ACC Focus on the New Jersey Chapter - July 4, 2008 (Print All Articles)

NJCCA President's Message

by Lee Bream

Mid-summer roundup.

To the Membership,

It is hard to believe that Summer is almost half gone.  While I don't want to rush the end of Summer, I would like to remind you of two of our most popular events coming this Fall and give you an advance notice about an exciting national value challenge for legal services.  

Full-Day Conference.

The event will be held on September 18th at the Hanover Marriott on Route 10.  This is a valuable and cost-effective way to earn your CLE requirements, catch up on legal issues, and network with colleagues.  Besides our usual full slate of substantive programs, we will have some additional surprises for you.  Look for upcoming details, including guest speakers.  

I think you will find one item particularly useful and valuable: we will have a professional photographer available all day to take portraits (head shots).   These will be high-quality and digitally retouched photos, not just the usual keepsake snapshot offered at social events.  You will need to reserve time at the start of the event.  

Annual Officers' Induction Dinner.

The dinner will be held on November 20th at the Hanover Marriott.  We are pleased to announce that the Capitol Steps will be performing.  The group is made up of ex-Congressional staffers and their political satire can be hilarious.  How better to follow the Fall election.    

ACC's Value Challenge.

The thesis is that many traditional law firm business models no longer deliver what in-house clients need: value driven, high quality legal services that deliver solutions for a reasonable cost. Law firm bills will continue to rise, especially with the ever-escalating salaries for starting associates.  All too often the cost of the service does not equate to its value to the client.  ACC's Value Challenge will address the challenge of reconnecting value to the cost of outside legal services. The plan is to gather input from interested members to bring about meaningful change and make a real difference for our clients and the profession. Since law firm/client relationships are individual and often local, ACC is requesting Chapter input.  With ACC's national support, NJCCA and other Chapters will be holding workshops, seminars, and/or webcasts to gather ideas for change (the more thought-provoking the better).  More details to follow.  

If anyone has comments or questions about any of the above, please email me at lee.braem@evonik.com.

Lee Braem
President NJCCA

Important New CLE Guidelines

CLE update

We've archived to our website three newly drafted document of interest to the membership.  They include the

NJCCA Financial Aid Policy Guidelines for CLE Events:

This documents outlines the financial aid policy that applies to all attendees of NJCCA sponsored CLE meetings, in accordance with the New York State CLE board rules. This is also the form to use when applying for a fee waiver for a NJCCA CLE event.

 New Jersey Corporate Counsel Association Program Guidelines:

These are the guidelines given to all program participants for programs sponsored by NJCCA.  SInce many of our attendees are members of the NYS Bar, these guidelines are intended to comply with the New York State CLE board rules, to maintain our accreditation as a CLE provider.

Checklist for Compliance with NY CLE Requirements:

A handy checklist for compliance with New York CLE requirements to ensure that every program sponsored by NJCCA comploies with the New York State CLE board rules.

NJCCA Profiles - Gail Girard

Ten questions for our the new Executive Director of NJCCA

NJCCA Interviews Gail Girard

1.  Tell us a little bit about your personal background.
I have two sons and one daughter and 6 grandchildren.  One son and family live in Mesa, AZ, and the other son and family live in New Jersey. My daughter and family live in Danville, CA. 

2.  What was your first job?
I had a summer job at the Bank of London & South American on Wall Street at 15 years old.  What a great experience working in the city!

3.  Tell us about your job before becoming the Executive Director of the NJCCA in 2008.
I held the position of Director of Meetings at the New Jersey State Bar Association for 19 years.  During that time, I was responsible for over 1500 meetings per year in the association’s building, the New Jersey Law Center.  In addition to the day-to-day operations of the meetings department, I planned the association’s yearly Annual Meeting and Mid-Year Meeting with the assistance of a Meeting Manager and Meetings Associate.  I worked closely with the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Section and Committee Chairs, past presidents, judges and the many members that belong to the association.
 
4.  What do you find to be your biggest challenges as Executive Director?
In these difficult economic times it is a challenge to “convince” someone to belong to an association.  I find it very satisfying that my contact with attorneys provides me with an opportunity to add members to NJCCA.
 
5.  What do you find most rewarding about your job?
I enjoy assisting members whether it is to change their email address or give advice on scheduling a program or just being there when needed.  I have begun to develop relationships with some of our sponsors and hope to bring in additional sponsors for the association.

6.  What do you like to do in your spare time?
IS THERE ANYTHING BUT SHOPPING!!

7.  What two people would you most like to have dinner with?
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton (at the same dinner).  I guess I would not get a word in, which would be unusual for me!

8.  What job would you most like to try/least like to try?
I am uncertain what I would not like to do, but I would like to work with the “Make-A-Wish” Foundation to plan some great events and the children’s dream vacation.

9.  What can’t you live without?
My new toy:  My “Blackberry”!

10.  Having worked at both the NJSBA and now with the NJCCA, any advice or tips for lawyers looking for career development opportunities?
Get involved!  Attend as many association events as possible and NETWORK at these events.  Plan on joining committees and assist with programs and/or events for the association.  In other words, be visible and hand out those 1,000 business cards that you just ordered!

New Contact Information for Executive Director

Update your contact list, and stay in touch!

Our Executive Director, Gial Girard has moved.  Her new contact information is:

Gail Girard, Executive Director
NJCCA
15 Pierhead Drive
Barnegat, NJ 08005
609.312.7772
NJCCA@comcast.net

 

SAVE-THE-DATE! Thursdsay, September 18, 2008

The Sixth Annual NJCCA All-Day Conference takes shape.

The New Jersey Corporate Counsel Association is planning the SIXTH ANNUAL FULL DAY CONFERENCE for our In-House Members. CLE credit will be available.

LOCATION:                Hanover Marriott Hotel
                                  Whippany
TIME:                         7:45 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE SUCH EXCITING TOPICS AS:

Employed Lawyer Insurance
Data Privacy/E-mail Pitfalls
Climate Change Debate:  Where is it going?
How to Run the 21st Century Law Department
Maximizing Your Insurance Policies and Coverage
The Impact of NJ's Civil Union Law
Hot Topics in Compliance
NJ Tort Law Developments
Career Development: Getting Unstruck Without Coming Unglued: Restoring Work-Life Balance     
Wage and Hour Class Action Litigation - From Varying Perspectives
How Sub-prime Lending Led to the Current Difficulties in the Banking Community
Doing Deals in China
What will Happen in this November Election????
How to Protect Your Company and its Individual Officers from Exposure by the Bear Market
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Eminent Domain in NJ
Intellectual Property Issues
E-Discovery for In-House Counsel
Immigration Law for In-House Counsel

We will also have an interactive luncheon and a networking cocktail reception.
 
We look forward to seeing you on SEPTEMBER 18, 2008!

Upcoming NJCCA Events

Register today for these relevant and insightful events.

SEPTEMBER

Sixth Annual All-Day Conference
Date: September 18, 2008
Time: 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Description: Full day of CLE, Career Enhancement and Ethics programs followed by cocktail reception.  Last year more than 150 in-house counsel attended the event, which featured 18 programs with 75 speakers.  Don't miss this stellar opportunity for education and networking planned by in-house counsel for in-house counsel.
Speakers:  Featured speakers will include general counsels from area corporations as well as legal experts from the best law firms in NJ, NY and Europe.
Chapter Contact: Gail Girard, Executive Director
RSVP Phone: (732) 234-6182 or for FAX (732) 282-0933 
RSVP Email: njcca@optonline.net
Member Cost:  TBD
Non-Member Cost:  TBD

NOVEMBER

NJCCA Annual Dinner
Date: November 20, 2008
Location: TBA
Description: Save the date for our gala Annual Meeting, featuring music and political satire by The Capitol Steps, whose motto is "We put the MOCK in Democracy." Also on the program will be Installation of 2009 officers and board members. Chapter Contact: Gail Girard, Executive Director
RSVP Phone: (973) 706-5027, by Fax (973) 706-5027 (call first) or via Email njcca@optonline.net
Cost: TBD

OVERRULED! by Aronds

As far as we know, still the only Chapter Newsletter with its own in-house cartoonist!