Cross-training your law office staff can be a game-changer, allowing your team to become more versatile, efficient, and adaptable. By equipping your employees with a broader skill set, you're better prepared to handle the diverse demands of the legal profession. Consider the following advantages of cross-training and examples of administrative duties where cross-training can … [Read more...] about Cross-train your staff: Benefits, strategies & examples
Managing staff
Cost-cutting strategies for law firms
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio After much resistance, kicking and screaming, lawyers are finally facing the reality that the business of practicing law is separate from the practice of law. What exactly does this mean? It means that a law practice is a business and from a management standpoint it needs to be run like a business or the practice will fail. We all know that the … [Read more...] about Cost-cutting strategies for law firms
How great managers delegate
When it comes to delegating work to staff, managers rarely hit a happy medium. Instead, they tend to fall at the ends of the spectrum: those who do not delegate enough and those who delegate too much. But by far, it is the under-delegators who are greatest in number. And it is under-delegation that most causes employees to lose interest in their jobs. Lack of delegation … [Read more...] about How great managers delegate
Get Ready for Employment Law Updates Coming in 2025
Coming up in 2025, there are several important employment law changes that managers should be aware of: Overtime Pay Threshold Increase: The Department of Labor (DOL) is expected to increase the salary threshold for overtime pay eligibility. Starting in early 2025, employees earning under $58,656 per year (up from $35,568) may become eligible for overtime pay under … [Read more...] about Get Ready for Employment Law Updates Coming in 2025
Prepare for Holiday Staffing by Managing Workloads and Leave Requests
As the holiday season approaches, you’re likely facing one of the trickiest balancing acts of the year—handling time-off requests while keeping the office running smoothly. The end of the year often brings a flood of leave requests as employees want to take time off to spend with family, travel, or simply recharge. At the same time, client demands and deadlines don’t slow down. … [Read more...] about Prepare for Holiday Staffing by Managing Workloads and Leave Requests
HR question: Political gear at work
By Lynne Curry Question: Our problems started in September. Four guys in the warehouse started wearing Camo “Make American Great Again” hats. Two weeks later, they installed in a handmade sign inside the warehouse door that said, “This is Trump Country.” It didn’t bother anyone, or so we thought. But apparently it did. Ten days later, two women in the accounting … [Read more...] about HR question: Political gear at work
How to support a grieving employee
When an employee is grieving a loss, a good manager can make things a little easier at work. The grieving process is deeply personal and varies from individual to individual, so it’s crucial to approach each situation with empathy and flexibility. Here are some ways officeAll Users management can support a grieving employee: Express condolences: Offer sincere condolences … [Read more...] about How to support a grieving employee
10 ways your law firm can observe Pro Bono Week 2024
Pro Bono Week, sponsored by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, is a national celebration that highlights the outstanding volunteer work lawyers provide to those who cannot afford legal services. It's a week dedicated to recognizing the importance of pro bono work and encouraging attorneys to give back to their communities, such as … [Read more...] about 10 ways your law firm can observe Pro Bono Week 2024
Hybrid work creates a workday dead zone
By Lynne Curry Employees have changed how they’re working—as wise employers race to catch up. Here’s what’s new: Workday dead zone Managers and employees once viewed 4 p.m. as an ideal staff meeting time. Managers could catch everyone in the office before the workday ended yet after peak productivity hours ended. Employees knew the meeting wouldn’t drag on past five … [Read more...] about Hybrid work creates a workday dead zone
Employers need to come to grips with employees’ mental health struggles
By Lynne Curry “I’m not my employees’ babysitter, their mommy, or their therapist,” the CEO insisted. The problem that led to his call—his company’s 2024 employee survey revealed large numbers of his company’s employees expected mental health benefits. “What are these employees thinking?” he asked. “We offer a generous sick leave allowance and they’re asking for paid … [Read more...] about Employers need to come to grips with employees’ mental health struggles