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Solo & Small Firm Practice

Mark-Bassingthwaighte

The Great “Business vs Profession” Debate

Feb 9, 2016 in Guest Bloggers, Solo & Small Firm Practice, Subjective Opinions

Over the years I have witnessed a few vigorous debates where the point of contention was over whether the practice of law is a business or a profession. I am sometimes taken aback by the positions some lawyers take.

There are those who really do find the notion of equating the practice of law in any way, shape, or form with the running of a business as an extremely offensive position. In the opposite corner stands the attorney who is in it solely for the money and views the very existence of our rules of professional conduct as a personal affront. Thus, the great debate.

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Donald Trump

My Client Fired Me But It Wasn’t My Fault…Or Was It?

Feb 8, 2016 in Solo & Small Firm Practice, Technology

We’ve all been there. We thought we had a great relationship with a client and the next thing we know we’re getting a letter from another attorney asking for our client’s file. You’re surprised, hurt, don’t understand what happened. You may even try to call the client but by this time the client isn’t necessarily forthcoming. So, you get upset for a while, or you celebrate because the client was a pain in the butt. But what you don’t really do is assess. You move on.

Therein lies the problem. You decide it was out of your hands. Wrong. You need to understand why the client fired you.

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suzanne

Falling Back In Love With Your Solo Practice

Jan 28, 2016 in Guest Bloggers, Inspiration, Savvy Solos, Solo & Small Firm Practice, Subjective Opinions

It’s been five years since I started my solo practice. In that time, I’ve had many ups and downs. I’ve struggles at times – with depression, with stress and burnout, with financial troubles, and with staff turnover that got me labeled “The Hatchet” by a friend in the staffing industry. I’ve thought about packing it in a time or two, going back to work at a Big Law firm, but I never did.

You know what? I wouldn’t change any of it.

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cburns

How To Develop A Service Pyramid to Deliver Stellar Client Service Every Time – Guest Lecture with Christina Burns

Jan 26, 2016 in Audio, Guest Lectures, Marketing, Solo & Small Firm Practice

Christina Burns is the Director of Client Happiness at Ruby Receptionists. Ruby’s understanding of customer service is so deep, their results so stellar, it is why this company is growing by leaps and bounds and you will only find they receive glowing reviews. Christina understands, and Ruby Receptionists lives and breathes, customer service. They have developed a Service Pyramid which is at the core of their client service. Today, Christina will teach you how to implement your own Service Pyramid to improve your clients’ experience with your law firm. Listen and learn.

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Meta Data

Protection Of Law Firm And Client Data Must Be Intentional (Part 2)

Dec 10, 2015 in Announcements, Solo & Small Firm Practice, Technology

In my previous column, I discussed how cyber liability is a serious risk management issue for lawyers, given our Rule 1.6 duty to maintain the confidentiality of client information. Given the high profile cyber attacks against Target, Sony Pictures Entertainment, the United States Government, and the Ashley Madison website; many law firms may believe they are not big enough to be a target, or they don’t have data that cyber criminals would find attractive. These law firms would be wrong on both counts.

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office clutter

The Rezooming Mess: When Your Office Looks Like A War Zone.

Nov 12, 2015 in Guest Bloggers, Solo & Small Firm Practice, Subjective Opinions

In the big scheme of things, I confess my rezooming office is a mess. I know where everything is. Yet my family walks by and scratches their collective head. This past January, I addressed the piles of paper in need of filing. I emptied out my office completely, putting everything in like/kind piles on my dining room table. I knew the organizational process would take time but clearly I would be done before I needed to use the table again. But is a messy office the sign of a brilliantly creative mind?

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