MCLE Seminar: Practice Management

Andrew Hughes, Dare2XL

Topic: Staying Sane in the Pressure Cooker of Legal Practice - Tips for longevity in a challenging profession

Andrew is a motivational speaker and a leader with Dare2XL. He has degrees in law and economics, including a Masters in International Law. He is an NLP therapist (CMAusBNLP), a hypnotist, lives in the Newcastle area, presents seminars and workshops across eastern Australia and loves to cook and build things for his children. In 2007 Andrew abandoned a successful legal career and with his wife Karen, their 4 children and 2 dogs, set off to an old dairy farm in northern NSW in search of a life of meaning. What he discovered on the way was that people are always more than they think they can be. Andrew has since made it his mission to help individuals and organisations realise their potential while busting a few limiting beliefs of his own.

John McCartney, Managing Director, Profmark Consulting

Topic: Building your practice - Delivering superlative service

John McCartney qualified as a lawyer in South Africa in 1976 and was in-house lawyer for Barclays, a multinational bank. He then “saw the light” and joined Deloittes as National Marketing Director in 1982, coming to Australia with Deloittes in 1988.  He was involved in the worldwide merger of Deloittes and Touche Ross and sat on their International Marketing Committee.  He left Deloittes 19 years ago to set up Profmark Consulting.  His clients include law, accounting and consulting  practices and he also has a large Commonwealth Government client base.  His key areas of interest are strategic and marketing planning; independent client satisfaction reviews; client service improvement programs; tenders and proposals; and facilitating executive conferences and retreats.

Colin Ritchie, Chartered Accountant, Ritchie Business Solutions

Topic: Why accountants make money and lawyers don’t…and what you can do about it

Colin provides business coaching services and profitability advice to small legal practices as well as other small businesses.  His background is in tax advice, business advice and financial planning advice to a range of small businesses. He was first made a partner at age 26 and has been a partner in two chartered accounting firms for a total of 22 years. He launched Ritchie Business Solutions over 3 years ago, and draws on the strategies he has gleaned from many years of experience to help small legal practices to achieve greater results.