"I'm getting an ulcer dealing with these people!" That's the lament of many a manager and it comes from a traditional office practice. It is the result of the standard once-a-year evaluation that winds up as a litany of each staffer's faults and proves worthless for improving performance. Beyond its ineffectiveness, the annual appraisal is not fair because the staffer has not … [Read more...] about Quarterly “four column” reviews to improve staff performance and reduce manager stress
Managing the office
4 ways you are apologizing wrong
By Stacey Hanke bio Apologies are something we love to receive and hate to give. And especially as a leader, they are tough. They require a great deal of humility, which challenge your pride and ego. They are an open admission of failure and wrongdoing, but when delivered with sincerity, they hold power with your team. Unfortunately, too many leaders give superficial … [Read more...] about 4 ways you are apologizing wrong
15 ways to improve your billings and collections
It's no secret that many clients don't like to pay their legal bills, says collaborative divorce attorney Joryn Jenkins. And without having measures in place to ensure payments, law firms can run into huge headaches. In a webinar for Law Office Manager, Jenkins, CEO of Open Palm Law and Open Palm Press in Tampa, FL, and Elizabeth Miller, an independent law firm administrator … [Read more...] about 15 ways to improve your billings and collections
Entry-level law firm recruiting activity remains strong
The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) has released its annual Perspectives on 2018 Law Student Recruiting report, showing that law firm recruiting activity in 2018 was brisk, with offer rates coming out of summer programs reaching an historic high. On many other metrics, Big Law Recruiting volume and practices resembled those measured before the recession. The full … [Read more...] about Entry-level law firm recruiting activity remains strong
Ask the Expert: How to name documents in a document management system
Q: "I'm looking for a naming protocol guideline—a compilation of legal and non-legal abbreviations and acronyms for naming documents in our document management system." A: (Courtesy of Diane Camacho, CLM, SPHR, of DLC Consulting Service) Try not to abbreviate too many words in document titles. If there are too many abbreviations to remember, people make them up. And don't … [Read more...] about Ask the Expert: How to name documents in a document management system
Avoid disbarment with a conflict-checking procedure
As you know, a conflict of interest occurs when a lawyer or a firm takes on multiple clients who have conflicting goals or interests. And if your law firm does not have a system in place to check for potential conflicts, you could be courting serious trouble with your bar association, clients, or other attorneys, according to Robyn A. Bonivich, founding partner in Robyn's Law … [Read more...] about Avoid disbarment with a conflict-checking procedure
Is your firm struggling with cash flow?
By Brenda Barnes bio Henry Ford once said, "Vision without execution is just hallucination." While revenue production is the core goal for every business, the real magic is in understanding and managing your cash cycle. You can't execute without cash. According to Patty Block, consultant and owner of The Block Group, many small businesses struggle to appropriately … [Read more...] about Is your firm struggling with cash flow?
5 simple tips to help your employees get more from their healthcare benefits
By David C. Fortosis bio Health insurance and the U.S. healthcare system have become increasingly complex and confusing. Despite promises for a better consumer and patient experience from insurance companies and niche vendors, that dream is still elusive. Dr. Sachin Jain, Harvard MD and CEO of CareMore Health recently said, "The U.S. healthcare system is never so … [Read more...] about 5 simple tips to help your employees get more from their healthcare benefits
Study finds alarming ambivalence about gender discrimination in the workplace, despite evidence that compensation inequality and harassment exist
Randstad US has released results of a survey examining American workers' feelings and experiences related to gender equality in the workplace. The data reveals a sharp disconnect: Employees acknowledge that forms of discrimination and harassment exist in the workplace, but they aren't sure what they're supposed to do about it. For example, while 51 percent of both men and women … [Read more...] about Study finds alarming ambivalence about gender discrimination in the workplace, despite evidence that compensation inequality and harassment exist
6 ways to optimize your recruitment efforts
Law firms are feeling the effects of today's talent shortage. More than three in 10 lawyers (31 percent) recently surveyed by Robert Half Legal said recruiting highly skilled legal professionals is the greatest practice management challenge facing their firm. Caseload or workflow management ranked second, with 19 percent of the survey response. These concerns come at a time … [Read more...] about 6 ways to optimize your recruitment efforts