We all know how to use the Internet, right? But could we be making better use of it still? For most lawyers, the answer is a resounding: Yes.
Read More »Tag Archives: Practice Management
How to be the bearer of bad news
A lost summary judgment motion. A lowball offer to settle. The denial of an appeal. Lawyers frequently are the bearers of bad news.
Read More »Wisconsin firms tap in to manufacturing comeback
Two Wisconsin-based law firms are adopting new strategies to expand and better serve their manufacturing client bases to take advantage of the industry’s resurgence.
Read More »Fighting back: How to handle bullies in the courtroom, office
Bullies can be as prevalent in the courtroom as they are on the playground.
Read More »Hold out for quality clients
If you, like many of your colleagues, have stocked your practice with clients that aren’t a good fit, you’ll spend much of your career feeling frustrated, unappreciated and resentful.
Commentary: Rekindle the romance with your clients
February has long been synonymous with Valentine’s Day, romance and relationships. Retailers revel in reminding consumers that the more time, energy and money they spend on this one day, the deeper their devotion and love.
Read More »Rock-hard apps: Practice management tools for attorneys on the move
Practice management apps for smartphones and other portable devices are making it increasingly easier for lawyers to practice on the go.
Small-firm tips for using Twitter … by Twitter
The authors of “Twitter for Small Business — a Guide to Get Started” should know a bit about how to use the ubiquitous social-media service to its maximum potential; the guide is published by Twitter itself.
Read More »Don’t bill for thank-you notes
Relationships matter, goes the familiar marketing maxim. And communications are the key to a successful collaboration between a lawyer and the in-house legal counsel who hires the lawyer.
Read More »How to prepare for an audit
Worrisome though it might be, if you’ve learned your company will be subject to an audit by the state, it’s better for in-house counsel to plan ahead and start preparing immediately.
View from the outside: Boutique firms knocking on the door for in-house work
When the dot.com bubble burst, Jon Levitt, the in-house counsel for a tech company, realized he probably would lose his job.
What every in-house lawyer needs to know about IP litigation
Intellectual property is one of the most complicated areas of law. Love it or hate it, at some point or another every in-house lawyer is going to be faced with some type of IP dispute.
Read More »E-discovery arrives on attorneys’ to-do lists
Some Wisconsin attorneys have been too intimidated at the prospect of e-discovery to learn about it.
Read More »LEGAL CENTS: The keys to going mobile
Madison lawyer Sally Hestad about six months ago made a sizable investment in her firm’s two websites, spending about $4,500 for an overhaul and to create mobile versions.
The steps to hitting the trifecta of IT success
Technology, when applied properly, adds value and helps firms grow.
Technology offers paralegals job security
As technology reshapes the practice of law, paralegals often find themselves becoming the experts in trial applications or researching a firm’s next case-management system.
Read More »LEGAL CENTS: Why email marketing continues to thrive
When I initially considered writing about email marketing, I thought, “How very 1990s.”
How to use your firm’s top customers to improve business, draw in new interest
In order to be successful, firms must be capable of two things: retain clients and gain new ones.
The all-important follow-up call
Rainmakers know better than to make empty follow-up calls inquiring: “Anything new?” or “How would you like to meet one of my partners?”
A foot in the door: Getting a first client meeting
Struggling to get meetings with prospective clients?
Read More »LAWBIZ COACHES CORNER: Think before you push your firm to grow
The Altman Weil consulting firm reported there were 60 law firm mergers and acquisitions announced in the U.S. in 2011, up 54 percent from 2010 and marking the highest level since 2008.
Building your brand: Lawyers refine their images to land target clients
The golden arches. The swoosh. The blue ribbon. They’re all famous brands that immediately connote thoughts or feelings in those who see them.
Read More »Ethics mix with e-discovery for attorneys in smaller courts
On the surface, a minor dog bite case does not seem like a logical instance in which electronic discovery of evidence is necessary.
Read More »The email revolution: More than just a smiley face
Years ago, the daily mail delivery was a major event in our firm.
Bridging the gap: Small firms use technology to collaborate across miles
Most days, Jim Troupis doesn’t know what faces he’ll see when he walks through the door of his Middleton-based firm, Troupis Law Office LLC.
Read More »Solos, small firms turn to virtual assistants
Cutting costs while balancing workload is an ongoing struggle for most solo and small firm owners.
Read More »Weighing the cost of private trials
The U.S. Constitution preserves the right of trial by jury for controversies where the value exceeds $20, but the practical reality is many lawyers will not even consider litigating a case unless the value is tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars.
Read More »How to grow a solo practice on a budget
You can post, link and tweet all you want, but growing a practice on a budget comes down to old-fashioned marketing, according to veteran solo practitioners.
Read More »Tips for an effective, ethical negotiation
The role of business counsel is complex. Counsel is not only responsible for producing a legal and enforceable negotiated agreement, but also to try and get the best deal for clients while conducting the negotiation in a way that reflects positively on them.
Read More »Senate committee debates fairness of mandatory arbitration
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., a champion of the proposed Arbitration Fairness Act, recently led a hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary called “Arbitration: Is It Fair When Forced?”
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