Law Office Manager

Managing the office

Model Tool: 90-Day File Report Card

Why you need this tool: When your clients are satisfied with your work, they're more likely to refer you to friends and colleagues. And one proven way to enhance client satisfaction and increase referrals is to provide clients with maximum personal contact. How this tool helps you: A major complaint from clients is a lack of access to their lawyers. As you implement policies to … [Read more...] about Model Tool: 90-Day File Report Card

Model Tool: Space Planning Checklist

Why you need this checklist: Before embarking on an office redesign, you need to consider which layout best suits your teams' needs, as well as mind the practical matters, such as access to electrical outlets, etc. How this checklist helps you: This checklist will help guide you through the space planning process when it's time to redesign your workplace. How to use this … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Space Planning Checklist

Use long-term vendor contacts to win long-term savings

Regular meetings with the vendors have led to significant savings for a North Carolina firm. Tracy Cook, administrator with Gailor, Wallis Hunt, an eight-attorney firm in Raleigh, NC, started the meetings when she came to the firm several years ago. One of her first actions as administrator was to go through the vendor files to see which vendors had contracts or did regular … [Read more...] about Use long-term vendor contacts to win long-term savings

Work stays on desktop

Here is a rule that is valuable but is found in few offices. Staff desks are for storing personal items. All work has to stay on top of the desk. That’s a good way to ensure that nothing gets overlooked. For the manager who questions the wisdom of the rule, take a look in any desk after someone quits. It’s amazing what people find there. And much of it is costly, such as … [Read more...] about Work stays on desktop

From ready dinners to errand helpers, Georgia firm supports families

An Atlanta firm makes work life balance easier with some unusual add-ons for employees. The firm has engaged several companies that provide personal services, often at a discount. One, for example, delivers ready-to-cook meals to the office, which gives employees a quick-fix dinner to take home that isn’t fast food. Errand service There’s also an onsite concierge who is “at … [Read more...] about From ready dinners to errand helpers, Georgia firm supports families

Keeping the records long enough . . . but not too long

Do you know how long you are required to keep the firm’s tax records? How about any reports of on-the-job injuries? And what about e-mails? Here’s a summary of what you need to keep and for how long. Record retention raises questions in almost all offices. And because of the uncertainty, offices tend to hang onto records far too long, says attorney and record management … [Read more...] about Keeping the records long enough . . . but not too long

It’s time to update and revitalize the firm’s marketing

Marketing your law firm doesn’t have to be an expensive and time-consuming task. There are some small steps you can take that will produce strong results. “When the market is quiet, you can make your mark.” And the quiet time is now, says San Francisco law firm marketing consultant Ann Bothwell. As the economy has fallen, most firms have held off on their marketing. They … [Read more...] about It’s time to update and revitalize the firm’s marketing

Health reform’s delay on employer mandate raises lots of questions

Do you understand how the employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act affects your business? Here’s a quick look at the mandate. There’s a new delay in health care reform. It’s a one-year postponement of what’s known as the employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act. That mandate says large employers, or those with 50 or more full-time employees, have to provide health … [Read more...] about Health reform’s delay on employer mandate raises lots of questions