Every business has to generate cash to survive, whether you run a Fortune 500 company or a shaved ice stand—or a law practice. Most businesses pay expenses well in advance of delivering services and then invoicing the client. Accounting for the time lag between cash going out and cash coming in requires careful planning and […]

When it gets right down to it, what lawyers do is all about clients. Those wonderful, awful, charming, annoying, challenging and gratifying people who actually pay you to do your work. So we are declaring it "This Business of Clients" week here at Attorney at Work. You will receive some new and some of our best encore posts this week, designed to give you and your desk-side manner a quick refocus. Good for you. Good for them. First up? Roy Ginsburg and the guy who cuts his hair. ...

Everybody’s talking (and talking) about innovation. It’s become the buzzword du jour—and losing much of its meaning via overuse. Well, maybe it’s time to stop thinking so hard about innovating and try some creative problem-solving instead. The truth is, no matter how you label it, you have practice, career and even personal problems that cry out for a new approach. So for this Friday Five, we're taking a few leaves from the creativity professionals' books with five ways to think differently about what's bugging you—or holding you back—and generate some solutions. ...

I may not always know what I’m talking about, but I always know the time. Believe it or not, prior to 1988, over 97 percent of all lawyers wore watches. Yes, I made that stat up. However, it’s likely true. In today’s world, though, I am noticing fewer and fewer watches, and a lot more tans. “My […]

For better or worse, I've been a dedicated BlackBerry user for many years, more recently using a BlackBerry Bold and currently a BlackBerry Torch (9800). As with most smartphones, you can do much more with your BlackBerry by learning a few extra keystroke combinations and digging a little deeper into its range of functions. Much of its basic functionality is reasonably obvious, but some useful keyboard shortcuts and functions aren’t so apparent. Here are some of the features and shortcuts I've found most useful. ...

In news for Android-using lawyers, the much anticipated Fastcase app for Android is now available. For lawyers who do not have a Fastcase account at all, this app—like the Fastcase iPhone app—allows you to search, browse, read and save statutes and cases from a national library. If you already have a Fastcase account, then related activities on your Android, such as search queries and saved documents, automatically synchronize to your desktop subscription. PLUS more product news for lawyers ...

Well, really … why should he? I mean, knowing that people do things for their own reasons and not for yours, what’s in it for your partner to cross-sell you? Why should he introduce you to his client and promote you as someone who could help with a particular issue? Okay, I suppose there are several reasons you might suggest. But until your partner knows you are the best and the right lawyer for the job, you won’t be cross-sold. (Unless your partner’s nuts. But that’s another conversation altogether.) And it's your job to make sure he knows you've absolutely got the right stuff.

When you go looking for inspiration and information on how to get and keep more good paying clients, do you end up reading about client databases, websites, incentive programs and practice group strategy? Yeah, that happens a lot. If you’re a solo practitioner—or a lawyer in any size firm trying to build your own practice […]

Busy lawyers have precious little time to spend monitoring technology upgrades for their practices—though the pay-off in efficiency savings can be worth it. This is especially the case with law practice management software. While these programs can help to organize your law firm, and serve as a valuable hedge against malpractice, there are just so many of them. The array and frequency of updates can be so dizzying that, if you do not sometimes stop ... to acquire a moment to breathe, and take it all in ... you will soon become overwhelmed, and behind the curve of an eight ball. So, if you own practice management software that has been updated, or are interested in purchasing such software, let this be your moment of Zen.

The life of a successful lawyer who travels constantly for work can sound attractive, even alluring ... to those who don’t have to do it. They imagine going to exotic places, meeting with important people and dining in the best restaurants. But ask someone who's actually living the road warrior life and you'll hear about a different reality. Living in hotels, endless meetings, airport delays, traffic jams, fast food or skipped meals, the effects of multiple time zones—it’s not an easy life. While many successfully navigate through it, there can be significant negative effects on one’s mental health. How can you minimize the negative consequences? Careful thought and planning can help a great deal. Here are suggestions to help you overcome some of the “on-the-road stressors.” ...