Similar-sounding words can have very different meanings. Sound-alike words have tripped up many a scribe. Because you may be spelling the word correctly but misusing it for the context, spell-check is of no help. Watch out! Incorrect usage will reflect badly on your legal writing and distract the reader from your message.

How long have you been a subscriber to Attorney at Work? Those of you who have been with us from the very beginning have been receiving “one really good idea every day” since December 2010. By our count, today marks 1,000 really good ideas in your email inbox! While we’re not the kind who stop to celebrate just anything, 1,000 posts seems a worthy achievement. To celebrate, we’re taking time out from our regularly scheduled Friday 5 programming to send out a great big THANK YOU to all of our subscribers, contributors and sponsors — and do a little bragging. Here are five things you may not know about Attorney at Work. (Turns out these are about you, too.) READ THE REST

In the first post in this series, attorney and MyCase Director Nicole Black introduced the concept of law practice management software platforms with built-in client portals. In part two, she outlined the benefits that web-based client portals offer lawyers. Today, she runs through the pluses from the client’s side — with an infographic on the many communications benefits […]

Question: “I’m a young female lawyer working in a midsize law firm. It’s fairly obvious that women are treated as second-class citizens around here. Are there ways that you have seen to effectively battle this bias — or do I just need to start looking for another job?” In this edition of "Ask the Experts from the Association of Legal Administrators," law firm HR experts Kelly Diewert and Shari Tivy have smart advice for women battling bias in their jobs. ... READ THEIR ANSWERS

Businesses of all shapes and sizes set aside time at year's end to review their mission statement, strategic plan and operational plan. Unfortunately, few solo and small law firms see the value in using these particular business-planning tools. No matter your law firm’s size, there is value in knowing who you are as a business and where you are headed. Simply put, if you have no clear direction, isn’t your long-term success being left to the whims of fate? It certainly is ... READ THE REST

Lawyers often need to use persuasive skills in their work — convincing a judge or jury with an argument, persuading another party in a contract negotiation, convincing a client to pursue a realistic path. Yet when it comes to marketing, many resort to indistinguishable promises or generalizations. They say they are “accessible,” “responsive,” “experienced” or, my personal favorite, “provide quality services in a cost-effective manner.”

In some high-volume practices, a typical engagement can be very small. Some solo lawyers make a practice out of hundreds of single-hour consultations. For lawyers in these consultation-heavy practices, it should be routine to have clients sign a simple engagement agreement that clearly lays out the limited nature of the representation. In practices where larger engagements are the norm, though, lawyers may not even think to have retainer agreements in very small matters. Not having one could be a costly mistake, regardless of practice size. ... READ THE REST

One of the biggest challenges a solo practitioner has is managing the anxiety of not having a guaranteed steady income or client work. I’ve had open client files all year, but there are definitely lulls in work — when I’m waiting to get feedback on the latest draft of a client's contract, or for the USPTO to review a client’s trademark application. Those days, I literally have zero client work to do. That’s when the fearful thoughts start rolling through my brain ... READ THE REST

I hired Pat over 30 years ago, and she has worked either with me or in association with me ever since. She never was a great legal secretary, but she's reasonably bright, loyal and, for the most part, hardworking. However, as can happen to the rest of us, over time her skills have fallen further and further behind what is needed in the firm. In that time, my role has certainly changed, and she has been shifted several times into positions more suited to what she could do.

Using LinkedIn is a lot like any other business development activity. If you don't know what your goal is, and plan a strategy for achieving it, you won't accomplish much. At last month's Legal Marketing Technology Conference West, David Ackert of Practice Boomers had excellent advice on the importance of prioritizing goals and sticking to a strategy when using LinkedIn. Here are four goals to consider — along with Ackert's strategies to help you reach them. Note: Ackert stressed that choosing all four of these goals is not a good idea. Prioritize and commit to just one goal to start before you move on to tackle the next. ... READ THE REST