In this issue
TOP 50 BEST FILMS OF 2018
1. The Guilty (2018)
R | 85 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
7.6 Rate 83 Metascore
A police officer assigned alarm dispatch duty enters a race against time when he answers an emergency call from a kidnapped woman.
Director: Gustav Möller | Stars: Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Dinnage, Omar Shargawi, Johan Olsen
2. Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)
PG-13 | 147 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
7.9 Rate 86 Metascore
Ethan Hunt and his IMF team, along with some familiar allies, race against time after a mission gone wrong.
Director: Christopher McQuarrie | Stars: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg
3. Searching (III) (2018)
PG-13 | 102 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
7.7 Rate 71 Metascore
After his 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a desperate father breaks into her laptop to look for clues to find her.
Director: Aneesh Chaganty | Stars: John Cho, Debra Messing, Joseph Lee,Michelle La
4. A Star Is Born (2018)
R | 136 min | Drama, Music, Romance
8.1 Rate 88 Metascore
A musician helps a young singer find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.
Director: Bradley Cooper | Stars: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott,Greg Grunberg
5. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
PG | 117 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
8.7 Rate 87 Metascore
Teen Miles Morales becomes Spider-Man of his reality, crossing his path with five counterparts from other dimensions to stop a threat for all realities.
Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman | Stars: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali
6. Blindspotting (2018)
R | 95 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
7.4 Rate 77 Metascore
While on probation, a man begins to re-evaluate his relationship with his volatile best friend.
Director: Carlos López Estrada | Stars: Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar, Jasmine Cephas Jones
7. You Were Never Really Here (2017)
R | 89 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
6.8 Rate 84 Metascore
A traumatized veteran, unafraid of violence, tracks down missing girls for a living. When a job spins out of control, Joe's nightmares overtake him as a conspiracy is uncovered leading to what may be his death trip or his awakening.
Director: Lynne Ramsay | Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Judith Roberts, Ekaterina Samsonov, John Doman
8. A Quiet Place (2018)
PG-13 | 90 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
7.6 Rate 82 Metascore
In a post-apocalyptic world, a family is forced to live in silence while hiding from monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing.
Director: John Krasinski | Stars: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe
9. A Prayer Before Dawn (2017)
R | 116 min | Action, Biography, Crime
6.9 Rate 76 Metascore
The true story of an English boxer incarcerated in one of Thailand's most notorious prisons as he fights in Muay Thai tournaments to earn his freedom.
Director: Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire | Stars: Joe Cole, Pornchanok Mabklang,Vithaya Pansringarm, Panya Yimmumphai
10. Eighth Grade (2018)
R | 93 min | Comedy, Drama
7.5 Rate 90 Metascore
An introverted teenage girl tries to survive the last week of her disastrous eighth grade year before leaving to start high school.
Director: Bo Burnham | Stars: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Emily Robinson,Jake Ryan
11. Apostle (2018)
TV-MA | 130 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
6.3 Rate 62 Metascore
In 1905, a drifter on a dangerous mission to rescue his kidnapped sister tangles with a sinister religious cult on an isolated island.
Director: Gareth Evans | Stars: Dan Stevens, Richard Elfyn, Paul Higgins, Bill Milner
12. Deadpool 2 (2018)
R | 119 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
7.8 Rate 66 Metascore
Foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (AKA. Deadpool), brings together a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy with supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-traveling cyborg, Cable.
Director: David Leitch | Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin,Julian Dennison
13. Hold the Dark (2018)
TV-MA | 125 min | Adventure, Drama, Horror
5.7 Rate 63 Metascore
After the deaths of three children suspected to be killed by wolves, writer Russell Core is hired by the parents of a missing six-year-old boy to track down and locate their son in the Alaskan wilderness.
Director: Jeremy Saulnier | Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Alexander Skarsgård,James Badge Dale, Riley Keough
14. Widows (2018)
R | 129 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
7.4 Rate 84 Metascore
Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities, take fate into their own hands, and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.
Director: Steve McQueen | Stars: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki
15. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
PG-13 | 149 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
8.5 Rate 68 Metascore
The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans
16. BlacKkKlansman (2018)
R | 135 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
7.6 Rate 83 Metascore
Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer from Colorado Springs, CO, successfully manages to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan branch with the help of a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its leader. Based on actual events.
Director: Spike Lee | Stars: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace
17. Overlord (2018)
R | 110 min | Action, Adventure, Horror
7.1 Rate 60 Metascore
A small group of American soldiers find horror behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day.
Director: Julius Avery | Stars: Jovan Adepo, Wyatt Russell, Mathilde Ollivier,Pilou Asbæk
18. Assassination Nation (2018)
R | 108 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
5.9 Rate 56 Metascore
After a malicious data hack exposes the secrets of the perpetually American town of Salem, chaos decends and four girls must fight to survive, while coping with the hack themselves.
Director: Sam Levinson | Stars: Odessa Young, Abra, Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef
19. Incredibles 2 (2018)
PG | 118 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
7.8 Rate 80 Metascore
The Incredibles hero family takes on a new mission, which involves a change in family roles: Bob Parr (Mr Incredible) must manage the house while his wife Helen (Elastigirl) goes out to save the world.
Director: Brad Bird | Stars: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell,Huck Milner
20. Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018)
PG-13 | 104 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
6.6 Rate 51 Metascore
A human child raised by wolves must face off against a menacing tiger named Shere Khan, as well as his own origins.
Director: Andy Serkis | Stars: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Naomie Harris
21. Revenge (II) (2017)
R | 108 min | Action, Horror, Thriller
6.3 Rate 81 Metascore
Never take your mistress on an annual guys' getaway, especially one devoted to hunting - a violent lesson for three wealthy married men.
Director: Coralie Fargeat | Stars: Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Kevin Janssens,Vincent Colombe, Guillaume Bouchède
22. 6 Balloons (2018)
74 min | Drama
5.8 Rate 66 Metascore
A woman (Jacobson) learns her brother (Franco) has relapsed on heroin.
Director: Marja-Lewis Ryan | Stars: Abbi Jacobson, Dave Franco, Charlotte Carel, Madeline Carel
23. Disobedience (2017)
R | 114 min | Drama, Romance
6.6 Rate 74 Metascore
A woman returns to her Orthodox Jewish community that shunned her for her attraction to a female childhood friend. Once back, their passions reignite as they explore the boundaries of faith and sexuality.
Director: Sebastián Lelio | Stars: Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola, Anton Lesser
24. Black Panther (2018)
PG-13 | 134 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
7.4 Rate 88 Metascore
T'Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country's past.
Director: Ryan Coogler | Stars: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan,Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira
25. Isle of Dogs (2018)
PG-13 | 101 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
7.9 Rate 82 Metascore
Set in Japan, Isle of Dogs follows a boy's odyssey in search of his lost dog.
Director: Wes Anderson | Stars: Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton, Bob Balaban
26. Juliet, Naked (2018)
R | 97 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
6.6 Rate 67 Metascore
Juliet, Naked is the story of Annie (the long-suffering girlfriend of Duncan) and her unlikely transatlantic romance with once revered, now faded, singer-songwriter, Tucker Crowe, who also happens to be the subject of Duncan's musical obsession.
Director: Jesse Peretz | Stars: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Kitty O'Beirne,Alex Clatworthy
27. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
TV-MA | 90 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
7.6 Rate
In 1984, a young programmer begins to question reality as he works to adapt a fantasy novel into a video game.
Director: David Slade | Stars: Fionn Whitehead, Craig Parkinson, Alice Lowe,Asim Chaudhry
28. Mandy (I) (2018)
Not Rated | 121 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror
6.6 Rate 81 Metascore
The enchanted lives of a couple in a secluded forest are brutally shattered by a nightmarish hippie cult and their demon-biker henchmen, propelling a man into a spiraling, surreal rampage of vengeance.
Director: Panos Cosmatos | Stars: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Ned Dennehy
29. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
PG-13 | 128 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
6.2 Rate 51 Metascore
When the island's dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen and Claire mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event.
Director: J.A. Bayona | Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall,Justice Smith
30. Ready Player One (2018)
PG-13 | 140 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
7.5 Rate 64 Metascore
When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe
31. The Kindergarten Teacher (2018)
R | 96 min | Drama
6.8 Rate 75 Metascore
A kindergarten teacher in New York becomes obsessed with one of her students whom she believes is a child prodigy.
Director: Sara Colangelo | Stars: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gael García Bernal, Ato Blankson-Wood, Libya Pugh
32. The Tale (2018)
TV-MA | 114 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
7.3 Rate 90 Metascore
A woman filming a documentary on childhood rape victims starts to question the nature of her childhood relationship with her riding instructor and running coach.
Director: Jennifer Fox | Stars: Elizabeth Debicki, Laura Dern, Common, John Heard
33. Game Night (I) (2018)
R | 100 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
7 Rate 66 Metascore
A group of friends who meet regularly for game nights find themselves entangled in a real-life mystery when the shady brother of one of them is seemingly kidnapped by dangerous gangsters.
Directors: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein | Stars: Jason Bateman,Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Sharon Horgan
34. Halloween (I) (2018)
R | 106 min | Horror, Thriller
6.8 Rate 67 Metascore
Laurie Strode confronts her long-time foe Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
Director: David Gordon Green | Stars: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, James Jude Courtney
35. Annihilation (2018)
R | 115 min | Adventure, Drama, Horror
6.9 Rate 79 Metascore
A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply.
Director: Alex Garland | Stars: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Benedict Wong
36. A Simple Favor (2018)
R | 117 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
6.9 Rate 67 Metascore
Stephanie is a single mother with a parenting vlog who befriends Emily, a secretive upper-class woman who has a child at the same elementary school. When Emily goes missing, Stephanie takes it upon herself to investigate.
Director: Paul Feig | Stars: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding,Andrew Rannells
37. Hereditary (2018)
R | 127 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
7.3 Rate 87 Metascore
After the family matriarch passes away, a grieving family is haunted by tragic and disturbing occurrences, and begin to unravel dark secrets.
Director: Ari Aster | Stars: Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff
38. Unsane (2018)
R | 98 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
6.4 Rate 63 Metascore
A young woman is involuntarily committed to a mental institution, where she is confronted by her greatest fear--but is it real or a product of her delusion?
Director: Steven Soderbergh | Stars: Claire Foy, Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharoah, Juno Temple
39. The Night Comes for Us (2018)
121 min | Action, Thriller
7.1 Rate 69 Metascore
Ito (Joe Taslim), a gangland enforcer, caught amidst a treacherous and violent insurrection within his Triad crime family upon his return home from a stint abroad.
Director: Timo Tjahjanto | Stars: Julie Estelle, Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Zack Lee
40. To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
TV-14 | 99 min | Drama, Romance
7.3 Rate 64 Metascore
A teenage girl's secret love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her love life.
Director: Susan Johnson | Stars: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish,Anna Cathcart
41. Upgrade (2018)
R | 100 min | Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
7.6 Rate 67 Metascore
Set in the near-future, technology controls nearly all aspects of life. But when Grey, a self-identified technophobe, has his world turned upside down, his only hope for revenge is an experimental computer chip implant called Stem.
Director: Leigh Whannell | Stars: Logan Marshall-Green, Melanie Vallejo,Steve Danielsen, Abby Craden
42. Venom (2018)
PG-13 | 112 min | Action, Sci-Fi
6.8 Rate 35 Metascore
When Eddie Brock acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego "Venom" to save his life.
Director: Ruben Fleischer | Stars: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed,Scott Haze
43. Sierra Burgess Is a Loser (2018)
PG-13 | 105 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
6 Rate 60 Metascore
A case of mistaken identity results in unexpected romance when the most popular girl in high school and the biggest loser must come together to win over their crushes.
Director: Ian Samuels | Stars: Shannon Purser, Kristine Froseth, RJ Cyler,Noah Centineo
44. Blockers (2018)
R | 102 min | Comedy
6.2 Rate 69 Metascore
Three parents try to stop their daughters from losing their virginity on prom night.
Director: Kay Cannon | Stars: Leslie Mann, John Cena, Ike Barinholtz,Kathryn Newton
45. Thoroughbreds (2017)
R | 92 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
6.8 Rate 75 Metascore
Two upper-class teenage girls in suburban Connecticut rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart. Together, they hatch a plan to solve both of their problems-no matter what the cost.
Director: Cory Finley | Stars: Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Anton Yelchin,Paul Sparks
46. The Land of Steady Habits (2018)
TV-MA | 98 min | Comedy, Drama
6.2 Rate 71 Metascore
After leaving his wife and his job to find happiness, Anders befriends a drug-addicted teen, sending him down a path of reckless and shameful behavior.
Director: Nicole Holofcener | Stars: Ben Mendelsohn, Connie Britton, Charlie Tahan, Edie Falco
47. The Equalizer 2 (2018)
R | 121 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
6.8 Rate 50 Metascore
Robert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will he go when that is someone he loves?
Director: Antoine Fuqua | Stars: Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Orson Bean
48. Incident in a Ghostland (2018)
Not Rated | 91 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
6.4 Rate 44 Metascore
A mother of two who inherits a house is confronted with murderous intruders on the first night in their new home and fights for her daughters' lives. Sixteen years later when the daughters reunite at the house, things get really strange.
Director: Pascal Laugier | Stars: Crystal Reed, Mylène Farmer, Anastasia Phillips, Emilia Jones
49. Love, Simon (2018)
PG-13 | 110 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
7.7 Rate 72 Metascore
Simon Spier keeps a huge secret from his family, his friends and all of his classmates: he's gay. When that secret is threatened, Simon must face everyone and come to terms with his identity.
Director: Greg Berlanti | Stars: Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel, Katherine Langford
50. Den of Thieves (2018)
R | 140 min | Action, Crime, Drama
7 Rate 49 Metascore
A gritty crime saga which follows the lives of an elite unit of the LA County Sheriff's Dept. and the state's most successful bank robbery crew as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank.
Director: Christian Gudegast | Stars: Gerard Butler, Pablo Schreiber, O'Shea Jackson Jr., 50 Cent
Archives
Mt. Diablo Sponsor
December 2018 
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
BY: Karin Wiborn
EAST BAY ALA Chapter President
Welcome to the Winter Issue of East Bay Views! It was wonderful to gather together at the annual EBALA Holiday Luncheon. I enjoyed seeing so many EBALA members and business partners. Special thanks to everyone for bringing wonderful toys for the Toys for Tots program.
The transition from fall to winter is one of my favorite times of the year. I look forward to the Thanksgiving and December holidays – a festive time when families and friends gather together. Everyone seems to be a bit kinder, a bit more patient and a lot more generous.
As I prepare for holiday festivities, resilience weighs heavy on my mind. Recent events cause me to think about the tragedies others are facing, and many need our prayers and support as they deal with catastrophic loss. As we face challenges in life, our ability to cope with those challenges is greatly impacted by our resilience: the process of adapting well in the face of significant sources of stress – the capacity to “bounce back.”
As I read through the recent issue of ALA’s Legal Management Magazine. I noted the article on resilience within law firms, “From Resist to Resilience.” This timely article spoke to the need for law firms to be resilient and adaptable given the rapid changes in the profession. The recent demise of my law firm caused me to read another article about developing personal resilience – overcoming and growing from setbacks. And it was not surprising to read that developing strong relationships with your colleagues was a key factor to resilience, not only in the workplace but also in your personal life. “…the more real friendships you develop, the more resilient you’re going to be because you have a strong support network to fall back on.”
The support and encouragement I have received from my ALA network these past few months has been overwhelming. Grieving the loss of my firm and the working relationships I had enjoyed for so many years was soon followed by the grief of losing both of my parents within a month. I appreciate the many ALA members and business partners who reached out to me during this difficult time. There has been no greater validation of the incredible friendships I enjoy by virtue of my membership in ALA and my local chapters.
ALA membership renewal is underway, and EBALA membership renewal will follow in January. I hope you will renew your memberships with ALA and EBALA, and take advantage of the many opportunities to build your professional network and friendships within the organization.
Best wishes to you, your family and friends during this holiday season. You will find me in my “happy place” -- in front of the fireplace with my family and dog Nellie, watching the Hallmark channel or enjoying my favorite holiday movies.
EAST BAY CHAPTER - CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Event Information
East Bay Chapters Book Club
January 23, 2019
5:45 PM - 7:00 PM
Miller Starr Regalia
1331 N. California Blvd., 5th Floor
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Add to Calendar
Directions
2019 Morning in the East Bay
January 25, 2019
7:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Lafayette Park Hotel, Independence Room
3287 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Lafayette, CA 94549
Disaster Preparedness/Business Continuity
March 20, 2019
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
TBD
Disaster Preparedness/Business Continuity
Presenter Kathryn N. Scourgby, CBCP
of KNS Consulting, LLC
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
We would like to introduce our newest member of EBALA, Diane Rames. Diane is the Law Office Administrator for Gwilliam Ivary Chiosso Cavalli & Brewer in Oakland. A job she has held for two years.
Diane lives on one side of Lake Merritt and works on the other side of the lake. She has two grown sons; one, a computer programmer residing in San Francisco and the other attaining his PhD in cancer research in Portland, Oregon.
Diane is very involved in her community. She is an active member of the Lions Club of Berkeley. As a Lions’ member she donates her time to various groups such as “Rebuilding Together” who’s purpose is to rebuild unsafe homes by performing necessary repairs and clean up. With the Lions’ help she donates her time at the Lions Center for the Blind.
Diane is passionate about the annual Martin Luther King Community Breakfast. She feels it is inspiring to see our community join together in a meaningful way that promotes unity.
Diane is also a board member of the Alameda County Law Library and active in the SF Bar Association “Food from the Bar” program.
Please join me in welcoming Diane to EBALA.
LEGAL PROFESSIONAL SECRETARY EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP
LEGAL PROFESSIONAL
SECRETARY EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP
This upcoming Legal Professional-Secretary Educational Workshop is sponsored by San Francisco Legal Professionals Association and will take place on 3 Saturdays in February in downtown San Francisco, adjacent to BART. First Legal is presenting on eFiling but there are a number of other great subjects being covered and some excellent speakers. Any additional questions can be directed to Francie Skaggs - education@sflpa.org or (925) 212-4979 (cell).
RECENT CHANGES IN THE CA PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT RULES
RECENT CHANGES IN THE CA PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT RULES
Comprehensive Changes to Rules of Professional Conduct
Become Operative 11/1/18
By Douglas A. Pettit, Shareholder & Vice President of Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin PC
*Article originally published in the AHERN UPDATE Newsletter: October 2018 Issue
On May 10, 2018, the California Supreme Court approved the first comprehensive changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct since 1989. The new or amended rules are completely renumbered, a number of past rules have been changed, and there are new rules. Previously, there were 46 rules. There will now be 69 new or amended rules, which will become operative in November 2018, bringing the California rules into closer alignment with the ABA’s Model Rules. We refer to the Rules being replaced as the “Past Rule” even though they are effective through October 31, 2018.
To read the entire article please click on the link below.
STATIONERY EVOLUTION
Stationery Evolution – 3 Ways to Progress
It’s no surprise to anyone that with the popularity and ease of electronic communication, the use of stationery has decreased. However, paper is not dead as was once predicted. And stationery isn’t either. It is simply evolving like other communication vehicles.
Stationery of Tomorrow
Stationery, in the broadest definition, includes letterhead, business cards, envelopes, note cards and other personalized materials. It is used to make an impression, to communicate. But did you know that it can also create a connection on a deep and meaningful level? Sensory marketing, or marketing that engages more than one sense affects perception, judgment and behavior. Simply put, giving a prospective client something that they can see, hold and interact with is more memorable than just sending an email.
There are many simple ways to join the stationery evolution and create the best impression. Below are just 3.
- Stand Out with Great Business Cards
Many business leaders agree the practice of carrying and exchanging business cards is alive and well. When you hand your business card to someone, that person is now interacting with you on multiple levels. He or she is hearing you speak, maybe looking down at the card and back at you and possibly or just holding the card, flipping it over and playing with it. With so many different senses being triggered, your meeting is sure to leave a lasting memory.
With all the production options today, your card can truly be an ambassador for your brand. Creative designs, double-thick stocks, colored stocks, clipped or rounded corners, two-sided, vertical layouts…the list goes on and on for ways that you can make your business cards reflect your brand and still be professional. Cards that stand out are memorable and get shared with others continuing to elevate your brand.
Pay close attention to the tactile feel of your cards. Is the paper thin or does it have a nice heft to it? When you run your hand over it, does anything stand out or is the paper and print smooth and flat? The sensory impact of your card can create a lasting impression that will impact potential customers.
- Make Letterhead More Versatile
Gone are the days of black ink on cream paper with every partner’s name listed. Firm names have shortened. Brands are now more colorful with over 85% of firms having 2+ color logos.
Take advantage of the more modern, simple branding and letterhead design and create “masthead” letterhead. This type of letterhead features just the firm logo and/or name. You can now use your letterhead to send traditional business communications and use it in other communication vehicles such as proposals as attorney bios and marketing packets as practice area sheets. By just featuring your logo, all the offices and all personnel can print using the same letterhead with different print templates with their specific information (phone, address and even name, title and email!). It becomes a multi-purpose sheet that ensures the consistency of your brand with the flexibility of on-demand print.
- Send Snail Mail with Personalized Note Cards
Are you relying mostly on digital communication – online, email, social sites? If you are like most modern businesses, you are. And actually that’s great! Digital communication is “cheap” and easy. It also touches a mass of contacts at one time. However, it can be hard and expensive to really target specific prospective clients electronically. For those opportunities that require a more personal touch, sending a handwritten note card can send just the right message.
Be bold! Your note cards don’t have to be 3 x 5 folded cards with just your name. They can be configured in all shapes and sizes – flat or folded. You can “flood coat” the back with your firm color and engrave the your name on the front. Or even emboss your logo for an added touch of sophistication. All of these little touches will encourage the reader to touch and feel the card – making their interaction longer, more meaningful and more impactful.
Plus, what says “you are important” and “I value our relationship” more than someone taking the time to find a pen and write a sincere note?
Join the Stationery Evolution
Contact your account manager today to discuss the many ideas on how to join the stationery evolution and see live samples of law firm brands, stationery and marketing materials.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
EAST BAY COASTAL CLEANUP
Three ALA Chapters teamed up this year for the 2018 Coastal Cleanup Day on September 15th. Members, business partners, and guests from East Bay, Golden Gate, and Silicon Valley chapters worked to make the Bay a cleaner, healthier place to work and play.
ALA CONFERENCE NEWS
Andrea Everage represented the East Bay Chapter this year at the October 18 - 20, 2018 Conference. Thank you Andrea.
AUSTIN CONFERENCE PHOTOS
Andrea with Oliver Yandel, ALA Executive Director
Andrea Everage with Kim Oleniacz, Principal at IST.
Dinners with IST
Keep Austin weird
EAST BAY CHAPTER HOLIDAY PARTY
EBALA 2018 CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON
Lunch was held at Postino in Lafayette. We once again had a great turnout and the Toys-For-Tots donations was a great success.
President-Elect Joy Buchanan and Business Partner Hyon Yang of Touchstone
ALA CALENDAR - Upcoming Deadlines and Events
 CALENDAR |
|
JAN. 16 ALA Webinar: Developing an Associate-Marketing Training Program
JAN. 17 ALA Webinar: Traditional Long-Term Care Insurance vs. Combo LTCI/Life
FEB. 4 Early bird deadline for 2019 Annual Conference registration
FEB. 6 ALA Webinar: Stop Rearranging the Chairs TM: Leading in Times of Change and Crisis
FEB. 13 ALA Webinar: Creating an Empowered Environment
FEB. 14 ALA Webinar: Uniform Process Based Management System (UPBMS) Early Adopters
FEB. 19 ALA Webinar: Stand in Your Power: Building Influence and Impact
FEB. 20 Solutions Series Webcast: New Opportunities for Law Firms to Better Manage Their Real Estate
MAR. 11 Registration opens for HR2: Performance Management & Compensation
MAR. 13 Deadline to apply for the spring CLM exam on May 13
MAR. 27 Deadline to enter the 60 Seconds of Fame! video contest
Register now for these upcoming events!  APR. 18–19 Legal Lean Sigma® and Project Management Yellow Belt Certification Course, Grapevine, TX
|
