By Steve M. Cohen bio I'm sure you've seen one of Hollywood's "political" movies. You know the kind: drama unfolds between a candidate and (fill in the blank), while his or her selfless team of volunteers labor furiously in the background, assuring that the candidate still wins, despite spending all of his or her time dealing with the drama. Hollywood fantasy, … [Read more...] about Improve your office operations with a few easy changes
Managing the office
Technology Update: 8 tools you can use now to work better, faster, and safer
The 2015 Pacific Legal Technology Conference held recently in Vancouver, British Columbia covered a host of big picture topics essential to everyone in today's legal profession. Presenters and exhibitors discussed practice management tools, technology in court, and the strategic reinvention of the law firm. And of course the big concern of the day, security, was the subject of … [Read more...] about Technology Update: 8 tools you can use now to work better, faster, and safer
How to keep the office safe from employment law claims when a staffer gets fired
Terminations are what spark the vast majority of today's employment law claims, says employment defense attorney Shari Lane. That's one area where managers can't afford to make mistakes. Step back before pulling the trigger Safety starts with two obvious precautions, Lane says. First, review the record. Make sure it explains what has led to the decision. If there's not … [Read more...] about How to keep the office safe from employment law claims when a staffer gets fired
Back to basics
Editor's picks: Commonly misspelled words How to be a better proofreader Here's what you missed at the ILTA 2014 Conference … [Read more...] about Back to basics
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
An easy way to do those dreaded staff job descriptions
It’s not fair to hire someone without fully explaining the requirements of the job—from the very large to the very small. Neither is it fair to evaluate someone without fully explaining what performance and behaviors the office expects to see—again, from the very large to the very small. Many employers don’t have job descriptions at all, and many more have … [Read more...] about An easy way to do those dreaded staff job descriptions
A little stress can be good, but a lot can be disastrous
By Steve M. Cohen bio There's a big issue that I think is overlooked too often in many offices: job related stress and anxiety. Some stress is good. A certain tension, including awareness of deadlines and the feeling of meeting challenges, is a good thing in any workplace. But too much stress, or stress for too long a time, will overload people. Some handle it … [Read more...] about A little stress can be good, but a lot can be disastrous
Paid sick leave and what law office managers need to know
Currently, there is no federal law that requires private sector employers, including law offices, to provide paid or unpaid sick leave, explains a new report from XpertHR, an online service for HR professionals from Reed Business Information. Without federal legislation in place, however, several states and local jurisdictions have taken matters into their own hands by … [Read more...] about Paid sick leave and what law office managers need to know
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 negotiate the best possible purchasing agreements
Smart purchasing decisions help a practice run more efficiently, improve the firm's bottom line, and make your job easier. But what should you include in purchasing contracts and lease agreements? As important, how do you negotiate the best possible deal for the firm? Determining requirements Before you solicit bids or attempt to negotiate a contract, it's essential that … [Read more...] about How to negotiate the best possible purchasing agreements