A Louisiana firm set up an attorney bonus program that rewards not the amount billed but the amount collected. It is attorney-specific, which means the good performers get rewarded accordingly. And the payouts are given every quarter. The program rewards the quality producers, the attorneys who not only put numbers on the books but whose efforts and billable hours … [Read more...] about Louisiana firm bases attorney bonuses on amount collected
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8 quick ways to improve communication with your staff
Only a great communicator can be a great manager. Here are eight rules for communicating well with staff. 1 Give reasons Always give complete information on decisions that affect staff. If there's no reason given for some new requirement, don't expect people to get behind it and support it. They start second guessing the why of it, and that second guess is apt to be negative. … [Read more...] about 8 quick ways to improve communication with your staff
17 benefits that employees like and the firm can afford
A dilemma almost every administrator faces today is how to provide worthwhile staff benefits in an economy that doesn't allow for extra expense. So we researched the benefits that legal offices, as well as other types of businesses, are offering. Some are astounding. Google, for example, provides free haircuts, financial assistance for adoption, free gourmet lunches, and an … [Read more...] about 17 benefits that employees like and the firm can afford
The engagement letter: safety comes from clarity
Six things that client needs to know An engagement letter is protection – for both firm and client. It prevents argument on what the firm is expected to do for the client and what the client is expected to do for the firm. Thus, it needs to be clear, brief, and readable. Don't give the client "a scholarly work or something that reads like an insurance policy," says … [Read more...] about The engagement letter: safety comes from clarity
24 ideas for going green at work
To help celebrate Earth Day on April 22, here are two dozen ideas for going green at work from FlexJobs, a telecommuting and flexible job site that has long promoted going green in its business practices. Take a look at these tips and then consider going green whenever possible, every day. It's easier than you might think to make every day Earth Day. Reduce or eliminate … [Read more...] about 24 ideas for going green at work
Don’t turn your employee awards into an office morale disaster
Done right, an employee-of-the-year award can be an effective productivity and teamwork promoter. Done poorly, it can be a morale disaster. The cautions are many. Don't make the award a surprise and don't award it without setting specific criteria for winning. Here are helpful instructions for making an employee award program a success. Whatever the office wants … [Read more...] about Don’t turn your employee awards into an office morale disaster
5 partnership points that cause more than the usual headaches
It's the partnership wonder. Many, many firms, from the smallest to the most sophisticated and well known, don't have partnerships agreements. Without an agreement, every facet of the practice is a potential battleground, says Arthur J. Ciampi of Ciampi LLC, a Manhattan company that represents law firms in partnership disputes. Ciampi is also coauthor of a book entitled Law … [Read more...] about 5 partnership points that cause more than the usual headaches
How to increase—and demonstrate—your value to the firm
Don't become an economic casualty. When revenues drop, firms put their administrators under close scrutiny. They want a good payoff for the salary investment. Sometimes the partners question whether the administrator is doing enough. And sometimes they question whether they need an administrator at all, says executive coach Lissa Weimelt, a principal with the executive search … [Read more...] about How to increase—and demonstrate—your value to the firm
Six easy ways to open the door to a malpractice claim
Answering a malpractice claim is a wretched experience that worsens as it goes along, because once a client files a malpractice claim, “there’s a high possibility that an ethical grievance will come from the same incident,” says Nancy Byerly Jones, a management consultant who focuses on preventive management, mediation, and dispute resolution. … [Read more...] about Six easy ways to open the door to a malpractice claim
7 golden rules for a trouble-free office move
There is no room for error in any office move. For every day the attorneys can't get into the new location or can't see their clients, the practice is out of business. The keys to success are a reputable mover and good planning. 1 Look for a qualified moving company The place to start is with a search for a moving company and the most important thing to look for is … [Read more...] about 7 golden rules for a trouble-free office move