No matter how technologically advanced we are as a society, we still follow a tradition that goes all the way back to the 1600s, when calling cards made their debut. Over the next centuries, calling cards were used to announce the impending arrival of prosperous or aristocratic people, or as a means of formal introduction — leading us to business cards. Format-wise, business cards have been a little slow to adapt to our always-online culture. It seems that exchanging paper cards at networking events is still the quickest way to get someone’s contact information. But therein lies the challenge: What happens after the event, when you get back to the office with a stack of cards?

What if you had completed all of the requirements to become an attorney admitted to practice law but, despite your best efforts to rectify the situation, were in the United States without a valid visa? That is exactly the question the Supreme Court of California took up recently in a first-of-its-kind case, In re Sergio C. Garcia On Admission. And its ramifications could be far-reaching for lawyers across the country. ... READ MORE

Fortunately, the discussion of websites in the legal industry has mostly changed from, “Do you have a website for your firm?” to “Have you leveraged the latest technology and best practices to fully optimize your site?” Here are five trends shaping the new standard for law firm websites, so you'll know smart ways to improve your firm's site in 2014. ... READ MORE

In the legal industry, there is much discussion but scant implementation on the issue of client feedback. Research shows that few firms make the attempt to gather client feedback in any meaningful or systematic way. Should law firms be interviewing or surveying clients? Indisputably. But, regardless of what the “firm” is doing, every lawyer should be having feedback conversations as well. Whether the target is a good client or a regular referral source, asking for input signals that you are interested in learning what people think, knowing what’s going on in their businesses and finding out what needs to be changed, all of which are important to long-term relationships.

The practice of law is stressful. And complicated. And, at times, frustrating. Legal marketing and business development need not be. Here are a few back-to-basics tips designed to improve your relationships with clients and colleagues.

The best law firm SEO results come from doing really good authentic marketing. While most people scour the web for the latest magic trick to drive more search traffic to their sites, the real magic SEO bullet for lawyers was cast long before the Internet even came into existence.

The firm I work in is Windows-based, just like the vast majority of North American law firms. When our firm upgraded from Windows 98 to Windows XP, I became a much less grumpy techie. Windows XP delivered the holy grail of computing for me — stability! It wasn’t nearly as crash-and-burn-y and blue screen of death-y as its predecessors.

You do remember that it's Valentine's Day today, right? Or have you been so busy with work, and life (and the Sochi games), you totally forgot? Maybe like some of us (gulp), you put off the gift-giving decision too long and now you're in a panic. Well, don't fret! Here are five ideas to help spark the romance — easily accomplished within a few hours' time, max. (Already taken care of your valentine-giving? Good! Stash these ideas away for a rainy day.) ... READ MORE

The goal of any blogger should be the same as any content creator — to provide value to readers in terms of information or entertainment. I can't emphasize enough the value of sharing original source material with your audience, as well as providing the back story or explaining why something is relevant to readers. Effective blogging isn’t just about sharing the “what” but also the “why.” And whenever possible, you should incorporate storytelling because readers remember stories better than lessons alone. ... READ MORE

You already know that Internet marketing for your law firm comes with many challenges. The biggest is simply determining what you need to do and how to get it done in the time you've allotted. Fortunately, there is an entire industry built around helping you, with information and tools for all levels of expertise. Here are just a few of the online marketing resources I think you will find most useful.