Law Office Manager

The firm’s holiday reception needs organizing. Partners want client gifts sent. Staffers are discussing a collection, someone has suggested decorating the office, and the holiday greeting list needs attention. Each request seems small. Together, they can become a second job for the legal administrator or the same dependable assistant—just as year-end billing, collections, deadlines and vacation coverage are competing for…

Suppose you were unexpectedly absent for two weeks, with no opportunity to prepare and no ability to answer questions. Would payroll go through? Would invoices reach clients? Would someone know which vendor to call when the phone system failed? A firm may have capable staffers and still depend on its office manager to connect the work: remembering deadlines, knowing who…

By Lynne Curry Question: One of my coworkers shares deeply personal details about her life in meetings. Divorce updates, medical procedures, and how she’s navigating all of it. She’s always so excited to tell us and expects the rest of us to be interested and happy (or sad) for her. At first, I tried to be supportive. So did everyone…

Well-run law firms rarely have one catastrophic operational problem. Instead, they have dozens of small delays that become part of everyday life. An attorney waits another day for a document review. A conflict check takes longer than expected. Billing slips to next week. An engagement letter sits in someone's inbox. Staff members develop workarounds, and before long everyone accepts the…

The receptionist greets clients warmly. The waiting room is spotless. Coffee is brewing. The furniture is comfortable. Then someone turns on the television. Suddenly the room is filled with breaking news alerts, political arguments, stock market crashes, and dire weather warnings. Clients waiting to discuss a divorce, criminal charge, business dispute, or estate matter get an extra dose of stress…