Got toxins in the office? Toxins are people who cause dissent. They undermine people. They create an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. They kill the camaraderie. They are toxic because they cause enough misery to force worthwhile staffers to leave. Law firms are notorious for putting up with toxic people at both the attorney and staff levels. Professional people are not … [Read more...] about 5 proven ways to spot and avoid hiring potentially “toxic employees” … and what to do if you already have them
Working with lawyers
How to survive the coming competition
By Ron Friedmann bio Many in the legal market talk about a "New Normal" where margin pressure is the norm. Is this true, and does it matter? Yes, and here's why. Clients Want Value. Although BigLaw continues to prosper, it faces new competition. Clients want value and they now have market power, so they buy from alternatives to large firms. Clients Bring Work … [Read more...] about How to survive the coming competition
Scarcity marketing: How playing hard to get may win you new clients
Want clients to appreciate the value of the firm's services? "Make the services hard to get but easy to buy." says Trey Ryder, a law firm marketing consultant in Payson, AZ. Give the appearance of being in high demand with limited time available and let people know they are competing for a limited resource. It's called marketing with scarcity, and there's good psychology to … [Read more...] about Scarcity marketing: How playing hard to get may win you new clients
Make sure your staff follow these 5 basic rules when dealing with clients or employees with disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act does not require it, but good manners do—proper etiquette toward persons with disabilities, both clients and employees. Mistakes in manners often occur in professional offices. Here are some of the more common blunders to watch for: 1 The handshake A common error is not offering to shake hands with a client or employee who has a hand … [Read more...] about Make sure your staff follow these 5 basic rules when dealing with clients or employees with disabilities
Firm benefits from employee benefits
A firm's attention to employee satisfaction has earned it the ranking of best place to work in the state—for five years in a row. The recognition program is sponsored by the state Chamber of Commerce, and the firm has been at first place since it began. According to the human resources manager, there are four items that stand out in what the firm provides for both staff and … [Read more...] about Firm benefits from employee benefits
For long-term survival, watch for the downfalls that cause partner splits
A partner split is like a marital split – expensive and hard to get over. Also like a marital split, it can often be avoided by knowing the elements that cause it and taking steps not to go down those roads, says Robert Denney, a Wayne, PA, management and planning consultant for professional offices. Why do partners split? For a number of reasons, he says. But money is … [Read more...] about For long-term survival, watch for the downfalls that cause partner splits
The link between technology and your firm’s continued success
Technological innovations and the movement toward specialization are two of the key drivers of change in the legal field today, according to Future Law Office 2020: Redefining the Practice of Law, a new report from legal staffing and consulting solutions firm Robert Half Legal. Three in 10 (34 percent) lawyers surveyed for the annual research project said emerging … [Read more...] about The link between technology and your firm’s continued success
Rethinking retention: A user experience approach to keeping great people
As traditional retention incentives become unsustainable, organizations are looking for new ways to attract and retain the best talent. In their recently released insights paper "Rethinking Retention: A User Experience Approach to Keeping Great People." ManpowerGroup Solutions provides a fresh perspective on retention, using a method most commonly found in product and service … [Read more...] about Rethinking retention: A user experience approach to keeping great people
Six ways your firm’s information may be gridlocked
In today's new world of work, organizations rarely lack information. Unfortunately, according to research from Ricoh and IDC, what today's organizations do lack is quick access to their information, which is usually gridlocked and unavailable. Ricoh USA and IDC conducted Web-based interviews of nearly 300 companies in the United States and found six ways that corporate … [Read more...] about Six ways your firm’s information may be gridlocked
Five surprising findings on the attitudes and behaviors of Gen Z at work
They want to drive to their jobs, head into their private offices, and meet face-to-face with colleagues before calling it a day—hopefully, not too late, since work-life balance is their primary career concern. Sound like a baby boomer, or even Gen X? On the contrary, these are the work preferences expressed by more than 770 members of Generation Z (those born between 1990 … [Read more...] about Five surprising findings on the attitudes and behaviors of Gen Z at work