Ever open up Google Hangouts or Skype to hear someone (okay, you) say, “Cripes! Where did that come from?” when the camera captures a side of your office you rarely notice? It’s not your bobblehead collection. It’s that sloppy stack of papers threatening to topple and crush innocent passersby. Sure, you could adjust the camera angle and forget it … but maybe you should pull your head out of the computer and take a good look around your entire office space.

Like what you see? What does it tell clients about you? First impressions color the entire lawyer-client relationship. So for this week’s Friday Five, let’s talk law practice curb appeal. …READ MORE

Question: Ours is a three-lawyer litigation firm with high-profile experience in a narrow issue. Obviously we don’t have the luxury of an in-house marketing department like the big law firms. But we certainly have the capability to best them in the courtroom. We’re wondering if our small law firm has [...]

Despite LinkedIn’s reputation as the social networking site for professionals, there are still skeptics who question its value. Most of the skepticism among lawyers arises from questions of confidentiality. That’s natural. Holding information close is ingrained by the time you sit down to take the bar exam. But LinkedIn is marketing, not lawyering—and it’s tough to get someone to buy when you’re being cagey about things.

LinkedIn Is Where You Make Connections, Not Break Them. Lawyers new to LinkedIn frequently wonder how wise it is to accept LinkedIn connection invites from competitors. … READ MORE

It’s not always easy to convince lawyers that they should care more about client service. Too many genuinely believe their legal expertise is paramount—the only thing that truly matters when establishing their law practice’s reputation. But lawyers should not underestimate the impact of how they treat their clients: It’s [...]

Microsoft Office 2013 has been available for several months, but Office 2010 has been stable and mostly well-received in our firm. And with staff and lawyers already overwhelmed by the never-ending stream of new technologies hurtling toward them, I wasn’t eager to push yet more change on them. So [...]

Some people always know exactly what to say. When words fail the rest of us, these people deliver the smooth segue, the clever comeback, the perfect parting shot. How do they do it so effortlessly? Maybe they’ve taken a page from Patrick Alain. In The Manager’s Phrase Book, Alain has collected thousands of ready-to-use conversation starters, questions, admonitions, motivators—and some put-downs—aimed at helping you communicate more confidently. You might scoff at the idea of using canned phrases, but who couldn’t use a little communications coaching when searching for the right thing to say. …
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