By: Gisela B. Bradley, CEO
Law Practice Management Consulting
Where , oh where do I begin?
This is what many of you will be asking yourself if your office has been struck by a disaster. For purposes of this article disaster is defined as a fire, tornado, flood, hurricane, or other natural occurrence.
If you have never experienced a business disruption of any magnitude, it will be difficult to know where to start. Even if your firm has an emergency response plan, it is not a recovery plan. Recovery is yours, even after the Red Cross serves you food, and you hold your insurance check in hand – it is up to you to get back to some level of normalcy as quickly as possible. Unfortunately you will need to work on recovery and resurrection of your firm as it was – at the same time. Following are some suggestions on how to accomplish that.
At your first visit to your office after the disaster, briefly assess the extent of damage to your property. How much clean up is needed? What type of damage has your office suffered i.e. water, smoke, fire or wind damage? Are the premises usable to an extent that will allow you to begin the clean-up? If so, make sure that you have potable water, sanitary facilities, protective gear such as masks, gloves, boots etc. to protect workers from mold and other toxins. Before you begin any clean-up efforts, take photographs of damaged areas and property, you may need them for insurance purposes later. You may also want to first assign someone to be in charge of the recovery of your practice and someone else to start setting up temporary operations.
The next step would be to take inventory of all your equipment, furniture and fixtures. Determine what is usable and what needs to be replaced. Remember not to plug in any computers or other electronic gadgets if they are wet, as data may be lost or damaged.. Examine your files and records (take pictures of destroyed files) and document their condition. This inventory is needed for two purposes: to asses the damage, and to establish how much money is needed to replace unusable items.
If you have lost power, water, telephone or any other utilities, communicate with the landlord or the utility companies to find out when the utilities will be reconnected.
Some of the supplies you will need for facility clean-up will be: tarpaulins and plastic sheeting to protect materials from water, to insulate windows, and to cover desks during salvage operations. Interlocking plastic crates to pack materials in, because cardboard boxes will weaken from the moisture in the materials if you had water damage. Generators to power equipment such as emergency lights, air conditioners, fans, etc.; waterproof and grounded heavy duty extension cords for fans and dehumidifiers; washing tanks or large plastic garbage containers, along with sponges, brushes, and hoses to wash materials; freezer paper, wax paper to keep items from adhering to each other in a freezer, and last but not least, cellular or satellite telephones or ‘walkie-talkies’ to coordinate the process, portable battery operated 2-way radios and petty cash in case the ATM does not work.
While your recovery team is taking care of the impacted location, your organizing team looks after finding temporary space to work out of, and rent needed equipment and furniture, coordinate staff and work schedules, and contacting clients to let them know that you are still in business and how and where you can be contacted.
Contacting your clients is the most crucial aspect of your business continuation. If your clients have been impacted by the disaster as well, they will be happy to hear from you and know that you are concerned about their well-being. At the same time, they can tell you if they have new needs for your services. You will want to get an idea of the work that is coming in, and what kind of cash flow it will create. Prioritize the work to most urgent, somewhat urgent, and can wait a while, until your practice is fully functional again. It is important to know how much money you will need during the recovery period, and knowing what type of work is coming in, will help determine that number.
Technology can play an important role in disaster recovery. The first is to realize that the physical location of your office is no longer as crucial as it once was. You can have several ‘virtual’ offices to work out of, i.e. associates’ homes, secretaries’ homes, etc. by utilizing technology to communicate the written and spoken word. You can dictate your work into a telephone and your assistant can email the work product back to you almost as easy as if she/he were sitting outside of your door. If you are working out of several locations, plan on having regular conference calls (your telephone company can set that up for you) to promote the feeling of working together. At the same time, if your computers have suffered during the disaster, this may be a good time to upgrade to newer technology for a more efficient practice.
It is possible that you will be in more than one temporary location before your office is settled again in a more permanent facility. It is my opinion that the two most important things in getting back to work as it was before the disaster are to remember : communicating with your staff and communicating with your clients. The first facilitates a quicker return to normal operations by keeping everyone informed of the progress of recovery and the need for all to return to work as quickly as possible, the latter is to assure your clients that you are still there to serve them and that you will continue to provide the same quality work as before.
If you cannot reach your clients, please remember to document every effort you have made to contact them, just as you need to document every step you have taken to get your practice back in operation.
Showing posts with label LPM tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LPM tips. Show all posts
September 16, 2011
August 17, 2008
Law Practice Management Tip - August 2008
Management Tips are provided by the 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.
If you are starting a new practice, or you are not enjoying the type of cases you are presently getting, work on focusing, or re-focusing, your practice. This is particularly important for new lawyers, who run the risk of either being overwhelmed because they try to handle everything that comes in the door or are doing nothing because potential clients don't identify them with any particular area of the law.
Once you select a focus area, or two areas which will complement each other, do market research to determine whether that practice niche is already filled in your community. If not, begin to identify the clients you want. Define them by geographical area, gender, age, education, occupation, financial and marital status. Then determine where you can expect to find such people and the best methods to make them aware of your services. Review your state or provinces rules of professional conduct before designing your marketing efforts. Develop a marketing plan with qualitative standards, pursue it steadily, and review your results frequently.
If you are starting a new practice, or you are not enjoying the type of cases you are presently getting, work on focusing, or re-focusing, your practice. This is particularly important for new lawyers, who run the risk of either being overwhelmed because they try to handle everything that comes in the door or are doing nothing because potential clients don't identify them with any particular area of the law.
Once you select a focus area, or two areas which will complement each other, do market research to determine whether that practice niche is already filled in your community. If not, begin to identify the clients you want. Define them by geographical area, gender, age, education, occupation, financial and marital status. Then determine where you can expect to find such people and the best methods to make them aware of your services. Review your state or provinces rules of professional conduct before designing your marketing efforts. Develop a marketing plan with qualitative standards, pursue it steadily, and review your results frequently.
July 17, 2008
Law Practice Management Tip - July 2008
Management Tips are provided by the 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 even under ideal conditions, the practice of law engenders a certain level of stress? Stress speeds the depletion of your daily supply of energy. Consider the following factors that can reduce or induce stress:
Did you know that even under ideal conditions, the practice of law engenders a certain level of stress? Stress speeds the depletion of your daily supply of energy. Consider the following factors that can reduce or induce stress:
- practice area
- practice setting
- office comfort
- clients
- judges
- opposing counsel
- other parties
- deadlines
- travel
- office systems
- technology
- "dog" files
- fees
- office expenses
- office debt
- personal expenses
- personal debt
- anger
- blame
June 17, 2008
Law Practice Management Tip - June 2008
Management Tips are provided by the 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 it is a good idea to provide your client with a "We Do-You Do List?" The list describes the obligations of the law firm and the client during the course of the matter.
Examples are:
We Do Items
You Do Items
Did you know that it is a good idea to provide your client with a "We Do-You Do List?" The list describes the obligations of the law firm and the client during the course of the matter.
Examples are:
We Do Items
- Take your calls
- Do our best to advocate your case
- Do our best to solve problems as they come up
- Advise you of the maximum settlement for your case
- Tell you whenever the other side makes an offer of settlement
You Do Items
- Be honest with the Court and us
- Be reasonable in the number of calls you make to us
- Read what we send to you
- Follow all Court Orders
- Pay your bill
May 17, 2008
Law Practice Management Tip - May 2008
Management Tips are provided by the 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.
If you are not already using a fee agreement in your dealings with clients, you should start using one immediately. The fee agreement will help set out your expectations of the client regarding your bill and will also let the client know how and when to expect your bill. You may contact our office for a sample fee agreement.
If you are not already using a fee agreement in your dealings with clients, you should start using one immediately. The fee agreement will help set out your expectations of the client regarding your bill and will also let the client know how and when to expect your bill. You may contact our office for a sample fee agreement.
April 17, 2008
Law Practice Management Tip - April 2008
Management Tips are provided by the 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 some web sites often neglect to include one vital piece of information - contact information? Don't fall victim to this common mistake, make sure that your contact information is clear and easy to find. Be sure to include not only the name of your firm and telephone number, but also physical and mailing address, fax number, and an email address. Also, you may want to add a map to show the location of your office to ensure that potential clients know how to get to there.
Did you know that some web sites often neglect to include one vital piece of information - contact information? Don't fall victim to this common mistake, make sure that your contact information is clear and easy to find. Be sure to include not only the name of your firm and telephone number, but also physical and mailing address, fax number, and an email address. Also, you may want to add a map to show the location of your office to ensure that potential clients know how to get to there.
March 17, 2008
Law Practice Management Tip - March 2008
Management Tips are provided by the 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.
After the initial client interview, it is a good idea to make a copy of the client contract and fee agreement for the client. Give it to the client in a folder along with a firm brochure. This will serve two purposes - first, the client can then file any documents related to his / her case that you may send their way during the course of representation and two, should the client have any questions related to the scope of representation or any questions regarding billing, all the information they need is in that folder. In addition to this, the client will feel like they did not leave your office empty-handed when they walk out with their own "file folder."
After the initial client interview, it is a good idea to make a copy of the client contract and fee agreement for the client. Give it to the client in a folder along with a firm brochure. This will serve two purposes - first, the client can then file any documents related to his / her case that you may send their way during the course of representation and two, should the client have any questions related to the scope of representation or any questions regarding billing, all the information they need is in that folder. In addition to this, the client will feel like they did not leave your office empty-handed when they walk out with their own "file folder."
August 18, 2007
Law Practice Management Tip - August 2007
Management Tips are provided by the 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.
If you are a solo practitioner or an attorney in small firm, consider including language in your client contract / fee agreement, notifying the client of the necessity for a backup attorney to fill in for you should you become incapacitated for some reason and not able to continue representation.
An attorney is human, meaning that he / she is just as vulnerable to illness and accidents as any lay person. That being said, you want to make sure that should you ever be put in this position, you're clients will be taken care of. Speak with your colleagues and ask if they would be willing to pinch hit for you should there ever be a need.
Once you have a designated backup attorney(s), let your clients know during their initial interview that you have agreements worked out with other attorneys to fill in for you, should something prevent you from continuing representation. Include this information in your contract and / or fee agreement and make sure the client understands and agrees to it.
If you are a solo practitioner or an attorney in small firm, consider including language in your client contract / fee agreement, notifying the client of the necessity for a backup attorney to fill in for you should you become incapacitated for some reason and not able to continue representation.
An attorney is human, meaning that he / she is just as vulnerable to illness and accidents as any lay person. That being said, you want to make sure that should you ever be put in this position, you're clients will be taken care of. Speak with your colleagues and ask if they would be willing to pinch hit for you should there ever be a need.
Once you have a designated backup attorney(s), let your clients know during their initial interview that you have agreements worked out with other attorneys to fill in for you, should something prevent you from continuing representation. Include this information in your contract and / or fee agreement and make sure the client understands and agrees to it.
November 18, 2006
Law Practice Management Tip - November 2006
This month’s tip is provided by Nickie Freedman of Legally Large (www.legallylarge.com). The tips are not meant as legal advice, nor binding on the State Bar of Texas.
Encourage staff to belong to their own professional associations and become familiar with staff in other firms. The benefits? You never know where a referral may come from, staff becomes more engaged in their profession, gains an avenue for exhibiting their professionalism, as well as a valuable network that can help out when questions arise. And the best benefit of all – education (most legal associations’ main goal is educating their membership in various aspects of law and professionalism).
The best form of encouragement? Pay their yearly dues and monthly fees, and give educational credit (when appropriate) for seminars and meetings attended.
Encourage staff to belong to their own professional associations and become familiar with staff in other firms. The benefits? You never know where a referral may come from, staff becomes more engaged in their profession, gains an avenue for exhibiting their professionalism, as well as a valuable network that can help out when questions arise. And the best benefit of all – education (most legal associations’ main goal is educating their membership in various aspects of law and professionalism).
The best form of encouragement? Pay their yearly dues and monthly fees, and give educational credit (when appropriate) for seminars and meetings attended.
September 18, 2006
Law Practice Management Tip - September 2006
This month’s tip is provided by Nickie Freedman of Legally Large (www.legallylarge.com). The tips are not meant as legal advice, nor binding on the State Bar of Texas.
To create more billable hours without actually working more hours, think about transferring nonbillable work to your staff. There are obvious tasks that are easily transferable: inputting time, completing administrative forms, making travel arrangements, etc. But so many times, we keep doing the nonbillable work ourselves because ‘it only takes a minute and it would take twice as long to train someone else to do it.’ Is that really the most efficient use of your valuable time?
Taking the extra time to train a staff member to do a task is actually the most time-efficient activity to generate more billable hours. Once the staff is trained to take on nonbillable tasks and knows your goal of transferring more nonbillable work to them, they start thinking of even more activities they can take on that you probably haven’t discovered. Let them know that you want their suggestions to help you in this goal. Let them stretch their capabilities and take on more nonbillable work, leaving you to do what you want to do – practice law.
To create more billable hours without actually working more hours, think about transferring nonbillable work to your staff. There are obvious tasks that are easily transferable: inputting time, completing administrative forms, making travel arrangements, etc. But so many times, we keep doing the nonbillable work ourselves because ‘it only takes a minute and it would take twice as long to train someone else to do it.’ Is that really the most efficient use of your valuable time?
Taking the extra time to train a staff member to do a task is actually the most time-efficient activity to generate more billable hours. Once the staff is trained to take on nonbillable tasks and knows your goal of transferring more nonbillable work to them, they start thinking of even more activities they can take on that you probably haven’t discovered. Let them know that you want their suggestions to help you in this goal. Let them stretch their capabilities and take on more nonbillable work, leaving you to do what you want to do – practice law.
August 18, 2006
Law Practice Management Tip - August 2006
Law Practice Management Tip
This week’s tip is provided by Paul Murrillo of Business Software Made Easy (512-451-9720). The tips are not meant as legal advice, nor binding on the State Bar of Texas.
There is a common problem to sending emails to Distribution Lists that many people encounter - In the process of sending the email, Outlook crashes or produces an error. There may be several reasons why this happens, but the one that is frequently the culprit is the number of contacts in the Distribution List.
Even though you may be able to add more than the limit to the List, Outlook puts a limit on the total number of contacts to whom you can send emails to in a Distribution list. The number is somewhere between 130-170. Keep this in mind when you are creating your Distribution List in Outlook.
This week’s tip is provided by Paul Murrillo of Business Software Made Easy (512-451-9720). The tips are not meant as legal advice, nor binding on the State Bar of Texas.
There is a common problem to sending emails to Distribution Lists that many people encounter - In the process of sending the email, Outlook crashes or produces an error. There may be several reasons why this happens, but the one that is frequently the culprit is the number of contacts in the Distribution List.
Even though you may be able to add more than the limit to the List, Outlook puts a limit on the total number of contacts to whom you can send emails to in a Distribution list. The number is somewhere between 130-170. Keep this in mind when you are creating your Distribution List in Outlook.
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.
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.
June 18, 2006
Law Practice Management Tip - June 2006
This week’s tip is provided by Paul Murrillo of Business Software Made Easy (512-451-9720). The tips are not meant as legal advice, nor binding on the State Bar of Texas.
You may have been working in a spreadsheet when you try to copy the Data from the spreadsheet and paste in into another only to discover you get either REF errors or a bunch of 0s. This is typically because Excel is pasting the formulas that compute the Data, rather than the Data itself. There is a way to copy and paste only the Data using a feature called Paste Special. Here’s how you use it:
In Excel:
1. Highlight/Select the Data you want to copy
2. Edit > Copy
3. Open a new spreadsheet (or even an existing one)
4. Place the cursor in the Cell where you want the Data to be pasted
5. Edit > Paste Special
6. Select Values
7. Click OK
That’s it!
You may have been working in a spreadsheet when you try to copy the Data from the spreadsheet and paste in into another only to discover you get either REF errors or a bunch of 0s. This is typically because Excel is pasting the formulas that compute the Data, rather than the Data itself. There is a way to copy and paste only the Data using a feature called Paste Special. Here’s how you use it:
In Excel:
1. Highlight/Select the Data you want to copy
2. Edit > Copy
3. Open a new spreadsheet (or even an existing one)
4. Place the cursor in the Cell where you want the Data to be pasted
5. Edit > Paste Special
6. Select Values
7. Click OK
That’s it!
May 18, 2006
Law Practice Management Tip - May 2006
This month’s tip is provided by Nickie Freedman of LegallyLarge – www.legallylarge.com. The tips are neither meant as legal advice, nor binding on the State Bar of Texas.
Many solo and small-firm practitioners devise innovative approaches to billing. One approach is "unbundling." Unbundled cases are offered to a client as a cafeteria plan of options, with strict adherence to ethical requirements, allowing the client to pay per task. Clients are able, for example, to pay for drafting a legal brief or arguing a case in court or legal research, rather than paying a flat fee for the entire case. This increases the clients' sense of control over their cases and allows a greater number of low and middle-income individuals to afford legal services. For the solo and small-firm practitioner, there is increased access to a client base who might not otherwise be available and the satisfaction of providing legal services to clients who otherwise may have been left out of the legal picture altogether.
Many solo and small-firm practitioners devise innovative approaches to billing. One approach is "unbundling." Unbundled cases are offered to a client as a cafeteria plan of options, with strict adherence to ethical requirements, allowing the client to pay per task. Clients are able, for example, to pay for drafting a legal brief or arguing a case in court or legal research, rather than paying a flat fee for the entire case. This increases the clients' sense of control over their cases and allows a greater number of low and middle-income individuals to afford legal services. For the solo and small-firm practitioner, there is increased access to a client base who might not otherwise be available and the satisfaction of providing legal services to clients who otherwise may have been left out of the legal picture altogether.
April 18, 2006
Law Practice Management Tip - April 2006
This week’s tip is provided by Paul Murrillo of Business Software Made Easy (512-451-9720). The tips are not meant as legal advice, nor binding on the State Bar of Texas.
Here’s an easy and useful tip that will benefit those of us that have trouble reading print in some documents or on some web sites because of small font sizes:
While using Internet Explorer or Microsoft Word:
1) Open a desired web page
2) Hold down the CTRL key and rotate the scroll wheel towards you on the mouse
-The text is then magnified!
Please note that this only works if the mouse you are using has a scroll wheel.
Here’s an easy and useful tip that will benefit those of us that have trouble reading print in some documents or on some web sites because of small font sizes:
While using Internet Explorer or Microsoft Word:
1) Open a desired web page
2) Hold down the CTRL key and rotate the scroll wheel towards you on the mouse
-The text is then magnified!
Please note that this only works if the mouse you are using has a scroll wheel.
February 18, 2006
Law Practice Management Tip - February 2006
This week’s tip is provided by Paul Murrillo of Business Software Made Easy (512-451-9720). The tips are not meant as legal advice, nor binding on the State Bar of Texas.
If you use Internet Explorer for your surfing, you may have noticed that it saves information like your name, address, email address, etc. then readily offers it up when you are completing an on-line order form, application, or whatever - very handy except when it keeps presenting the wrong information!
If this is happening to you, this is how you can clear it out:
In Internet Explorer:
1. Tools > Internet Options...
-The Internet Options window appears
2. Click the 'Content' tab
3. Click the 'AutoComplete...' button
-The AutoComplete settings window appears
4. Click the 'Clear Forms' button
5. Click OK
6. Click Apply
7. Click OK (again)
That's it!
While you are in the AutoComplete window you can also:
-Turn on/off the AutoComplete for Web Addresses
-Turn on/off the AutoComplete for Form
-Turn on/off just the AutoComplete Passwords
-Turn on/off a prompt to save for Passwords
If you use Internet Explorer for your surfing, you may have noticed that it saves information like your name, address, email address, etc. then readily offers it up when you are completing an on-line order form, application, or whatever - very handy except when it keeps presenting the wrong information!
If this is happening to you, this is how you can clear it out:
In Internet Explorer:
1. Tools > Internet Options...
-The Internet Options window appears
2. Click the 'Content' tab
3. Click the 'AutoComplete...' button
-The AutoComplete settings window appears
4. Click the 'Clear Forms' button
5. Click OK
6. Click Apply
7. Click OK (again)
That's it!
While you are in the AutoComplete window you can also:
-Turn on/off the AutoComplete for Web Addresses
-Turn on/off the AutoComplete for Form
-Turn on/off just the AutoComplete Passwords
-Turn on/off a prompt to save for Passwords
January 18, 2006
Law Practice Management Tip - January 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 with the new year upon us, it may be perfect time for associate evaluations in your firm.? The process of evaluating associate performance should not be a one-time event. Hopefully, you have been communicating with your associates as to their strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures throughout the year. But, if you have not, be sure to be prepared to do so during a formal evaluation meeting with the associate and make a new year's resolution to provide informal feedback to your associates throughout the year beginning January 1. Be sure that your year-end evaluation is based upon performance criteria that has been established and communicated to the associates. An evaluation form which enumerates these criteria and provides a scale for rating performance might be a helpful aid to focus the evaluation on the established criteria. Associates should be evaluated only by those partners who have had significant direct contact and experience with the associate. The evaluation meeting should include those same partners. Finally, it might be wise to separate the formal evaluation meeting from the meeting where salary raises and bonuses are communicated. You don't want the associate to fail to hear your constructive criticisms because he or she is focused on the amount of raise and bonus they have received.
Did you know that with the new year upon us, it may be perfect time for associate evaluations in your firm.? The process of evaluating associate performance should not be a one-time event. Hopefully, you have been communicating with your associates as to their strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures throughout the year. But, if you have not, be sure to be prepared to do so during a formal evaluation meeting with the associate and make a new year's resolution to provide informal feedback to your associates throughout the year beginning January 1. Be sure that your year-end evaluation is based upon performance criteria that has been established and communicated to the associates. An evaluation form which enumerates these criteria and provides a scale for rating performance might be a helpful aid to focus the evaluation on the established criteria. Associates should be evaluated only by those partners who have had significant direct contact and experience with the associate. The evaluation meeting should include those same partners. Finally, it might be wise to separate the formal evaluation meeting from the meeting where salary raises and bonuses are communicated. You don't want the associate to fail to hear your constructive criticisms because he or she is focused on the amount of raise and bonus they have received.
November 18, 2005
Law Practice Management Tip - November 2005
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.
Keeping recent events (hurricanes, etc.) in mind, you should ask yourself: what would I do if my practice were no longer accessible?
Here are some suggestions to be prepared for any business disruption:
• Always have an up-to-date client list with current contact information.
• Always have an up-to-date list of employees of your firm with current contact information as well as emergency contacts.
• Always have your important contact information in an easily accessible place (contact information for your banker, your CPA, your insurance broker, your attorney, your doctors, etc.)
• Keep your important papers (bank accounts, insurance policies, last tax return, wills, passports, etc.) in an easily accessible place.
• Keep all your computers backed up regularly, preferably on a portable device that is easy to carry with you.
It never hurts to periodically think about ‘what would I do if I could not go to my office or my home tomorrow?’ Your own situation will dictate additional precautionary measures to take. Unfortunately too many of our neighbors had to experience this recently and our hearts are with them and we wish them a speedy recovery from the disasters.
Please call the Law Practice Management Program if you have any questions regarding disaster recovery.
Keeping recent events (hurricanes, etc.) in mind, you should ask yourself: what would I do if my practice were no longer accessible?
Here are some suggestions to be prepared for any business disruption:
• Always have an up-to-date client list with current contact information.
• Always have an up-to-date list of employees of your firm with current contact information as well as emergency contacts.
• Always have your important contact information in an easily accessible place (contact information for your banker, your CPA, your insurance broker, your attorney, your doctors, etc.)
• Keep your important papers (bank accounts, insurance policies, last tax return, wills, passports, etc.) in an easily accessible place.
• Keep all your computers backed up regularly, preferably on a portable device that is easy to carry with you.
It never hurts to periodically think about ‘what would I do if I could not go to my office or my home tomorrow?’ Your own situation will dictate additional precautionary measures to take. Unfortunately too many of our neighbors had to experience this recently and our hearts are with them and we wish them a speedy recovery from the disasters.
Please call the Law Practice Management Program if you have any questions regarding disaster recovery.
October 18, 2005
Law Practice Management Tip - October 2005
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 Google has a lot more to offer than just search capabilities through its search engine?
Next time you are visiting www.Google.com, click on More just above the right hand corner of the search box. You will then be taken to another page on Google with a number of services and tools listed that you can either launch on the spot or download onto your workstation. Here are just a few of the helpful tools that you can find on Google:
Picasa - a free software that you can use to catalog, edit, and share all of your images on your computer
Google Earth – a free, innovative satellite imagery / map software that you simply have to see to believe
Blogger – free blogging software
Google Desktop – free software that allows you to search your computer for various files, and consolidate and manage your personal information.
This is a just a sample of what Google has to offer. For more details, visit http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/
Did you know that Google has a lot more to offer than just search capabilities through its search engine?
Next time you are visiting www.Google.com, click on More just above the right hand corner of the search box. You will then be taken to another page on Google with a number of services and tools listed that you can either launch on the spot or download onto your workstation. Here are just a few of the helpful tools that you can find on Google:
Picasa - a free software that you can use to catalog, edit, and share all of your images on your computer
Google Earth – a free, innovative satellite imagery / map software that you simply have to see to believe
Blogger – free blogging software
Google Desktop – free software that allows you to search your computer for various files, and consolidate and manage your personal information.
This is a just a sample of what Google has to offer. For more details, visit http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/
September 18, 2005
Law Practice Management Tip - September 2005
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.
In light of the devastating hurricane damage in the Gulf Coast, we are listing a few resources that may assist law firms in establishing a disaster plan and recovering from disasters:
A 36-page booklet from Practicepro on “Managing Practice Interruptions”
http://www.practicepro.ca/practice/Practice_Interruptions_booklet.pdf
Resources and disaster plan outline provided by the Florida Bar Association
http://www.floridabar.org/tfb/TFBMember.nsf/840090c16eedaf0085256b61000928dc/7dc9cf97e7fe5b2f85256ef20063fc05?OpenDocument
An article on how to avoid disaster and establish a disaster recovery plan
http://www.abanet.org/lpm/lpt/articles/slc02051.html
In light of the devastating hurricane damage in the Gulf Coast, we are listing a few resources that may assist law firms in establishing a disaster plan and recovering from disasters:
A 36-page booklet from Practicepro on “Managing Practice Interruptions”
http://www.practicepro.ca/practice/Practice_Interruptions_booklet.pdf
Resources and disaster plan outline provided by the Florida Bar Association
http://www.floridabar.org/tfb/TFBMember.nsf/840090c16eedaf0085256b61000928dc/7dc9cf97e7fe5b2f85256ef20063fc05?OpenDocument
An article on how to avoid disaster and establish a disaster recovery plan
http://www.abanet.org/lpm/lpt/articles/slc02051.html
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