Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 26, 2019 •
Legal Profession A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
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April 26, 2019
Legal professional holding its own against waves of retirement by Dwain Hebda
Despite large numbers of retirees among baby boomer-aged attorneys, local firms are weathering the exodus with relative ease. Dennis Mann, firm administrator with Woods & Aitken, gave credit to the state’s law schools. “At the UNL Law College Awards Luncheon recentl y, D e a n R i c h a r d Moberly shared that applicants into UNL Law School have increased 30% over the past few years when across the nation that number is flat, and overall in the Midwest that number is down 2%,” he Mann said. “In 2016, job placement for UNL Law School graduates was 72% 10 months after graduation; the class of 2018 has a 94% placement.” Mann said the oncoming generation displays qualities that make them an instant asset to any firm. “What we are seeing in our new associates and law clerks is a heartfelt desire to help people, to make a difference in the world and to be deeply engaged in their community,” he said. “Our mission is to mentor them effectively and to involve them in meaningful, challenging and rewarding work right away. We couldn’t be more pleased with the skills, contributions and character of our associates.” Michael Stageman, founder of Stageman Law, is one attorney of the new generation. He said he’s had no difficulty finding mentors, which he considers valuable. “The community of us who actually go to court and have trials and stand in front of a judge every day is a very small community,” he said. “As a result, people know each other and that makes it easier to find mentors. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have offices next to a couple guys, one’s been practicing for over 30 years and the other one’s been practicing probably over 50 years. That’s been helpful to me having people around who have been practicing 30, 40, 50 years. There’s really not a lot that they haven’t seen multiple times.”
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complex matters, but it can also lead to too much reliance on looking something simple up, rather than knowing the answer.” Use of technology provides other potential operations quandary if not monitored closely, said J. Scott Paul, partner with McGrath North and sitting president
Dave Sommers, executive director of the Omaha Bar Association. In some cases, however, getting the of technology and flexibility of time for generations on the same page within a firm family commitments.” Sommers noted many of today’s modcan take a little maneuvering. “Law practices are more on the conser- ern conveniences present a double-edged vative end of changing our way of doing sword for new barristers. “The ease at which younger attorneys things,” said Dave Sommers, executive director of the Omaha Bar Association. can look up a statute, regulation or court “There can be some difficulties and ‘lost in opinion has in some cases ‘short-cirtranslation’ moments between younger at- cuited’ the emphasis on memorizing the torneys and their older managing partners, law,” he said. “It can be more cost-efsuch as dress code, working remotely, use fective in research costs for clients on
Stageman Paul of the Nebraska State Bar Association. “We see so much more emphasis on the impact on technology in the way we practice our profession,” he said. “Technology provides opportunities to be more efficient and more accurate in client communications and also allows us to provide better services to clients. With that type of innovation comes the increased need to maintain confidentiality and information security.” Ironically, issues concerning information security also represent one of the fastest-growing legal specialties in the local market. “The area of cybersecurity has broad implications in many different areas of the law,” Paul said. “I also think that’s where the most growth potential is.”
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Legal Profession — inside APRIL 26, 2019
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
$2.00
VOL. 45 NO. 17
OrthoNebraska grows with physician-owned hospital by Richard D. Brown
Maresco’s Italian Market delivers a piece of Italy to metro area. – Page 2
40 er d Un 40 All roads led to Council Bluffs for Henkes. – Page 3
g tisin ver ns d A o g, oti etin Prom k r Ma &
As digital channels grow, advertising, marketing and PR industry seeks the right balance. – Page 9
While OrthoNebraska, a comprehensive orthopedic practice with Omaha roots going back to 1938, has grown to the point of topping 175,000 patient visits annually, CEO Levi J. Scheppers points to the 2004 opening of the now OrthoNebraska Hospital as being perhaps the seminal reason behind the firm’s steady growth of 8% annually. “Having the hospital right here (two buildings totaling 178,000 square feet just north of Oak View Mall) offers a more personalized and truly seamless experience for patients,” Scheppers said. The 15-year-old hospital offers an orthopedic clinic, emergency room, imaging, physical therapy, rheumatology and orthopedic urgent care with evening hours that can accommodate injuries at after-school athletic practices. Twenty-five OrthoNebraska physicians own the clinic and Continued on page 8.
From left, President-OrthoNebraska Clinic Dr. Ryan Arnold, Chairman of the Board-OrthoNebraska Hospital Dr. Charles Burt, and CEO-OrthoNebraska Levi J. Scheppers ... The orthopedic organization (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville) continues to expand its hospital’s capabilities.
Advance Services Inc. to add offices nationally, emphasizes industry trends by Michelle Leach
In its 25 years, metro Omaha-based Advance Services, Inc. has grown to 50 branches, 17 onsite locations, and more than a dozen remote professional recruiters across 44 states and Puerto Rico. This is momentum that shows no signs of waning as the staffing solutions provider plans on opening two new offices in Missouri and Idaho in the next 60 to 90 days.
“We’re not just sitting back and saying, ‘It’s been 25 years — it’s business as usual,’ we’re always looking for and improving processes, technology, and staying up with all the recruiting and hiring trends,” said Peggy Sandall-Bertrand, executive director. Sandall-Bertrand noted that broader economic dynamics have supported growth for the company Continued on page 8. From left: Remoter.Tech founder April Goettle, Do Space Executive Director Rebecca Stavick, HerHeadquarters founder Carina Glover and researcher Bianca Zongrone Jefferson … Finding ways to elevate women in the local tech community through research and collaboration.
Do Space spurs conversation with new Women Innovators Fellowship by Savannah Behrends
From left, Founder Paul Sandall and Executive Director Peggy Sandall-Bertrand … Staffing solutions provider keeps finger on pulse of recruiting trends to meet customer-partner needs in “gig economy.”
While more emphasis has been placed on inclusivity and STEM initiatives, Omaha women in tech roles continue to be underrepresented making up only 24% of local positions. Understanding why is one initiative of the 2019 Do Space Women Innovators Fellowship. “I wanted to create a fellow-
ship program that goes beyond just talking and takes action to develop women leaders at the local level,” said Rebecca Stavick, executive director of Do Space. “It's my hope that the Do Space Women Innovators Fellowship will inspire other businesses and organizations to also invest in talented women Continued on page 27.