In-house Access | Association of Corporate Counsel | ACC

Employing Lawyers with Disabilities

By Maggy Baccinelli on May 15th, 2012 Posted in In the House, In-House Practice, On the Road

Last Tuesday, the American Bar Association’s Commission on Disability Rights hosted its 3^rd National Conference of the Employment of Lawyers, which ACC and MCCA cosponsored. The event included seven sessions and a lunch program that offered an update on ADAAA regulations and the status of disability inclusion in the legal profession; best practices for law schools, corporations and law firms; and personal success strategies for lawyers with disabilities. Information was digestible and applicable, but the program’s real highlight was its incredible range of perspectives. Speakers were corporate and private practice lawyers, judges, policymakers and government representatives, with and without disabilities.

During the luncheon, keynote speaker Seth D. Harris, Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Labor, attributed the recession, healthcare, education and discrimination as the four primary barriers to employment of persons with disabilities. He said 80 percent of working-age people with disabilities are not employed, nor looking for employment.

“If a person with disabilities stays on SSDI or SSI, they are guaranteed government care. In the labor market, the odds they will receive healthcare at all are getting worse.” Harris talked about DOL initiatives and proposed regulations that are working to reverse these challenges. He also gave the audience a list of available government resources, including the Employer Assistance and Resource Network, which offers onsite, customized DOL training for employers. “We have made it easy — I’d say quite easy — for employers to learn how to accommodate employees with disabilities,” said Harris. “We can’t conduct business as usual and expect the number of persons with disabilities in their organizations to increase.”

Networking at CCU 2011

By Zenneia McLendon on May 11th, 2012 Posted in ACC News, In-House Practice, Leadership, On the Road

In preparation for this year’s ACC Corporate Counsel University (CCU) in sunny Los Angeles, CA, check out this video from last year’s event as attendees discuss one of the benefits of CCU–networking.

ACC’s Corporate Counsel University (CCU) is designed specifically for attorneys who are new to in-house or who are looking to sharpen their basic practice skills. For information on this year’s event, visit www.acc.com/education/ccu.

ACC’s 2011 Census Report Discussion with President & CEO Veta T. Richardson

By In-house Access on May 7th, 2012 Posted in ACC News, In-House Practice, Leadership

An Insiders Guide to Amsterdam for ACC Europe’s 19th Annual Conference

By Zenneia McLendon on May 4th, 2012 Posted in ACC Europe

Amsterdam has a bustling, cosmopolitan and vibrant feel; it’s a city with a little something for everyone. World famous for its museums and 17^th century canals, the city centre is compact and easy to navigate on foot. Our conference venue, the five-star NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky is located in the heart of the city on Dam Square. Numerous tourist attractions are within easy walking distance, including the Royal Palace, Nieuwe Kerk, Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum and Heineken Brewery. Central Station is only five minutes away on foot with frequent trains running to Schiphol Airport. Alternatively, Schiphol Airport is just a 25-minute taxi ride.

When Managing Litigation, Be Sure to Wash Your Hands

By Kim Howard on May 1st, 2012 Posted in ACC Docket

(May 2012)

Many of you know that I have two children: a 14-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl. They share a bathroom. And, unless you are blessed to live with someone exactly like you, arguments about bathroom neatness are bound to occur.

After all the reminders, threats and punishments, my son is still your average teenage boy (i.e., messy, stubborn and lazy). One day, my daughter was finally fed up. She decided that a contract was the only way to make my son take the bathroom situation seriously. She wrote her own contract; listed her requirements; discussed the negative outcomes should he not comply; and had witnesses sign it. As you can see, the penalty for non-compliance is quite stiff. Continue Reading

ACC Europe Annual Conference

By Zenneia McLendon on April 18th, 2012 Posted in ACC Europe

For more information visit: www.acc.com/amsterdam

ACC Europe’s 19th Annual Conference 2012: Corporate Counsel delivering results while facing global demands.

In-house counsel are warmly invited to attend this year’s conference in Amsterdam from Sunday 13 – Tuesday 15 May 2012.

Collaborate, Plan, Work Smart and Get Noticed

By Maggy Baccinelli on April 16th, 2012 Posted in On the Road, Uncategorized

We’ve all heard the advice given to in-house counsel: Learn the business; create value; earn a seat at the table. It’s tried and true, but nothing new. What other suggestions exist for making positive differences in your businesses? In a unique session at ACC’s first Corporate Counsel Institute Canada, Ken Fredeen, GC of Deloitte Canada, offered some of his ideas: Collaborate, plan, work smart and get noticed.

Fredeen’s session focused on strategic planning and demonstrating success. For the mostly new-to-in-house audience, it was one of the last sessions of the two-day conference. And although attendees were beginning to (mentally) check out, Fredeen’s creative approach commanded their full attention.

“You work for me now,” he told his audience. “You’re all in my group, and I’ve asked you to do a strategic planning exercise.”

The 2011 ACC Census: It’s All About You

By Veta Richardson on April 12th, 2012 Posted in In-House Practice, Leadership

The in-house profession is constantly evolving and adding value. You sit alongside CEOs, vice presidents and the like –– and you are being listened to. You already know your value, even if you have to prove it to your companies every once in a while. You don’t necessarily need a census, or a survey for that matter, to tell you the great impact you have on the business. However, I thought you (and your companies) might want to know that the 2011 ACC Census, like the 2011 CLO Survey that came before it, echoed these sentiments.

ACC’s Census is the only comprehensive industry study that provides unique insight into your world as in-house counsel. To identify the trends affecting you, we surveyed almost 6,000 in-house lawyers (including CLOs and GCs) from the law departments of more than 4,000 companies.

It’s Packed Just Right

By In-house Access on April 5th, 2012 Posted in Annual Meeting 2012

In preparation of ACC’s 2012 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla., several ACC staff members took a site-inspection trip to visit the location of this year’s meeting, the Orlando World Center Marriott. Among the travelers were, Director of Education Liza Trey, Director of Information Technology Michaelle Shultz, and Director of Business Development Lucy Jones. Follow along as they each share their perspectives.

So I Married a Micromanager

By Kim Howard on March 30th, 2012 Posted in ACC Docket

(April 2012)

Some of you may know that my husband runs a business — one that I worked full time in for three years before ACC hired me in 2006. As with most small businesses, I was the jack-of-all-trades: marketing and communications, proofreader, bookkeeper, administration, and yes, human resources. I even got the boss coffee.

My husband and I shared a door between our offices and kept it open most of the time. Open doors, however, can have drawbacks. One day, after I got off the phone, he proceeded to say: “Next time, you should handle it this way … blah, blah, blah.” This wasn’t the first time he had done this, but on that day, I handled it differently. Continue Reading