PinkSlips, Detours and OnRamps

On April 30, 2009, I’ll be teaming up with Julie Tower-Pierce, a fellow D.C. area lawyer and author of Staying At Home, Staying in the Law  for a four hour workshop entitled PinkSlips, Detours & OnRamps where we’ll be sharing advice and inspiration on ways to recharge and reinvent your legal career.   There are a couple of on-ramping programs already out there, but many are incredibly pricey (this one for example costs $2500!), plus they’re more focused on job re-entry, which may not be a possibility in this climate.  We’ll be discussing the myriad of options available in the 21st century and showing how to leverage these tools:

Here’s the full program description.  Go to Myshingleformomsdadstoo.com to register ($150 regular; $125 early bird)

Thursday, April 30, 2009
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Busboys & Poets
1025 K Street NW (5th & K), DC
(202) 387-7638

Presented by: Carolyn Elefant, Esq., author of Solo By Choice and the blog MyShingle Julie Tower-Pierce, Esq., author of Staying at Home Staying in the Law: A Guide to Remaining Active in the Legal Profession While Pursuing Your Dreams and the blog, Darling Hill.

A can’t miss event for lawyers who are:

• laid off or between jobs
• on a career detour
• "former/ex/recovering" lawyers contemplating re-entry
• (too!) busy raising a family or “staying at home”
• dreaming about hanging their own shingle
• feeling stuck in the law
• looking to connect with other “offramp” lawyers
• wanting to invigorate their careers or reinventing their practices
• doubting whether work/life balance exists or hoping to find balance
• law students planning for the future
• can’t find work in today’s legal economy

Program Schedule:

10:00 a.m. Registration
10:15 a.m. Welcome & Opening Remarks: State of the Law Address, Carolyn Elefant
10:30 a.m. Getting Back to the Law or Keeping Your Foot in the Law, Julie Tower-Pierce

Topics covered:

• What off-ramped lawyers need to do to stay marketable while on a career detour or between jobs, whether or not they plan to return to the law in the near future
• Reentry strategies for reconnecting to the law after a career detour
• Strategies for getting your legal groove back
• Strategies for building your brand
• Simple, effective job search strategies
• Finding and creating flexible work (e.g., jobshares, part-time work)

11:45 a.m. Hanging a Shingle on Your Own Terms: The Flexibility of Going Solo

Topics covered:

• Using Technology and Social Networks to restart, recharge, and reinvent your career
• Why a part-time or “slash” practice can be desirable and doable
• Launch 101 – inexpensive and easy strategies to get a practice up and running

1:00 p.m. Hands-On Workshop: Social Networks and Technology 101 & Networking

Why attend the Pinkslips, Detours & OnRamps Event:

• Connect with local lawyers who know what you’re going through (e.g., “mommy guilt”, work/life balance issues, career stress)
• Build and enhance your legal network
• Discover how to build your own brand and enhance marketability
• Learn strategies for creating the work/life balance you dream about
• Find out strategies for finding flexible, meaningful part-time work and how to go solo flexibly
• Familiarize yourself with the latest Web 2.0 technologies for time management, road warrior’ing and building professional and personal connections.
• Discover how to best use your time “between” jobs
• A “no excuse” event: casual attire, bring your baby
• Convenient and affordable alternative to the costs of alternative on-ramp or coaching programs