With so many choices (and new features being added constantly), shopping for practice management software can be overwhelming. So, we asked the practice management technology experts for a little perspective. First, what’s their best advice on making the decision, especially for smaller firms considering switching programs or investing for the first time? Then, what’s the […]

Years ago, someone told me about an accounting firm’s business development training philosophy. The firm had developed a continuum from 1 to 10, where “1” was something like “Would recognize me on the street,” and “10” was something like “Take family vacations together.” They asked the professionals to list their top contacts and indicate where each one fell on the continuum. After this exercise, the firm advised the accountants that their goal should be to move each contact up one number per year.

When Jeff Sherr was introduced to Slack, it struck him as a better way to capture and share those “short explosions of ideas” that happen after conferences and other events. You know when you’re out to dinner, talking with people, and new ideas start popping up? “Some of the best innovative ideas happen at those dinners,” says Sherr, who is the training director for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, and a leader in the National Association of Public Defenders.

Key performance indicators (KPIs), or performance metrics, are receiving some attention in the legal field. KPIs enable businesses to make data-driven decisions, and I, too, believe that KPIs are the next big thing for lawyers and law firms. Mantras like “measure or perish” have been bantered around many legal events over the past couple of years. However, measuring utilization and profit per partner are not the focus of the new breed of KPI. Instead, the focus is shifting from measuring inputs like available hours to measuring outputs that include value.

The inaugural Legal Marketing Technology Conference/Midwest, produced by the Legal Marketing Association's Midwest Chapter, took place June 23, 2016, in Chicago. While all attendees gained insights on a host of sophisticated tools that legal professionals can use to identify, attract and support clients, the presenters also helped law firm marketers understand how to work with our law firms to turn those insights into actions. Here are five takeaways from the conference.

An infinitive is the barest form of a verb. Usually, we refer to a verb form as an infinitive when we use “to”: to go, to run, to think. If you studied a foreign language, you probably learned the infinitive form of verbs and then how to conjugate them. In English, we don’t need the “to.” We can refer to a “bare infinitive” without the “to.” But some sentences do require infinitives.

Most law firm websites have similar issues when it comes to search engine optimization — some major, others that are relatively simple fixes. But almost half of the websites I see are missing the basics. Title tags, for example, can have a huge impact on your rankings. While Google looks at over 200 metrics to rank a website for certain keywords and phrases, the title tag is still one of the most important factors.

Who are these “enterprising lawyers”? Look for the more engaged and happier lawyers in the crowd. Deeply invested in the power of the work they do, they have ample interests beyond the practice of law as well. And they seem to have more energy for getting things done than anyone in the crowd. You probably know one — you may even be an enterprising lawyer yourself! Google "low bono lawyers" and Salt Lake City firm Open Legal Services shows up near the top of the list every time. Launched in 2013 ago by Shantelle Argyle and law school classmate Daniel Spencer, Open Legal Services is Utah’s first nonprofit law firm for clients who "earn too much to qualify for free/pro-bono legal services, but also earn too little to afford a traditional private attorney."

Presentation technology has come such a long way, “Death by PowerPoint” should be a thing of the past. How can you be sure the new visual and audio aids you are using enhance your message — and don’t detract from it? In addition to having a well-organized and thoughtful presentation, here are a few basics […]

Work can be stressful. Sure, sometimes you really enjoy your work, particularly when things are going your way. And, of course, you know the things you can do to reduce and manage your own stress levels. (Don't you?) But is it possible that you are a source of stress for the people who work for and with you?