Law Practice Tips

Free listings are available from Yelp, Google, and lawyer directories like Martindale-Hubbell, Justia.com, FindLaw,com, LawInfo.com, and SuperLawyers.com. Below are tips for creating listings and resources for improving them.   Tips Assignment - Start by assigning responsibility to a staff member for creating and updating directory listings. Budgeting - Consider paying for premium features  to improve your firm’s visibility.  Content - Include affiliations, names, bio's, publications, specializations, and links to social media accounts.   Directories   -  Listing in multiple directories will make your firm findable and improve your rankings on search engines like Bing and Google. Ethics - Carefully examine your options and comply with ethical requirements. Tracking - Consider using an app to track results and optimize benefits from directory listings. Articles Creating Directory Listings Digital Marketing for Lawyers Google Listings Google Reviews Mana...

Writing articles (also known as content marketing) can help you gain visibility and win new clients.  Publishing your articles online and in print can drive traffic to firm websites, lead to new clients, and bring media inquiries and speaking engagements. Click here for an article that provides writing tips and resources for lawyers who want to write articles to promote their practice. Click here for an article that explains how content marketing can be more effective than social media marketing. Learn more by reading ABA books about Building a Law Practice One Article at a Time  and Creating an Online Publishing Strategy for Law Firms .

A newsletter can be an effective tool for marketing the services of your law firm.  Alternatives include  blogging ,  e-alerts  and hybrid  combinations . Newsletters alert existing clients to available services and attract new clients to the firm.  Below are tips, resources, and samples to successfully market your firm with newsletters. Tips Articles  - write articles about accomplishments, lawyers, and developments Digital  - publish a digital version and email with services like  Mailchimp  or  TinyLetter Fee  - consider publishing for free instead of charging a fee Paper - publishing a print edition to send by US Mail Title - select a nice and catchy title to stand out from competition Articles Boosting Circulation Creating E-Newsletters E-mail Marketing Mailing Printed Newsletters Managing Relationships with Email Publishing Firm Newsletters Rainmaking with a Firm Newsletter Resurgence of Newsletters Starting a Newsletter ...

Giving speeches will help you build your reputation and client base. Click here for an article with tips and resources for giving speeches. To be considered for speaking opportunities, c omplete your profile in directories maintained by the  ABA  and State Bars, and other organizations. Use the resources listed below to improve your speechmaking and marketing skills. Articles Giving Speeches to Get Clients How to Teach at CPE Courses Marketing with Public Speaking Speaking fo r Client Development Speaking Style Talking Tips Books Marketing with Public Speaking Speaking Outside the Courtroom Storytelling Techniques Presentation Skills Using PowerPoint Websites National Speakers Association Public Speaking Project Toastmasters

Cloud-based services for managing client information have become less expensive, more popular, and easily accessed using mobile devices. However, paper address books remain useful for for improving client relations, boost your reputation, and attract clients. Below are tips and resources for implementing them. Using.  Address books facilitate quick access to contact details for client communications.  Keep in touch with clients by using an address book for the following activities: Creating.  When selecting a paper or digital address book, consider features like ease of use, accessibility, and the ability to customize it to your practice. Inexpensive paper address books are available from companies like At-A-Glance, Day Timer, and Mead, but they lack the features of digital alternatives.  Digital address books are available for free to users of Apple Mail, G-Mail, and Microsoft’s Outlook.com, but they aren’t as powerful as software designed for relationship managemen...

Promotional products are a rainmaking tool that keeps your name in front of clients for an extended period of time. Also known as giveaways, premiums, protocol, swag, and tchotchkes, they show gratitude and promote the use of your firm’s services.  Below are tips and links to resources with additional information.  History The first promotional items in America were campaign buttons used in the Presidential election campaign of 1789. Promotional items did not become popular for business use until 100 years later with the introduction of swag bags. During the past 50 years, the use of promotional products has mushroomed with billions of dollars worth of promotional items given away every year. Using Promotional gifts facilitate thanking clients for a case, reconnecting with them after an extended period without contact, and inviting them to make referrals. Promotional gifts also serve as a visual reminder that keeps your name in front of clients and at the top of their min...

The American Bar Association modernized its marketing rules in 2018 t loosen restrictions, recognize technologies, and promote uniformity among states. The amended rules modify the ABA's 110-year old ban on advertising by lawyers. Below is a short history of the ABA's advertising rules, a summary of the ways they have been amended, and a list of resources to help you market your professional services. History The ABA adopted its advertising ban in 1908 to protect consumers against unscrupulous lawyers. The ban continued until it was eroded by several decades of court decisions and challenges by federal agencies. The erosion began with the 1977 Bates case when the U.S. Supreme Court established that lawyers have a First Amendment right to advertise.  Additional change came with the 1985 Shapero case when the Supreme Court recognized that lawyers have a right to send marketing mailings to potential clients. More recently, the courts and the Federal Trade Commission have pres...

Typography can be used to improve the  appearance of words on paper, computer screens, smartphones, and tablets. It makes writing more effective just like good speaking makes oral arguments more persuasive.   Following  are tips to enhance the typographical appearance of  correspondence, pleadings, and other legal documents.  Alignment.  Enhance readability by aligning the left margin and using a jagged edge for the right margin. The first line of paragraphs should be indented to make each paragraph stand out. Consultants . Consider hiring a design consultant to create a style manual and document templates for your firm.  Use a consultant to format high-profile documents like appellate briefs, merger agreements, or stationery.   Drafts.  Print drafts since documents can look different on paper than on computer screens. Review drafts for the appearance of text, fonts, and images.  Consider asking other members of your firm to review ...

Note-taking is essential for success in the law office and the courtroom. Notes facilitate processing and retrieval of information gathered during discovery, meetings, research, and trial preparation. They enable note-takers to comprehend and retain spoken words. Use the tips and tools mentioned in this article to improve your note-taking. Experiment with each of the alternatives to determine which is best suited to your work style. Analog Tools Although some note-takers prefer typing, studies show that writing notes with pen and paper increases comprehension because it forces note-takers to slow down, focus, and think. Simplicity is also an advantage of handwritten note-taking --- log-ins are not required and multi-tasking (e.g. checking e-mail) is not a temptation. Analog alternatives include outlining, diagramming, and dividing pages into columns .  To accommodate different note-taking styles, legal pads and wirebound notebooks are available in a variety of rules, spacings, an...

Recent technological advances caused a huge decline in letter writing, but it still remains an effective method of communication. Letters are useful for persuading an adversary, explaining complicated issues to a client, and submitting detailed proposals and replies. Letters also work well for personal matters like condolences, congratulations, and thank you's. Read on for tips for writing professional letters that improve your communications. Electronic vs Paper As a first step, consider whether to send a text message or email since they serve a different purpose than letters. Text messages are best for urgent communications, but they can be intrusive, misplaced, and misunderstood. Emails are less intrusive and work well for short requests, quick updates, and distributing information quickly to a large number of people. Letters are effective for communicating lengthy, complex, or confidential information. Letters must be carefully written since they are held to a higher standard...