Legal cloud computing software is no longer new. What I would define as the "modern era" of Internet-based legal systems — heralded by the launch of Rocket Matter (full disclosure, that is my company) and Clio in 2008 — is now five years old. In computing terms, that's the Jurassic era. Legal cloud computing products are now flush with features and are changing the game when it comes to small law firm practice management. In 2013 we witnessed additional state bar ethics committees opining on cloud computing, and how attorneys should think about this new generation of legal software. The following are some of the key developments we saw this year ...READ MORE

These past few months, Mike Ramsey has been introducing us to Local Search Marketing. And, rookie, master marketer or somewhere in the middle, you’ve probably concluded that this is one incredibly complicated — and frustrating — world. It’s not just you. Earlier this year, Mike compiled a list of 40 most-often-asked questions he gets about local search in general, […]

We all begin each new year with good intentions, but you know what they say about the road to hell. Most lawyers have some marketing and business development goals and objectives in mind. However, such goals often tend to be aspirational and lacking in specificity — things like “generate more referrals” or “increase my visibility.” Here's how to get focused.

You don’t need to be reminded what a tough market it has been these past few years. But while it’s been bad out in the trenches, imagine how discouraging it’s been for law students slogging their way through torts and contracts and civ pro classes, then studying for weeks to take the bar exam, hoping to pass. For far too many students, despite summer internships or a highly coveted clerkship, long-term legal job prospects still seem bleak. To make matters worse, many firms complain that young lawyers arrive ill prepared for the day-to-day demands of practicing law. So how are law schools — besieged by bad press and dropping enrollments — addressing this situation? ... READ MORE

Break up with your mouse! You know that old chestnut from composer Burt Bacharach, “Make it easy on yourself, ’cause breaking up is so very hard to do?” Well, that’s what I want you to do. I want you to break up — with your mouse. And I’m going to show you how to make it easy on yourself, by giving you a list of the most common, useful keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Word and Outlook.

When you open a solo law practice, especially early in your career, it’s easy enough to do everything yourself. Often you’re too poor to hire anyone anyhow, and if you haven’t yet built up your book of business, you have the time to figure things out on your own. I’ve had my firm for almost two years, though, and now I’m getting to the point where I’m so busy it’s time to start outsourcing some things on my to-do lists. Where to start? I kicked this question out to a handful of solo lawyer groups and solo attorneys to find out the first thing they had outsourced.

Courtroom or boardroom, most lawyers know that when confronted with a wall of words an audience is more likely to nod off than to receive and retain information. Online, it's no different — and that's one reason infographics have become so popular. For this Friday Five, Kerstin Firmin has lots of good ideas for turning your packs of facts into infographics that engage, educate and (oh, yes!) entertain. ... READ MORE

Want your clients to be more open and honest with you? Make them feel at home. Sounds simple enough. A warm smile, an inviting office, and you should be all set! But what if their first interaction with your firm is over the phone? How do you communicate that you’re there to help … when you’re not physically present to help? How do you gain a client's trust? Try these three trust-inspiring tips next time you’re on a call with a cautious client.

The needy client is a multifaceted and challenging customer, usually driven by the forces of overwhelming anxiety. Although they appear in different guises, your rudimentary needy client is easy to recognize based on the unusually large number of phone calls, emails, unannounced visits — and perhaps even “coincidental” run-ins at your local coffee shop. It […]

For 25 years now, Bob Denney has been taking the temperature of the legal profession and sharing his firm’s observations on the most important business trends in the practice of law. We're pretty darn proud that Attorney at Work readers are the first to receive his 2013 “What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Legal Profession” report in its entirety. So what's the outlook for a profession in a state of flux?