Do You Use The “N” Word
Do you find yourself saying the ‘N’ word? If you don’t, you need to start and Suzanne Meehle explains why. It could save your practice and your law license.
Do you find yourself saying the ‘N’ word? If you don’t, you need to start and Suzanne Meehle explains why. It could save your practice and your law license.
Shakespeare said it best. In reference to a plot to seed anarchy, Dick the Barber says, “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” In other words, the lawyers are what stand between the Rule of Law and utter lawlessness.
You’ve had your initial consultation. You’ve counseled your new client on the services they need, and they are ready to sign the engagement letter. But then you ask for their retainer, and they look at you like you’ve got three heads.
“You want HOW MUCH?!?!”
What do you do now?
Many, many lawyers I counsel worry about money. They worry about making enough money to keep their law practice going. They worry if they will have enough money to pay their bills. They worry if they’re saving enough money for their kid’s college education or to fund their own retirements. They worry they don’t have enough money to take that much needed vacation.
What can you do if you are one of the worried-about-money crowd? The answer depends on why you’re worried.
How do we stop worrying about money? In this guest lecture we focus on the particular emotional issues of solos and their relationship to money, those who are out on their own without a steady paycheck. There is also a psychology about money which is fascinating, how we live in judgment of others and how it impacts our actions and emotions day-to-day. Why do we worry when we are somewhat comfortable? Why will we share our most intimate feelings about various topics but feel the most vulnerable talking about money, feel the most shame if we don’t seem to measure up. It’s all in this great guest lecture with the incomparable Karen Caffrey. Join us!
It seems like a yes or no question, but there may be as many answers to that question as there are law firms. If you do charge for the consultation, you may have to deal with a client who expects the consultation for free. But if you don’t charge for a consultation, aren’t you giving away the milk and hoping they’ll buy the cow?
Life is all about perspective. Expectations, I have found, do more harm then good. If our expectations are too high we will always be disappointed because we don’t allow for unplanned opportunities. If our expectations are too low, we may never strive for greater things. What perspective do you have?
Whether interviewing for your first job or interviewing potential employees for your solo/small firm practice, there are some ‘golden rules’ to follow to achieve success.
Sometimes, getting handed what you want without earning it will leave you feeling empty and with nothing to aspire to. It may sound great, but be careful what you wish for.
They made misleading claims about how many of their students were likely to find a job, obscuring the grim reality of how few get employment in their field. They buried their graduates in piles of debt they could not reasonably repay, and admitted unqualified students in pursuit of tuition revenue. They often failed to educate their students well enough to pass the tests required to land a job. And the watchdog that oversees them is facing sanctions from the Education Department.
This might sound very much like the scandal-ridden world of for-profit colleges. But since the recession, it has also become an accurate way to describe some American law schools. So, will the government step in and cancel your student loans?