March 18 - 19, 2010: Sign me up!

Join us for Board Development: The Legal Aid Context on March 18-19, 2010 at CLAE's home base at the Non-Profit Center, 89 South St. Boston, MA.
              

   Print and fax your Registration Form 617. 737. 158

    or  to register online 

For additional information about the training, registration or other logistics, contact Jaime Berton at 617-946-4672 x4112 or jberton@legalaideducation.org

Board Development: The Legal Aid Context

CLAE's new Board Development course reflects the specific context of civil legal aid practice – its unique mission and values, services provided, clients and communities served, and challenges faced – as well as the core principles underlying the governance sections within the ABA's Standards of Practice and LSC Performance Criteria.

Who should attend:

This training is geared for newer and more experienced board members and Executive Directors. Participants will explore fundamental principles and best practices of non-profit governance and leave with concrete plans for strengthening board practice back home. 

Training goals:

• Clarify governing bodies’ roles and responsibilities;
• Strengthen the capacity of boards and board members to carry out those responsibilities;
• Build a greater sense of purpose and commitment within legal aid boards;
• Deepen board members’ understanding of and respect for the diverse experiences, perspectives and contributions of its various members; and,
• Increase the notion of partnership and shared leadership between legal aid providers and boards.  

Agenda

Day One 

• Introduction & Context: Introduces the legal aid context & core values underlying the Board Development Training as well as the leadership dimension of governance that is reflected throughout.

• Board Roles & Responsibilities: Introduces roles and responsibilities of civil legal aid boards as a whole as well as roles and responsibilities of individual board members.
• Board-Staff Partnership: Examines respective roles and of the organization's board and staff, potential areas of confusion about these & areas that require strong board/staff partnership.
• Relationship to the Executive Director: Examines the board’s role in relation to the Chief Executive, specifically in terms of recruitment, hiring, support and evaluation.  
• Panel: A Funder's Perspective - Representatives from the Florida Bar Foundation, Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation and Legal Services Corporation will share their perspectives on why strong board/staff leadership is critical.  
• Concurrent Sessions --The Board's role in:
  • Program oversight:to ensure that the provider is in compliance with its own policies and pertinent funder requirements.
  • Planning: that furthers the provider’s mission and fosters the effective and efficient utilization of its resources to meet the most compelling needs of its clients.  

Day 2

• Fiscal Management: Examines the board's role in ensuring effective financial oversight, including how to interpret financial statements, establish financial controls and oversee overall financial health.
• Resource Development: Explores the board's role for ensuring adequate resources for the organization & strategies for directly involving board members in resource development activities.   
• Board Dynamics & Structure: Examines structures and strategies for ensuring that board meetings are optimally productive by building agendas that focus on policy and strategy rather than management and that utilize techniques for ensuring full participation by all board members.  
• Action Planning: Developing goals and action steps for creating stronger boards back home.