A Curmudgeon's Perspective. The Attorney at Work compilation about time management and productivity ("A Matter of Time: Time Management and Productivity Tips for Lawyers") got me thinking about how lawyers are drawn to chasing new trends and technologies. It reminds me of my grandkids playing in the yard at dusk, when the fireflies come out. Soon, the kids are scrambling through the dark chasing, but seldom catching, those shiny, ephemeral glowbugs.

A change has crept up on us in the past couple of years. Just when you were starting to roll your eyes back into their sockets at the talk of "the death of email," up popped expressions like "WhatsApp me that file" or "I just Vibered my brother back home." People are feverishly typing communications to others on their phones, tablets and laptops — and certainly not writing emails. Propriety restrains you from spying over their shoulders, but you see enough to notice the new phenomenon in communication: group messaging and chat. And businesses are not far behind. You can order food, get a doctor appointment or track the delivery of your package — all through group messaging.

Nothing draws a smirk or an arched eyebrow in certain circles as quickly as mispronunciation of the brand name of an automobile. This faux pas is especially damning when entertaining clients in businesses related to the auto industry, but pitfalls are everywhere. Who knew that client’s passion was Formula One? As frequently noted in Get to the Point, as the well-spoken, literate attorney you are, you need to pronounce words correctly, even when those around you do not.

Sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference in life — and in business. From a customer service perspective, the little things can build loyalty more effectively than any advertising or marketing campaign. You may think the kind of customer service touch points common in retail or other service businesses don’t apply to the legal industry, but think again. Nobody who needs a lawyer’s services is probably very excited about it. You can score big points by making their experience with you and your firm simple, easy and even pleasant.

One of my all-time favorite quotes is from Benjamin Franklin: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” I mention this quote every time I speak, no matter the topic. Why? Because it applies to everything we do in life. With every task, project or matter you are working on, there is always a goal. If there wasn’t a goal, why would you be doing it?

Clio’s built in credit card processing, Clio Payments, makes it easy for law firms to get paid. No other integrated payment system is easier to implement. Better still, Clio Payments is cheaper than any other payment solutions offered to law firms. When a law firm chooses Clio as their practice management software, they receive industry leading payment features including

Recently I offered suggestions — aimed at Gen Xers and Baby Boomers — for improving communication with millennials. Here is the promised corollary version: Guidelines to help millennials communicate with Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. It's not about you. One of the most important things you can do when communicating — whatever the medium — is to consider the preferred communication style of your audience. Adjust your format, style and tone to best fit the situation. The preferences of your recipient trump yours.

It’s always interesting to me how many lawyers still think a successful law practice centers on knowing lots of legal principles. The reality is, that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s true that you know how to read analytically, how to quickly assess, review and assimilate case law and statutes. You have a good appreciation of the sheer depth and complexity of legal analysis. These things are necessary but insufficient.

Last month, I was asked to speak at BlogPaws, a national conference for pet bloggers. (Yes, I got to take Rosie the basset hound with me.) I was part of a panel that presented a three-hour workshop called "Legal Dos and Dont's of Blogging and Social Media." This time, I deployed some new techniques to maximize the impact of our talk, and I think they worked.

For almost 14 years, I’ve answered my telephone at the South Carolina Bar and taken questions from lawyers and their staff. Questions about case management software are probably in the top three reasons for calls. (I used to distinguish between practice management software, which includes front- and back-office functions, and case management, which has front-office […]