If you speak English and only English, does it make sense for me to explain something to you in French — even if I speak slowly? Of course not. While you probably never make this specific mistake with your clients, almost all of us commit a version of it on a regular basis. We try to explain complicated legal problems using what we consider to be “simple” or “basic” legal language. The result is almost inevitable: No matter how slowly you talk, how clearly you break down your points, many clients still get confused.

In my December post, “A Pre-Year-End Checklist for Solos and Small Firms,” we ran through the major systems of a law practice and took stock of concerns to attend to in the new year. (If you missed it, be sure to go back and get the downloadable checklist to help evaluate where to put your energy when upgrading your systems.) So now, on to your new year’s practice renovation. Here are some of the most common trouble spots — along with tips on addressing them now that the calendar has turned over to January.

Several pundits declared 2017 “the year of artificial intelligence,” and with good reason. AI has entered our lives in so many ways, from how we interact with our phones to Amazon knowing what we’re likely to buy. But when it comes to legal marketing, 2017 was in many ways “the year of AI hype.” Nonetheless, I am confident that AI will transform much, much more in our lives and businesses for many years to come. For 2018, I suggest five imperatives for legal marketers.

What website design and marketing trends will be worth your investment this year? We asked five experts, "What do you foresee as the biggest trends for law firm websites in 2018 — and what’s worth paying attention to?" Here's the forecast from Drew Barton, Andy Cabasso, Karin Conroy, Steve Matthews and Mike Ramsey.

At least 77% of Americans own a smartphone. They spend, on average, two hours and 51 minutes per day on these smartphones. That’s a lot of people and a lot of time. The data also show that of all the time Americans spend online — on mobile or on a desktop or laptop — half is spent using a smartphone app. It’s no wonder so many businesses — from retailers to banks to restaurants — have apps. Many law practices and app developers are jumping on the mobile bandwagon, too, offering apps to help contest a traffic ticket, draft a business contract or become a U.S. citizen. Some allow people to ask lawyers questions directly.

Too often, “client-focused” content translates as “let me tell you what you need, ” followed by “please don’t interrupt, I’m still talking.” One of the most exciting trends in law firm content is client-driven content — that is, stories about client companies. This content is not about what the law firm did for the company (think representative engagements), but about the mission and promise of the company itself.

Now is the time that we reflect on our successes and failures of the past year — both professionally and personally — and plan for the upcoming year, setting goals for ourselves, our firms and our practices. As I think about 2017, I see many successes, some failures and, above all, lessons I learned from both. Looking back at the "Friday Fit Five" posts of 2017 for top takeaways, there are five things I want to take into the new year with me, to continue or to improve upon. Here they are.

This time last year, many of us were anxious for 2016 to end. But instead of smooth sailing ahead, I feel like the universe started 2017 by saying, “Hold my beer” and it has spun chaos ever since. During the past month, I’ve been looking back on the year's achievements and setbacks and looking ahead to 2018.

Brooke Lively | Many lawyers who own their own firms are frustrated by a lack of growth compared to other firms.

Seven years ago this month, Attorney at Work was born — unfurling the prospect of hundreds and hundreds of daily posts on law practice management issues of every variety. It was early days and the list of contributors was small. As the editors, Joan Feldman and I often stepped in to write posts. As the holidays neared, we decided to write together about something important to both of us: being kind. Looking back from here, the concept takes on even greater import.