Sole practitioners often struggle to find and interpret meaningful practice data that points business-building efforts in the right direction. New practice management software with great reporting features helps many lawyers find personalized information in an instant. But old habits – such as not bothering to look at the data on a regular basis or do […]
How many professionals consistently use a checklist of questions to ask clients at the beginning of a client matter? Many customize checklists published by regulators for a particular practice area, client service style or matter management process. The focus is often on quality assurance, risk mitigation and scope of work. Is there a way to include the human element […]
This post was co-authored by my colleague, Jim Hassett, Ph.D.. It was originally published on the Canadian legal blog, Slaw.ca on October 1, 2014 Many large law firms in Canada and the U.S. have begun to implement legal project management initiatives, albeit with varying degrees of success. Jim Hassett’s latest book – Client Value and Law […]
Ah, September. The leaves are falling, the air is crisp and most of us feel motivated to learn something new. Stanford University offers several online learning options for lawyers and legal professionals* interested in sharpening their business skills, especially in the areas of entrepreneurialism and innovation. The videos and podcasts in their Entrepreneurship Corner are professionally produced, […]
Being interviewed for a news item or feature story on your area of expertise is a great way to build a professional reputation. It looks good in a Google search. It associates your esteem with that of the publication. And you can refer to the coverage in marketing materials without sounding self-aggrandizing. But what if you’re misquoted?
Merriam Webster defines “schmooze” as a verb meaning “to talk with someone in a friendly way often in order to get some advantage for yourself”. That sounds unctious doesn’t it? I was recently interviewed about modern methods of getting to know clients and potential clients in a more sincere way than a lot of people associate with schmoozing.