Law Practice Management
49 Tips for New Lawyers
Attorney at Work’s “25 Tips for New Lawyers by” by Merrilyn Aston Tarlton has been their second most downloaded document since it was published in 2011, and has now been expanded into “49 Tips for New Lawyers” (note: a free registration to the site is required to download it). It seems to be a popular… Read More »
Categories: Practice Aids12 Tips to Improve Your Intake Process
The National Law Review has an article on the 12 ways you can improve your client intake process. Adopting these practices can help set a better first impression for potential clients and get the lawyer/client relationship off on the right foot. Here are the 12 tips: Have a dedicated person answer the phone Show compassion… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementThe 25 most popular (and least secure) passwords in 2014
Gizmodo has an article on the 25 most popular passwords of 2014, based on compiling millions of stolen passwords made public throughout the year. Many of them are the same unsecure passwords that appeared on the 2013 list. Clearly the public is still going for “easy to remember” rather than “safe and secure”. Here is… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Prevention, TechnologyResolutions to better document your files
You can still find yourself being sued for malpractice, even if you have done everything correctly. A well-documented file can help to explain what work was done or to justify an account and can be a lifesaver when it comes to defending a malpractice claim. A good paper trail can help show what work was… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementResolutions to avoid fee disputes (and make more money)
Fees disputes commonly lead to unpaid accounts, Law Society complaints and/or malpractice claims. For these reasons you should do your best to avoid fee disputes with your clients. Here are some simple resolutions that will help you accomplish this: I will get a sufficient retainer at the start of a matter: At the start of… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementResolutions for better matter and file management
Effective file management provides the foundation for timely, valuable client service and appropriate management of client matters. Here are some resolutions to help you complete the critical steps in file management: I will complete a conflicts check before opening a file: Conflicts of interest can lead to ugly and expensive malpractice claims. The best time… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementResolutions to capture more time (and make more money)
With technology and a few tricks, you can increase your billable time by catching more of the actual time you spend on tasks. This gives you more time to bill, which will ultimately transfer to a better bottom line. Here are some of the best ways you can use technology to capture and bill more… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementResolutions to avoid doing things that annoy clients the most
Clients will, understandably, get upset if they are treated badly or confronted with surprises. Make sure you appreciate how your words, actions, or inactions can annoy or even distress your clients. Here are some resolutions you can make to avoid doing the most common things lawyers do that annoy clients: I will promptly return phone… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice Management