Sometimes it seems the only business problem you really have is knowing how to get more clients. Sure, people talk about marketing plans, but exactly what plans should you be making? What’s working for others? What should your next priorities be? Well, if you’ve been longing for someone to just tell you what to do (or give you a friendly kick in the butt) ... here you go! For a quick start, here are five baby steps to get you past any inertia and rolling in the right direction. ... READ THE REST

Theodore Bernstein created an analog to the economic maxim that bad money drives out good: bad words tend to drive out good ones. Bernstein, a journalist and professor, wrote or co-wrote seven books on grammar and usage. As an addict of grammar and language books, I came upon his "The Careful Writer" from 1965 while browsing in the library. Some of it seems obsolete today, but here are highlights you can use.

Question: For a smaller firm without a huge budget, what kinds of "creative perks" could we offer employees to show appreciation, to help boost morale and motivation? The truth is, your employees are being asked to do more with less than ever before. If you're a smart employer, you worry about keeping them happy and motivated. In this edition of "Ask the Experts," three experts from the Association of Legal Administrators — Lori Ann DeMayo, Ceanne Herndon and Natalie Wagner — tell all about the morale-boosters at their own firms, and share some truly great ideas. ... READ THE ANSWERS

In this "Power User" series, Vivian Manning has been teaching us the ins and outs of Microsoft Word Styles — helping us understand why they are so necessary and how to apply and customize Styles to suit individual tastes. But as Vivian explains here, Styles aren't merely for glamming up documents, they can help you produce documents more efficiently, too.

"Click." Did you hear that? That "click" was in your reader's head. It's the proverbial light bulb moment when something you wrote resonated and registered with your audience. Someone has taken notice. You’ve just formed a relationship. That click? That’s the sound of your content marketing working.

You are probably too busy practicing law to spend a whole lot of time perfecting your presence on social media. But research shows that clients will hire you based on what they find — or don’t find — about you online, especially on LinkedIn. What can you do if your social media presence is lacking? At the recent Legal Marketing Association – Bay Area Chapter Tech Conference, Brad Shepard discussed these simple strategies to help lawyers make a better impression on LinkedIn. ... READ THE REST

Question: I need help with my “elevator speech.” When I begin to tell people about my practice, I tend to get flustered and embarrassed. Do you have any advice that would help me feel more comfortable telling people about my business? In this month's Ask the Experts from the Legal Marketing Association, business development pros Lynne Franklin, Tina Emerson and Jim Jarrell share great tips to help you prepare, relax and get it right — every time. READ THE REST

Who are these “enterprising lawyers”? Actually, they are easy to spot. Look for the more engaged and happier lawyers in the crowd. Deeply invested in the power of the work they do for their clients, they have ample interests beyond the practice of law as well. And they seem to have more energy for getting things done than anyone in the crowd. You probably know one or two — you may even be one yourself! Meet Douglas Sorocco, partner with Dunlap Codding, PC, in Oklahoma City. When Douglas spotted a 100-year-old warehouse in the city's old "skid row," he saw more than a chance to design cool new office space. He saw opportunity, and potential in creating free event space. Now a gathering place for artists, innovators and fundraisers of all stripes, the IP firm is building a thriving community around "DC on Film Row." ... READ THE INTERVIEW

Since I require a public confessional, I’ll just have out with it: I have developed a slight obsession with "Mad Men," which is right in the medias res of its final season on AMC. I did not have even a remote interest in watching this show, however, until I came across a theory about how it ends. Since I have a long-standing interest in American history, the notion that such an audacious ending might be incorporated into a mainstream TV show (where series finales are, more often than not, cop outs) was immediately fascinating to me. Couple that carrot with the relative strength of the historical period upon which the show is focused, and I was all in. In watching I've learned that the dialogue is often superb and that "Mad Men" doesn't rely on modern television contrivances, most notably the bloodlust for increasingly shocking turnabouts. I’m now engaged in a very contemporary struggle: a binge — the attempt to finish through Season 6½ — while maintaining my sanity — so that I can watch the last half-season live. But this may be the only modern struggle in which I intentionally engage. ... READ THE REST

The College of Law Practice Management’s 2014 Futures Conference gathered more than 100 of the world’s leading authorities on the evolving practice of law at Suffolk University Law School in Boston and set them to work. Here are my five key takeaways from the year’s most impressive legal market conference.