Law Practice Tips

Knowing your clients can help attract business, detect conflicts, screen risks, and win cases. Asking the right questions can help you assess client needs and set expectations. See below for tips and articles to help you implement them.  Tips Ask for feedback on your invoices and website Meet clients at their place of business  Regularly meet with clients in-person, online, and by phone Review comments submitted on your blog and social media Send out surveys to get feedback Take clients to lunch to develop rapport Use data analytics to assess client needs Articles Alternatives for Learning About Clients Importance of Knowing Your Client Conducting Client Surveys Managing Clients Questions to Ask Your Clients Screening Cases and Clients Strategies for Understanding Your Clients Types of Clients Understanding What Makes Your Client Tick Understanding Your Client’s Business Using Data Analytics in Your Marketing What Makes Your Client Tick Books Coaching Your Client Positive Professionali

Gift giving is a way to show appreciation and make a connection with clients. Personalizing gifts can keep your firm’s name in front of them. Consider using an assistant to help select promotional items and distribute them to clients. Consult bar association staff to confirm that there are no ethical issues with gifting or personalization (for example, state bar regulators in North Carolina recently gave a green light for promotional products). Below are additional tips for giving promotional items and resources with additional information. Tips Budgeting  - Budget about $1,000 to give away low-cost items like pens or calendars to your top 100 clients. Carefully consider order quantity since the cost per item usually reduces based on quantity ordered. In addition to the price for giveaways, remember to budget for the cost of personalizing, handling, and shipping to clients. Cards  - Include a card with a handwritten note thanking clients for their relationship and expressing appreciati

Below is an action plan for winning the competition for clients. For more information, read the articles and books appended further below.   Checklist Automating  - use apps for billing, calendaring, marketing, tracking, etc. Differentiating  - stand out from the competition with 24/7 availability, in-person and online consultations, and prompt response Innovating  - adopt techniques that make your services better, faster, and cheaper Imaging  - update your image on business cards, social mediate, and websites   Marketing  - use marketing tools to attract new clients and add new engagements with existing ones  Recruiting  - hire talented lawyers and keep them motivated and highly compensated Servicing - provide exceptional service and positive experiences Surveying  - determine client needs and preferences by periodically surveying them online, in person, or by phone Articles Adopting a Marketing Plan Competitive Challenges   Creative Marketing Strategies Law Firm Competitiveness   Kno

Every day provides an opportunity to improve careers, finances, and lifestyles. Start by doing a y self-assessment and then create goals to achieve during the year. Use the following tips to inspire your tactics for a better life. Consult the resources below the list to help implement your strategy.  Tips Get Automated  —Use practice management software to automate accounting, billing, communications, dockets, and intake.  Keep a Calendar  —Keep track of appointments with a calendaring app, day planner, or desk calendar. Consider cloud-based apps that can be shared with others and viewed on your personal computer, smartphone, and other devices. Create group calendars for work and home. Reduce Distractions —Switch off the notification feature on devices to stay focused and reduce anxiety. Use the do-not-disturb feature on cell phones to avoid interruptions from calls and texts. Curate news on social media to limit time spent viewing them.  Set Goals  —Set measurable goals that can be ti

Mentoring enables experienced lawyers to give back to the legal profession by helping new lawyers build their confidence and skills. Mentoring is usually voluntary, but it is mandatory in a few states like Georgia and Oregon. Mentoring provides a large benefit with a small amount of effort. Mentors can create a formal program at their firm or go outside their organization to seek or become a mentor. New lawyers can find mentors by asking bar associates  or partners at their firm or using social networks to contact professors or bar leaders.  Learn more by using the resources listed below.   Articles Associating with Associates Bar Sponsored Mentoring Programs   Being Proactive ,  Benefits of Mentoring Building Relationships Creating Programs Finding a Mentor Giving Feedback ,  Mandatory Mentorships   Mentoring Tips   Reverse Mentoring Senior Lawyers As Mentors Talent Management Why Mentoring Some Programs Fail Books 60 Minute Mentoring Business Etiquette Crumudgeon's Guide to Pract

Social activities show appreciation and promote loyalty. They can also boost your firm's reputation when recruiting and marketing. Examples include virtual meet-ups, online staff meetings, team building activities, virtual challenges, webinars, etc.  Consider inviting family members to improve work-life balance.  See below for articles, books, checklists, and examples of firms websites and Facebook pages that mention  employee events. Articles Benefits   Event Ideas Planning Remote Activities Books Guide to Event Planning Meeting and Event Planning The Happy Lawyer Checklists Contracts Planning Law Firm Examples Mid-Size  (Flaster Greenberg, New Jersey) Spencer West  (Spencer West, England) Big Law  (Exemplary Facebook Pages)

Despite the widespread use of social media for marketing, business cards remain an effective rainmaking tool. Make your card distinctive by including an image, logo, and slogan. Consider mentioning business hours and that consultations are available in person or online. Use the flip side to provide additional information like emergency contact details or translation into another language. For more ideas, read articles about designing business cards , trends in business cards , and using them for marketing . Create them on your home printer or have them engraved by an office supply store . 

Covid may continue for years and flare up at different times and places . Proactive employers are slowing down re-openings, making masking mandatory, and requiring immunizations. Individuals can be proactive by getting a booster, resuming masking, and following the additional tips listed below. Monitor the  Coronavirus situation and adjust practices for new developments. For more tips, read the CDC's  Recommendations for Individuals   and HBR's Guide for Employers . See articles about Breakthrough Covid ,  Covid Proofing Offices ,  Delayed Reopenings ,  Delta FAQ's ,   Expert Advice , New Guidance ,  Preparing Firms for Next Outbreak ,   Protecting Yourself ,  Staying Safe , Vaccinations , and   When Covid Will Peak . Also see AARP’s state-by-state Summary of Covid Restrictions . TIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS Activity - avoid public places and resume curbside pickups from groceries and restaurants Dining - limit patronage to restaurants with outdoor dining and wear a mask when not

Cybersecurity, ethics, and technology  are constantly evolving.   Review your current practices to protect client confidences and comply with ethical rules. Below is a checklist of practices to consider and articles and books for implementing them. Checklist Accounts - Use separate accounts for personal and work (i.e. email, banking and social media, etc.) Backups - Backup client files, correspondence, and other records Conversations - Do not discuss sensitive information near others or smart speakers Emergencies - Exchange landline and cell numbers with co-workers for emergency contact Encryption - Encrypt devices and drives to protect against data theft Erasure - Turn on settings that allow remote erasing when devices are   lost or stolen Locks - Use a locked room or file cabinet to secure paper documents Messages - Use secured messaging or encryption to protect emails and documents Networks - Use secure Wi-Fi network instead of public networks Passwords - Use a password manager pr

Hosting events can help you attract prospects, build trust, and enhance your reputation. Events can be social or educational. Popular events include client lunches, seminars, and webinars. Use a checklist  for planning an event or webinar . Create an Event Page  for publicity. Use Eventbrite  to accept RSVP’s and distribute admission tickets.  Learn more by reading articles about creating podcasts , event planning , fun ideas ,  giving speeches ,  hosting events ,  organizing seminars , strategies , software for events , and  Zooming webinars .  For in-depth guidance, read books  about planning conferences ,  events , and meetings .  Visit websites of other organizations to view  examples of sign-up forms ,  examples of upcoming events . 

Protect your yourself and others against diseases like the Coronavirus.  Enhance surface cleaning with disinfectants, increase intake of outside air, upgrade furnace filters, and use UV lights in HVAC systems. Post signs to encourage hand cleaning, masking, and social distancing. Remove chairs to reduce the capacity of  conference rooms and waiting rooms.  Space cubicles further apart and install plexiglass dividers between them. For more tips, read articles about best practices for reopening ,  boosting well-being , creating healthy workspaces ,  improving air quality ,  pandemic proofing your office ,  redesigning office space,    workspace ergonomics , and  reimagining workplaces . Consult the resources at Covid websites maintained by the ABA ,  CDC and WHO . 

Below are tips for supervising lawyers and keeping them happy. Also included are links to articles, books, and checklists for implementing the tips.  TIPS Apps - use apps to facilitate communications and productivity Availability - be available to employees by chat, email, and text Collaboration - use social events, business meetings and newsletters to promote productivity Communications - Emphasize communication between team members and focus on listening Managing - resist the urge to micro manage Planning - use policy statements to set expectations about working hours, reimbursement for supplies, and tech support. Meetings - shorten meetings and reduce the number of them  Praise - compliment employees and celebrate their milestones  Tracking - use apps to track  productivity and progress APPS Asana ClickUp Google Tasks Monday Teamwork ARTICLES Hybrid Teams Law Firm Management Managing Associates Managing Remote Teams Remote Law Firms Tips for Managing Employees Using Google

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 .

Using up-to-date technology can keep your firm competitive and make work easier. Get help by resources available from the ABA's Legal Technology Resource Center , CUNY’s Tech Center , and your State Bar's  Lawyer Assistance Program . Learn how to automate by reading articles about client portals ,  client relationship software,   document automation , keeping time, and virtual assistants , Also read ABA books about computers , collaboration ,  cybersecurity , and  technology .  Use  the following Technology Checklist to assure success whether working from an office, home, or on the road. SOFTWARE Billing (Bill4Time, PC Law, Quicken, Tabs3, TimeSov, Zola, etc.) Bookkeeping (e.g. QuickBooks and ZipBooks) Client Relationship (e.g. Aptivo, Clio Grow, Salesforce, or Zoho CRM) Conferencing (e.g. Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or Zoom) Email Marketing (e.g. Constant Contact or Mailchimp) Employee Incentives (e.g. Bonusly) Office Productivity (e.g. Office365 or Google Workspace) Pasword