The start of the new year is a traditional time for people to set personal and professional goals. And in order to achieve goals, they must come with a roadmap. Here are two inter-related goals you can set for 2019: Goal 1: Win the lawyers' respect; and Goal 2: Earn a better salary. Not only will achieving these goals help you become a better manager for your law firm, they … [Read more...] about 2 goals you need to set for 2019 and how to achieve them
Your career
5 ways to turn your staff into a team of professionals
How can an administrator turn staff into professionals? Focus on attitude, says Cynthia R. Grosso, founder of the Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette in Charleston, SC, and a speaker on corporate etiquette and professional success. People think professionalism is action. It's not, says Grosso. "It's an attitude." And mostly it's an attitude of self-respect. A … [Read more...] about 5 ways to turn your staff into a team of professionals
In the office, your cooperation is mandatory, not optional
By Steve M. Cohen bio It might sound obvious, but being a key employee, especially a top-level manager, requires above all organizational loyalty. Yet in many businesses, some employees are working at cross proposes with their firm. Let's assume that your organization has an objective, probably something articulated in your mission and vision statement. This … [Read more...] about In the office, your cooperation is mandatory, not optional
Creating a peaceful office environment
Law firms are usually hired to handle contentious issues, but that doesn't mean the workplace itself needs to be fraught with conflict. If you're wishing for peace in the firm, there are a few things you can do that can have a significant impact. It goes without saying that office conflict, poor attitudes, and negative staffers undermine peace and tranquility. But any bad … [Read more...] about Creating a peaceful office environment
The joy of the crappy first draft
By Daphne Gray-Grant bio Every beginning writer I know abhors the idea of a crappy first draft. It's embarrassing, mortifying and humiliating. They know their boss or client is going to hate it. They're going to hate it themselves because they fear it will make them look inept and unskilled. Thus, they don't want to it exist on their hard-drive, even for a … [Read more...] about The joy of the crappy first draft
5 tricks to surviving and thriving in a highly political office
A law office is filled with many different personalities and many different dynamics. With those differences come office politics. And with the politics the manager can become a casualty. Here are the solutions to five situations where politics and personalities come into play. They are outlined by Margaret Hintz, SPHR, manager of HR services for Insperity, an Atlanta human … [Read more...] about 5 tricks to surviving and thriving in a highly political office
Average starting salaries for legal jobs projected to rise 3.1 percent in 2016
Starting salaries for legal professionals in the United States are expected to increase 3.1 percent overall in 2016, according to the just-released Robert Half Legal 2016 Salary Guide. Law firm attorneys with four-plus years of professional experience should see greater-than-average salary gains. Among legal specialists, compliance directors are expected to see the largest … [Read more...] about Average starting salaries for legal jobs projected to rise 3.1 percent in 2016
4 ways to keep your cool in the midst of chaos
By Cheryl Toth, MBA bio How well do you think you handle stress at work? I used to think I was pretty good at it, until a few years ago, when I realized I wasn't. I was working for a healthcare technology company that was young and rapidly growing. Every day, my task and responsibility list seemed to grow exponentially. At first it was exciting, but after a while I was … [Read more...] about 4 ways to keep your cool in the midst of chaos
12 common errors in English you’ll want to avoid
Errors in your writing reflect poorly on you—and on the legal practice. Even if English wasn't your best subject, it's not too late to brush up on the basics. Here are 12 common errors you'll want to avoid. 1. You're/your You're is a contraction, short for "you are." Your is a possessive pronoun, as in "It's your birthday." Quick check: Can you substitute "you are"? … [Read more...] about 12 common errors in English you’ll want to avoid
You know dressing for success is important. But do you know how to do it?
Whether you're speaking to a group, to the lawyers, or to a new client, your looks count, says image consultant Sandy Dumont of The Image Architect in Norfolk, VA. And Dumont backs up her assertion with research—limited research, but research nonetheless. She recently sat in a courtroom "for hours predicting which attorneys would win based on how they looked." And each time, … [Read more...] about You know dressing for success is important. But do you know how to do it?