campaigns : Campaign Archive

Fall 2007 | Volume I, Issue 3

Outside
the Box

I love visiting our offices - it's wonderful to meet our attorneys and clients, have conversations about the assignments we're working on, hear about how well we're doing, brainstorm ideas of how we can do better, and see how people have taken the initiative to change their lives. As I've been revisiting these conversations and reflecting on the year to date, one word keeps popping in my mind: "Box."

Why would I think about this other than the fact that my three boys like to "box" more often than I would care to admit? Well, it's very apparent to me that we've made tremendous progress this year in removing the stereotypes and "boxes" people put around our company and the type of services we provide.

Very early on I learned that one of the challenges in being an entrepreneur - especially as I tried to create something that didn't previously exist - was getting people to realize that there is something out there that doesn't fit within their personal "boxes" that could really help them. This will always be a challenge to a certain degree, but it's encouraging to see how this has become much less of an obstacle.

We've all been in that situation of being in the middle of telling someone something and that person cuts you off by assuming they know what you are going to say. When I first started the company and told people what I was doing, immediately I would get, "Oh, you're a headhunter." I would take the time to explain that, no, in fact, that's not what we do. Then I would hear, "Oh, you're a recruiter." Actually, I would say, we don't "recruit" in the traditional sense - we work

with people who are looking at where they are in their career and then figure out if working with Counsel On Call will provide a viable career option. I was also regularly told that we’re a staffing agency. Again, I would explain that we provide lawyers an option to the traditional practice without sacrificing professionalism and quality.

Well, after seven years and because of fabulous attorneys like you, these boxes are being removed. I have heard some incredible remarks in the past few weeks – "Oh, Counsel On Call Attorneys are those who have really taken control over their lives" and "Counsel On Call Attorneys are amazing – I really respect their ability to get their priorities in-line." That doesn’t even speak to all the comments I receive on a daily basis about the quality of our lawyers and the services we provide. It’s clear that people now, more than ever, are actually getting what we’re all about.

Part of the reason for all of this is the willingness of our attorneys to share their stories. Whether that has come through one of you going to lunch with a colleague, our attorney profile ads in one of the Bar Association publications, or via our website, it’s really helped put everything in context – for other lawyers and our clients. When our new website rolls out next month, our attorneys’ stories will be front and center.

To think about all of this gives me an incredible since of pride. I was the child who would never stay in the lines when I colored, so I guess it comes as no surprise that I wanted to create a company that enables attorneys to get out of the box that others have painted for them. To see it happen, well … it makes everything worthwhile.

So we’re going to continue thinking and living outside of these boxes. Without walls and borders defined by others, the possibilities are endless.

Briefs

New Team Members Welcomed

As part of a company effort to provide more support to candidates and our offices, we are pleased to announce the addition of four new team members:

Richard Stout, a former Counsel On Call Attorney, has joined the corporate office as VP of Resource Development. Richard has more than 10 years of experience practicing law and will work to continually improve our programs and resources offered to clients and candidates.

Tasha Brown has joined the Chicago office as placement coordinator. Tasha, a Stanford University (B.A.) and Washington University School of Law grad, comes to us from Peterson & Ross where she practiced in the litigation department. Most recently, Tasha worked with Thomson CompuMark, where she educated attorneys on intellectual property search products.

Felicha Hanley and KC Callahan have joined the Atlanta office as placement coordinator assistant and administrative assistant, respectively, providing much-needed support to team. Felicha is a previous Atlanta team member who we are fortunate to have back and KC came to us after her move to Atlanta from California.

Family, Farms and Flexibility

Not too many people outside of Tennessee know about the town of Murfreesboro. But for Chamise Sibert, it’s the center of her life.

Her family has settled in the growing suburb, located about 30 minutes from Nashville, and she spends a lot of her time with them. And what a large family it is – her parents, four of her seven siblings, and a large number of nieces and nephews all live there. With adults, teenagers and children of all ages in such close proximity, it makes for a very close family.

"It’s such a blessing to have so much family in one area," said Chamise, who grew up in Detroit, Mich. "I come back whenever I possibly can, which is almost every weekend."

Her desire to spend more time with her family played a large role in coming to work with Counsel On Call. A scholarship and honors student at both Vanderbilt School of Law and Middle Tennessee State University (B.A) and a former judicial clerk, Chamise had many opportunities after receiving her law degree. She spent four years with large firms and as staff counsel for a municipal

Chamise enjoys spending time with her family,

at the horse farm -- or both.

utility, but soon realized those avenues weren’t going to provide her the flexibility she needed outside the office.

"There are so many things I love to do, and practicing law is simply one of them," she said, noting that her boyfriend, Al, lives in Chattanooga and usually comes back to Murfreesboro with her on the weekends. "Counsel On Call gives me the opportunity to control my schedule and not worry about preparing for trial over the weekend or working until 8 p.m. each night. All that time is freed up to do other things."

Through Counsel On Call, Chamise has taken advantage of an opportunity to work

on assignment with a large firm in Atlanta. It's a good situation because Chattanooga is halfway between Atlanta and Murfreesboro and makes for quick trips to see Al, or a good stopping point on the way to see her family.

"I liked working in a big firm, and I’m working with one of the best in Atlanta," she said, adding that she works 40 to 45 hours per week on the assignment. "The work is still challenging and the schedule really meets my needs. I’m putting a lot of miles on my car, but it’s a wonderful way to work and remain close to those who mean so much to me.

When home, Chamise – an avid rider – also escapes to a friend’s horse farm whenever she can. It’s a great way for her to forget about life’s worries, unwind, and enjoy the outdoors. She is also very active in her church, a place where her family congregates and where she catches up with friends and neighbors.

"Everyone has remarked how much happier I seem since I’ve been working with Counsel On Call, and I couldn’t agree more."

Faces & Places

(from top)

Clay Travis speaks at the "Fantasy Football: Harmless Fun or Illegal Gambling?" CLE.

Counsel On Call was well represented at the Nashville Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Future 50’ companies awards dinner.

Melissa Davis and her daughter, Sarah, recently participated in marketing photo shoot in Atlanta. More photos will be up on the website soon.

Carson Lewis, the seven-year-old son of COCer Toni Lewis, designed and built a scarecrow as part of a special Halloween program at Cheekwood Art & Garden in Nashville.

Counsel On Call recently participated in the Georgia Association of Paralegals dinner, where we gave one lucky winner an iPod Nano.

Do you have any story ideas for this newsletter? Any accomplishments or news to share about yourself or a colleague? We want to hear from you! E-mail Chad Schmidt with your ideas.

Events & Other News

Lots of Activity in Memphis

The Memphis office has been busy recently with a series of events. The team sponsored a CLE with the Corporate Counsel section of the Memphis Bar Association on August 23rd, which discussed the implementation of the new federal rules regarding discovery of electronic documents. Dennis McKinnie, executive director of the Atlanta office, participated as a panelist and shared his extensive expertise on the subject. On August 30th, the office sponsored a well-attended Young Lawyer's happy hour at Pearl’s, a hip new restaurant downtown, in conjunction with the Memphis Bar Association.

Upcoming events include: Sponsorship of the "Lawyers as Peacemakers, Lawyers as Problem Solvers" regional conference at the University of Memphis School of Law Oct 28 and 29; the "Legal Legs for Justice" 5k Run/Walk on Friday, Oct. 26, for which Andy and Estelle are looking to form a team; and entering a team in the Memphis Bar Foundation Golf Tournament on Monday, Oct. 22. If you’re interested in any of these events, please contact Estelle for more information.

Sports Theme Draws a Crowd

It’s hard to remember a time when attorneys were so excited about a CLE, but the "Fantasy Football: Harmless Fun or Illegal Gambling?" CLE on Sept. 25 certainly stirred up plenty of interest in Nashville. More than 50 attorneys attended the event at The Long Shot Sportsbar, where Counsel On Call Attorney and CBS Sports.com columnist Clay Travis led an entertaining discussion on the issues surrounding the popular activity. The event was the first in a three-part CLE "Sports Series" – ‘Torts and Sports’ (Oct. 23) and ‘Intellectually Speaking’ (Nov. 27) will also be held at The Long Shot. For more information, contact Claudia Richardson.

Attorney Correspondent: Jennifer Stone

Welcome to a fun new article, formerly known as "All You Ever Wanted to Know About Candice Reed," providing you the clever and witty insights of one Counsel On Call Attorney. I’ve had lots of suggestions for a first article, from "Can Simon Cowell Really Save Britney’s Career" to "What Does a Counsel On Call Attorney Wear for Halloween (And What’s Scarier Than A Lawyer Anyway)."

The purpose of this newly created article is to give our hard working minds something a little more entertaining to ponder than the rule of perpetuities, so I thought I’d start with why I’m grateful to be with Counsel On Call. Besides the really fabulous benefit of having my body fat measured by a handsome and fit man through the Health & Wellness Program, it gives me some fodder to compare my life to my sister’s and know that all is good.

My sister, affectionately known as LBSPP (Little Baby Sissy Poo Poo), is an attorney working in corporate real estate at a large firm in New York. My greatest joy is to call her around 10:00 p.m. to tell her I am in my pajamas, crawling into bed. This is usually met by either a series of expletives or unintelligible grunts, as she is undoubtedly at the office gearing up for another riveting session of contract review. Also, when on vacation, I like pointing out to her that usually this means you leave work behind, not

that you wake up at 7:00 a.m. to receive your Fedex shipment of documents that must be reviewed by Noon. She’s not afraid to hurl things at me and has almost knocked over my bloody Mary a couple of times.

Of course all of this means that LBSPP has very little sympathy for me when I tell her how swamped I am (despite her sisterly duty to always support me). My work through Counsel On Call here in South Carolina keeps me plenty busy, actually, but that doesn’t seem to register with her. That being said, I feel like her big-firm salary really should allow her to support me in other ways, like a plasma television or a small house at the beach. Nothing fancy. I’m reasonable.

On a final note, I know that many of my readers will be quite disappointed to find that the column has changed from revealing the secret life of Candice Reed ... Well fear not, we have a newly hired crack staff of researchers and correspondents who will unearth the truth and our findings will be revealed at a later date. You’d better watch your back, Candice.

In all seriousness, Candice and Counsel On Call have been great to me and I’ve been very happy with the choice I made to work with the company. I’m still waiting for the Counsel On Call CLE on "How To Torment Siblings Who Are Also Attorneys," however, so if any of you have any words of wisdom on this topic, please pass them on.

Jennifer Stone is a Counsel On Call Attorney working in Columbia, SC. She is a former associate with Moore & Van Allen, a cum laude graduate of Brooklyn Law School and also received her M.A. in Industrial Organizational Psychology from New York University. Look for more articles from our attorneys in future newsletters, or if you’re interested in authoring a column, please contact Chad Schmidt. Jennifer can be reached at jenniferk.stone@gmail.com.

Leigh Ann Roberts (Nashville) Attorney, was recently selected to join Construction Dispute Resolution Services, LLC, a distinguished mediation and arbitration panel. The firm, based in New Mexico, specializes in both residential and commercial construction disputes. Leigh Ann is only the second person in Tennessee to be accepted into the group.

Marva Richardson (Atlanta)

Attorney, gave birth to Kennedy Thibodeaux on July 31 (at right, lower left). Mother and daughter are both doing great.

Andy Branham (Memphis)

(Below, second from right in photo) Was honored with a pro bono service award by the Legal Services Corporation of America for his commitment to bringing pro bono opportunities to in house lawyers.

Top of the Class

Jane Allen (Corporate)
Is a panelist at the well-attended "Pathways to Diversity" conference in New York on Nov. 8. The panel will discuss issues surrounding work-life balance and flexible work environments for male attorneys.

Nancy Pitra (Atlanta)
Gave birth to Liam Bogan on Aug. 16 (at left, lower right). Liam weighed in at 7 lbs., 14 oz., with a full head of dark hair – just like his mom.

The Bulletin Board

Website to Relaunch Nov. 1st

We will relaunch our website on Nov. 1, a more user-friendly version that will have plenty of new features, including:

   - A new video focused on recruitment
   - More podcasts from our attorneys
   - Large spreads featuring our great
       new photography
   - Stories of several of our attorneys
   - FAQs, corporate contact lists,
       and other useful services

We hope the new site will become more of a resource for you and that you will send us your feedback and suggestions after you've had a chance to scroll through it. Look for more details soon.

Jane Allen has been named the winner in the ‘Entrepreneur’ category for the Williamson County Impact Awards by the Nashville Business Journal. The ceremony will be held at a Nov. 8 breakfast.

Health & Wellness update: 39 people are currently signed up for the program, a 116% increase from just two months ago. Kendra Rodgers has diligently (and persistently) contacted those interested, and with the help of several fun group events, the results are showing. E-mail Kendra if you want to learn more.

Counsel On Call has once again been recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies. A profile of our company will be listed in the upcoming "Inc 500" issue.

Nashville placement coordinator Claudia Richardson recently spoke to the Middle Tennessee Paralegal Association about career counseling and new opportunities for paralegals. One attendee called Claudia the "best speaker we've ever had" and she has been invited to speak to the group again in early 2008.

Counsel On Call was selected as one of Nashville’s ‘Future 50’ companies by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. It was the fourth time we’ve won the award – five-time winners are enshrined in the Future 50 Hall of Fame. Start getting ready for the party in 2008!

Anne Whitaker has been reaching out to Atlanta-area universities as part of an effort to educate young attorneys about alternative career paths. She recently conducted programming for Georgia State University and is in discussions with the University of Georgia and Emory University for similar events. She also completed her career counseling series of articles for The Complete Lawyer – all 10 of the articles are available in the ‘Media’ section of the COC website.

Make Your Metabolism Work For You

by Wesley Adams, personal trainer

There are a million ways to control your weight, but they all come down to one thing: To lose weight and keep it off, you have to increase your metabolism. Your metabolism is a collection of chemical reactions that change the nutritious parts of the food we eat into the energy we need to do everything, including moving, thinking and growing. Here are some basic principles that contribute the most to your metabolism rate:

Muscle - The more muscle you have the faster your metabolic rate because muscle burns more calories that anything else.
ACTION STEP: Do resistance training two to three times per week.

Eating frequency - Energy is needed to digest food. Eating smaller meals more often will keep your metabolism working.
ACTION STEP: Eat 5 to 6 small meals that include nutritious foods. Foods should include a variety of colors for maximum nutritional value.

Stay active - Working out, walking, dancing, playing with the kids in the yard, etc., burns calories (or energy), which increases the metabolic rate.
ACTION STEP: Do something active for at least 30 minutes per day, even if you have to do three 10-minute sessions. Look for ways to add activity into your day, like taking the steps instead of the elevator, park further away from the entrance, or walk to lunch.

Hydration - Around 75% of your body weight is water. If you are not getting enough water to keep your fluid level up, your body can slow or shut down. This includes your metabolism.
ACTION STEP: Drink at least 64 oz. of water each day. That’s only four 16-oz. bottles of water. Drink one with each meal and drink one mid-afternoon. Bonus: You probably won’t feel as hungry as often.

There are two factors that come into play with metabolism that we have no control over. Genetics are a large part of why your metabolism is fast or slow. The suggestions above, however, can improve even a poor metabolic rate, so no excuses for skipping out!

Your age also plays a significant role in your metabolism rate. Each decade, your metabolism slows down, but there are still several steps to help you stay in control:

Include more activity and/or reduce calories. You’ll have to modify each to see what works best for you.
Eat lean protein to build muscle.
Include weight training in your fitness regimen. We lose muscle as we age which is a large factor in your metabolism slowing down. Bonus: Weight training also helps prevent bone density loss.

Wes Adams has been overseeing the Counsel On Call Health & Wellness Program in Atlanta and Nashville. He’s a former Marine who regularly trains professional athletes and implements corporate wellness programs.

Office Locations

Atlanta
1180 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 2620
Atlanta, GA 30309
404.591.5828

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Charlotte

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