I know Law Day isn't until May, but good planning now saves a lot of scrambling later! See the ABA Law Day Checklist at: http://www.abanet.org/publiced/lawday/LD_planning_timeline.pdf for ideas on getting started.
This post was written by Julie A. Fleming: "Through years of school and various jobs and activities, we've learned how to persist even in the face of difficulties. Persistence is an important trait, since (in the words of one of my current favorite songs) "what's worth the prize is always worth the fight." No fight may mean no prize, and we've integrated that lesson in our professional lives. (Think back to law school, and I virtually guarantee you'll remember at least one class that would have stopped you cold had you not been committed to fighting your way through.)
An opposing principle is the concept of diminishing returns, in which additional effort doesn't produce additional results proportional to that effort. For example, when you draft a memorandum for a client, the first and second drafts are generally critical to the end result. By the time you get to the fifth or fifteenth or fiftieth draft (depending on the complexity of the matter at hand), you're making only small changes and word-smithing. A single word can occasionally affect the impact of an entire document, so experience is often required to know when you've reached the point of diminishing returns..."
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Source: Life at the Bar, 3 February 2010. © Life at the Bar LLC Blog, reproduced with permission of the author.
This post was written by Allison Shields: "Last month I posted on stripping down your practice, and I suggested that while procedures and systems can help your productivity, they need to be re-evaluated from time to time to ensure that they are working and that they are necessary.
This same issue arose during a number of my client meetings over the past two weeks. As I work with lawyers on streamlining their practices and improving productivity, we invariably encounter old, outdated, redundant or unnecessary procedures. Many times, the old procedures have become unnecessary because new technology has been put into place which takes the place of several old ways of working, but only some of the old procedures have been eliminated..."
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Source: Legal Ease Blog, 5 February 2010. Reproduced with permission of the author.
This post was written by Cheryl: "If you pick the top three companies known for their extraordinary customer relationships; Nordstrom, Amazon and Starbucks, it's pretty easy to dissect their redeeming qualities...
Consumers still want to buy from real people and want to buy and associate with people and businesses who carry similar values and good will..."
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Source: Service Untitled, 5 February 2010. © 2006-2010 Service Untitled Group, reproduced with permission of Douglas Hanna.
In the news: "Like the dating scene, the job interview process may start with a rendezvous for coffee at a local cafe. Although the meeting is held in an informal setting, the rules of interviewing apply, note consultants Valerie Fontaine and Roberta Kass. You still must prepare, dress appropriately and sell yourself. Presenting your case in a public place presents some challenges, however, particularly when the location is noisy and busy. Here are some tips for getting coffee with an interviewer without burning yourself."
Source: Law.Com's Daily Legal Newswire. 8 February 2010. Copyright 2009. ALM Properties, Inc. All rights reserved. Subscribe <http://store.law.com/registration/register.asp?subscribeto=nw>.
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Source: Build a Solo Practice, 8 February 2010. Copyright 2010 Susan Cartier Liebel, reproduced with permission.
This post was written by Michelle Golden: "Asking 'What's the ROI of social media?' is akin to asking 'What's the ROI of a telephone?' or 'What's the ROI of a computer?' or 'What's the ROI of e-mail?'
First, these are all tools. They all have the potential to be significant time-suckers. And they each can make us enormously effective. Depending on our purpose and actions with the tools.
Second, to truly gauge ROI--on a broad basis--you would have to consider ALL the cost to acquire, set up and maintain each of these over time. You would also have to consider ALL the value attained through the use of the tool over time.
To do this properly and completely would be an enormous job, would require some use of metrics, and some use of judgment or anecdotal evidence...
A more realistic and useful approach is to project desired ROI use-by-use or, in marketing terms, initiative-by-initiative..."
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Source: Golden Practices, 7 February 2010, reproduced with permission of the author.
This post was written by Admittedly, as long as you can afford it, having an office is a must. But I also think that having a mobile, paperless, office makes life a lot easier.
Today, for example, I needed to accompany a family member to some unexpected medical appointments. There was no freaking out because my entire practice is on my iPhone and my MacBook Pro at home..."
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Source: Lawyerist.com, 7 February 2010. © 2007-2010 Lawyerist Media, LLC, reproduced with permission of the site editor, Sam Glover.
This post was written by : "Every practicing lawyer, regardless of practice area, needs to be a great storyteller. At some point in the course of representing a client, effectively conveying their story will be critical to their case. When you have the spotlight, make sure you take advantage..."
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Source: Lawyerist.com, 4 February 2010, © 2007-2010 Lawyerist Media, LLC. Reproduced with permission of the site editor, Sam Glover.
This post was written by Jim Hassett: "When the economy changes, lawyers must change too. New client demands and new levels of competition are requiring lawyers to rethink the way they develop business.
When I wrote the book Legal Business Development: A Step by Step Guide a few years ago, I outlined the steps each lawyer should take to find their unique individual answer to the question, "What should I do today to increase new business?"
The fundamentals of marketing have not changed since then, but the world has. In the current economy, every lawyer must focus first on defensive marketing - protecting the clients and referral sources they already have - and on providing clients with more value...
If you agree that defensive marketing would be a good idea, where should you start? Review tactics that have worked at other firms, quickly pick out an item or two that fits your practice and personality, and give it a try. Here are five of the best tactics to increase client satisfaction:..."
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Source: Legal Business Development, 3 February 2010, reproduced with permission of the author.
