July 18, 2006

Law Practice Management Tip - July 2006

All management tips are provided by State Bar of Texas and ABA Practice Management Advisors. The tips are not meant as legal advice, nor binding on the State Bar of Texas or the ABA.

Did you know that your support staff is the one asset that can really affect your firm's bottom line? In order for you to make the most out of your staff, you need to develop their skills on a daily basis. Only then will they have the know how and confidence to handle any challenges that may arise. Here are five suggestions to promote growth within your support staff.
1. Include your staff in meetings. This allows them to gain a broader perspective of what is happening in the firm and to stay abreast of future and existing projects.
2. Establish goals and state your expectations. Clearly state what needs to be accomplished and let them know not only how these goals should be accomplished but why.
3. Give continual and constructive feed back. In order for your staff to grow professionally, you need to let them know the status of their performance, whether it is positive or negative.
4. Be a mentor. Your office may have a wealth of information and resources but in the end you are the person your staff turns to for all the answers.
5. Financial Compensation. What is your staff worth to you? What value do they bring to your office? Where would you be without their help? To help determine a fair salary, look at the roles of your staff and the number of people they support. Next, get some current salary statistics. Then you can adjust the salaries accordingly with the information you have gathered resulting in strengthened performances from your staff.

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