This work is intended to be used by practitioners, law students, and others as an overview of fundamental law practice management issues, including the marketplace for legal services, forms of law firm organization, management of human resources, setting up and operating a law office, financial planning, and law office systems. It builds upon the theme that practice management skills are critical to competent practice, in that they give lawyers the tools necessary not only to achieve success, but also to avoid professional failure.
Busy lawyers do not have dozens of extra hours to conduct research looking for new tips and ideas to streamline and enhance their practice of law. They need just-in-time learning to acquire the knowledge necessary to build their practices. This convenient pocket guide is the best ever collection of practical tips, ideas, and techniques to help you survive, thrive, and find success in the practice of law.
What can practice management systems software do for a law practice? With the right system in place, a law firms and staff will have the ability to automatically route items, tasks, documents, and events to certain people based on their role in the case or matter, as well as manage deadlines, improve responsiveness to clients, reduce malpractice insurance rates, and boost overall productivity. The challenge is to find a program that best serves the needs of the firm.
Tips, strategies, tactics, forms, and real-word advice for starting - or building - a family law practice. Written by a successful and happy family lawyer, this book explains the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in a challenging area of the law. It takes a no-nonsense approach in explaining the most critical issues for developing a successful career. Examples and practice tips show how to gain experience, understand the business aspects of a practice, develop and maintain the ideal client mix, and manage staff and finances. CD-ROM with forms and related materials.
Strategic planning is an integral component to the success of any business organization, including law firms and law-related entities. This practice-building resource can be your guide to planning dynamic strategic plans and implementing them at your firm. You'll learn about the strategic planning process and how to establish goals in key planning areas such as law firm governance, competition, opening a new office, financial management, technology, marketing and competitive intelligence, client development and retention, and more. Also, the accompanying CD-ROM contains a wealth of policies, statements, and questionnaires. If you're serious about improving the way your firm works, increasing productivity, making better decisions, and setting your firm on the right course, this book is the resource you need.
Despite clear evidence of a serious decline in morale, the major competitors in the law firm management marketplace have virtually ignored the motivational facet of current managerial theory and practice. As evidenced by a review of the literature dealing with law firm management, including major books, handbooks, and professional seminar outlines, there has existed until now no treatment of current management theory and practice as it pertains to law firms. In addressing human resources topics as they apply to the modern law firm, this book fills a genuine void in an area which is of major importance to law firms challenged to remain profitable in an increasingly hostile environment. Managing People in Today's Law Firm: The Human Resources Approach to Surviving Change provides a comprehensive treatment of critical aspects of modern management: motivation, communication, organizational culture, structure and strategy, power and politics, recruitment and training, the reward-performance-retention dynamic, performance appraisal, and planned change. Grounded in managerial theory and research, based on extensive practice, and exemplified by anecdotal war stories, this book makes valuable reading for partners, associates, managers, and future members of law firms—and offers important ideas for motivating members of all professional service firms. Intended for law firms and lawyers within them, solo practitioners who contemplate joining with others in a firm partnership, law school libraries, and general and professional association libraries including bar associations on the state and local levels.
Practical and engaging introduction to Law Office Management for paralegals. Features: Comprehensive overview of the basics of law office management in today's legal environment. Features real-world examples of law office management issues faced in the law office today. Includes helpful vocabulary, constructive discussion starters, and useful case excerpts underscoring core concepts. All of these help instructor's engage students with the material. Discussion questions and case studies are provided at the end of each chapter to reinforce the material. Each chapter includes review checklists and additional resources to help students master the concepts. Students are taught the ethical requirements of the legal business but are also challenged to understand their real-world underpinnings. New to the Second Edition: Updated to reflect changes in the legal profession as clients demand economically viable solutions and technology increasingly allows lawyers to provide them Coverage of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Chapter 5. Coverage of sustainability in facility management in Chapter 6 More focus on developing demonstrable skills useful in law office management, in the legal field, and beyond Greater emphasis on client relationship management and legal project management by all members of the legal team Career preparation tips in every chapter Chapter outcomes added to the beginning of every chapter Coverage of texts and instant messaging in Chapter 7 New section on Marketing the Law Firm in Chapter 8 Enhanced discussion of social media and its usefulness in law firm marketing
