The Atlanta Lawyer December 2012 | Page 7

section update Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers Update By Nicole G. Iannarone I [email protected] n addition to many mentoring, networking and development opportunities for our members, the Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers (“ACYL”) has devoted much of our activities to giving back this year. We are thankful for the support of our fellow Atlanta Bar sections and their willingness to partner with the ACYL. The Sole Practitioner and Small Firm Section’s webinar series for lawyers considering starting their own firm has provided a treasure trove of information for our members, and we are honored to be a part of the series. Be sure to check out the archived sessions online and sign up to view the next sessions when they go live from the privacy of your own computer. Under the leadership of Rick Bold and Jonathan Smith, the ACYL’s Associates’ Campaign for Legal Services was extremely successful. Created as a grassroots effort over a decade ago, the Campaign, now permanently run by the ACYL, raised over $30,000 for legal services organizations this year, nearly doubling last year’s contributions! These Under the leadership of Matt Simmons, the ACYL has remarkable results would not be possible without the created a new 100% Club to recognize firms who commit to tremendous work done by the Campaign Coordinators at all of their younger lawyers joining the ACYL. There is still each participating firm and those firms who generously time to be an inaugural member of ACYL’s 100% club. The agreed to match their associates’ donations. During final results will be announced in January. Don’t let your firm the course of the Campaign, associates learn about the and associates miss out! legal services provided by our beneficiary organizations. Associates are also challenged to donate the value of one The ACYL is thankful for our engaged and active members billable hour to one or more of our beneficiary organizations. and the numerous projects we have undertaken this year. We are still tallying up the final results, so be on the Solutions wasWith our new Mentoring Breakfasts coordinated by Ashten Esquire Deposition lookout voted “The Best the Reporting Service of 2011” for more information in January concerning Court total dollars - TheBailey, Jamie Perez and Kristin Zielmanski, the Life of a Daily Report raised by each participant firm, the firms where 100% of Trial series overseen by Rhani Lott and Matt Pociask, our A warm thank you associates donated and the firms who provided to all of our clients and employees matching monthly socials coordinated by Jonathan Smith, and law student involvement measures run by Laura Benz and Doug funds. Miller, whether you are a younger lawyer, a law student or ACYL members have also been active serving the community even a younger lawyer at heart, there is an ACYL event for over the past several months. This summer,404.495.0777 |members you. Please join us next year! ■ ACYL www.esquiresolutions.com volunteered at the Georgia Justice Project’s Back 2 School Festival, helping to serve Georgia Justice Project’s clients Founded in 2001, FirmTech began as an IT services company focused on the Atlanta and families as they had a fun afternoon playing games legal market. Eleven years later, FirmTech has firmly established itself as Atlanta’s and receiving school supplies to start out the school year legal industry leader for professional IT Spotlight on services. Our expertise ranges from your right. ACYL’s board members also conducted a food network’s firewall to legal-specific software New Bronze Level Sponsor drive to support Georgia Justice Project clients around the applications that you rely on every day to make your firm an efficient enterprise. Thanksgiving Holidays. In December, the ACYL board For some firms, we are an entire IT department—full network installations, upgrades, adopted a family served by Atlanta Legal Aid and will be integrations and day-to-day network support. For others, we function in a purely consultative role—ensuring firms are making informed decisions on technology investments, while shopping to provide gifts and a few necessities to ensure keeping them on the cutting edge of technology. Whatever your IT need is, Firm Tech will fill that gap. that a family in need has a very happy holiday season. ACYL members interested in supporting an Atlanta Legal Aid family We also offer a full range of print management service, toner and printer service backed by a staff of IT professionals—a truly unique value-added offering in the Atlanta market. in need this holiday season may contact ACYL board member Each of our staff of 16 employees focuses his career on partnering with your business. Brianne Hart Erwin. We leverage our expertise with a full understanding of how our services affect your bottom line. Fast, affordable, reliable IT support. IT’s what we do. THE ATLANTA LAWYER The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association 27 December 2012 THE ATLANTA LAWYER 7