Question: What’s the best way to deal with staff performance problems? It seems like attempting to work them out during performance evaluation discussions between the assistant and the lawyer she works for is just going to erode their working arrangement. Is there a better way? In this edition of "Ask the Experts," Attorney at Work's Merrilyn Astin Tarlton joins Rick D'Aversa and Natalie Wagner, from the Association of Legal Administrators, to offer excellent pointers. READ THE ANSWERS

No one needs to reinvent the wheel every time a new project comes through the door. It’s the reason document management and document assembly programs exist. But no matter how good your forms are, or how cutting-edge your software is, they won't save you from the real work that remains after you’ve finished the initial draft: Editing. I’m not talking about the simple review you do to avoid turning out a disaster that looks as if you've cobbled it together from three other agreements, an old form book and a hazy memory of what these things are supposed to say. I’m talking about editing the documents you've drafted with care and thought in the first place. READ THE REST

Here’s the reality of the digital age: YOU are your brand. Not just your work, not just your reputation, not just your resume. What you look like and how you present yourself online has become a critical piece of your image. Having the right headshot can go a long way in reinforcing it. Says branding expert Allyssa VandeLeest, President and Strategy Director of Chicago-based Prosper Public Relations, “The photo on your website or LinkedIn account may be the first glimpse a prospective client gets of you, so it is important that it is both professional and that it clearly conveys your personal brand.” ... READ THE REST

There is no single path to a successful law practice. Over time, paths become blocked and new ones emerge. What worked 10 years ago may not work today. What works for some will not work for others. It's said business development is a relationship game. That's true, and likely always will be. But the manner in which meaningful, beneficial client relationships are formed and sustained is constantly evolving. Technical proficiency is table stakes. Today, more is required.

Practice innovation — at least in terms of pricing, project management and process improvement (the three "P's") — is the focus of the Legal Marketing Association’s P3 Conference, which just wrapped its second year. We asked Steve Nelson to report back on the highlights of P3 2014 — an eye-opener — held last week in Chicago. Here are five things he learned. READ THE REST

Previous Attorney at Work posts have discussed how to use Twitter for maximum effect while assuming you have an interest in it as a marketing tool. But some lawyers say they do not have Twitter accounts because it is irrelevant to their practice.

Accepting credit cards is just about the easiest way to ensure clients have no excuse not to pay your bills.

One of the striking things about law practice is our “sink-or-swim” mentality when it comes to junior associates. They do their law studies, we recruit them through various mechanisms, and then we basically just leave them to it. Then comes the “performance review” process, and at this point the problems with the system become evident. Most law firms do not have an effective performance counseling system. High performers are rewarded with financial compensation. Poor performers are noted during their performance review and given feedback about what they need to do better, and we congratulate ourselves on having dealt with the issue. Except that we haven’t. ... READ THE REST

Oh, I admit I was a little hard on my colleagues, but their idea was an old one we tried years ago to no avail. I guess they felt I was a bit harsh in the process of shooting it down (again) too, because when I left the room, I overheard one of the younger guys comment, “Well, isn’t he the cranky old bastard!”

The Annual Super Marketing Conference brings noted legal marketing experts from across the continent together in Boston (and is broadcast broadly beyond) to share their wealth of knowledge in a packed day of panels and presentations. The fourth annual edition, hosted by Suffolk University Law School and the Law Office Management Assistance Program of the Massachusetts Bar (LOMAP), took place June 5. The focus: "Building relationships to build business." We asked Boston attorney Sofia Lingos to report on the highlights. So here you have it: Friday Five (plus) great super marketing take-aways! ... READ THE REST