Every now and then, office administrators are forced to look for new ways to cut expenses. There are lots of dollars waiting to be saved, but many of them are in places so conspicuous they get overlooked. Go for the obvious. To save the firm money, begin with increasing staff productivity and continue on to reclaiming lost office supplies and capping what the firm pays for … [Read more...] about Boost quarterly profits with this proven 6-pronged cost cutting plan
Managing the office
TO-DOs: Your November office checklist
There's a lot happening this month—everything from Thanksgiving to budget preparations. Here are a few things you should address this month. Make your reservations. If you are planning a holiday party and haven't yet booked a venue, don't wait any longer. Certain restaurants get booked up quickly, especially if your firm wants to do a holiday luncheon instead of a dinner. … [Read more...] about TO-DOs: Your November office checklist
How to maximize your receptionist’s time
Does your receptionist seem bored? Have her co-workers complained that she seems to have little to do and spends most of her time surfing the Internet? Before assigning new duties to your receptionist, there are a few things you should consider first. How much extra work the receptionist can take on depends on how busy the desk is, says Ellen Freedman, CLM, of Freedman … [Read more...] about How to maximize your receptionist’s time
8 steps to quickly and (almost) painlessly creating an employee handbook tailored to your firm
Writing an employee handbook from scratch can be a very daunting task. Where do you start? What do you include? And how are you going to find time to write the thing? It's tempting to set the job aside and wait until work slows down a bit. Of course, if you wait for the perfect time to write, it's unlikely that you will actually do it at all. So we're here to help you get the … [Read more...] about 8 steps to quickly and (almost) painlessly creating an employee handbook tailored to your firm
Are you leveraging your staff’s enthusiasm?
Many articles have been written about motivating staff. In fact, Law Office Manager has published many of these, which are usually how-to articles aimed at increasing productivity. These pieces often share tried-and-true ways to engage employees more fully. Sometimes rewards and recognition are the hooks for motivation and greater engagement. These techniques work, and can … [Read more...] about Are you leveraging your staff’s enthusiasm?
Never-ending training
No manager can set expectations without giving staff the tools to achieve them, says a California administrator. And the main tool is training that never ends. At her office, Patricia Board starts the training on the first day a staffer comes in. She gives the newcomer a check-off list of both job and office basics and spends several hours going over each item. "Those are … [Read more...] about Never-ending training
Haven’t prepared your 2023 budget yet? These 3 steps will help you get it done
By Elizabeth M. Miller bio No one likes to prepare a budget. Looking ahead a year and seeing what it's going to cost to run your law firm can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when you know that it's up to you to make sure the firm generates the revenues to cover the budget. And with so many year-end things on your plate, strategizing for next year is probably the last … [Read more...] about Haven’t prepared your 2023 budget yet? These 3 steps will help you get it done
How to deliver bad news to 3 kinds of underperforming employees
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
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