The secret’s out. Many legal documents, even quite complex ones, can be reliably drafted by intelligent software when it is supplied with appropriate inputs. Consumers and businesses have become accustomed to preparing their own documents with software tools. They expect their lawyers to have even better tools in place. Do you? ... USE THE CHECKLIST

Judging by the 50-plus weeks "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" has been on The New York Times best-seller list, Americans have a new fascination with getting organized. By my observation, lawyers as a class are not an organized lot. From the look of many law offices I have visited, the floor seems to be the file repository of choice. If your desk is as messy and disorganized as mine was (notice the past tense), there’s a solution.

To find more clients, stop thinking like a lawyer and start thinking like a small business owner: Evaluate your market, identify what you want to sell and advertise yourself effectively. To that end, remember that people who aren’t intimately familiar with local attorneys don’t necessarily pick the most credible counsel — they pick the most visible. (Even I would rather ask Google who’s the best lawyer than waste my brainpower trying to remember who to call, and I’m a lawyer.) In today's "microwave mentality" world, where you have 30 seconds to impress, visibility is key. Here's how to ensure people know who to call when they need your specialized expertise ... READ THE REST

Writing and editing marketing copy — for a brochure, proposal, website, whatever — can be a high-wire act. If there's more than one lawyer in your practice, you know it's true: Make editing a group event, and it becomes a management nightmare. Too many people on the tightrope leads to disaster. Don’t feel badly; it happens even in the best-run law firms. So let’s look at how to ease the pain. ... READ THE REST

Recently the lawyers in my new firm decided to be more active on social media, particularly in blogging and on a Facebook page. The partners are looking to me for guidance on how to build their online presence, and I, in turn, am looking to them for guidance on what the firm’s persona is. I know how we are when we interact within the four walls of our office — but what aspects of the firm do we want to highlight in our online presence? ... READ THE REST

It’s true, the business of practicing law is changing. And what it means to do a lawyer’s work is changing right along with it. From time to time at Attorney at Work, we tip our hat to one of the many “enterprising lawyers” leading the charge. We find they have a few key things in common: Lots of energy, drive and creativity — and a crazy imagination. Victor Medina imagined Apple technology in the law office some time ago. He's continued to fly that banner as organizer-in-chief of MILOfest, the annual conference where Mac-motored lawyers gather to compare notes. ... READ THE Q&A

Nearly half of adults in their 40s and 50s are living in the “sandwich,” not only working full-time and caring for their minor children but also caring for their elderly parents.

Clio, the leading cloud-based legal practice management provider, has announced two major feature releases and eight new integration partners. These new product capabilities and integrations directly address the most commonly-cited challenges faced by law firms looking to simplify and grow their practice. “Our vision is to not only assist law firms in their day-to-day practice management needs, but to significantly simplify their operations and help them grow their practice,” said Jack Newton, CEO and co-founder of Clio. ...

Lawyers are already using both types of technology to provide better, more effective representation for their clients.

“I’m selling ego to lawyers, Ross. I’m going to make a fortune.” — Actual quote from a marketing friend before starting a vanity directory. Looking back, it turns out he miscalculated. It seems like he’s making closer to 10 fortunes. May I make a request? Please let’s stop the madness. Let’s stop squandering precious marketing dollars on these superlative lawyer lists. Consider ... READ THE REST