What Oklahoma event featured football legends Barry Switzer and Billy Sims, along with rock stars Tina Turner and Mick Jagger? The surprising answer is the 2011 OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference. The football legends both attended in person, while the rock stars were there via homages from our outstanding musical entertainment, New Odyssey.

Solo and small firm lawyers wear many hats. They are management and labor. They are professional service providers who also have all of the roles of any small business owner. On any given day, they may serve as chief marketing officer, chief information officer, budget director and custodian.

Juggling all of these various roles while serving clients can be challenging. The OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference is designed to help these lawyers with information about managing their practices and updates on substantive law. Many lawyers take their families with them for an early summer break in a pleasant location. The conference combines fun and networking opportunities with a packed schedule of programming that includes 12 hours of CLE presentations.

John Brewer, an Oklahoma City lawyer, was at the very first OBA SSF at Shangri La and estimates he has been to 10 conferences. "Educational programming is always at the top of the scale," Brewer says. "This year’s breakouts were particularly good. My advice for those who attended is to find time to read the materials. There is a lot there that the speakers couldn’t cover and for the breakout sessions you didn’t attend.”

Before the educational sessions started, we were pleased to welcome special guests and football legends Barry Switzer and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims. Barry Switzer showed that he still knows how to work a room, even if the “room” was poolside at the Downstream Resort. Billy Sims made a surprise appearance after he learned from one of the conference attendees that Barry was going to be there. Everyone who wanted their picture taken with one or both of them had an opportunity to do so.

The 2011 SSF Conference programming opened with the ever-popular 50 Tips in 50 Minutes and included sessions on improving client communication, handling expungements, advising clients on Medicaid and nursing home eligibility issues, and how lawyers can use an iPad in their practice.

New Odyssey was much more than just three guys playing 30 instruments. They put on a great show and those who left early for the casino or hospitality suites missed a treat. Some well-known OBA members were dancing on the dance floor and even on stage.

Ponca City lawyer Carolyn Smith has only missed two or three conferences. She has wound down her practice now, but spent her career as a true solo lawyer with no support staff, always in the same office space. Among the reasons she cited for attending the OBA SSF included “The materials, especially law office management/tech stuff aimed at the solo, socializing with OBA-Netters, and feeling like I really belong.” Carolyn was a big winner at this year’s conference, taking home a top of the line iPad 2. “I'm still giddy. This is too cool for words. I well remember when flash drives were coveted prizes,” she said.