Is anybody actually steering the ship at your law firm? Many smaller firms I visit across the country seem to have this in common: a passive practice management style, defined by reactive decision-making. Typically in these firms, managing partners serve part-time, without compensation, and their primary responsibility is to address staff-related issues and administrative functions—but only when absolutely necessary. The reality is that under a passive management style, no true firm leadership exists, and no one is steering the ship. This is particularly true in smaller firms for a number of reasons. ... READ MORE

Meet this month's Enterprising Lawyer, solo appellate specialist Walter Sargent. In 1996, Walter left the Colorado Springs office of a large Denver-based law firm to start his own solo practice focused entirely on appeals. The move was unprecedented. A senior lawyer at the big firm told him he'd starve within the first six months. Walter founded his new firm on the simple premise that—freed from the encumbrances and constraints of a larger firm—a first-rate appellate practice can offer cost-effective services to a wide range of clients. Walter, a former chess champion and top distance runner, has been among the Colorado Super Lawyers since 2006. ... READ MORE

Thought leadership. It’s a new term for an old concept—writing and speaking to enhance your visibility and build a public perception of your expertise. Lawyers have used thought leadership as a marketing strategy since the very early days of law firm marketing, although the forums have evolved from articles and speeches to blogs, podcasts and […]

Ever open up Google Hangouts or Skype to hear someone (okay, you) say, “Cripes! Where did that come from?” when the camera captures a side of your office you rarely notice? It’s not your bobblehead collection. It’s that sloppy stack of papers threatening to topple and crush innocent passersby. Sure, you could adjust the camera angle and forget it … but maybe you should pull your head out of the computer and take a good look around your entire office space. Like what you see? What does it tell clients about you? First impressions color the entire lawyer-client relationship. So for this week's Friday Five, let's talk law practice curb appeal. ...READ MORE

Question: Ours is a three-lawyer litigation firm with high-profile experience in a narrow issue. Obviously we don’t have the luxury of an in-house marketing department like the big law firms. But we certainly have the capability to best them in the courtroom. We’re wondering if our small law firm has to invest in a fancy “brand” […]

Despite LinkedIn's reputation as the social networking site for professionals, there are still skeptics who question its value. Most of the skepticism among lawyers arises from questions of confidentiality. That's natural. Holding information close is ingrained by the time you sit down to take the bar exam. But LinkedIn is marketing, not lawyering—and it's tough to get someone to buy when you're being cagey about things.

It’s not always easy to convince lawyers that they should care more about client service. Too many genuinely believe their legal expertise is paramount—the only thing that truly matters when establishing their law practice’s reputation. But lawyers should not underestimate the impact of how they treat their clients: It’s the only part of the lawyer-client […]

Microsoft Office 2013 has been available for several months, but Office 2010 has been stable and mostly well-received in our firm. And with staff and lawyers already overwhelmed by the never-ending stream of new technologies hurtling toward them, I wasn’t eager to push yet more change on them. So I put off the idea of […]

Some people always know exactly what to say. When words fail the rest of us, these people deliver the smooth segue, the clever comeback, the perfect parting shot. How do they do it so effortlessly? Maybe they've taken a page from Patrick Alain's "The Manager's Phrase Book."

When it comes to choosing a website or blog domain name for a law practice, context is everything. Recently I had a conversation with a local commercial real estate agent after he went shopping for a website domain name. I literally LOL'ed and almost spit coffee when he told me having the word "escort" in the .com of his chosen URL was "a great find." (He was so happy—he was thinking police escort.) I hated having to let him know his investment in that domain was for naught. ... READ MORE