It’s something you hear when you’re starting your career (and something you’ll hear constantly, throughout your career, if you’re a nonconformist): "You have to be more professional." Of course, that begs the question, just how does one "be professional" in the first place? Think about what your definition for professionalism has been. It’s not something you came up with yourself. No one is coloring a particularly sweet giraffe in kindergarten thinking: "How can I do this kindergarten thing in a more professional manner?" You don’t start thinking about this notion of professionalism until you start working — and not because you feel like it's the right thing to be doing, either. Someone (your first boss, a teacher priding himself on remaining grounded in "real life") started drilling the idea into your head. "Professionalism" — never was there a finer term to air-quote. ... READ THE REST

“What is the most important thing to your successful career?” Shelly asked earnestly.It was flattering to be asked. This young associate was interviewing the more successful senior attorneys in the firm to help her figure out how to manage her own legal career. But I asked her to come back later, so I had time to think on it.

If any of your clients are involved with health care, you know how highly regulated the field is. You may think you are complying with all the regulations and have lock-tight security measures in place at your firm. But you could be wrong. Consider that there have been 92 breaches involving personal health information (PHI) so far this year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights’ database. Thirty-two percent of those breaches were caused by IT incidents or hacking. Either due to lax security practices or cyberattacks, personally identifiable information such as medical records and payment history was open to unauthorized third parties. When you work with PHI, you need to keep your firm steps ahead of hackers and away from accidental data breaches — and be aware of your responsibilities. As a law firm "business associate" handling PHI, you need to understand what the government expects of you, and where you may be vulnerable. ... READ THE REST

Lawyers often lament: “I’ve been on LinkedIn for years, but I’ve never experienced any benefit from it.” What most mean is: “I’ve never gotten any work from it.” Lack of LinkedIn success is due to two factors. The first is lack of understanding of the platform’s tools. The second, more important factor is lack of understanding of its purpose. Many lawyers aspire for connections, with the “500+” designation considered a benchmark for success. But LinkedIn isn’t about building connections, it’s about building relationships. Don’t get me wrong — connections are important, but only as a means to an end. The “end” is creating meaningful, lasting relationships with your connections. And this requires more than simply extending and accepting invitations. As in all facets of life, the best way to build relationships is to give of oneself. You give your wisdom, and your connections give their time and attention. Over time, as you produce and share great content, you’ll be thought of as a resource, not a connection. So what’s the best way to expand your reach and your relationships on LinkedIn? Start posting articles using LinkedIn Pulse. ... READ THE REST

In a few months, I will celebrate my third anniversary as a solo practitioner. Without question, this experience has been the most rewarding of my nearly 16 years practicing labor and employment law. In reflecting on this arbitrary milestone, I realize that I’ve amassed a few nuggets of useful information to share with others who are thinking about taking the leap to their own solo practice. Here are seven tidbits I hope you find useful.

Business development trainer Mike O’Horo is rarely at a loss for words. His new column for Attorney at Work is dedicated to helping you find just the right business development words to use, too.  Last month in "Well Said," he explained "How to Stimulate Referrals." Today: How to say "thank you" — and maintain those good relationships.  Now that your referral source has generously plugged you into her network, what must you do to show proper appreciation and respect? READ THE REST

Before you fire those agreements off to your client in an email, there are some key questions to ask.

In "Accommodating Clients with Special Needs," we talked about steps you can take to provide superior service to older adults and people with disabilities. But "special needs" can also apply to clients who are full-time caregivers or busy working parents, or who speak English as a second language, or no English at all. When you step into your clients’ shoes and identify issues that make it difficult for them to work with you, you’re demonstrating your commitment and respect for them. It's good for them and good for you, too. ... READ THE REST

With summer finally in full swing, we asked our legal technology dream team, "Which apps have saved your ... vacation?" Lee Rosen, Jim Calloway, Heidi Alexander, Catherine Reach and Dan Pinnington are telling their best tips for making travel less stressful, whether for work or play, so you can hit the road well prepared! Who couldn't use a little extra help navigating the unexpected? Of course, our best tip if you're headed to vacationland is to ditch the devices once you're there, and roam free. Paradise and free Wi-Fi are not always compatible. ... READ THE REST

Sometimes the most profound lessons arise from the simplest of exchanges. So it was for a young Jordan Furlong in the early days of his career as an adventurous service provider. He says the best pricing advice he ever received came from an elderly gentleman who lived in a tidy bungalow at the edge of town. READ THE REST