It's inexpensive. It hits the exact market the firm wants to target. And it provides face-to-face contact with potential clients. It's the trade show exhibit. It's a small investment with a good return says Linda Bishop of Thought Transformation, an Atlanta sales and marketing firm. As a trade show exhibitor, an attorney can reach several hundred people who have direct … [Read more...] about 5 tactics to try at the next trade show to bring in new business
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10 ways managers are improving their law firms
Ah, the woes of running a law office. You know them well: Reams of reports, scheduling squabbles, technology tangles, and so much more. It takes a lot of skill, patience, and strategy to make a law office run smoothly—plus a little bit of help from others who know your pain. That must be why the Reader Tips section of our website is so popular. It contains dozens of solutions … [Read more...] about 10 ways managers are improving their law firms
The engagement letter: safety comes from clarity
Six things that client needs to know An engagement letter is protection – for both firm and client. It prevents argument on what the firm is expected to do for the client and what the client is expected to do for the firm. Thus, it needs to be clear, brief, and readable. Don't give the client "a scholarly work or something that reads like an insurance policy," says … [Read more...] about The engagement letter: safety comes from clarity
Tackle silly problems with silly solutions and boost morale
For the small problems inherent in any office's staff, one manager has two easy solutions: humor and once-a-day positive notes. The humor comes in the form of silly contests to solve equally silly—though very human—problems. "They're nonsensical, but they reduce tension," says the Georgia office manager. One, for example, was an ongoing complaint that nobody replaced the … [Read more...] about Tackle silly problems with silly solutions and boost morale
Ask this one question to keep the clients coming
A client survey can take whatever form and be as detailed as the firm wants. But there is just one question to worry about: Will you refer us? The answer had better be a yes. Here are two very different ways to approach it. The first is simple and direct and is outlined by Linda Bishop of Thought Transformation, an Atlanta sales consulting firm. Bishop is also author … [Read more...] about Ask this one question to keep the clients coming
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
How to test the climate of the firm and staff’s satisfaction with it
What makes a staff a satisfied staff? One human resources expert cites three core items: management’s communication with staff, management’s commitment to supporting staff, and staff’s trust in management. To find out the level of each as well as where and how to make improvements, use a climate survey, or an opinion survey on the climate of the office. … [Read more...] about How to test the climate of the firm and staff’s satisfaction with it
Three errors that can cause wrongful termination problems
Though every employer knows – or should know – the rules for safe firing, mistakes still happen when it comes to showing an employee the door, says Peter Golden, a business and employment law attorney with The Golden Law Firm in Atlanta. In his own practice, he finds that employers most often fall down on three points: missed documentation, unfair employee comparisons, and … [Read more...] about Three errors that can cause wrongful termination problems
Electronic cigarettes: why your firm needs a “vaping” policy now
Your employment policies address cigarettes, and so you think you have the smoking issue covered. Well, think again. Electronic cigarettes have created new challenges for employers. Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, first became available in the United States in 2006 and have grown in popularity. Designed to look like cigarettes, they are battery-powered … [Read more...] about Electronic cigarettes: why your firm needs a “vaping” policy now
How to tame two staffers at war: Keep it civil and focus on the business
A conflict between two staffers is serious business. People who don't get along don't share information with each other, don't help each other out, "and at worst try to sabotage one another." Moreover, there's emotional contagion. Just as a spouse coming home in a negative mood fouls the attitude of the rest of the family, two fighting staffers cast a pall over the office. … [Read more...] about How to tame two staffers at war: Keep it civil and focus on the business