By Abby Curnow-Chavez bio With Mother's Day just behind us, I've been thinking about the connection between motherhood and my other "job" – not the one of mom to teenage boys, but my work as a leadership consultant and executive coach. As parents, we are "leading leaders" and just like leaders in business, shifting from parenting to "leading leaders" requires an adjustment … [Read more...] about Being a great leader by applying what I’ve learned as a mother
Your career
How to increase—and demonstrate—your value to the firm
Don't become an economic casualty. When revenues drop, firms put their administrators under close scrutiny. They want a good payoff for the salary investment. Sometimes the partners question whether the administrator is doing enough. And sometimes they question whether they need an administrator at all, says executive coach Lissa Weimelt, a principal with the executive search … [Read more...] about How to increase—and demonstrate—your value to the firm
12 signs you are about to lose your job
Call it denial. Call it turning a blind eye to what’s going on. But even the most business-savvy administrator can fail to see when the job is in jeopardy. People think it will happen to everyone else but not to themselves. Administrators might be observing negative goings-on in their offices without cluing in that their jobs are on the line. The only way to stay safe is to … [Read more...] about 12 signs you are about to lose your job
What does it mean to be a competent lawyer?
By Doug Striker bio Let's say you're looking for a lawyer to handle a rather complicated family matter. A friend recommends a lawyer whom he says is a legal genius, who works hard for his clients, knows the law inside and out, has a knack for finding legal loopholes, never loses a case, digs hard to get all the facts and looks under every rock. You're very excited to … [Read more...] about What does it mean to be a competent lawyer?
17 quick tips for law firm leaders
By Robert Denney bio Here are some quick pointers to keep in mind, whether you've been a firm leader for decades or are new to the position. Have a vision. If you don't know where you're going, you'll never get there. Develop a strategic plan and follow it. Hell is paved with good intentions and business plans that were never implemented. … [Read more...] about 17 quick tips for law firm leaders
What are your past employers saying about you?
It makes good business sense—and is respectful professional etiquette—to stay in touch with your former bosses, says Allison & Taylor, a national professional reference-checking firm. As your career advances, your efforts to stay connected with past employers could pay dividends many times over when they provide you with favorable professional references. Conversely, … [Read more...] about What are your past employers saying about you?
The surprising answer to what your staff really wants
Flexible work arrangements are often at or near the top of survey lists. And yes, money matters. But, perhaps surprising, career development also gets top rankings. Employees want to acquire knowledge and learn new skills in order to do their jobs and advance their careers. What's more, development opportunities play an important role in keeping staff members – and … [Read more...] about The surprising answer to what your staff really wants
What you can do to help resolve partner conflict
It's no secret that fighting among partners is a major cause of firm breakups. Not so well known, however, is how to resolve the conflict. When two individual partners or even two groups of partners are at odds with one another, the firm needs a middle person. That person can be the managing partner or a professional mediator. The middle person can broach the issue and bring … [Read more...] about What you can do to help resolve partner conflict
Feeling stuck and disorganized? Here’s how to turn things around
By Bianca Moreiras bio After working 30 years in the legal arena with highly skilled, highly skeptical attorneys I have learned that keeping myself in a positive "can do" frame of mind helps keep my sanity. Executing the feeling is another story. Each day brings new challenges or "change"—something that is inevitable, but also something attorneys will try to avoid at all … [Read more...] about Feeling stuck and disorganized? Here’s how to turn things around
How to stage your office for improved productivity
Is clutter slowing down productivity in your office? Clutter is a major distraction and eats up time, says Pat Heydlauff of Energy Design, a productive-focused environment company. "Nobody can concentrate or work efficiently amidst disorganization," she says, pointing out that getting rid of office clutter can significantly improve the atmosphere and speed up the work flow. … [Read more...] about How to stage your office for improved productivity