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
Managing the office
You’ll soon say goodbye to summer temps
You'll soon be saying goodbye to your summer temps they head back to school and your regular staffers return from vacations. Here are some things you can do to ensure a smooth transition and maintain office efficiency: 1. Conduct an Exit Interview An exit interview can provide valuable feedback on the temp's experience in your office. Ask about what worked well and any … [Read more...] about You’ll soon say goodbye to summer temps
How to get good stuff about the office during an exit interview
An exit interview should bring to light far more than what is good and bad about the office. It should give insight into what's really going on and produce ideas for making improvements. There's an art to exit interviewing. It's a matter of getting the staffer to talk and asking the questions that will keep them talking. A smile at the start Start by setting a positive … [Read more...] about How to get good stuff about the office during an exit interview
Model Policy: Employee resignation
Establishing a formal policy for employee resignation will help ensure that staff transitions go smoothly; the firm treats employees fairly and consistently; and legal requirements are followed. … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Employee resignation
To-Dos: Your July office checklist
According to best-selling author Regina Brett, "Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds." You wish! That might happen on the weekend—if you're lucky—but Monday to Friday, there's still plenty of work to do at the office. Here are some … [Read more...] about To-Dos: Your July office checklist
How to use client exit surveys to improve service and increase revenue
Don't close out a matter without measuring the client's satisfaction. Do that with a survey that covers everything from the legal services to the freshness of the coffee. A survey gathers information that can help the firm do a better job. It highlights the areas of excellence. And it reveals the areas of dissatisfaction clients don't mention—except to other … [Read more...] about How to use client exit surveys to improve service and increase revenue
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
To-Dos: Your June office checklist
As we near the end of the second quarter, it's a good time to see if the firm, staff, and you are all on track with respect to the goals you set in January or if any course corrections are needed. Here are a few areas you can address. 1. Check the budget. Review the budget to see if and where alterations are needed. Are the goals still appropriate? Are employees making good … [Read more...] about To-Dos: Your June office checklist
Model Policy: Office Room Temperature
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for maintaining a comfortable and productive work environment for all staff and clients by regulating the temperature in the law office. By implementing this office temperature policy, the law office aims to maintain a comfortable and productive work environment for all staff and clients. Consistent communication, … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Office Room Temperature
10 ways to reduce time-wasting meetings
Meetings are an essential part of the collaborative work environment in a law office. However, excessive and unproductive meetings can lead to wasted time and hinder the efficiency of your legal team. As a law office administrator, it is crucial to optimize staff time and resources. In this article, we will explore practical strategies to help law office administrators reduce … [Read more...] about 10 ways to reduce time-wasting meetings