As the saying goes, "you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." And a manager in a large legal practice in New Jersey did just that to avert disaster in two situations. The first potential disaster was the addition of a time clock. The practice merged with another group, and with the merger came the decision that all staff should keep the same hours. Before … [Read more...] about New Jersey manager turns time clocks and layoffs into staff benefits
Reader tips
Try this “win-win” solution to stop personal Internet use by staff
The manager of a Mississippi professional office relies on a basic management practice when she presents any new policy. “I make it a win-win situation,” says Beth C. Pharr. “I tell staff ‘this why it’s necessary, and this is how it benefits you.’” Such was the case when she set a policy to solve a problem common to almost every … [Read more...] about Try this “win-win” solution to stop personal Internet use by staff
Colorado practice cuts costs by hiring IT staffer
Manager Arlene Zimmerman had an IT cost awakening when the computer went down. She called in the vendor's tech support and paid $100 to find out the computer was simply unplugged. "I told myself 'never again!'" says Zimmerman, who manages a professional office in Colorado. So she started on a path of building up as much IT support as possible in-house—and getting the training … [Read more...] about Colorado practice cuts costs by hiring IT staffer
Handling the complaints
This is one of those practical solutions that come from years of experience dealing with people: It's how to handle one staffer's complaint about another. A manager gets all sorts of complaints, says office administrator Patricia Board. Some are serious "and some are petty." It may be that Staffer A is always visiting instead of working or that Staffer B is doing something … [Read more...] about Handling the complaints
Surveying for rewards
To encourage job satisfaction throughout the office, Matthew J. Bower, administrator at Luhrsen Law Group in Sarasota, surveyed staff to find out what specific types of rewards they wanted to see in their jobs. The firm had always given rewards, and they ran the gamut from plaques to cash to time off to gift certificates. But over the years, what Bower found was that the … [Read more...] about Surveying for rewards
How to sift through and solve staff complaints
This month’s idea comes from a consultant who is also a former medical practice manager. It’s a short and easy way to handle one staffer’s complaint about another. The starting point is to sift through the complaints to identify which ones warrant the manager’s attention and which ones staff should deal with on their own, says Cindy Fondren Muise of Peyton, CO. As a manager, … [Read more...] about How to sift through and solve staff complaints
50 quick training tips
By Michelle Spencer, Senior Trainer, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP bio@txmischief As a trainer for a large international law firm, I'm always looking to the future, and part of that includes staying abreast of what is going on within ILTA (International Legal Technology Association). I've been fortunate to attend the annual conference for the past several years as … [Read more...] about 50 quick training tips
Raffle gets staffers to monthly 8 a.m. meeting
A raffle for prizes gets each monthly meeting off to a fun start for the staff at a Finger Lakes, NY, professional office. Director of operations Eileen Szanyi says the draws are designed to increase attendance at the 8 a.m. meetings. “Those attending put their names into a basket for the month’s prizes,” she explains. “The gifts don’t have to be costly. One prize is always … [Read more...] about Raffle gets staffers to monthly 8 a.m. meeting
Georgia manager develops “how-to” manual that makes employee orientation easy
A Georgia administrator has set up an office manual that thoroughly trains every new staffer and attorney in every aspect of office operations. Having the business information in writing means newcomers don't interrupt other people or waste their own time asking about day-to-day things, says the administrator of the three-attorney, 13 staff firm. In a law firm, time is money, … [Read more...] about Georgia manager develops “how-to” manual that makes employee orientation easy
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