accountants

AICPA National Forensic Accounting Conference

Today I presented on Hot Topics in Family Law for the AICPA National Forensic Accounting Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. These CPAs were very interested and interactive. They asked probing questions and really seemed eager to learn. It was very refreshing and a little intimidating. They wanted to learn and asked some great questions. The gist of the program was a combination of technical legal issues combined with practical application. Or, what are the rules, and how are they applied. They seemed to know the rules and focused more on the nuances, the exceptions and the practical application: do judges follow the rules; how can you argue one position one day and another the next day for a different client and other tough ones.

But perhaps more important than the program was the interaction before and after. Interacting with professionals who are so vital to family law practice and who can help quickly resolve financial differences and disputes made me realize not only how important it is to rely on experts, but easy it can be. Once an expert, such as a forensic accountant, understands the basics of family law litigation, they can save lawyers time and clients money. I am looking forward to consulting even more with such experts in the future, and to more joint learning programs. In May, 2011, the ABA Family Law Section will host a joint conference with the AICPA in Las Vegas to help young forensic accountants and lawyers get a headstart in understanding each other and how we can all work together to help our mutual clients.


CPA Seminar

Tomorrow I will be lecturing before Georgia CPAs. Unfortunately, lawyers and CPAs often fear each other. This is a shame since we can so often both assist our clients, especially when we work well together (I have blogged about this previously). I get excited when I have an opportunity to meet other professionals that can help me do my job better. And that is how I view CPAs (professionals who can help me do my job better, and thereby help our mutual clients).

I am excited to be working with the Georgia Society of CPAs and AICPA (for a program in Boston in three weeks, and in Las Vegas in May) and NACVA on various programs. Every time I attend a seminar for professionals other than lawyers, I learn so much. Tomorrow should be more of the same. And the best part is, I always learn something, not only from the presentations, but from the interaction between sessions and before and after the program. All of our lawyers are encouraged to attend as many family law related CLE events as they can and I think and hope, it makes us a better firm.