How to Do BD Without Burning Out [Online]
Wednesday 25 February 2026
3:55 pm – 4:55 pm AEDT
Online (Webinar)
Part of: Compulsory CPD Pack - Advocacy, Ethical Dilemmas and Avoiding BD Burnout
You can build your practice without running yourself into the ground.
Business development doesn't have to mean glad-handing at cocktail parties or cold-calling strangers. In this one-hour session, Sue-Ella Prodonovich cuts through the noise and shows you how to do BD in a way that fits your personality, your practice, and your schedule.
The session is part of the College of Law's half-day Compulsory CPD Pack (25 February 2026), which covers Advocacy Skills in Mediation and Ethical Dilemmas before Sue-Ella closes the afternoon.
WHAT WE’LL COVER
Playing to your strengths. Approaches to building business leads that work within your comfort zone — no forced schmoozing required.
Networks, Tribes and Ties. Ideas for seeding a career-long support base that pays dividends for decades.
Awareness and understanding. Practical ways to improve your visibility and save time doing it.
Light-Touch and High-Intensity. Different BD approaches to match different levels of demand on your time.
Busting BD Mantras. "If I do a great job, the client will refer me." Sue-Ella challenges the assumptions that may be holding your practice back.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This session is ideal for lawyers who want to meet their mandatory CPD obligations and walk away with ideas they can actually use — especially those who find traditional BD uncomfortable, time-consuming, or unclear on where to start.
ABOUT SUE-ELLA
Sue-Ella Prodonovich is an award-winning adviser and author with more than 25 years of senior Business Development experience in the legal sector.
She is Principal of Prodonovich Advisory, a business dedicated to helping professional services practices sharpen their business development practices.
EVENT DETAILS
When: Wednesday 25 February 2026, 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm AEDT
Where: Online. Delivered as part of the College of Law's half-day CPD Pack (1:30 pm – 5:00 pm AEDT)
Investment: From $297.00 (full CPD Pack, 3 CPD Points)
CPD: 1 point (Practice Management and Business Skills)
The Practical Details
What is the College of Law CPD Pack on 25 February 2026?
It's a half-day online webinar covering all three mandatory CPD competencies in one afternoon. Mary Walker SC presents on Advocacy Skills in Mediation, Michela Gallimore covers Ethical Dilemmas, and Sue-Ella Prodonovich closes with How to Do BD Without Burning Out. The session runs 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm AEDT and earns you 3 CPD points.
Will the session be recorded?
Yes. It will be recorded and made available to registered participants after the event. So even if you can't attend live, you can watch it at a time that suits you.
What CPD point does the BD session count towards?
It counts as one point in Practice Management and Business Skills - one of the three mandatory CPD competency areas required by most Australian state law societies each CPD year.
Is this session suitable for lawyers who find BD uncomfortable?
Yes - that's exactly who it's designed for. The session focuses on approaches that work within your comfort zone. You don't need to enjoy networking events or self-promotion. Sue-Ella covers light-touch strategies, personal strengths, and time-efficient tactics that any lawyer can apply.
How does this session align with the NSW Law Society's Solicitor Capability Framework?
The session maps directly to two Primary Priority Capabilities in the Law Society of NSW's Solicitor Capability Framework (2025).
First, ‘Professionalism’ specifically Planning and Wellbeing skills, which calls on solicitors to recognise signs of stress and overwork and take action to protect their health.
Second, ‘Adaptive Mindset and Resilience’. The session addresses the persistence, optimism, and resilience behaviours the Framework identifies as essential for navigating pressure and setbacks.
For firms using the Framework to guide CPD planning, this session is a purposeful match.