In my previous post on "Choosing a Document Automation System," we kicked off the topic with a checklist of circumstances and goals for those embarking on what can be a challenging journey. This post turns to the many options for you to consider as you explore system tools. "Document automation" covers a broad field of functions. We’ll focus here on the "creation branch," where humans and their intelligent non-biological assistants produce documents. ... READ THE REST

Lawyers typically hate numbers like cats hate water (or cucumbers). Business words like "profit" are often shied away from, too, due to the decorum and ethics of the legal profession. Folks, I beg you. We have to end this. Lawyers and law schools alike need to recognize that most attorneys end up running small businesses, and for them to have the best possible client service they need to run the best possible businesses. Period. If you want to take superhuman care of your clients, you need to run an efficient business. Your time needs to be spent helping people out, not shuffling papers. And to run an efficient business, you need to know your vitals. ... READ THE REST

While lots of things about the holidays are great, holiday travel is stressful. The roads and airports are crowded, the weather is not always cooperative, and the trips are often long. But don’t let holiday travel beat you down. Banish the stress and stay healthy with these five tips. ... READ THE REST

As a professional mountain climber, I’ve faced my share of life or death situations — all the way from the tundra of Denali Park to the summit of Mt. Everest. But as frightening as these encounters have been, they don’t compare to the career trouble my colleagues face when they attempt to navigate the most challenging business environment of them all: The annual office holiday party.

Look, I get it. Computer backups are a bother. It’s something a staff member typically takes care of, or maybe your IT consultant has you covered. I observe, however, that few lawyers really know what’s actually going on with their computer backup process. In the past, for the most part, maybe that was fine. But times are changing ... READ THE REST

As the new year approaches, a lot of firms ask their lawyers to prepare annual business or marketing plans. Even without that structure, it makes sense to take a step back to reflect and assess what has worked, what hasn’t and what should be done differently.

The difference between a thriving law firm and a law firm that fails can come down to one thing: efficiency. If you cling to old habits and fail to use more efficient methods of managing your practice, you risk sacrificing profits. Here are five common efficiency killers — and tips to help you become more productive. READ THE REST

Lawyers are hard-wired to be precise when writing and speaking. When practicing law they honor that precision rigorously. However, when it comes to interacting with their market, let’s just say their language discipline loses a lot of its rigor. Here are some common examples I encounter with too great a frequency in my coaching conversations, with suggested alternatives.

In this month's "Ask the Experts from the Legal Marketing Association," Jim Jarrell, Jacqueline Madarang and Ian Turvill tackle the question: "Technology in all its forms is quickly becoming a big part of marketing. What are the most important tools we should be using at our firm? What should we do first to make sure we’re keeping up?" ... READ THE REST

Almost every law firm has issues with collections at one time or another. At the very least, most firms would benefit from making improvements to their collections processes. So let’s take a look at some different approaches to see what might pay off for your firm. ... READ THE REST