By Elizabeth M. Miller bio After much resistance, kicking and screaming, lawyers are finally facing the reality that the business of practicing law is separate from the practice of law. What exactly does this mean? It means that a law practice is a business and from a management standpoint it needs to be run like a business or the practice will fail. We all know that the … [Read more...] about Cost-cutting strategies for law firms
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How to prioritize law firm management tasks
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio What's the most important task you have to tackle today? Do you have so many you can't decide which to address first? In law firms, priorities change from day to day and even moment to moment. The truth of the matter is that there are often competing priorities. And unless there is an obvious crisis, it's sometimes not that easy to decide which … [Read more...] about How to prioritize law firm management tasks
6 realities about client billing and how to address them
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio Nothing strikes a nerve with clients more than having to pay legal fees. I am not sure why, but some clients think it is acceptable to expect their lawyers to work for free, something they don't expect anyone else to do. In today's economy, clients are looking for reduced legal fees and results. Value billing and flat fee billing structures are … [Read more...] about 6 realities about client billing and how to address them
The death of a job and the 5 stages of grief
By Dr. Steve M. Cohen Unfortunately, as a manager you sometimes have to terminate someone. It's also unfortunate that sometimes this doesn't go well. That results in significant stress and related problems on both sides. Fortunately, an awareness of the emotional impact of termination can help you work with the soon-to-be terminated employee to make parting, and any … [Read more...] about The death of a job and the 5 stages of grief
5 ways to make a great first impression
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So it's important to consider what judgment calls your clients are making about your firm's efficiency and professionalism based on their first impression. Balancing a client's perception of your firm's success, and therefore its competency, can be a double-edged … [Read more...] about 5 ways to make a great first impression
Employee morale and your firm’s productivity: 6 easy ways to boost both
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio Employees' attitudes have changed over the years. Good, loyal employees want more than a paycheck and health benefits. Studies have shown that compensation does not even rate in the top 5 of what makes an employee happy with their job. I believe happy employees are productive employees and anyone who believes otherwise is overlooking the … [Read more...] about Employee morale and your firm’s productivity: 6 easy ways to boost both
Four tasks to start now to ensure a successful 2024
By Brenda A. Barnes bio Year-end can be a pretty hectic time for many of us. As a business owner though, this is an ideal time to work on positioning your firm for a prosperous new year. Here are four important tasks you can start on now to ensure a successful 2024: 1. Think about strategic planning. Evaluate your firm's successes as well as areas that need … [Read more...] about Four tasks to start now to ensure a successful 2024
3 steps to determine what office help you need
By Diane Camacho When you are at the point where you know you have to get office help, take the time to determine what help you need. Your neighbor’s brother-in-law may need a job, but he may not be the best bet. The following three step process can help you hire the right help. Step 1 – Track your non-billable time Create a client/matter number for your … [Read more...] about 3 steps to determine what office help you need
What employees and managers can do to protect each other
By Lynne Curry bio I’m scared. I don’t feel like my boss or coworkers are taking COVID-19 seriously. The medical professionals say we should be wiping down high-touch places. In our office, I’m the one who does it. So does that make me on the front line? Does my doing all this cleaning let everyone else feel safer so they don’t think they need to do anything? It would be fair … [Read more...] about What employees and managers can do to protect each other
Before you let your employees work remote
By Paul Edwards bio In light of growing concerns surrounding coronavirus, many businesses are wondering if they will be faced with a decision to send employees home and/or close their doors for a period of time. One popular idea to address these concerns is to offer remote work (or ‘telework’) options. If you don’t regularly have remote workers, this may not be something … [Read more...] about Before you let your employees work remote