Question: We’re all working hard to increase revenue from new business and reduce overall spending, but we just can’t seem to improve the bottom line. What is the best thing we can do to improve the profitability of our law practice? In this edition of "Ask the Experts" from the Association of Legal Administrators, Dean Boeschen and Pamela Woldow have advice on improving your bottom line . . . READ THE REST

Just because nearly everyone knows how to send email doesn't mean they use it well. In my previous post ("Most Dangerous Outlook Features for Lawyers"), I showed you two frequently used Outlook features that trip up even seasoned users: Auto-Complete and Out of Office (aka Automatic Replies). Here are two more features you'll want to be wary of, lest you accidentally breach attorney-client privilege. ... READ THE REST

It’s difficult to see the connection between starting a blog, which is essentially dropping your words into a space on the Internet, and actually increasing the amount of business coming your way. Much hay has been made about search engine optimization, but all blogging comes down to is sharing your life online in a way that the public can appreciate. Translating this into business is as simple as being yourself. ... READ THE REST

For this edition of Friday Tech Tips, we asked law practice technology experts who were on-site — and at the podium — to share a mix of hot tips and take-ways from the annual ABA TECHSHOW.

There are a lot of theories about what it takes to bring in business. One I always like to mention to lawyers is that it takes 10 to 15 good contacts to produce one client. Why so many? Because most of your contacts will not turn into clients.

Of all the Microsoft Office applications in law offices, Outlook is hands-down the most frequently used. But lurking in the shadows of your email routine are dangerous Outlook features that could jeopardize your law practice. Here are two that trip up even seasoned Outlook users. Auto-Complete. You probably use the Auto-Complete feature every day, and take it totally for granted. ... READ THE REST

The Eagles are one of the best-selling bands of all time. "Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)" is the third best-selling album of all time. The Eagles also kind of suck. Don’t believe me? Listen to "Disco Strangler" or "James Dean." Now, granted, some of the Eagles’ songs are downright fantastic, like "Already Gone" and "Take It Easy," though those are the exceptions, and not the rules. But if the Eagles suck, how did they achieve such staggering monetary success? ... None of the Eagles’ success occurred by accident. The primary reason the Eagles made so much money is because they set out to make it, and the band was run accordingly: like a business. ... READ THE REST

Last week at ABA TECHSHOW in Chicago, Allison Shields and I chatted with lawyers about shaping their online narratives.

It's clear that legal marketers continue to be an ever-growing force for change at law firms of any size. With more than 1,300 attendees from around the globe, this week’s Legal Marketing Association (LMA) annual conference in San Diego was the group’s largest to date. For such a specialized gathering, the conference covered a wide and impressive variety of topics interesting to marketers and lawyers alike. Here are John Byrne's top takeaways ...READ MORE

There’s a tricky balance that lawyers need to strike: staying focused on the "task at hand" while keeping an eye on the future. The task at hand involves acquiring technical skills — drafting, negotiation, deposition-taking — at a relatively early point in your career.