Start Your FREE Membership NOW
• Discover Proven Ways to Be a Better Law Office Manager
• Get Our Daily eNewsletter, Law Office Manager Bulletin,
    and MUCH MORE
• Absolutely NO Risk or Obligation on Your Part -- It's FREE!
EMAIL ADDRESS

Upgrade to Premium Membership NOW for Just $90!
• Get 3 Months of Full Premium Membership Access
• Includes Our Monthly Newsletter, Office Toolbox, Policy Center, and Archives
• And MUCH MORE!
Home » topics » Technology
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

The nomadic remote employee: Employee dream, employer nightmare

April 11, 2023 by

By Lynne Curry Question: Several of our employees regularly travel out of state. Before the pandemic, they took vacations for several days or weeks. They and we understood they were on vacation. The situation was clear cut. Our current team includes three employees who want to travel and stay for weeks or even months, in places like Hawaii and Thailand or with relatives. While they insist they can work and should receive full paychecks, this doesn’t seem fair to the rest of us who remain onsite and have to pick up the pieces when our “travelers” can’t be easily reached. We agree they can get some work done, but have no way of knowing if they’re putting in 40 hours a week. We tried to explain how messy this felt… . . . read more

TAGGED WITH: , , , ,
MANAGING THE OFFICE

Tame those office temperature tantrums!

March 2, 2023 by

Disputes over office temperature are relatively common among office staff. According to a study conducted by the International Facility Management Association, more than 50% of office workers report being unhappy with the temperature in their workplace. This dissatisfaction can lead to heated disputes or chilly relations among office staff, as people have different preferences for temperature and different comfort levels. For nearly 100 years, recommended temperatures for offices have been based on the body size and fat-to-muscle ratios (and typical clothing) of men, who tend to prefer temperatures around 72 degrees. Women feel colder than men at the same air temperature and prefer settings around 77 degrees. Besides being uncomfortable, the the wrong temperature can reduce productivity, as chilly workers fidget to get warm and overheated workers get move sluggishly…. . . . read more

TAGGED WITH: , , , , , ,
TECHNOLOGY

Declutter your phone to declutter your mind

March 1, 2023 by

As a busy law office manager, you probably use your smartphone for both personal and professional purposes. However, over time, your device may become cluttered with too many apps, files, and notifications. This can make it difficult to find what you need quickly, and may even affect your productivity. Fortunately, decluttering your smartphone is a simple task that can be done in just a few steps. Step 1: Delete Unused Apps The first step to decluttering your smartphone is to delete any apps that you no longer use or need. This includes apps that you downloaded but never used, as well as apps that you used in the past but no longer need. To delete an app on an iPhone, simply hold down the app icon until it starts to… . . . read more

TAGGED WITH: , ,
CYBERSECURITY

7 ways to protect confidential client data

February 28, 2023 by

As a manager of a law office, it’s crucial that you prioritize the protection of confidential client information. With the increasing number of cybersecurity threats in today’s digital age, it’s important to implement strong security measures to ensure that your clients’ data is safe. Here’s some advice on how to implement effective security measures for your law office: Ensure strong passwords and multi-factor authentication are in place: It’s important to require employees to use strong passwords that are regularly changed. You should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security. Secure networks and devices: You should take steps to secure your networks and devices from potential threats by using firewalls and antivirus software. All devices, including laptops and mobile phones, should be encrypted and password-protected. Regularly… . . . read more

TAGGED WITH: , , ,
HIRING

Prepare and practice for conducting an online job interview

January 10, 2023 by

By Robert Half By now, you’ve likely discovered the advantages of conducting a remote interview. It’s convenient for you and the candidate, it’s easier to schedule separate interviews with the hiring committee, it saves you the cost of a candidate’s lunch or travel expenses, and you can conduct more assessments more quickly. Most importantly, and especially in this very challenging labor market,  the remote interview allows you to meet your top candidates and make a hiring decision before many old-school competitors can even finalize arrangements for an on-site meet-and-greet. Still, the remote interview presents a few complications. Details you never had to consider when interviewing at the office—your background, screen presence and technology, for example—must now be part of any well-planned meeting. Otherwise, you risk mishaps that can distract and… . . . read more

TAGGED WITH: , ,
TECHNOLOGY

7 tips for leading a video meeting

December 27, 2022 by

We’ve become accustomed to attending work meetings on Zoom and other video conferencing platforms since the pandemic lockdown of 2020. But you might not be at ease as the leader of a Zoom meeting for your law office admin team. Here are some tips for conducting a successful video work meeting: Set a clear agenda: Before the meeting, create an agenda that outlines the topics to be discussed and the goals of the meeting. Send this agenda to all participants in advance so that they can come prepared. Establish ground rules: Set some ground rules for the meeting, such as requiring all participants to mute their microphones when not speaking and encouraging people to use the chat function to ask questions or make comments. Start on time: Respect the time… . . . read more

TAGGED WITH: , , , ,
DATA SECURITY

Are you following these 8 steps for law office cybersecurity?

December 25, 2022 by

Cybersecurity is a critical issue for your law office, as you handle sensitive and confidential information on a daily basis. This includes client data, legal documents, and financial records. A breach of this information could have serious consequences, including financial losses, damage to reputation, and legal liability. How does your office stack up against these eight basic recommendations for law office cybersecurity? Network security: Law offices should have secure networks that are protected by firewalls and regularly updated with the latest security patches. They should also have a virtual private network (VPN) in place to encrypt internet traffic and protect it from being intercepted by hackers. Device security: All devices connected to the network, including laptops, smartphones, and tablets, should have strong passwords and be equipped with up-to-date antivirus software…. . . . read more

TAGGED WITH: , , ,

9 time-saving tips for busy law office administrators

December 24, 2022 by

Law office administrators are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a law firm, which can be a complex and time-consuming task. In order to be effective, it is important for law office administrators to find ways to save time and streamline their work processes. Here are some tips and strategies for doing just that: Automate as much as possible: Technology has come a long way in recent years, and there are now many tools and software programs that can help law office administrators save time and streamline their work. For example, you can use automated scheduling tools to manage appointments and meetings, or use document management software to organize and store legal documents. Use templates: Instead of starting from scratch each time you need to create a document or… . . . read more

TAGGED WITH: , ,
CYBERSECURITY

Treat passwords like underwear: Change often and don’t share

December 15, 2022 by

Did you know that most confirmed data breaches involve the leveraging of weak, stolen, or default passwords? One of your practice’s frontline defenses for avoiding the phishing  attacks and other cybercriminal schemes is effective password management. How well are you managing yours? Take this quiz from Michael J. Sacopulos, JD, founder and CEO of the Medical Risk Institute, to find out.  Strong passwords are too complicated to remember. It’s fine to use passwords that are short and easy.            True or False?  Answer: False Easy passwords are easy to crack. Popular passwords in the United States continue to be “password” and “12345.” These weak passwords offer little security and are simply dangerous. Instruct your team to create strong passwords that contain a mix of letters, cases, and… . . . read more

TAGGED WITH: , , ,
POST-PANDEMIC WORKPLACE

Managers hold the key to employee engagement and retention

December 15, 2022 by

With many workplaces now allowing hybrid work, new complexities in managing the workplace are emerging, says the The Conference Board in a new report. Recent evidence suggests that productivity among US workers has declined significantly from heights experienced during the pandemic. Remote and hybrid work arrangements combined with ill-prepared managers may be a cause. Why it matters Managers lie at the nexus of employee engagement and retention. Given the added challenges of a post-COVID world of work, it is essential to strengthen how employees are managed and led. Care must be taken to create an organizational culture welcomed by employees that also supports organizational goals. The path forward Postpandemic, managers and employees must learn how to adapt effectively to each other’s emerging needs and preferences. This can be done by… . . . read more

TAGGED WITH: , ,

(-0)