By Steve Mindel, AAML (Feinberg, Mindel, Brandt & Klein, LLP)

Session Presenters:

• Charles Hardy, Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht LLP
• Kathryn Mickelson, Beermann LLP
• Jennifer M. Riemer, Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles
• Lynn Slaathaug Moen, Nilson Brand Law
• Moderated by Debbie Foster, Affinity Consulting

The 2026 AAML Midyear Meeting session, “60 Tips in 60 Minutes to Supercharge Your Practice,” delivered a rapid-fire, highly practical toolkit for family law practitioners seeking immediate improvements in efficiency, client service and professional development.

Moderated by Debbie Foster (Affinity Consulting), the panelists — Charles Hardy (Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht LLP), Kathryn Mickelson (Beermann LLP), new SoCal AAML Fellow Jennifer M. Riemer (Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles) and Lynn Slaathaug Moen (Nilson Brand Law) — each contributed targeted tips drawn from litigation strategy, firm management, client communication and emerging technology.

Presenters opened with time-saving litigation techniques: streamlined case triage, focused discovery practices and checklist-driven courtroom preparation to reduce surprises and increase persuasive clarity. Practical drafting shortcuts and document-organization workflows were highlighted to cut review time while preserving quality. Several tips emphasized client experience — setting clear engagement expectations, efficient conflict resolution pathways and using client portals and templates to improve responsiveness and transparency.

On firm management, speakers recommended scalable delegation models, leveraging paralegals and contract attorneys and adopting simple metrics to monitor profitability per matter. Marketing and business development pointers included niche positioning, client referral systems and concise thought-leadership tactics that maximize visibility without extensive time investment.

Technology featured prominently: secure cloud storage, calendaring best practices to avoid deadline risk, e-signatures to speed transactions and practical AI tools for first-draft drafting and research — paired with cautions about ethical and confidentiality safeguards. Wellness and sustainability tips rounded out the program, encouraging boundary-setting, realistic workload planning and small daily habits to prevent burnout.

Attendees left with immediately implementable steps across administrative, substantive and personal domains — each tip designed to be adopted quickly and iterated upon. The session combined energy, concrete examples and diverse perspectives, making it a standout resource for AAML members aiming to sharpen their practice in 2026.