The talk of management isn't easy. Here are three especially difficult conversations to be prepared for: the "poor performance" discussion, the "no-raise-for-you" discussion, and the "we're-having-layoffs" discussion. Business consultant, corporate trainer, and psychotherapist Linnda Durre, Phd, of Winter Park, FL, outlines what to say, and what not to say, to get the message … [Read more...] about How to deliver bad news to 3 kinds of underperforming employees
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Dear newly hired law firm: Here’s what I really want
By Robert Denney bio What would it be like to be on the receiving end of an engagement letter after accepting a new client? While they may not actually put any of this to you in writing, it is very likely your new client has a few of the expectations set out in this letter. LETTER FROM A CLIENT TO ITS NEW LAW FIRM Today's Date Responsible Partner Our New … [Read more...] about Dear newly hired law firm: Here’s what I really want
Establishing an effective pricing policy in your law firm
As law firms evolve, tracking key metrics and producing top-tier results are absolutely necessary, and new methodologies and thought processes have begun to play key roles in rationalizing, monitoring, controlling and setting strategic pricing. This information can change the profitability structure of your law firm, says Brenda Barnes, certified public accountant (CPA) and … [Read more...] about Establishing an effective pricing policy in your law firm
Pick up on these revealing “non-verbal cues” to avoid hiring problem staffers
Good interviewing requires resume evaluation and a bit of psychology, says Scott Ford, manager of a professional office in Utah. It's not just what candidates say but how they say it. And Ford should know: he's a licensed clinical social worker, and as manager he applies his skills in therapy and counseling to interviewing. Look for other clues Beyond the resume, Ford says … [Read more...] about Pick up on these revealing “non-verbal cues” to avoid hiring problem staffers
Law firm focuses on elder client needs
An elder law practice deals with non-legal issues other firms rarely encounter, says the founder of a seven attorney elder law firm in North Carolina. Often a client is accompanied by an adult child and confidentiality becomes a concern. Often both spouses are clients and one is incapacitated, opening the door to the question of whether the spouse has the mental capacity to … [Read more...] about Law firm focuses on elder client needs
How to do staff training that really works
"Excellence," said Aristotle, "is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." If excellence is a habit you'd like to instill in your staff, then you need to train them properly and make a … [Read more...] about How to do staff training that really works
Unique client communication approach gives small firm a huge marketing advantage
Like many small firms, one Michigan office operates in a precarious environment. With only two attorneys and four staff, it faces heavy competition from larger firms as well as from firms opening satellite offices. And because the city itself is small, the client prospect pool is limited, says the administrator of the office. So the firm devised a … [Read more...] about Unique client communication approach gives small firm a huge marketing advantage
Six security tips for Cybersecurity Awareness Month
To help raise awareness in support of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Ivanti recently shared the following top cybersecurity tips and best practices. "October is Cybersecurity Awareness month, and while following security best practices are important every month of the year, it's a good time to remember that we should all take a collective role in organizational security and … [Read more...] about Six security tips for Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Five reasons why staff hate their jobs and look for greener pastures
Turnover should be at the top of every manager's worry list. Employers don't realize how expensive it is, says Jennifer Loftus, national director of Astron Solutions, a human resource and compensation consulting firm in New York City. "They think it's just a matter of being behind the eight ball for a couple of weeks." But it's far more. Even on the conservative side, the … [Read more...] about Five reasons why staff hate their jobs and look for greener pastures
TO-DOs: Your October office checklist
It's that time of year when law firm administrators must start planning how to invest their resources to meet next year's expectations. And the only way to do that is with a realistic budget. Here are some tasks you can address this month to help you get a sense of where the firm's at now, so that you can realistically plan for where you want it to go. Assemble your 2024 … [Read more...] about TO-DOs: Your October office checklist