Practice Aids
practicePRO Resource: Sample budget spreadsheet
One of the most downloaded resources each year on practicePRO.ca is our Sample Budget Spreadsheet for law firms. It was created as a supplement to our Managing the Finances of your Practice booklet. A budget is an essential part of any business financial plan, but many lawyers going into business on their own for the… Read More »
Categories: Practice AidsDo you have what it takes to be a sole practitioner?
One-third of the more than 25,500 lawyers in private practice in Ontario are sole practitioners. as a solo, it’s great to have the freedom that comes with being your own boss, but you also have full responsibility for all aspects of the operation of your law practice. Do you have what it takes to be… Read More »
Categories: Practice AidsCan you improve the “Contact us” page on your website?
What’s on your firm’s “Contact us” page? Is it just your phone number, address and maybe an initial intake email option? Erika Ritzer, writing in AttorneyAtWork.com says your page could be made much more inviting and dynamic; anything to make potential clients want to take the final step and get in touch. Below are some… Read More »
Categories: Practice Aids, TechnologyInside the Lawyer’s Mind Part 2: Autonomy
Following up on my previous post on lawyers’ personality traits, we discuss autonomy, a trait that helps lawyers do their job but makes them poor bedfellows in a law firm environment. Dr. Larry Richard states in our LAWPRO magazine article “Herding Cats: The Lawyer Personality Revealed” that studies suggest high achieving lawyers score in the 89th… Read More »
Categories: Career Management, Diversity, Law Practice Management, Practice Aids, Risk Management Strategies, Wellness and BalanceThe Average Lawyer Is 90% More Skeptical Than Everyone Else: what this means for your clients, your colleagues, and your firm.
A skeptical lawyer is a good lawyer. He scrutinizes every line in a contract. He questions the opposing party’s arguments. He looks for hidden motives. He looks at the law with a critical eye. His legal decisions are guided by a healthy pessimism, which helps him guard against mistakes. At the same time, a skeptical… Read More »
Categories: Career Management, Diversity, Fraud Prevention, Law Practice Management, Practice Aids, Wellness and BalanceDon’t Let Fear Take Over Your Practice
Recently I experienced a night of cold sweats, anxiety, and dread. It all began with a family ski trip to Radium, Alberta. We were looking forward to enjoying the hot springs, the bighorn sheep, and the majesty of the Canadian Rockies. While there we planned to spend some time at the local ski resort. When… Read More »
Categories: Biggest Claims Risks, Civil Litigation, Communication Errors, Law Practice Management, Limitations Claims, Practice Aids, Risk Management Strategies, Wellness and Balance49 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 AidsIndependent but engaged: Support networks for solos
There are plenty of good reasons for choosing sole practice, or for transitioning into sole practice after practising with a firm. You may have chosen to practise in a small community; you may have opened a sole practice because you couldn’t find the right fit with a firm in your chosen area of practice; or… Read More »
Categories: Career Management, Practice Aids