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.

Lawyers in small firms don’t have large-scale technology systems or billing departments to help get invoices out the door. When the time comes to give a client an invoice, it is pretty much up to the individual attorney to make it happen. Done right, the invoice is a powerful tool for maximizing your success — not just in terms of securing payment, but for building client loyalty and even marketing your services. On the other hand, invoices that are poorly prepared and don't meet client expectations can have a powerfully negative impact on the client relationship.

“All professions are a conspiracy against the laity,” said George Bernard Shaw. In the legal profession, the best evidence of a conspiracy is the often impenetrable density and complexity of the law. It’s almost impossible for laypersons to understand the law and its processes. Lawyers perpetuate the conspiracy through their use of jargon and legalese. There’s been a great deal of discussion, writing and study related to the costs of using legalese. But it does not seem there’s been much progress in convincing lawyers to communicate in a simpler, more accessible way.

The legal profession, marketing technology, and clients’ buying habits are changing dramatically. Lawyers need to think differently about marketing, lead generation, big data, project delivery and leadership. Here are 10 things that should be on your radar heading into 2017.

Finally, 2016 has drawn to a close — and what a long, strange trip! Whether politics, entertainment or legal technology, it was an eventful year, to say the least. Fortunately, legal technology was a bit less tumultuous than the political scene. In fact, many of the themes that emerged throughout the year were downright predictable — if you knew what to look for.