When I started The Posse List™ (7 years ago this summer), there was talk of forming a union or trade association for contract attorneys.  A number of DC Posse members and New York Posse members had meetings about two years ago, but the initiative failed.  The last few months have seen more discussion but due to lack of time and money efforts again flagged.  

I have decided to step up to the plate and bring this to fruition.  Over the past several months, I had a number of discussions in Chicago with the ABA and several Chicago, New York and DC law firms and several state bar associations.  I retained the Venable Law Firm (my personal attorneys and outside counsel to my company) to discuss the formation of a trade association and they have done the initial formation work for the trade association.   

In June 2008, the American Society of Contract Attorneys (ASOCA)™ was formed.  We have reserved the URL www.asoca.org and a provisional home page is now up.  We have set up this blog where we encourage contract attorneys to chat amongst themselves about ASOCA™ and give us feedback.   

The following are actions I have taken to make ASOCA™ a reality:

1.  I have retained an executive director to assist in the organization and operation of ASOCA™.  I have also hired a web designer and graphic artist who will handle the web site and media material.

2.  Certain operations of The Posse List™ such as the Help Desk (which handles all types of questions from Posse members) will be migrated to ASOCA™.  I will return the Posse List to its main mission which is to find jobs for contract attorneys and to discuss the contract attorney market.  The Research Unit (which tracks projects/litigations on behalf of agencies and does special research projects for law firms) will remain under The Posse List™.  The List itself will undergo a major expansion — more on that in a future email.

3.  We are filing an application for tax exemption under 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code.  This is the IRS provision specifically reserved to professional and trade organizations and other types of business leagues which are characterized by a common business interest.  The organization typically promotes this common business interest and its activities are directed to the improvement of business conditions of one or more lines of business rather than the performance of particular services for individual persons.

4.  Our initial goals for ASOCA™ are as follows:

      a.  To provide training for contract attorneys to improve their skills sets.  As an example, we would hold low cost seminars and continuing legal education classes on such topics as: “an introduction to e-discovery”; the concepts of attorney-client privilege; how a privilege log is created; specific training on various document review software (we have already contacted a number of companies who are eager to participate); and backgrounders on such topics as the FCPA.  These could be done via the web and live.

      b.  To offer reduced tuition.  For example, we have contacted several universities in the Chicago, DC and NYC metro areas about offering reduced tuition to ASOCA™ members.

      c.  To provide resources for obtaining permanent employment.  These could include a discounted rate to access such sites as lawcrossing.com and bradtraverse.com, an affiliation with a resume preparation company, etc. for ASOCA™ members

      d.  To provide a fully staffed Help Desk to handle contract attorney questions/needs.

      e.  To provide resources for freelancers and small law practices.  For example, ASOCA™ can affiliate with existing organizations who assist in these areas, and can also provide information and assistance.

      f.   To provide access to financial counseling.  We have spoken with several banks regarding provision of free and low cost financial counseling advice and low-cost student loan consolidation for ASOCA™ members.

      g.  To provide access to insurance.  We have spoken with a number of insurance companies and insurance brokers regarding obtaining group health/medical insurance and life insurance for ASOCA™ members.

5.  At this point I am using my own funds to provide the initial operational funding to launch ASOCA™.  Later this year, we intend to charge a nominal membership fee to fund ASOCA’s operating costs.

There are enormous logistical issues in such an enterprise, as well as substantive issues, all of which we are working to address.  But the principal issue is how to appropriately advance the interests of our members. 

To do so, we need your input.  We’ve set up this blog where we hope you will discuss the goals and services you would like ASOCA™ to provide, to further sharpen the mission and goals of the association.  You can click the “Comment” box below and leave a comment for us and your fellow contract attorneys.  Or if you want to email us a private message, go the ”Links” box on the above right-side of this page and you can click on the link to our web site and leave us a message via our ”Contact” page.

We will keep you abreast of our progress via this blog.  We have enlisted the help of several contract attorneys in this effort.  But we also want you to join our Membership mailing list so you are aware of ASOCA™ activities and receive our newsletters.  Please register by going to our registration page: http://asoca.org/mailman/listinfo

All the best,

Gregory Bufithis

Chairman of the Board

ASOCA™