Building a Strong Legal Practice: Management, Skills, and Ethics for Newly Admitted Attorneys

Suleman Malik | Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP

Suleman Malik has years of experience representing clients ranging from small to large businesses with respect to substantive litigation as well as transactional matters. His area of expertise involves handling contractual and quasi contractual disputes, business torts, unfair trade practices, class action litigation, anti-trust litigation, consumer fraud, defective design and construction, surety bond claims, mechanic’s liens, diversion of trust funds, municipal code violations, and many other statutory and common-law claims.

Suleman also has a well-versed understanding of construction-related agreements, service agreements, power purchase agreements, commercial real estate leases, insurance policies, and general contract principles. He has extensive familiarity in dealing with complicated and nuanced bonding, lien-law, and insurance related issues.

Throughout his career, Suleman has secured countless victories and beneficial results for his clients through either dispositive motion practice at the trial and appellate level, mediation, arbitration, or at a trial/hearing in a courtroom or before a municipal regulatory or legislative body. Overall, his diverse legal and personal background gives him a unique advantage in counseling his clients vigorously, diligently, and efficiently. Suleman is routinely selected as a Super Lawyers Metro Rising Star and frequently lectures offering his perspective on a number of legal topics.

Mike Pospis | Pospis Law, PLLC

Mike Pospis, the owner of Pospis Law, PLLC, has dedicated his career to representing plaintiffs in employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and personal injury cases, and to securing compensation for victims of others’ wrongdoing. He has represented clients in state and federal courts, as well as administrative agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission/EEOC and the New York City Commission on Human Rights.

Jason Mario Bruno | Sherrets Bruno & Vogt, LLC

Mr. Bruno is an experienced multi-jurisdiction trial and appellate attorney licensed in Arizona, Texas, Minnesota,and Nebraska focusing on business litigation, real estate litigation, construction litigation, civil appeals, legal malpractice, and eminent domain. Named a Top 40 Lawyer Under 40 by the American Society of Legal Advocates, Mr. Bruno has received client distinction awards from Martindale and Avvo. Mr. Bruno has been recognized as Outstanding Faculty by the National Business Institute. Mr. Bruno places the needs of his clients first and takes pride in being accessible to his clients.

Mr. Bruno regularly fights for the rights of individuals, small business owners, and condemnees against powerful institutions, insurance companies, banks, and the government. Mr. Bruno has successfully represented two clients against the United States of America. Mr. Bruno has assisted clients in obtaining fair value for private property taken through eminent domains including Dallas, Texas, Omaha, Nebraska, Douglas County, Nebraska, Sarpy County, Nebraska, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, Blair, Nebraska, the Metropolitan Utilities District, and the State of Nebraska.

Session I – Fundamentals of Law Practice Management | 12:00pm – 1:00pm

• A broad outline of courts
• General discussion as to the timeline and trajectory of a case
• Strategies and techniques for effective representation of clients

Break | 1:00pm – 1:10pm

Session II – Practical Skills and Tools for Newly Admitted Attorneys | 1:10pm – 2:10pm

• Navigating court procedures
  • Understanding key court systems (e.g., trial, appellate) and rules
  • Essential filing deadlines, local rules, and courtroom etiquette
• Effective legal drafting
  • Best practices for drafting clear and concise pleadings, motions, and contracts
  • Common drafting pitfalls to avoid better legal writing
• Client relationship management
  • Building trust with clients through clear, empathetic communication
  • Managing client expectations and addressing challenges effectively
• Discovery basics
  • Legal research techniques and tools
  • Best practices for drafting discovery requests and managing e-discovery
• Networking & career growth
  • Strategies for building a professional network in the legal community
  • Developing a personal brand and positioning yourself for career success

Break | 2:10pm – 2:20pm

Session III – Avoiding Legal Malpractice: Essential Tips for Solo, Small Firm, and Rural Attorneys | 2:20pm – 3:20pm

• Managing conflicts of interest in a small firm setting
• Proper documentation: Engagement letters, fee agreements, and scope of work
• Recognizing and addressing red flags with difficult clients
• Ethical pitfalls in virtual and remote law practice