Recently in Your firm's website Category

This post was written by StephanieWestAllen: "As with any conflict, family disputes can be difficult--and they can also be fruitful. From "Advice to nonfamily managers" (BusinessWorld Online):

Conflict among family members in a business can be normal, but it can also present the greatest source of difficulty and discomfort for nonfamily managers.

...

The author gives 5 tips:

• First, as much as possible, enhance the trust among the siblings because the more they trust each other, the less they will fight.
• Second, encourage a greater flow of information.
• Third, assist in preparing the successor.
• Fourth, encourage accountability in the organization.
• Fifth, make sure not to take sides with one generation or the other.

For a more about each of these tips, read the article."

Full text and active links are available by clicking on the author's name.

Source: idealawg, 11 March 2010, reproduced with permission of the author.

From the e-newsletter: "Roller coasters and amusement parks are traditionally associated with summertime fun for children, adults, and families. Amusement parks market and advertise themselves as places to escape and enjoy the thrills of exhilarating roller coasters, twirling rides, and water park slides. Tragically, however, some visitors never leave an amusement park or water park alive."

Read more...

Source: FindLaw's Public Advisor. 11 March 2010 Copyright © 2010 FindLaw, a Thomson Business. Subscribe <http://newsletters.findlaw.com/>.

This post was written by Michelle Golden: "Some interesting backstage comments followed the Oscars on ABC News/Entertainment made by Kathryn Bigelow (Best Director for Hurt Locker) on the quality of the 2010 Oscar nominees. She said, 

"This has been a really extraordinary year for content, and content-driven material that is diverse and complex."

I was really moved when I read this. 

It's a reflection of what's garnering the most attention, and exactly mirrors what's happening on-line. What draws is content. 

...Funny when you think about it because, despite pretty redesigns, most law and accounting firm website content is nearly IDENTICAL to the stuff the firms said about themselves in their first websites, circa 1995-1998. AND, that content came from where? Yes. Straight from the brochures the firms used since.... when? The 80s. 

Just sayin'...

Those sites are so dead they don't even stink anymore! 

...Get out there. Show your intellect. Show your depth. MOVE people. Give them something to applaud. Stand out!

So, back to the Oscars for the lesson... Pretty is pretty. Popular is popular. But content wins."

The full text and active link are available by clicking on the author's name.

Source: Golden Practices, 9 March 2010, reproduced with permission of the author.

This post was written by Gyi Tsakalakis: "Once you are getting visitors to your law firm website, the next step is getting them to interact with it. If your website or blog is part of your law firm marketing plan (and it should be), merely getting people to look at your site isn't going to equate to potential client inquiries and new clients.

Video can be an effective tool to turn traffic into a potential client inquiry. However, the overwhelming majority of lawyer internet videos have been, quite frankly, bad."

What makes a bad law firm website video?...

What makes a good law firm website video?...

DIY vs. hiring a professional...

Full text and the active link are available by clicking on the author's name.

Source: Lawyerist.com, 6 March 2010. © 2007-2010 Lawyerist Media, LLC. Reproduced with permission of the site editor, Sam Glover.

This post was written by StephanieWestAllen: "Excerpt:

This year, about 2.5 million Americans will die...

With all due respect to the loved ones and friends you leave behind, it's your life, and the way you want to recognize the end of your life is up to you. By having a plan that thoughtfully reflects your wishes, you'll not only do this but also lift a lot of stress and worry from the loved ones you leave behind. That's not a bad final gift for you to make.

Click to read the rest of "8 Steps to Prepare for Your Final Act" (U.S. News & World Report).

To reach the blog post and the active links, click on the author's name.

Source: idealawg, 20 February 2010, reproduced with permission of the author.

This post was written by Steph Kimbro: "A law practice may provide unbundled or limited legal services to clients online whether that practice is a completely web-based or an existing brick-and-mortar law office adding a virtual law office component.

Unbundled legal services are provided when an attorney creates a legal document or provides the legal guidance for clients, but the clients themselves are responsible for either filing the legal document or ensuring that the document is properly executed and handled according to the instructions and legal guidance provided by the attorney..."

Continue reading this interesting post by clicking on the author's name.

Source: Lawyerist.com, 2 February 2010. © 2007-2010 Lawyerist Media, LLC. Reproduced with permission of the site editor, Sam Glover.

From the e-newsletter: "When it comes to teenagers behind the wheel of automobiles, perhaps it is time to be afraid, very afraid.  Indeed, recent research by the Pew Internet & American Life Project  presents some fairly sobering statistics about texting and driving. Pair that with some statistics about car crashes and car crash fatality numbers with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and it gets downright scary...

Related Resources:

Texting While Driving Laws on The Rise (Findlaw's Law and Daily Life Blog)

Teens, Texting and Driving (Findlaw)

Driving While Texting: Apps to Block It and Toughening Laws (Findlaw's Common Law Blog)

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Source: FindLaw's Modern Practice: Law & Technology, 10 December 2009 Copyright © 2008 FindLaw, a Thomson Business. Subscribe <http://newsletters.findlaw.com/>.

From FindLaw: "When your office hours end, your law firm's Web site stays open for business. Faced with a pressing legal problem, most people today turn to the Internet as a 24-hour-a-day tool for researching issues and looking for representation.

Online inquiries can come in anytime, from anywhere, but can be lost just as quickly. Giving prospects the information they're looking for, and providing it fast, is critical to your success in closing online leads.

To convert more of your Web "clicks" into qualified clients for your firm, start by addressing the key issues.

• Understand online prospects...
• Respond first...
• Provide a quality response...
• Screen the prospect...
• Moving forward... 

Read full text

Source: FindLaw's The Practice Paper: For Solo & Small Firm Lawyers. 9 December 2009 Copyright © 2008 FindLaw, a Thomson Business. Subscribe  <http://newsletters.findlaw.com/>.

In the news: "Faced with unexpected criticism about the propriety of several stock photos on its site, Houston-based Lindeman Alvarado moved quickly to remove images of a woman and children used to illustrate the firm's criminal defense practice areas. Do you know what content is on your Web site?"

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Source: Law.Com's Daily Legal Newswire. 7 December 2009. Copyright 2008.  ALM Properties, Inc. All rights reserved. Subscribe <http://store.law.com/registration/register.asp?subscribeto=nw>.

Posted by Brian Galbraith: "Are you dreading Christmas? Will it be your first special holiday since your separation?  Are you depressed about not having your children for New Year's Eve, or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or some other special day. Whatever the holiday, you are not alone.

I remember the first Christmas that my three boys were with their mother Christmas Eve and Christmas day. I cried and felt depressed most of the day. The time seemed to creep by so slowly. I felt all alone and like a failure.

I should have taken my 6 year old son's advice.

A few days before Christmas, he knew he would spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day with his Mom because that's what we agreed. So, he asked me to write a letter to Santa and ask him to come to my house on December 26th instead of the 25th. My son said that Santa comes to Steve's house (Steve is my friend who is divorced with kids too) on the 26th so he was sure he wouldn't mind coming to our house then too!

Of course, Santa did come on December 26th, even without a letter, but I think the message my son unwittingly was giving me was that it does not matter when we celebrate Christmas...lets just make whatever day we have together full of love, gratitude, Santa and fun. He knew Santa (and joy) would arrive whenever we wanted them to arrive. We just had to schedule it.

To help make your holidays special, here are ten things you can do:

1. Ensure your schedule is specific...
2. Don't fight over which days you have your children...
3. Do something special for yourself...
4. Support your children...
5. Create new traditions...
6. Get outside...
7. Give of your heart...
8. Stay sober...
9. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people...
10. Relax...

There are several wonderful blogs about surviving the holiday season after divorce. I recommend Richard Sharp's blog, Anne Shales blog, Nancy Van Tine's blog and Rosalind Sedacca's blog.  All have excellent advice for parents who are going through a divorce at this time of the year.

Now, my youngest son is 12 years old and he says the best thing about Mom and Dad having separated is that he enjoys "two Christmases, two Easters and two Thanksgivings!" He says "if you like that kind of food, it's great!" Let me assure you... he certainly does like "that kind of food!"

So make it a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa or whatever special holiday you are celebrating this year. Joy will come whenever you schedule its arrival. It is up to you."

Full text and active links are available at the source site listed below.

Source: Ontario Family Law Blog, 1 December 2009 [Hat tip to Colin O'Keefe at Real Lawyers Have Blogs!]