By Lynne Curry Question: I’m a partner in a professional services firm. We barely survived the pandemic and only because we furloughed all nonessential employees. Those of us who were partners worked unpaid part of the time. We kept ourselves going by promising ourselves that “things would get back to normal.” Our company recovered slowly. We rehired many of the employees we … [Read more...] about You don’t need to bring staff back to the office to build a culture
Technology
15 projects for the last quarter of the year
Running out of things to do? Just kidding. But in case you are, here are some projects to consider for the last quarter of the year. Financial Review and Budgeting: a. Review the year-to-date financial statements to assess the firm's financial health. b. Prepare a budget for the upcoming year, considering revenue, expenses, and capital investments. c. Ensure all client … [Read more...] about 15 projects for the last quarter of the year
Before, during and after a flood: Is your law office prepared?
Flood preparedness is an ongoing process. Regularly review and update your flood preparedness plan to ensure it remains effective and aligned with any changes in your law office's operations and environment. Here is a checklist to help your office prepare for and recover from a flood. Pre-Flood Preparedness Risk Assessment: Identify flood-prone areas near the law office … [Read more...] about Before, during and after a flood: Is your law office prepared?
Treat passwords like underwear: Change often and don’t share
Did you know that most confirmed data breaches involve the leveraging of weak, stolen, or default passwords? One of your practice’s frontline defenses for avoiding the phishing attacks and other cybercriminal schemes is effective password management. How well are you managing yours? Take this quiz from Michael J. Sacopulos, JD, founder and CEO of the Medical Risk … [Read more...] about Treat passwords like underwear: Change often and don’t share
Create an effective disaster plan for your law office
Fires, floods, storms, earthquakes, power outages, or civil unrest: These and other disasters could endanger you and your employees as well as the continuation of your law office. As a law office manager, it is your responsibility to ensure that your office is well-prepared to handle various types of disasters, ranging from natural calamities to technological disruptions. … [Read more...] about Create an effective disaster plan for your law office
Should you do a digital detox? Here’s how
In today's fast-paced digital world, it is easy to find ourselves constantly connected to technology. As the manager of a law office, you are well aware of the demands and pressures that come with the job. However, it's essential to recognize the advantages of taking an occasional "tech detox" – a deliberate break from technology – to recharge, rejuvenate, and enhance overall … [Read more...] about Should you do a digital detox? Here’s how
Human legal expertise and ethics needed to oversee AI tools
By Doug Striker Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are revolutionizing the legal industry, providing innovative solutions to streamline processes, enhance research capabilities, and offer valuable insights. These advanced technologies are transforming legal practice across various domains. In this article, we will explore some prominent AI tools in the legal industry, … [Read more...] about Human legal expertise and ethics needed to oversee AI tools
The nomadic remote employee: Employee dream, employer nightmare
By Lynne Curry Question: Several of our employees regularly travel out of state. Before the pandemic, they took vacations for several days or weeks. They and we understood they were on vacation. The situation was clear cut. Our current team includes three employees who want to travel and stay for weeks or even months, in places like Hawaii and Thailand or with relatives. … [Read more...] about The nomadic remote employee: Employee dream, employer nightmare
Tame those office temperature tantrums!
Disputes over office temperature are relatively common among office staff. According to a study conducted by the International Facility Management Association, more than 50% of office workers report being unhappy with the temperature in their workplace. This dissatisfaction can lead to heated disputes or chilly relations among office staff, as people have different preferences … [Read more...] about Tame those office temperature tantrums!
Declutter your phone to declutter your mind
As a busy law office manager, you probably use your smartphone for both personal and professional purposes. However, over time, your device may become cluttered with too many apps, files, and notifications. This can make it difficult to find what you need quickly, and may even affect your productivity. Fortunately, decluttering your smartphone is a simple task that can be done … [Read more...] about Declutter your phone to declutter your mind