If you ever need to terminate an employee, one of the best tools you can have is an employee handbook that sets out clear policies and is kept up-to-date with changes in employment laws, says Chris Lessard, a California attorney who specializes in HR issues. Lessard, who is J.D. Solution Center Advisor to CEDR HR Solutions, says employee handbooks can protect legal practice … [Read more...] about Can your employee handbook help you safely terminate an employee?
Managing the office
How to eliminate meeting pain points and stop wasting time
Love 'em or hate 'em, meetings are an essential platform for sharing information, brainstorming new ideas, and collaborating as a team. But are they always necessary? It doesn't seem so, finds new research from Accountemps. Professionals surveyed said they spend more than one-fifth (21 percent) of their work hours in meetings but feel a quarter of that time is wasted. Workers … [Read more...] about How to eliminate meeting pain points and stop wasting time
Just how truthful is that applicant’s resume? Here’s how to find out
There's always tough competition for a good job. And sometimes, to beat out the competition, people do more than brush up their resumes. Some fabricate the facts to get in a better position for winning a job. But there's a way to sort out the facts from the fiction, says Michelle Taylor, PhD, of Taylor Consulting in Huntington Beach, CA, a company that provides psychological … [Read more...] about Just how truthful is that applicant’s resume? Here’s how to find out
An HR ghost story
By Lynne Curry bio My client asked me to find him the one "right" applicant for a critical management position in his company. Out of more than 50 resumes, I chose my favorite. "Jacob" did a great job on his phone interview, so I called him in for an interview. Ten minutes before the interview, he called saying an uninsured motorist had rear-ended him and the … [Read more...] about An HR ghost story
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP named one of the “Best Law Firms for Women” for 11 years straight
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP was recently named among Working Mother's 2018 "Best Law Firms for Women," making this the 11th consecutive year that the firm has received the distinction. The list recognizes 60 US law firms for their policies in the advancement of women and for the implementation of work-life balance initiatives. "Katten has long recognized the benefit and … [Read more...] about Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP named one of the “Best Law Firms for Women” for 11 years straight
Who tops the nation in vacation days?
Last year, Americans used 17.2 vacation days, the most since 2010 according to new research from Project: Time Off. Despite this marked improvement, 52 percent of employees reported leaving vacation days unused at the end of the year. The new report, Under-Vacationed America: A State-by-State Look at Time Off and Travel, provides a look at vacation behavior in all 50 states. … [Read more...] about Who tops the nation in vacation days?
How to make sure your intake consultation covers all the services your firm provides
In a law firm, service counts. In fact, it's often the service more than the legal abilities that brings in repeat business, says practice management and marketing consultant Allison C. Shields of Legal Ease Consulting in New York City. For that reason, the service needs to be covered in the initial consultation so the client knows what to expect and the attorney knows what … [Read more...] about How to make sure your intake consultation covers all the services your firm provides
NotPetya: How you can prevent the next attack on your law firm
By Doug Striker bio Want to know the ugly (like, SUPER ugly) truth about how badly a dirty piece of malware could cripple your law firm? Check out the recently released spreadsheet shared by Michael Sampson. Michael calculated the impact of NotPetya on DLA Piper, including direct costs of the IT staff, and the numbers are startling. Even scarier, the numbers don't include the … [Read more...] about NotPetya: How you can prevent the next attack on your law firm
To-Dos: Your August office checklist
The middle of summer is a great time for tackling projects that you can't get to during the rest of the year. Here are a few suggestions: Ensure that data security is covered in your employee handbook, employee training, and BYOD policy. Include computer files as part of your summer office clean-up. Start planning for the last quarter of the year in terms of collections … [Read more...] about To-Dos: Your August office checklist
How to hold on to clients when a partner retires
Partner retirement is a watershed event, particularly when the partner has originated a large portion of the business or is dominant in the firm's management or practice development. Many firms go through a wrenching period of adjustment when a partner retires. Often the fallout is lost clients, unsettled management and even the breakup of the firm. Retirement is a sensitive … [Read more...] about How to hold on to clients when a partner retires