Culture: Do you have it?By Thomas J. BrannanLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, June 2009That “culture” is, many times, difficult to see or define. It is, however, or should be, reflective of the core values, beliefs, ethics and rules of behavior of a practice or office.
More on associatesBy Donald E. WeihlLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, June 2009From the very beginning there are guidelines/principles that need to be observed/followed in order to serve the clients efficiently and skillfully to accomplish tasks to generate fees as matters are handled to conclusion. The guidelines/principles are seldom communicated to the new associates in written form, and often the associate is simply expected to know without having been specifically told what to do, not do, how to act, or not act.
A soft real estate market creating opportunities to reduce real estate expenseBy Gary FazzioLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, June 2009The instability within the real estate marketplace, combined with new pricing models, will create opportunities for law firms to renegotiate their leases and reduce real estate expense in return for minimizing landlord exposure to rental loss and rollover risk.
Electronic discovery: Pay now or pay later!By Alan PearlmanLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, February 2009The days of paper documents are becoming a faint memory and being replaced with e-mail, instant messaging, video and VoIP. Although these tools make our everyday lives easier, they have the potential to become a serious liability for your company if not managed properly.
Virtualization and law office computer systemsBy Alan PearlmanLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, February 2009Virtualization is a technology that does present some added variables and complexity, but provides features and tools that change the status quo. It is a technology that the legal industry will surely embrace and use to better our service to our ultimate consumer…the client.
How to practice part-time from afarBy Patrick E. WardGeneral Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, December 2008For several years before I decided to semi-retire, I had a picture of a beautiful, tranquil beach and the inscription below it which read: “Never be so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
Best kept secretsBy Paul ShaheenLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, September 2008No matter the size of your practice, be it solo, big or small, attorneys and law firms often struggle with the taxing issue of how to best protect what is arguably your most invaluable asset: your ability to earn an income.
Use guest articles to promote your practice: Turn research and results into story topicsBy Geri L. DreilingLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, September 2008When a lawyer gets a great result, devises a winning strategy, tackles an old issue with a 21st-century twist or develops an approach that helps avoid a legal minefield, the client benefits.
Navigating an unemployment claimBy Melissa Schroeder & Lisa CollinsLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, May 2008The purpose of this article is to provide the general practitioner with a primer on procedures pertaining to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, unemployment hearings and the issues that surround them when terminating an employee.
Cutting the pie: Determining partner compensationBy John W. OlmsteadLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, April 2008Many law firms are struggling with compensation systems that no longer meet the needs of the firm and the individual partners. Failure to explore alternatives to failing systems often result in partner dissatisfaction leading to partner defections and disintegration of the firm.
Resolutions for 2008By Mary A. CorriganLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, April 2008Although 2008 is already underway, it is not too late to implement some resolutions for improvement of your law practice.
Remote access technology for your law practiceBy James A. McKennaLegal Technology, Standing Committee on, November 2007Remote access is the ability to retrieve and utilize electronically-stored information—including Word/Excel/PowerPoint documents, litigation databases, and scanned images—from a location outside the office.
Use the Web, but don’t let it use youBy Matt ArbogastYoung Lawyers Division, August 2007On June 29, 2007, an unbelievably large number of people waited in line for hours, some for days, to get their hands on iPhones.
More on engagement lettersBy Donald E. WeihlLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, May 2007The focus of this article will be on language to be included in engagement letters to provide for advance waivers of conflicts of interest.
Document process: The competitive edge in the legal professionBy Raymond SnyderLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, January 2007Law firms are beginning to realize the importance and value efficient document processes can provide.
To lead or to manageBy Maximilian M. PrusakLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, January 2007If your office is not acting as a team working for the same goal, try a little less management and a little more leadership.
Electronic communications & records: Metadata, security, and moreBy Robert G. MossLegal Technology, Standing Committee on, October 2006It would be fair to say that the field of legal ethics is increasingly concerned with issues raised by new kinds of information and communication technology.
Are you ready for tsunami, a Katrina, fire or terrorists?By Thomas J. BrannanLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, September 2006Granted, in Illinois, we are unlikely to suffer the rampage of a Tsunami or a Katrina, but tornadoes are common to Illinois, potential for fires is a part of life, and terrorists may strike anywhere—in fact, your own personal terrorist could be a disenchanted client seeking revenge.
Practice Alert: ContingenciesBy Matt MaloneyGeneral Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, June 2006Have you considered "partial disability" as part of your practice's disaster-preparedness plan?
Exceptional client service in law firms: Tips for rewarding and recognizing employeesBy John W. OlmsteadLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, December 2005By regularly rewarding and recognizing your attorneys and staff when they exhibit positive client service behaviors, rather than only noticing and commenting when they do something wrong, you help motivate them to keep up the good work and internalize the behavior.
Exceptional client service in law firms: Developing your client service improvement planBy John W. OlmsteadLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, September 2005Nothing is more important to your firm's future than exceptional client service. An effective client service improvement program is one of the most important marketing initiatives that a firm can undertake.
Law firm planning & design: Part 3By Daniel G. JayLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, June 2005The conference center concept has profoundly changed how many firms greet and accommodate their visitors.
