Law Office Manager

Managing staff

Cutting costs? What worked in 2008 won’t work today

When money is tight, firm administrators start rushing to make decisions to save the bottom line, perhaps relying on strategies that saw the firm through the recession. But hold on, cautions Peter A. Giuliani of Smock Law Firm Consultants in Weston, CT. These decisions have to be made with long-term survival in mind. And the cost-cutting approaches that worked for firms during … [Read more...] about Cutting costs? What worked in 2008 won’t work today

Developing productive associates: Why the traditional annual review gets a FAIL!

If the goal is to develop the associates into productive—and profitable—attorneys, the traditional annual review is not enough. There need to be formal reviews twice during the year. And more, there needs to be continuous feedback in the meantime. Many firms have moved away from the lockstep approach of pushing associates up the partnership ladder based on years of service. … [Read more...] about Developing productive associates: Why the traditional annual review gets a FAIL!

Break down barriers with peer-to-peer training

The best staff training, says a Missouri manager, is the training staff give one another. And at her office, her staff of 25 do just that. They hold training sessions for one another on a "when-needed, what's-needed, and who-needs-it" basis. There's no set routine. The manager simply schedules an in-service whenever she sees a problem in the workflow. Perhaps the billing … [Read more...] about Break down barriers with peer-to-peer training

Is the honeymoon over at work?

For many professionals, that first year in a new job can be a "honeymoon period," full of new and exciting challenges. But a study from Robert Half and Happiness Works shows that professionals with between one and two years on the job are less happy, less interested in their work and more stressed than those still in their first year. After three years or more on the job, … [Read more...] about Is the honeymoon over at work?

What you need to know when a bully takes you on

By Lynne Curry  bio You've met bullies who play a win/lose game, even as you aim for a win/win solution. Guess who loses when they take you on? You do. Would you like to win, or at least not lose? Here's what you need to know: Fail the bully's test We believe or like to believe the best of everyone.  When a bully first tests us with a demeaning slam, we often think … [Read more...] about What you need to know when a bully takes you on

Three weekly meetings to keep everybody updated

In its annual management performance review, an Illinois firm asked everybody, "What is the main thing that bothers you that could be improved?" Up and down the line, the answer was communication. The problem was not a new one. For almost 20 years, lack of communication had been a problem, says the administrator of the firm. Everyone felt it, from staff to partners. … [Read more...] about Three weekly meetings to keep everybody updated

5 actions to take when you hear, "I don’t trust you"

By Audrey Epstein  bio Talking about trust is tough in business. When a colleague tells you, "I don't trust you" your first instinct is probably to react defensively or aggressively, and rarely with curiosity and an openness to understand. You take "I don't trust you" as an attack on your character and an affront to your integrity. But trust is the foundation for strong, … [Read more...] about 5 actions to take when you hear, "I don’t trust you"

Mind-map your way toward creating a great employee handbook

Sitting down with pen and paper and freely jotting down ideas may not sound like the best path toward creating a well-crafted employee handbook, but it's a great place to start. That free-flowing process, called mind-mapping, unleashes the creative part of your brain and is far more effective than writing a content outline for your handbook, according to writing coach and … [Read more...] about Mind-map your way toward creating a great employee handbook