Sitting for long hours, indoors, staring at a computer and shoveling in bad food at work isn’t just a bad idea, it can be devastating to your health. I know, it seems almost counter-intuitive: Worker safety standards globally at are an all-time high. We have “nutrition-packed” food and, on the whole, work itself has gotten much easier than in generations past. So why are our workplaces so toxic? Here are seven reasons.

Lawyers and money do not go together like peas and carrots. Actually, let me rephrase that: Lawyers and talking about money do not go together like peas and carrots. Lawyers and managing money do not go together like peas and carrots. And lawyers and setting competitive market rates do not go together like peas and carrots.

I’m often reminded of a situation that happened several years ago. I was sitting in a building lobby killing time before an appointment. In the lobby was a small coffee shop. The line was long — out the door. The dutiful employee was making lattes and mochas as fast as he could but many people would walk up to the shop, assess the line and leave. I always imagined that the owner would look at his books at the end of the month and think things were going well and he certainly didn’t need another employee. But did he ever consider the business he wasn’t getting?

Captain Kirk, in a TV episode of "Star Trek," says, “The more complex the mind, the greater the need for the simplicity of play.” Playing is not something I do easily or often. Even in my youth, it was easier to get me to eat brussels sprouts than do something purely for fun. However, I’ve come to accept that playing is a necessity for sanity to offset the high-stress lawyer lifestyle.

The start of a new year always brings a renewed desire for change, a sense of wanting to improve. It's a really good feeling. Wanting to be better, do better and serve others better is an excellent sign of the desire for self-growth — so go with it! Here are my top tips for a highly productive year— including the things I do to set myself up to have the best day possible every day.

You know by now (did you ever not?) that it takes more than your business card and an open door to draw clients into your law office. And while you may have devised your marketing plan and work it to the best of your ability, January is still a good time to pause and check […]

More than once recently, I have consulted with a client and heard stories of their contact with other lawyers who work in my field. Sometimes their stories confirm that I am giving similar advice, but sometimes I am appalled at what I hear about my competitors' behavior. The question is, what can and should we do when we learn about colleagues' poor behavior?

Some writers feel compelled to insert extra hyphens. Often they do it when they think they spot an adverb. Sometimes the offending word isn’t even functioning as an adverb; it’s part of a compound verb. Either way, put away the hyphen and step back slowly. Heigh Ho the Derry-O the Adverb Stands Alone Adverbs give […]

Most lawyers make marketing and business development more complicated than needed. Developing new business — and keeping clients — isn’t rocket science. In fact, it’s as simple as ABC.

OK, for starters, don’t panic. I know the idea of bringing in clients can be daunting. Secretly, most associates seem to feel that success in this area is either unlikely or impossible. Most associates want to have their own clients, but looking ahead at yourself in 10 or 20 years, do you see a clear road map that makes it likely? The specifics are where it gets complicated.