Updating Operational Policies and Procedures in a Post Pandemic Law Firm

After several decades of experience serving as Chief Financial Officer, Law Firm Administrative Director, and Operations Manager, in 2008, Cynthia founded PLMC & Associates.

Passionate and committed to solving problems effectively and efficiently, Cynthia provides small and midsized law firms with best practices in operations and financial management.

Known for thinking outside the box, Cynthia consults, coaches and guides lawyers and law firms to operate more productively utilizing skills obtained as certified Six Sigma Champion with white and green belt. She often serves as interim law firm CFO/COO.

As a futurist and thought leader, Cynthia often speaks and writes about law firm operations and management.

Cynthia is the associate editor of ABA’s Law Practice Division Law Practice magazine and the vice chair of the ABA LP Lawyer Leadership and Management Committee, and a member of the ABA’s Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division, Magazine/ GPSolo eReport Board. Cynthia is also the magazine editor of the ALA Greater Los Angeles chapter.

Chris Fortier is an attorney-adviser with the Social Security Administration’s Office of Hearings Operations in Falls Church, Virginia. He supports the national hearing operation through working with forms, templates, and applications (of course, the views he expresses do not reflect those of SSA or the federal government).

Chris serves as co-chair for the Virginia State Bar TechShow and was the President of the Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference (YLC). He expanded the YLC’s social media and web footprint. He also established a weekly video series dedicated to training new lawyers, and added automated features such as forms and directory lists to the YLC’s website. He also won the Edwin Burnett Young Lawyer of the Year Award in 2013 and is currently a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the ABA Young Lawyers Division.

Chris also serves on the board for the Virginia State Bar’s Diversity Conference, where he (and a few dedicated individuals) established the Conference publication, Invictus, along with its social media presence.

He has served in various capacities for the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division including as a delegate representing Virginia to the YLD Assembly and as a director in the executive cabinet. He chaired the Strategic Planning Committee, laying out the YLD’s Vision 2021 plan.

He graduated from the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia where he served as its Alumni Association President (and starting its social media presence). He is also a proud graduate of James Madison University. He is the husband of Brittany Fortier and father of Ansley Fortier.

Marcia Watson Wasserman is a published author and co-author of the 2017 book, Lawyers as Managers: How to Be a Champion for Your Firm and Employees (ABA 2017). She is a Fellow in the College of Law Practice Management, one of an elite number of consultants who have earned this honor. Marcia serves as Associate Editor on Law Practice magazine’s editorial board and is a member of the Publishing Board of the ABA’s Law Practice Division. Additionally, Marcia frequently presents law practice management topics for legal and business conferences while also contributing articles on law practice management to leading legal publications.

Prior to founding Comprehensive Management Solutions, Inc. in Los Angeles, Marcia served for over 15 years as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director for several national and local law firms, including an AmLaw 200 firm. Earlier in her career, she served as Director of Law Firm Services and Director of Client Advisory Services for two, mid-sized CPA firms in Southern California.