Law Practice Tips

Below is a list of personal productivity tips from the ABA Guide to Doing More in Less Time .  The book was written by two lawyer/consultants who explain easy to implement steps each to improve your practice and well-being. The detailed Table of Contents facilitates adopting of strategies one-at-time.  Set a goal of reading a chapter every month to work smarter. For additional study, see check the apps, articles, and books listed below.   STRATEGIES Create Systems Eliminate Distractions Delegate to Others Eliminate Clutter Schedule Tasks and Use Calendars Plan Meetings Remove clutter from desktops Set goals and priorities Use technology tools Apps AI Tools Calendars To Do Lists Productivity Articles Being More Efficient Boosting Personal Productivity Increasing Employee Productivity Improving the Workplace Keeping Time Self-Improvement Using Calendars to Manage Tasks Books Collaboration Tools   Organizational Skills Project Management   Time Management ...

Lawyers can improve outcomes and prevent problems by educating clients about the law and firm procedures. Client education attracts clients, creates an atmosphere of trust, and empowers informed decision making. See below for a list of education alternatives and resources for implementing them.   Alternatives Blogs Guides Newsletters Pamphlets Seminars Videos Websites Articles Apps to Manage Events Benefits of Educating Clients Creating Blogs Education Alternatives Emailing Clients Guide to Educating the Public About Law Hosting Seminars Making Money with Videos Marketing with YouTube Producing Online Content Questions to Ask During Seminars Topics to Cover Using Webinars Writing Newsletters Checklists Webinars Providers ABA -  booklets ,  content , and  newsletters Blumberg - client education pamphlets Lexicon - content Google - blog publishing Legal Talk Network - podcasting Paper Street - personalized newsletters Postcard Mania - postcards...

The ABA's 2021 Tech Survey reported that a majority of firms use non-lawyers to administrative and marketing activities.  Preserve billable time by using  an assistant. Delegate activities like client intake, maintaining websites, publishing articles, posting to social media, and updating directory listings.  Use the resources listed below to affordable find help for administrative tasks and law firm marketing. Alternatives Associations - seek help from the ABA or local bar associations  Consulting - use a website developer or public relations firm Delegating - assign marketing responsibilities to an assistant or associate Hosting - subscribe to a service that host law firm websites  Staffing - hire a marketing assistant; consider using an intern or student worker Vendors - seek advice from vendors of software for client relations and practice management Websites - visit websites with marketing resources  Articles Benefitting From a Marketing Assistant Dail...

PC's, smartphones, and tablets enable users to add images like emojis and emoticons to their messaging. Users started putting these images into personal messaging during the 1980's  and usage soon spread to business writing.  Despite the popularity of emojis and emoticons, exclamation points remain an important element in writing. Exclamation points can express emphasis, emotion, and excitement. They are less distracting than images. Below is a checklist of things to consider when deciding whether to use exclamation points in emails, papers, pleadings, posts, and texts. For further study, read the articles and books that follow the checklist. Checklist Acceptability - exclamation points are more universally acceptable than emoticons and emojis, but usually not appropriate for pleadings. Audience - consider demographics (age, profession, etc.) when deciding whether to use emojis, emoticons, or exclamation points. Frequency - consider using powerful words to avoid the need for e...

Marketing activities are essential activity for a successful firm. Start by selecting low-cost activities like attending luncheons and handing out business cards. Measure results to focus on activities that bring more cases. See below for a list of marketing alternatives and resources for implementing them.    Activities Adopt slogan Distribute business cards Email Marketing Messages Give gifts Improve websites Issue press releases Offer checkups Maintain Firm Websites Mail Postcards Make speeches Participate in Online Communities Planning for Marketing Request Feedback Send pamphlets Staying Social Update directories Use social media Write articles Articles Action Plans for Law Firm Marketing Broadening Your Client Base Cost Effective Marketing Techniques Comprehensive Marketung Plan Creative Marketing Strategies Daily Marketing Activities Email Marketing Future of Marketing by Lawyers Getting New Clients Guide to Marketing Activities Managing Client Relationships Market...

Below are strategies for getting workers back to the office and resources for implementing them.  Strategies   Amenities - offer amenities like snacks, meals, social events, and upgraded workspaces. Apps  - alert employees to apps for for ordering meals, scheduling meetings, and communicating Fitness  - provide time and space for exercise during the workday Flexibility - accommodate  those with medical or personal needs by allowing them to continue working remotely. Makeover - upgrade offices by adding a lounge area, exercise equipment, and outdoor space Health - protect health by improving air quality and providing anti-microbial office supplies Policies - adopt  policies to allow remote working a few days a week. Articles Air Quality at Work (NY Times, Sep. 13, 2021) Bosses Want Workers Back (Washington Post, Aug. 31, 2022) Dispensing With Masks (Fortune, Aug. 31, 2022). Encouraging Workers to Return (ABA Journal, Oct. 26, 2021) Enticing Workers B...

Many Americans are choosing not to answer their phones because of a deluge of robo and spam calls. Legislation has been adopted to stop the unwanted calls, but the problem is likely to continue. Below are strategies to block unwanted calls and articles with additional tips.  Strategies Apps - use an app like Hiya or NoMoRobo to block robocalls Complaining - submit a complaint to the FCC or FTC  Do Not Disturb - send calls to voicemail  Notifications - turn off notifications on smartphones to stop alerts from texts and calls Privacy  - keep your phone number confidential and/or use a second number Registering - register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry Screening - use settings to silence unknown callers and send them to voicemail, or hire an answering service to screen incoming calls Setting  - use smartphone settings to silence unknown callers, block unwanted calls and stop spam texts  Voicemail  - use Live Voicemail to Scr...

Below are tips for writing law firm press releases and links to samples from solo and small firm websites. An occasional press release can raise your firm's visibility and improve its online reputation. They are an inexpensive and effective marketing tactic for solos and small firms. Publish press releases at your firm website and submit them them to bar associations and editors of local newspapers and magazines. Also consider contacting editors to offer articles on topics in your practice areas. For more tips, see articles about the  art of press releases , building a press page ,  distribution services , emailing clients ,  getting into papers ,  importance of press releases,   managing public relations ,   publishing online , and  writing style ,  Also see books for lawyers about  Public Relations  and  Working with Reporters .  Tips Start with a sentence that has lists the city, state, month, day and year  Follow the f...

Below is a list of current trends in the legal profession. Keep your firm ahead of the competition by adopting them early. Learn more about the trends by reading the articles and books appended at the end of this post. Trends  Artificial Intelligence - gradual adoption of AI for drafting, litigation, marketing and research Cloud Computing - growing use of cloud for collaborating, saving and signing documents Cybersecurity - rising use of authenticator apps, encryption, and training Office Space - spread of unassigned seating to accommodate hybrid workers and reduce rent Payment - increasing acceptance of credit cards and other electronic payment alternatives Remote Work - remote working continuing at least two each week Schedule - hybrid work schedules with 2 or 3 days in office and remainder at home Signature - increasing use of e-signing with Adobe Sign, DocuSign and Microsoft Teams Team Building - greater emphasis on online engagement to keep lawyers connected  Training - c...

Firms use slogans (sometimes called taglines) to make themselves more memorable. Slogans are usually limited to a few words and describe unique features of the firm. They can be prominently displayed on websites, business cards, and stationery. When choosing or changing a slogan, use words that are timeless and easy to remember. Consider using a logo with the slogan to stand out like the Black Knight on the business card used by  Palladin , the lead character of the 1950’s TV Western. For more tips, read articles about building a brand ,  designing a logo ,  selecting a slogan ,  ethical considerations , taglines vs slogans , and using them in email . For inspiration, see taglines adopted by famous corporations  and  large law firms . Also see the following examples from websites of solos and small firms.    Sample Taglines Bridge From Big Firm Experience  (Silverberg Zalantis, Tarrytown, NY) Cardoso Cares  (Cardoso Law, Pensac...