Spreading knowledge: the LMA Ohio Chapter adds value to law school programming.

• Author: Wojtalewicz, Theresa
• Position: Outstanding Chapter Award

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The Legal Marketing Association proudly acknowledges its members and chapters through several different awards. In 2012, LMA introduced the Outstanding Chapter Award as a distinct honor to showcase the value that chapters bring to members, as well as their role in the advancement of the association and the profession. This year, the LMA Ohio Chapter received the Outstanding Chapter Award for its groundbreaking educational program designed specifically for law students.

Titled "The Basics and Beyond: A Legal Marketing Workshop Series," the curriculum launched in the first quarter of 2012 at The University of Akron School of Law. Liz Boehm, president-elect of the Ohio Chapter and regional marketing manager at Benesch, explains how the idea for the program originated--and where it is heading.

It All Started with a Novel Concept

In spring 2011, the LMA Ohio Chapter began brainstorming ideas for new educational opportunities. LMA Past President Jeanne Hammerstrom, an active member of the Ohio Chapter, mentioned to Boehm that she heard people in the legal industry were speaking at law schools and asked if the Ohio Chapter might want to consider doing something similar.

Conversations began, and several members--Liz Boehm, Ryan Daniels, Jeff Dennis, Mark Elliott, Erin Hawk, Courtney Iannelli and Jill Rako--spearheaded the effort. They developed the framework for a law workshop series but hadn't formulated long-term plans for the program.

To get started, the Ohio Chapter members created a menu of speech topics from which law schools could choose:

* Business Nuts and Bolts and Firm Functions

* Creating--and Executing--Your Strategic Plan

* Branding Your Practices, Your Firm and YOU!

* Being Social Media Savvy...for Business

* The Value of Public Relations and Crisis Communications

* Successful Networking and Relationship Building

* Communication, Presentation and Writing Skills in the Legal World

* Managing Your Professional Reputation

Equipped with a workshop concept and these topics, the members approached several law schools and spoke with representatives in the career planning offices. The Ohio Chapter let the universities choose programming that interested them, whether that was individual speakers, a series or a breakfast seminar.

First Stop: The University of Akron

When the Ohio Chapter members reached The University of Akron School of Law Office of Career Planning & Placement, they met with the director of career...