Law Office Manager

Managing staff

Model Policy: Copyright compliance

Why you need this policy: Copyright infringement has become a serious liability risk for law firms:    * In 1991, a mid-sized Washington, DC, law firm was sued for $14 million by a publisher. The case was eventually settled but not until after the firm incurred over $1 million in legal fees;    * In 1999, a large Wall Street firm settled a … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Copyright compliance

Model Policy: Reduced schedule and flexible work arrangements

Why you need this policy: Once upon a time, the belief was that an individual could be an attorney or a primary caregiving parent but not both. Attitudes—and laws—have changed this thinking and opened the door to all kinds of flexible work arrangements allowing attorneys to balance their professional and parental obligations. How this policy helps you: Every law office needs a … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Reduced schedule and flexible work arrangements

Model Policy: Sexual harassment

Why you need this policy: Personnel issues are among the most difficult problems faced by law office managers. And few personnel issues are any more difficult than sexual harassment. How this policy helps you: The starting point in managing sexual harassment is to establish a clearly written, specific policy that includes a/an: Policy statement indicating that sexual … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Sexual harassment

Work stays on desktop

Here is a rule that is valuable but is found in few offices. Staff desks are for storing personal items. All work has to stay on top of the desk. That’s a good way to ensure that nothing gets overlooked. For the manager who questions the wisdom of the rule, take a look in any desk after someone quits. It’s amazing what people find there. And much of it is costly, such as … [Read more...] about Work stays on desktop

From ready dinners to errand helpers, Georgia firm supports families

An Atlanta firm makes work life balance easier with some unusual add-ons for employees. The firm has engaged several companies that provide personal services, often at a discount. One, for example, delivers ready-to-cook meals to the office, which gives employees a quick-fix dinner to take home that isn’t fast food. Errand service There’s also an onsite concierge who is “at … [Read more...] about From ready dinners to errand helpers, Georgia firm supports families

How to write a readable memo

An office memo has only one purpose, and that is to send a message as quickly and as clearly as possible. Here’s how to do just that. • Use wide margins and spaces between the paragraphs. That makes the page easier to look at, and if it’s easy to look at, people will read it. By contrast, picture a page filled top to bottom with type. Nobody wants to wade through that. • If … [Read more...] about How to write a readable memo

Paid time off can be anything under the sun, even unlimited vacation

Time off isn't required by law, "but it's so commonplace that employees expect it." And for morale and retention it's a necessity. How the firm sets up its time off policy is its own business, says Vanessa G. Nelson, SPHR, CLRL, president of the human resources consulting firm Expert Human Resources in Flint, MI. But there are a lot of decisions it has to make. The vacation … [Read more...] about Paid time off can be anything under the sun, even unlimited vacation