Here are three common people-management problems and their solutions. The first two deal with managing staff; the third deals with managing clients. #1: Lousy performance People problem #1. How to address poor performance in such a way that the outcome is improvement, not firing. The obvious answer is to meet with the staffer, explain the problem, and tell how to correct … [Read more...] about Solutions to 3 people problems: performance, raises, and rude clients
Working with lawyers
Caitlyn Jenner raises awareness, questions about transgender people
Olympic gold medalist and reality television personality Bruce Jenner has become Caitlyn Jenner. Jenner's transition has been well documented by the media, culminating in a photo of Caitlyn on the cover of Vanity Fair. Although her journey has been more public than most, Jenner's story is not unique. It is estimated that 700,000 people in the United States are transgender, … [Read more...] about Caitlyn Jenner raises awareness, questions about transgender people
Six rules for selling without a sales pitch
Don't destroy the firm's marketing efforts by putting a hard sell on a potential client. To some people, lawyers have a negative image to begin with. Add a sales pitch to that and the reaction is resistance. The prospect sees the attorney as trying to take control and there's confrontation before the selling even begins. A hard sell may be effective in some businesses, but … [Read more...] about Six rules for selling without a sales pitch
The psychology of getting clients to pay
When the collections get tough, the tough start adding a bit of psychology to the billing. It can make the difference between getting paid now or getting paid later or maybe not getting paid at all, says Merra Lee Moffitt of Capture Profits, a revenue and profit building consulting company in Reading, PA. A waning economy is no time to sit at status quo with the billing, … [Read more...] about The psychology of getting clients to pay
Anybody over age 40?
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is waiting and watching for a violation. Age discrimination can creep in quietly and unexpectedly. It can come even from some well-intentioned remark such as, "You're overqualified for this job"—the term "overqualified" being taken as a euphemism for old. Here Alix Rubin, an employment law attorney in West Caldwell, NJ, … [Read more...] about Anybody over age 40?
The best business plan: Fall back and regroup at a firm retreat
Is the firm retreat a dying exercise? During the current economic downturn, many practices eliminated the annual retreat in an effort to save money. But it's when the revenues and business future are most mercurial that a retreat is most needed, says Robert Denney, a Wayne, PA, law firm management consultant. The firm needs to know how to navigate through the financial waters … [Read more...] about The best business plan: Fall back and regroup at a firm retreat
Large firm gives staff a committee voice
Like any law firm, a large firm in Maine has many committees. And until recently it restricted membership to the attorneys. No more. The office started giving membership in just about all of its committees to staff. The move came as a part of strategic planning when the firm was discussing how it could become the employer of choice in the area, says the administrator. The … [Read more...] about Large firm gives staff a committee voice
Standing desks—Fad or functional?
You might want to stand up for this: "Sitting is the new smoking" says a recent study on the economic impact of reduced physical inactivity and sedentary behavior. Indeed, it's well documented that we are, essentially, sitting far too much, and for far too long. The results of this have been shown to be negatively affecting our health, and waistlines. Unfortunately, studies … [Read more...] about Standing desks—Fad or functional?
Model Tool: Conflict of Interest Policy for Romantically Involved Employees
Why you need this policy: A law firm's control over an employee doesn't normally extend to the employee's love life. But when a romance between co-workers affects the workplace and the law firm's business, it becomes an employment matter. This is most likely to happen when a relationship ends. You need to implement a Model Conflict of Interest Policy to protect your law firm … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Conflict of Interest Policy for Romantically Involved Employees
What to do when a lawyer harasses staffers but no one complains
Question: One of our attorneys continuously makes inappropriate remarks to the staff. He thinks the remarks are funny. The staff don't complain, but what's said is obviously inappropriate. Everyone likes the lawyer, and the other lawyers want to keep him on staff. They have counselled with him, but he continues. What should we do? Answer: No office can afford to turn a blind … [Read more...] about What to do when a lawyer harasses staffers but no one complains