InnovAction Awards were presented to law firm Higgs & Sons and the Legal OnRamp Fellowship at last week's 2014 Futures Conference in Boston. The College of Law Practice Management presents InnovAction Awards to recognize lawyers, law firms and other deliverers of legal services for unprecedented business activity. The program — now in its 10th year — seeks to highlight what can be created when passionate professionals, with big ideas and strong convictions, are determined to make a difference. ... READ THE REST

Do you need advice about the ethics issues involved in social networking? Chances are your questions will be answered by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s recent Formal Opinion 2014-300. The 18-page opinion addresses issues that are important for lawyers in every state. The Pennsylvania opinion rests on the premise that Rule 1.1 of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct requires lawyers to have “a basic knowledge of how social media websites work,” as well as the ability to advise clients about the legal ramifications of using the sites. ... READ THE REST

The year's end is right around the corner, along with the holiday season. So, what do you really want for a holiday gift? How about getting paid for the work you did during the year? The holidays can be extra hectic for lawyers with the scramble to get checks from clients before year-end. Most law firms operate on a calendar year and are run on a cash basis, meaning work isn't counted as revenue until clients pay. If you are a partner or even an associate, your compensation may be tied to the amount of money your firm collects on the work you billed. If you are a solo, you know all too well your compensation is directly tied to how much you collect on invoices ... READ THE REST

If you are like most lawyers, you have done little to organize or manage one of your most important business development assets — your contacts. Why is it so important to keep track of the people you know?

Recruiting and hiring a new employee is never easy. Last time I talked about different ways you can use social media to find better job candidates. For some, though, the most difficult part comes when you have narrowed your pool to two or three candidates you think would be great additions to your team. Now you want to evaluate the finalists further. You’ve heard rumblings about employers using social media to evaluate candidates, but how do you do it? What do you look for? What are the rules for doing it? ... READ THE REST

I've been through a few fashion trends and I appreciate others' perspectives on style. In our profession, it’s important to look ... professional. Looking good can help bolster your self-confidence and can certainly affect how others see you. But the next time you're in a room full of lawyers comparing ties and admiring each others' socks, ask yourself if that's really what you came to do. (You know. You've been there. It happens.)

The Internet is awesome. It's also horrible. It's the greatest timesaver in human history (okay, maybe air travel, but it's up there). It's also the biggest time-suck. With so much information and so many resources available at your fingertips, it can save your butt (anniversary gift overnight shipping, anyone?). It can also make you one.

If you ask the head of most any law firm about the compensation for a given employee, you'll likely hear something like “$15 an hour” or “$50,000 a year.” Of course the dollar figure is correct. But it represents only about 75 to 80 percent of total compensation. The hourly rate or base pay is just the starting point. While many industries track the cost or “burden” of an employee, numerous costs get buried and are not included in the equation. ...READ ABOUT THE HIDDEN COSTS

If you want people to notice you online, it doesn't take a marketing genius to know it's all about the visuals — a photo, infographic or video will out-pull your wall of words every time. (A photo of you will help, too.) We're not advocating posting random graphics (unless, of course, there's a compelling business reason behind that cat wearing clothes). But since adding good graphics to your website, blog or social media means your message is more likely to be seen and shared, it does make sense to invest in your visuals. The good news is there are tons of fun and easy-to-use apps that will help marry your words with attractive, highly shareable graphics. Here are five mostly free options to stoke your creative fires. ... READ THE REST

A holiday card catalog arrived in the mail a few weeks ago. I’m mostly a holiday purist who believes that you shouldn’t start celebrating the December holidays until after Thanksgiving. However, there are exceptions when holiday activities require weeks of preparation. Many businesses send out holiday cards to their clients and important contacts. Before you start thumbing through those catalogs too intently, let me ask you a few questions. ... READ THE REST