Remember that time at the airport when you stepped onto the moving walkway to discover it wasn't ... moving ... and fell on your face? Well, that's what today could be like. Whether you spent the wee small hours of this morning at a celebration or a wake, you may need a little help getting going. So let's get you started with an action item or two for today to help recalibrate your priorities—and a few ideas to lift you out of the post-campaign funk.

Lawyers, it turns out, are not so special. They have just as much difficulty writing and speaking well in their native tongue as the next person. Poor grammar. Jargon. Weird syntax. The ever-popular use of 10 words when one will do. You have your own pet peeves—we certainly have ours—but how can we get past them? Today we begin a new regular feature called "Get to the Point," with clear communication and easy listening in mind. First up, Steve Taylor takes on cliches. ...

Daniel Gold, our "Get It Done" columnist, writes about great ways to amp up your daily productivity—in a big way! Last time he overviewed a time management system that has taken on a bit of a cult-like following: Getting Things Done, or GTD. Today he runs through into its five workflow phases and how you can use them in your law practice.

The life of a lawyer, especially a solo or small firm practitioner, is often stressful. Stress itself is not necessarily a bad thing. Our body’s reaction to stress actually helps us to meet the sudden demands and extra tasks that we face as busy lawyers. However, too much stress too often—chronic stress—takes its toll on […]

You’ve heard the hype, read the warnings and have decided to take Dropbox for a test drive. Just one problem. Even though you’re sure about the "why," you’re not so sure about the "how"—how to sign up, how to install, how to use. Well now’s the time to throw away that uncertainty because you’re about to learn, in excruciating detail, just how to dive into Dropbox. ... Keep Reading

Beyond standard-issue snap covers, there are some pretty sleek, practical and just plain fun ways to accessorize an iPad (or whatever king-sized or fun-sized tablet is your pleasure).

In his much-anticipated ABA book Twitter in One Hour for Lawyers, Jared Correia says the best use of Twitter, and the one most calculated to drive your practice forward, is to engage with others with whom you share similar interests. One of the first steps? Learn how to be a good follower. In this excerpt from the terrific new book, the law practice advisor tells us how. ... Keep Reading

Anyone with a computer has a virtual soapbox to share their opinions on any topic, including their feelings about you and your firm. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is being oblivious to what others are saying about you. Your clients and potential clients want to see that you are engaged and thoughtful when it comes to online forums. Even when the feedback about you is negative, how you respond can have a positive effect on your reputation. Here are my top five tips for responding to online feedback. ...

Every year, the American Bar Association’s Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division hosts a conference jam-packed with programs covering the latest legal trends. We asked Houston solo practitioner Ashley Hallene, known for delivering hot practice management and technology tips herself, to bring back some of the hot topics being discussed at the 2012 conference, held October 11-13 in Seattle. ... Keep Reading

Here in the Midwest, autumn calls for heavy-duty yard cleanup time. Predictably, of course, the leaf blower broke just as the first round of oak leaves hit our lawn. The chainsaw and the hedge trimmer died next. Okay, no big deal. We simply dropped all three at the local hardware chain-store for repair. Then the phone calls began. Apprising of the repair progress. Warning the extended warranty would expire “soon!” (Sure, in five years.) And, yes, to ask “a few” feedback questions about our service experience. Multiple calls, multiplied by the number of items we’d had repaired, and multiple follow-ups to the follow-up calls. While this is a store I really like, I may not go back. Because even though I know their calls are meant to convey they care, I just don’t have the time for that much caring in my busy day.