If you want to stay relevant, you need to master the art of social media. According to data from the Pew Research Center, 65 percent of adults in the U.S. now use social networking sites, compared to just 7 percent in 2005. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have become an integral part of people’s everyday lives. People turn to social media to connect with others and share experiences, but they also use it to learn more about businesses and services. By ignoring social media, your firm could miss out on opportunities to connect with potential clients. Here are five ways to do social media better ... READ THE REST

Not every small law firm can afford a full-time marketing director. But what the right marketer can produce with a minimal budget will probably surprise you. A case in point is the Law Offices of Peter N. Brewer, a six-lawyer boutique real estate practice in Palo Alto, CA. ... READ THE REST

Maybe as I get older I have less patience for things that seem wasteful or meaningless, or maybe I’m just getting crankier. I suspect people who work with me would choose the latter, but I have made strides over the past few years in learning new technologies and adapting to changes in processes or resources. I can now look up most materials I need online, I can email (auto-fill is a lifesaver), I can answer my cellphone and even text — occasionally, and very slowly! I've even used social media.

As we enter the new year, most of us make some resolutions. Commonly we want to lose weight, be more patient with family members or get better organized. And high on many lists is figuring out how to have better work-life balance. On that last one, I have to ask, why? Why do you want better work-life balance? ... READ THE REST

Upgrading your networking skills is always a good idea, but what about your technology? We asked our legal technology and marketing dream team, “How do you use technology to track and connect with all of those great contacts you’ve made?” Reid Trautz: A Three-Tool Combination System I use a combination of LinkedIn and Microsoft Outlook with […]

For years I’ve heard the mantra, “It’s all about relationships.” At the risk of casting an unwelcome pall in the middle of the holidays, bear with me while I gore this venerable ox, a quaint vestige of the 25-year seller’s market that ended in 2008. Clinging to it now is the equivalent of carrying a flip phone, which, like the relationship mantra, has long since ceased to be relevant.

Cat got your tongue? Our special two-week holiday series, “Connect the Dots: A Lawyer’s Guide to Networking,” continues today with good tips on starting and sustaining conversations. You’ve heard about the elevator speech, the 30-second intro to let people know the benefits of what you do. But then what?

Last spring at ABA TECHSHOW 2015, Philippe Doyle Gray presented his method for using Evernote to manage contacts, especially during events. For today’s installment of  “Connect the Dots: A Lawyer’s Guide to Networking,” we asked him to expand on how to do that. Networking demands human connections and lasting impressions. Only then does it become a firm foundation upon which to build a new relationship. Emotional engagement with strangers requires effort — the more strangers, the more effort. ... READ THE REST

Networking, the art of connecting the dots in a way that both builds your practice and helps people find solutions to their problems, is an evergreen topic of discussion among lawyers. From "I can't do all that glad-handing!" to "I feel so lucky to be blessed with such a wonderful collection of friends and associates," every lawyer has something to say about it. Today, continuing in the spirit of our holiday networking marathon, we draw your attention to five must-read posts from some of our favorite Attorney at Work contributors. READ THE REST

A busy travel schedule can be good for business development. Ruth Carter tells how she does it in today's installment of  “Connect the Dots: A Lawyer’s Guide to Networking." Looking over my calendar from 2015, I noticed that I spent 28 days on the road speaking at conferences and doing The Undeniable Tour. My travels took me all over the West Coast and to Las Vegas, Cleveland, New York and even London. One benefit of traveling is I get to meet and see people in person who I'd otherwise get to connect with only online. READ THE REST