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
Originally published June 24, 2014
Jay Harrington | You have the power to create an interesting and profitable practice that makes you indispensable, rather than expendable, in the minds of clients. You can go from being one of many to one of a kind.
Originally published June 23, 2014
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
Originally published June 20, 2014Previous 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.
Originally published June 19, 2014
Accepting credit cards is just about the easiest way to ensure clients have no excuse not to pay your bills.
Originally published June 18, 2014
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
Originally published June 17, 2014
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!”
Originally published June 16, 2014
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
Originally published June 13, 2014
Find yourself feeling irritated? Frustrated? Downright grind-your-teeth angry? Maybe you skipped breakfast. And lunch. Maybe your spouse was nasty to you at dinner last night. Maybe you can't stand the way opposing counsel flagrantly misinterprets the law while jabbing his finger in the air. Maybe you've been deliberately made the scapegoat for another attorney's huge mistakes. Perhaps you have 100 different reasons, both legitimate and exaggerated, that have combined to create a swirling hot cloud of steam roiling between your ears, just waiting to blow. ... READ THE REST
Originally published June 12, 2014
Recently, I was blown away by how awesome a fellow lawyer’s office is. It’s not very big, but it has a standing desk by a window that overlooks downtown Phoenix, opening up the rest of the space for an oversize leather couch and armchair. I loved the layout, and he said he loved his standing desk. This inspired me to seek out other lawyers who use standing desks to hear their experiences. I created a survey and was surprised by the number of responses: 29 people from across the country told me about their personal and their firm’s experiences using standing desks. In one instance, the entire office uses them. READ THE REST
Originally published June 11, 2014
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