I saw this article on the internet and just in case someone cancels and you 
need any last minute ideas...



PLANNING CREATIVE LAW FIRM RETREATS
By Daniel J. DiLucchio and Shannon Prown
Over the years, retreats have been used for a number of purposes, including 
business planning, strategy development, consensus building and positioning 
reassessment. While the primary function of retreats formerly was strategic 
planning, law firms have discovered a variety of other reasons to hold them. 
General education, entertainment, continuing legal education, management 
education, personal and professional skills development and other areas of 
interest to the members of a firm are some of the retreat topics in favor of 
late.
Careful planning and the articulation of clear objectives are the keys to 
conducting successful law firm retreats or off-site meetings. Yet, for those 
responsible for planning the retreat agenda, constantly developing new ideas 
is a challenge. The following table of topics is provided to assist retreat 
planners in designing creative, challenging and productive programs. The 
general content or concept intended, the general format of the session and 
potential sources to present the program are also included. This list is not 
intended to be an exhaustive account of every possible topic. The purpose is 
to generate some new topic ideas.
The following chart depicts some of our latest thoughts on retreat planning.
RETREAT TOPICS




Topic
Content/Concept
Format
Source
Marketing



Role Playing 
Lawyers "role-play" client presentations, judged by clients or peers
Interactive 
Internal Resources or Clients
Client Presentations
Clients are invited to speak about their business environment and upcoming 
legal needs
Lecture
Clients
Client Survey Results
Presentation of client survey results, possibly followed by development of 
initial marketing strategies
Lecture/ Interactive
Firm Marketing Director or Consultant
Public Relations
"How to handle the press."
Lecture
Public Relations Firm or Consultant
Corporate Counsel Views/Partnering
What do corporate counsel really want from their law firm?
Lecture
Consultant or In- House Lawyer of Client
Cross-selling Services: Principles, Tools & Tactics
How to capitalize on cross- selling opportunities with the firm's client base
Lecture/ Interactive
Consultant
Entertainment



Comedian
"Professional" humor
Lecture/ Interactive
Speakers Bureau
Cartoonist
Caricatures of lawyers enacting their favorite activity/fantasy
One on One 
Artist/
Cartoonist
Sports/Entertainment Figure
Popular sports or entertainment figure speaks about their experiences or a 
"cause"
Lecture
Speakers Bureau
Motivational Speaker
Self-help speaker may speak on a variety of topics
Lecture/ Interactive
Speakers Bureau
Legal Education



Emerging Legal Issues
Invite a law professor to discuss emerging legal issues
Lecture
Local University, Law Professor, Speakers Bureau or ABA
Politics/
Government
Invite a local politician or government official to discuss new or upcoming 
legislation
Lecture
Politician, Government Official
State of Judicial System, Judicial Reform
Invite a judge or court official to discuss the state of the judicial system
Lecture
State or Local Courts, ABA
Management Education



Alternate Billing
Discuss alternate billing methods, the pros, cons and keys to successful 
implementation
Lecture/ Interactive
Consultant
Trends
Learn about trends in the legal profession, including financial, management 
and business trends
Lecture
Consultant or Accountant
TQM
What are the principles of TQM? How do they apply to the legal profession? 
How do you initiate TQM in your organization?
Lecture/ Interactive/Break-out Groups
Consultant or Lawyer whose firm has implemented TQM
Financial Planning
Discuss financial strategies and profitability analysis
Lecture/Breakout Groups
Financial Planner, Accountant or Consultant
Employment Issues
Discuss changing employment laws and practices, e.g., ADA, discrimination, 
sensitivity training, etc.
Lecture
Labor/
Employment Lawyer, Consultant, Director of Human Resources, Law Professor
International Opportunities
Discuss current trends and opportunities in international expansion, joint 
ventures and affiliations
Lecture
Consultant, Professor
Social Interaction



Myers-Briggs
Myers-Briggs or other "personality" tests can be used to heighten awareness 
and understanding about co- workers
Interactive
Consultant or Psychologist
Outward Bound
Outdoors experience designed to encourage teamwork and enhance perspective
Total Participation
Outward Bound
Habitat for Humanity (or other hands-on community improvement program)
Participate in building (hands- on) low income housing
Total Participation
Habitat for Humanity, Local Church or Civic Organization
Individual Interest



Asset Accumulation Income Management
Make an investment counsellor available to meet with individuals to discuss 
how to best manage their personal income
One on One
Investment Firm or Individual Investment Counsellor
Image/Etiquette
Discuss proper dress, evaluate/critique an ensemble, etc.
Interactive
Consultant
Retirement Planning
Make a retirement planner available to meet with individuals to discuss how 
to plan for their retirement
One on One
Consultant, Investment Firm or Accounting Firm 
Training



Delegation
Learn how to develop younger lawyers, paralegals and staff through 
appropriate delegation
Lecture/ Interactive
Consultant
Stress Management
Symptoms of stress and how to eliminate/ overcome them
Lecture/ Interactive
Consultant
Rainmaking
Demonstrate how to develop personal selling skills
Lecture/ Interactive
Consultant
Teambuilding
Roadblocks to teamwork and how to overcome them to build effective teams
Lecture/ Interactive
Consultant
Time Management
Basic organizational and time management skills needed to be productive in a 
busy law firm environment
Lecture/ Interactive
Consultant
Conducting Performance Reviews
How to use lawyer or staff evaluations as a strategy for mutual success
Lecture/ Interactive
Consultant
Supervisory Skills
Basic supervisory skills and how to get the desired results from those we 
supervise
Lecture/ Interactive
Consultant
Technology Training
Training can be developed for research, document management or other 
technology tools
Interactive
Software Representative, Computer Support Group or Technology Consultant

DiLucchio, Daniel J. and Shannon Prown. &Planning Law Firm Retreats.8 Report 
to Legal Management. Altman Weil Publications, April 1994.