2023 Solo, Small & Rural Law Forum

April 13-14, 2023

Laramie, Wyoming

Live in-person at 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming--subject to University of Wyoming guidelines and restrictions. This is also available as a virtual conference.

Programs

The Rewards of Being a Small Town Lawyer

April 13, 2023 3:00 PM-5: 00 PM

A blue-ribbon panel will discuss the many rewards, as well as some of the challenges, of being a small-town lawyer, including the broad range of practice opportunities, a heightened sense of community belonging, civic engagement and service and greater collegiality among the local bar. A panel comprised of a district court judge, a circuit court judge and three practitioners will share their thoughts and experiences as successful small-town lawyers.

The Anatomy of a Grievance

April 14, 2023 8:15 AM-9:45 AM

This 90-minute presentation by Bar Counsel will include review of the history of lawyer regulation in Wyoming and the evolution of self-policing of the legal profession by the Wyoming State Bar. Discussion topics will include an explanation of the grievance process, thoughts on why a disproportionate number of disciplinary sanctions are leveled at solo and small firm practitioners and ways to stay out of ethical hot water.

Young Lawyers’ TED Talk Panel – Teaching Seasoned and Unseasoned Dogs New Tricks

April 14, 2023 10:00 AM-11:30 AM

Young lawyers will team up to educate the audience through brief TED-talk style snippets on the following:

1. Cybersecurity

2. Scheduling/Time Management

3. Marketing/Social Media

4. Working Remotely

5. Virtual Assistance

6. Mentorship & Networking for the Solo

Why Are We Stacking Tech? Essential Technology to Launch a Solo or Small Law Firm

April 14, 2023 1:00 PM-2:30 PM

According to the 2022 ABA TechReport, 84% of solos and 75% of small firms report using cloud services. It is estimated that the average employee uses at least 36 cloud applications each day. Technology empowers lawyers to work efficiently, reduce mistakes and deliver superior client experiences. For solo and small law firms, technology is a great equalizer. Understanding how to ethically use and leverage technology has become foundational to law practice.

After completing this session, participants will be able to:

• Uphold their duty of technology competence

• Recognize how technology can be implemented to improve the delivery of legal services

• Identify, evaluate and select technology tools to enhance their legal tech stack

Speakers

John Bowers

John Bowers served as a law enforcement investigator before returning to Law School. He graduated from undergraduate Summa Cum Laude and then attended J Reuben Clark law School. In law school he received the J Reuben Clark award, trial and academic awards.

In 1996 he opened his law office in Afton Wyoming. His focus has been civil and criminal trial related cases. His trial experience ranges from prosecuting a 15-year-old murder case to defending 1983 civil rights cases. His current focus is civil litigation in State and Federal Courts.

Austin Burback

Austin “Wade” Burback is a staff attorney at the Mark C. Hardee Law Office, P.C. in Douglas Wyoming. He was born and raised in Douglas before attending the University of Wyoming for his undergraduate degree in Business Management. After spending some time outside of the state, he returned to UW and obtained his Juris Doctorate in 2018.

Working and growing up in a rural setting has helped shape his ability to advise his clients on a wide spectrum of legal issues and navigate the legal system to meet their particular needs. This includes family law, business formation, contracts, estate planning and more. He places an emphasis on resolving conflicts and finding solutions with high efficiency and effectiveness.

Outside of his work, Wade enjoys camping, golfing, hunting and hiking with his wife Leah and their two dogs.

Nicklaus Dillinger

Nick Dillinger is an associate attorney with Lubnau Law from Gillette, Wyoming. He received his undergraduate education from the University of California-Berkeley in Globalization of Energy, while competing on its NCAA Division I swim team. Nick obtained his Juris Doctorate and a Master’s Degree in Environmental and Natural Resources from the University of Wyoming. While attending UW, Nick was an assist coach for the UW Men’s and Women’s Swimming teams.

As a practicing attorney, Nick seeks to utilize his education and skill in negotiation, litigation, mediation and arbitration to help his clients solve their problems in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. Nick works with his clients to target a resolution that satisfies their goals. Nick’s practice focuses on civil litigation, business formation, transfers and compliance and real property law including forcible entry and detainers.

When he is not practicing law, Nick enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, skiing and training Labradors for upland and waterfowl hunting.

Mark Gifford

Mark W. Gifford is Bar Counsel for the Wyoming State Bar. He is a Wyoming native who received his Bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Wyoming in 1978 and his law degree from Stanford University in 1981. After 30 years of practice as a trial lawyer and mediator, Mark took the position of Bar Counsel on a part-time basis in 2011 and became full-time in October 2013. He started the Ethics Hotline in 2014 and was instrumental in getting Wyoming’s Lawyer Assistance Program launched the same year. He is a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Professional Regulation. He has been recognized as an AV Preeminent-rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, a distinction based upon peer reviews by members of the Bar and the Judiciary.

Bethany Gilson Casey

Bethany Gilson Casey is the CEO and founding attorney of Legacy Law, LLC. The focus of her legal practice is providing quality estate planning for families. She firmly believes that building authentic relationships is essential to creating favorable outcomes for clients and has instilled this value into the culture of Legacy Law.

Bethany graduated from the University of Utah in 2008 where she received a Bachelor of Science in Speech communication with an emphasis in interpersonal communication. She worked for University of Utah Healthcare as an information technology trainer and analyst for eight years. She received her Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in post-secondary studies from the University of Wyoming. Bethany went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wyoming in 2019. Bethany is a member of the Wyoming Bar and the Utah Bar.

Bethany is passionate about serving in her community, supporting other entrepreneurs and empowering working women. In her free time, she loves traveling with her husband and sons.

Nathaniel Hibben

The Honorable Nathaniel S. Hibben is a Circuit Court Judge for the Eighth Judicial District. Prior to his appointment by Governor Gordon, Judge Hibben practiced in Torrington. He and his family make their home in Goshen County.

Shelby Hughes

Shelby N. Hughes is the Owner/Attorney of Hughes Legal, LLC, where she focuses her fully remote practice on helping businesses protect their unique branding through federal and state trademark registrations. Shelby graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in May 2018 and prior to starting her own law firm, Shelby practiced family law and represented children as an attorney Guardian ad Litem. In April 2021, she decided to leave the litigation life and dedicate her efforts to the exciting and growing legal field of trademarks.

Grant Lawson

Grant Lawson graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2007 and live in Casper, WY. I am licensed in Wyoming, Colorado and Montana and handle trucking accident cases and other catastrophic injury cases with clients from around the country as a partner in the Metier Law Firm.

During the first ten years of my practice, I worked with Gerry Spence and his law firm. In 2013, I was acknowledged as one of the Top 40 Lawyers under the age of 40 years old. In 2010, I graduated from the Trial Lawyer’s College located on the beautiful Thunderhead Ranch outside of Dubois, Wyoming and currently serve on the faculty to teach students each year. I am a Past President of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association, prior Chair of the Motor Vehicle Collision and Premises Liability Section of the American Association of Justice and have spoken on numerous topics around the country on trucking accident litigation, trial preparation among many other topics.

I am married to my wife Jamie of 13 years, we have two boys, ages 9 + 4, have two golden retrievers and one Australian shepherd and spend my free time golfing, fishing, mountain biking and coaching soccer.

Bobbi Overfield

Hon. Bobbi D. Overfield received her JD from the University of Wyoming College of Law. She was appointed to the bench in the Fifth Judicial District by Governor Mead in October 2018. Judge Overfield serves as the District Court Judge in Hot Springs, Washakie and Big Horn Counties. Prior to her appointment she had previously served as prosecutor, public defender, Circuit Court Magistrate and was in private practice with Mike Messenger for eleven years. Judge Overfield serves on the Access to Justice Commission, Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee, Children’s Justice Project and various other Court and legal related committees.

Anne-Marie Rábago

Anne-Marie Rábago (she/her) is the founder and principal of Modern Juris LLC which provides tools, training and support to help lawyers build sustainable businesses designed to serve the latent legal market. Anne-Marie is a tax lawyer licensed to practice law in Texas and California. Since 2009, she has advised hundreds of other solo and small firm lawyers initially through her law firm and more recently as director of two legal incubator programs. In 2022, Anne-Marie was selected to be among the top 50 most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders spotlighted by the annual Fastcase 50 award. She can be reached at arabago@modernjuris.com.

Danielle Schumacher

Danielle L. Schumacher is an alum from the University of Wyoming’s College of Law. She established Schumacher Law, P.C. (SL) in May of 2015. Originally a prosecuting attorney in Sweetwater County, Danielle started her own practice to have flexibility for her growing family. Currently, SL's main area of practice is Family Law. However, SL also does estate planning, probates and civil litigation and criminal defense. Danielle is the most passionate about providing all her clients honest, forthright and genuine legal advice/services in order to assist and provide for not only the present, but their future.

SL finds many ways to give back to the community by sponsoring youth sports teams, families in need for the holidays and teacher or students going back to school. She also gives back to the community by currently serving on, Sweetwater Family Resource Center board, trustee of Sweetwater School District #1 and Sweetwater County Bar Association.

In Danielle's "free time", she is a proponent of balancing work life and home life. So, if not at work, you can find her spending time with her husband, Daniel and their four kids together, attending many of their sporting events/activities and traveling.

Kylie Waldrip

Kylie Waldrip began her career with MacPherson, Kelly & Thompson, LLC, in Rawlins in 2015. In 2018 Kylie started her own practice in Rawlins with her mentor and partner, Kurt Kelly. The primary goal of the practice is to serve Carbon County residents in a variety of practice areas. The majority of the practice focuses on estate planning, probate, real estate transactions and corporate law. When Kylie is not practicing law, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter.

Kylie received a Bachelor of Art in Political Science in 2012 from Western Washington University and her J.D from the University of Wyoming in 2015.

Kylie is a member of the Carbon County Bar Association; the Wyoming State Bar; the State of Wyoming, Special Assistant Attorney General, 2015-2018; the Wyoming State Bar Editorial Committee, 2020-present; the Wyoming State Bar Client Protection Fund Committee, 2022-present. Kylie is currently serving as a District Court Commissioner and a Circuit Court Magistrate for the Second Judicial District.

2023 Solo, Small & Rural Law Forum - Lodging Info

2023 Solo, Small & Rural Law Forum - Lodging

2023 Solo, Small & Rural Law Forum - Sponsor/Exhibitor Information

2023 Solo, Small & Rural Law Forum - Cancellation Policy