wanting to improve their conflict management skills and/or build trust with clients and colleagues. Session 3: Learning Out Loud: Exploring Mentorship as a Two-Way Street (1.0 hr. CLE) As a legal leader, your success is tied to that of your colleagues and dependent on your ability to foster trust within your team. Mentorship is one of the most effective ways to build that trust. In this session, Shelley Jackson will discuss the roles mentorship, sponsorship, and intergenerational collaboration play in shaping firm culture. You’ll learn strategies for building successful mentorship relationships, tips for communicating effectively across generations, and insights into what new hires can teach you about leadership. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Current leaders who want to improve office dynamics, better understand the values of their Gen Z and Millennial colleagues, build out their leadership pipeline, or serve as mentors in Indiana’s legal community
12:30 – 2:00 p.m.Lunch and Assembly Meeting
2:00 – 2:45 p.m.Session 1: Leading from Where You Are (0.8 hr. CLE) Being the newer voice on the team doesn’t mean you have to wait to lead. Leadership isn’t defined by title alone; it’s also about initiative, drive, and how you show up to meet your goals. In this session, Patricia Kinney and Tarah Baldwin will share strategies to help you take ownership of your career path. You’ll learn how to identify personal and professional goals, present yourself as trustworthy and capable, and share ideas with confidence—even across generational or organizational divides. This session will also explore practical ways to develop leadership skills outside of formal roles, such as through professional development opportunities and networking. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Newer attorneys who want to take control of their career growth and position themselves as emerging leaders within their firms and communities
Session 2: Leveling Up Your Business Development (0.8 hr. NLS) Developing a book of business is one of the most important habits you can build. In this session, Drew Soshnick will walk through the essentials of business development for attorneys ready to take the next step. You’ll learn strategies for networking that feel sustainable, gain guidance on advertising, and pick up practical tips for generating referral sources from past clients and colleagues. The session will also explore how to market yourself with confidence—even in the face of imposter syndrome—and how to create client relationships that last. By the end, you’ll leave with practical tools to build your own client base and grow your practice with confidence. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Emerging leaders who are ready to take ownership of clients, build their own book of business, and create lasting referral networks.
Session 3: The Ethics of Changing Firms: How to Handle Clients, Contracts, and Books of Business (0.8 hr. CLE/Ethics) Switching firms—or hiring someone from another firm—comes with far more than a change of office. It raises questions about client relationships, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and a range of other ethical obligations. In this session, James Bell outlines the key ethical considerations for both firms and individual attorneys navigating lateral moves. He will discuss confidentiality concerns, your duty to former clients, conflicts of interest, non-compete clauses, and more. He will also share general ethics rules for supervising attorneys and managing a modern law office. By the end, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of what you can and can’t do as an employer or a transitioning attorney. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Both firm leaders hiring laterals and attorneys considering a transition to a new firm who want practical guidance on their ethical obligations under the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct 2:55 – 3:40 p.m.Session 1: Understanding the Business of Law (0.8 hr. CLE/0.5 Ethics) How does a law firm function behind the scenes? How do different departments come together to create a business? What are the unwritten rules that guide office dynamics? In this session, we will discuss these questions and more. You’ll learn how law offices are structured and managed, how your billable hours contribute to the bottom line, and what opportunities for growth and leadership exist. Panelists will also share the tips and tricks they wished they’d known sooner. By the end, you’ll gain a clearer picture of the profession you’ve entered—the expectations, dynamics, and opportunities that will shape your long-term success. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Attorneys who are new to firm life and want to understand the broader ecosystem they work in. This session will also benefit anyone considering partnership, exploring alternative career tracks, or seeking to understand the culture and structure of different types of firms.
Session 2: Delegating and Managing Support Staff (0.8 hr. CLE) Balancing your own workload while managing associates and support staff can feel overwhelming—especially for attorneys stepping into leadership roles for the first time. Delegating effectively requires more than just handing off assignments; it’s about providing clarity, building trust, and creating an environment where your team can thrive. In this session, Tiffany Lemons will share strategies to help you manage your team more effectively. You’ll learn how to identify what to delegate (and what not to), give efficient and clear instructions, and provide feedback that motivates your team. You’ll leave with a toolkit of leadership strategies designed to help you be a better manager, provide agency and buy-in to your team, and free up work on your own plate. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Managers who want to strengthen their leadership skills, better support their staff, and more effectively delegate work
Session 3: Mediation as a Path Forward: Skills, Stories, and Strategies (0.8 hr. CLE/CME) Mediation requires a unique blend of legal knowledge, communication skills, and human insight. Few understand this better than practitioners who have served on both sides of the bench. In this session, (Ret.) Justice Steven David will share lessons learned from his journey as both judge and lawyer, offering practical mediation strategies that attorneys can apply in their own practices. You’ll gain insights into what makes mediations succeed, how to adapt your approach to different parties, and techniques for fostering resolution even in difficult cases. The session will also highlight how mediation can provide a meaningful career path for attorneys interested in transitioning out of traditional practice. Key Takeaways:
Who Might Enjoy This: Attorneys interested in sharpening their mediation skills, enhancing their ability to resolve disputes, or exploring mediation as a potential transition from traditional legal practice
3:45 – 4:30 p.m.Wrap up and Homeroom Roundtables
(0.8 hr. CLE)
6:00 p.m.ISBA Past Presidents Dinner (invite only) |
11/11/2025
Applied Professionalism Seminar
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201 N. Illinois St., Suite 1225
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-639-5465
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