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
Recordkeeping
6 tips for choosing legal practice management software
By Diane Camacho There continues to be a tremendous push in the legal community from practice management software companies. This has evolved from the use of cloud-based software. What should practice management software do for you? Keep all your client information in one place. Keep all your information available to you on the go. Allow you to enter your … [Read more...] about 6 tips for choosing legal practice management software
How and why you need to carefully screen cold calls from potential new clients
What's your firm's process for dealing with a potential new client? What happens when someone sends the firm an email asking for a quote for a real estate transaction or when a frantic caller leaves a long, detailed voice mail message about why she wasn't to blame for the fatal car crash being covered on the morning news? Who takes the call? How are calls prioritized? And is … [Read more...] about How and why you need to carefully screen cold calls from potential new clients
Nine traps to avoid when checking for conflicts
Before a law firm accepts any new file, it must first ensure that no conflict of interest exists. Yet, despite having stringent conflict-checking procedures, conflicts of interest are still a serious problem for many firms. How do your procedures stack up? Do they address these common mistakes? Any firm knows a conflict of interest can result in bad things. … [Read more...] about Nine traps to avoid when checking for conflicts
Use weekly financial reporting to keep partners aware of cash flow
A Vermont manager has found that running the financial reports weekly instead of monthly is an easy way for the partners to stay always aware and in control of what's going on. They see every penny that has come in and gone out. They know how each attorney and each practice area is faring. And they know when to expect extra expenses and what the taxes are likely to be. The … [Read more...] about Use weekly financial reporting to keep partners aware of cash flow
Pop Quiz: How well do you understand the new FLSA overtime rules?
Sandra Hoyle-Smith, SPHR of B2 Management & Consulting recently gave a webinar to Law Office Manager subscribers outlining the new FLSA (Fair Labor Standard's Act) overtime rules and how these changes will affect law office staff. What's changing Effective December 1, 2016, the minimum salary level for non-exempt employees is increasing. What this means for law firms is … [Read more...] about Pop Quiz: How well do you understand the new FLSA overtime rules?
Buried by paper? Time to crawl out and go digital
In a report dated August 9, 2012, Linda A. Halliday, the Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations of the Department of Veterans Affairs, called for immediate action to address the “Risks Associated with Veterans Claims Folder Storage, Building Integrity, and Employee Safety at the Winston-Salem VA Regional Office.” In her report, Ms. Halliday described thousands … [Read more...] about Buried by paper? Time to crawl out and go digital
Model Tool: Monthly Attorney Report
Why you need this model tool: No firm can support even an excellent attorney who isn't profitable. Superb skills alone are not enough. Each attorney has to bring in a profit, and the numbers show in plain dollars and cents what profit each attorney is producing. How this model tool helps you: This simple chart tracks the monthly and yearly profitability of each … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Monthly Attorney Report
Why you should consider automating your client screening process
What's your firm's process for dealing with a potential new client? While large law firms may have sophisticated systems of vetting potential new clients that include detailed conflict of interest searches and approval committees, Edie Zimmerman of Legal Software Solutions, suggests your consider automating your screening process. "Some practice management databases allow the … [Read more...] about Why you should consider automating your client screening process
Dealing with workplace accusations? It’s time to investigate
By Steve M. Cohen bio In dealing with your office staff, allegations of wrongdoing are never something you can ignore. Whether the charge involves sexual or racial harassment, bullying or something else, they must never be ignored. Never. Remember, an allegation by itself is neither fact nor fiction. It is simply a statement made by someone within your … [Read more...] about Dealing with workplace accusations? It’s time to investigate