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

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