Minnesota CLE’s Small and Solo Firm Conference: Innovation Meets Community in Duluth
The Minnesota CLE Small and Solo Firm Conference in Duluth on August 4‒5 proved that even in our increasingly digital profession, the most powerful connections happen when legal minds gather in person. This year’s two-day event showcased a perfect blend of cutting-edge innovation and genuine community support that left attendees energized and inspired.
Hellmuth & Johnson Takes Center Stage
Hellmuth & Johnson made a significant impact as both sponsor and active participant, with us (Brendan Kenny and Neven Selimovic) representing the firm throughout the conference. Our conference attendance went beyond traditional networking by transforming our exhibition space into an interactive hub of creativity and legal writing innovation.
Innovation in Action: The AI Poetry Experiment
One of the ways we engaged participants was through our AI-assisted poetry challenge, where attendees road-tested generative AI’s creative capabilities. Participants submitted prompts for three distinct poetic forms:
– Haikus exploring legal themes;
– Heroic verse poems celebrating the profession; and
– Limericks bringing levity to legal practice.
The experiment delivered on its promise, producing original works that ranged from serious reflections on justice to playful takes on legal procedure. Anonymous contributors embraced both the technology and the creative challenge, demonstrating that AI tools can enhance rather than replace human creativity in professional settings.
Supporting Small and Solo Practitioners
Beyond the creative programming, we introduced Hellmuth & Johnson’s $495 annual legal writing subscription program. The comprehensive package includes:
– Monthly newsletter featuring AI tips, prompts, and real-world legal writing applications;
– Annual legal writing audit with detailed organizational and stylistic feedback;
– Monthly consultation calls with Kenny or Selimovic for project brainstorming; and
– Sample filings (client-confidential details removed) for reference.
Looking Forward: The Creative Challenge Continues
The conference’s broader message is the same as ours: innovation in legal practice doesn’t require abandoning the human elements that make our profession meaningful. Instead, it’s about finding creative ways to enhance our work while strengthening the professional relationships that sustain us.
For small and solo practitioners who attended, the conference delivered both practical tools and renewed inspiration. The combination of technological innovation, professional development, and genuine community support were a reminder that sometimes the best professional development happens when we’re willing to step outside our comfort zones and try something new.
Our New Annual Service
We are excited to announce a new way to work with our Legal Writing Practice Group—one designed to give you ongoing support, insider strategies, and personalized feedback all year long. For years, we have been helping attorneys streamline their workload, sharpen their advocacy, and deliver writing that persuades judges and impresses clients. Now, with our new annual subscription service, you can access that same level of service on a consistent basis—so you are never without the tools, insights, and guidance you need to take your legal writing to the next level.
For just $495 a year, you can tap into the same proven techniques and processes that our Legal Writing Practice Group uses to help litigators win cases and wow their clients. Your subscription includes a 30-minute monthly call to troubleshoot your toughest writing challenges, our exclusive insider newsletter packed with advanced strategies and examples, a deep dive into a recent successful brief where we walk you through exactly how we achieved persuasive impact, and a monthly audit of your own writing—complete with actionable feedback to sharpen your style and strengthen your arguments. Whether you are a solo or small firm attorney trying to do it all, or an experienced litigator who wants a second set of eyes, this subscription is your shortcut to stronger, more efficient, and more persuasive legal writing all year long.
