Who is hacking into law firms? Are you at risk? How do security breaches happen? How to protect your data The downside of smartphones Planning for a breach At the law offices of Florrick, Agos & Lockhart, partner Diane Lockhart opens an email from a colleague and clicks on a link. As soon as she does, all the computers in the office go dark and a message pops up on … [Read more...] about How to protect your data against costly and destructive cyber attack
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Five proven strategies to achieve your goals
By Dr. Marty Martin bio For many, celebrating the New Year means making resolutions. Many people resolve to lose weight, exercise more, save more, read more, or a host of other goals. As January fades away, so do our actions regarding our commitments or resolutions. But when the winter chill begins to thaw, many individuals will start making the same or … [Read more...] about Five proven strategies to achieve your goals
How can I rein in a runaway staff?
Question: The previous manager let staff get away with everything. I’m the new manager. How do I change the staff behavior? Answer: Take the bull by the horns. Hold a staff meeting and spell out the new expectations. Call them rules or call them pet peeves, but make it clear that everybody is expected to follow them. Cover all the items the previous manager let slide so staff … [Read more...] about How can I rein in a runaway staff?
How to end the jealousy when a sharp newcomer threatens the long timers
A tenet of management is that "people require care." And nowhere is that more evident than in the situation where a bright-eyed, eager, and well-qualified new staffer comes in—and threatens the long-term staffers. The cure is recognition, says Venus Opal Reese, PhD, a consultant for professional and business development. And it has to come fast, because left alone, the … [Read more...] about How to end the jealousy when a sharp newcomer threatens the long timers
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
How to get new staffers off to a strong start
Don’t lose the investment of a new hire to a lackadaisical orientation. Set the stage for success. Lay out what the firm expects in the job. The more clearly that’s communicated, the better the relationship and the more likely that person is to be successful. A good orientation assimilates the newcomer into the firm. What’s more, it makes people feel welcome so they stick … [Read more...] about How to get new staffers off to a strong start
Take these 4 steps to make sure you hire the right temporary attorney
In an uncertain economy, temporary attorneys are a good business option. They give the firm an additional attorney without having to worry if there will be enough business to support that person in the future. They come in with the experience necessary for the job. If they don’t perform up to par, the agency will replace them. And if they do perform well, the firm ends up with … [Read more...] about Take these 4 steps to make sure you hire the right temporary attorney
Top 25 new products for law firms
TechnoLawyer (TL) NewsWire, a provider of legal product reviews, has released its list of the Top 25 Products of 2014, based on lawyer and law firm administrator interest. Here are the products that got the most attention in 2014, with product summaries from TechnoLawyer founder Neil Squillante. 1. pdfDocs 4.1 The PDF format paved the way for the paperless law office, … [Read more...] about Top 25 new products for law firms
Don’t put your vendor contracts on auto-pilot
It's easy, to say nothing of convenient, to get comfortable with business relationships and not to question what the vendors are doing. But in the meantime those vendors have every ability to slip in added costs the administrator does not notice. Don't just renew vendor contracts automatically. The firm can often save money and get better service by putting those contracts … [Read more...] about Don’t put your vendor contracts on auto-pilot
Three ways to end three staff problems every manager hates
When you manage people, at some point you’re going to face an uncomfortable situation, such as co-worker with unacceptable body odor, a gossiper who’s poisoning the workplace, or a staff member who simply won’t acknowledge your authority. Here are some suggestions on how to deal with these people problems. The people problems need to be managed “before they occur and as they … [Read more...] about Three ways to end three staff problems every manager hates