Lawline.com

Recently, our own CEO David Schnurman was featured in a number of articles where he is asked to share a little of his business wisdom. He gives advice on creating a successful direct mail campaign, being careful not to be prideful in your business, and using Google to your advantage. These points are all well taken, and Lawline does this extremely well.

Links to the full articles are available below:

31 Ways to Update Your Small Business Online Marketing

Knowing When to Throw in the Towel

8 Ways to Increase Your Direct Mail Marketing ROI

In this Exclusive Lawline CLE preview Entrepreneur, Sergio A. Fernández de Córdova, and attorney Joel Wagman, discuss the complex relationship between and entrepreneur and an attorney. When it comes to deal making what are the priorities and who is in charge of the risk at hand?

Contact: Christy Burke
Burke & Company LLC
Phone: (917) 623-5096
E-mail: cburke@burke-company.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLIO CLOUD-BASED LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT INTRODUCES CLIOPAD

A magical and…well…not so revolutionary device is perfect companion to Clio!

Vancouver, BC – April 1, 2010 – Vancouver-based Themis Solutions Inc., provider of web-based legal practice management offering Clio (www.goclio.com), today announced the introduction of its newest product, the ClioPad (www.cliopad.com). 

ClioPad’s high-quality paper stock, made from 100% recycled and biodegradable paper, is college ruled and spiral bound. At a mere 3 ounces and a sleek 0.25 inches thin, the ClioPad is easy to carry and use anywhere.  Featuring an infinite battery life, you won’t be hunting around for an outlet to plug into anytime soon.  ClioPad gives you the ability to jot down ideas whenever and wherever they occur, whether there’s an internet connection or not!  It is the perfect offline companion to Clio, the best way to manage your law practice online.

Legal technology and eDiscovery expert Brett Burney of Burney Consultants was amazed at the innovativeness of the ClioPad.  He reveled, “The ClioPad helped me re-discover the pencil. Who knew you could create text without typing?  The ClioPad is so intuitive and user-friendly that even my 3-year old picked it right up ... although she preferred to use a crayon.  Surfing the Internet is still a little primitive - I tried visiting www.cliopad.com but I had to draw my own 404 error. Also, the ClioPad is so versatile when compared to other products - just try making a paper airplane out of your laptop!”

Clio President and Co-Founder Jack Newton said, “We think the ClioPad is the ultimate offline companion to Clio. It will work anywhere, with or without internet, with or without power. With its built-in handwriting compatibility, we think we’re really on to something.”

Features of ClioPad:

-          Offline functionality

-          Infinite battery life

-          Biodegradable, PVC-free

-          Handwriting-enabled

-          Copy notes from one ClioPad to another

For more information about ClioPad visit www.cliopad.com.  Happy April 1^st!

The Legal Beat Takes you Behind The Course to meet faculty member, George Brunelle. Through his course on how to run a law firm ethically and profitably, he remembers the first night that he opened his own firm and why and how he knew he had made the right choice. He also recalls our first meeting and why teaching attorneys through CLE is so important. Go to Lawline.com soon to watch the full course.

Despite an economic environment that has crippled many small businesses, there is still opportunity to be found. The Wall Street Journal cited Lawline.com today for its ability to take advantage of a suffering real estate market.

Lawline.com has seen its workforce grow beyond the capacity of its current Downtown Manhattan office, and it has used an aggressive but patient approach in order to take full advantage of lower rent prices.

The following is an excerpt from the Wall Street Journal in regards to Lawline.com’s ability to capitalize on the down market:

“Take David Schnurman, president of Lawline.com CLE Inc., an online provider of continuing legal education, who needed more space for his growing work force.

When hunting for a new location last year, he put out queries on an entrepreneurs' mailing list—which netted a number of leads—and saw more than 50 spaces with six different brokers. Working with different agents was crucial, he says, because some had listings that the others didn't.

‘"It seems to be that there are more deals in the market than ever,"’ Mr. Schnurman says. ‘"For any company that's growing, this is a time to be a bit more aggressive.’"

Click here to read the rest of the article from the Wall Street Journal...

As the host of The Legal Beat, I promised that I would start tweeting. I enlisted the help of Tim Baran, of UMCLE. In this episode of On The Line, he discusses the importance of attorneys being engaged in social networking such as Twitter. He further notes the future relationship between CLE and such social media platforms as Twitter.

Interview with attorney Jonathan Schecter

NEW YORK, July 21, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawline.com, a national continuing legal education (CLE) provider, has emerged as a finalist in the New York Enterprise Small Business Awards of 2009 in the customer service category.

Finalists were selected on the basis of the techniques employed and achievements attained through their customer service practices.

"We are proud to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of Lawline.com," said Robert Levin, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of The New York Enterprise Report. "The use of their unique best practice has given them a distinct competitive advantage and we congratulate them for their initiatives and innovative thinking." The success of  Lawline.com's customer service system has gained recognition for placing customer service at the center of its business strategy. Development and implementation of a service based approach, with a focus on the full experience of the customer, brings the company to the forefront of the continuing legal education community.

President David Schnurman explains how the passionate customer service effort began with a mission statement. "Our overall aspiration is to serve and educate our customers. In order to do this efficiently, we need superior practices that serve our users." With this in mind, Schnurman and his team developed a training program and an entire backend system that focuses chiefly on the customer.

This system backend helps to facilitate the execution of the customer service initiative. Director of Customer Relations, Christie LaBarca, illustrates, "Customers complete their CLE feeling educated by our courses, and appreciated by our company. We extend ourselves to our fullest ability in order to demonstrate our gratitude." Schnurman says that [the initiative has] really increased our loyalty in the past three years. The retention rate has jumped from 20% to over 40%." The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards Gala is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2009 from 6 p.m.- 10 p.m. at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City, NY. The Best Practices winners will be announced at the gala for Customer Service as well as for Green Business, Human Resources & Leadership, Sales & Marketing and Technology.

Lawline.com has been providing high quality online continuing legal education courses since 1999. To visit the site, go to http://www.lawline.com.

Matthew Weiss graduated from Hofstra Law in 1984 and started his career as a clerk in the highest court in New York State.  After clerking for two years, he left the prestigious and highly coveted position in order to devote his time to fighting traffic tickets. The entrepreneurial side in him saw that there was a lot of opportunity in this practice area and he decided to build an entire brand around it.  From that 888 REDLIGHT, a turnkey operation and law firm that handles traffic tickets all across the state, was born.  Matt has treated his practice like a business from day one and when he is not in the office, it runs itself.  In addition to working with individuals, Matt represents corporate clients such as limo companies, taxi services, and truckers. 

Matt is also the President of the not-for-profit Entrepreneurs' Organization, the premier peer-to-peer business group in New York City and worldwide. Matt has been featured in Crains, WSJ, and interviewed on TrueNYC.  Lastly, Matt is one of our esteemed faculty members, teaching the online CLE program “How to Fight a NYC Traffic Ticket.”

Lawline.com would like to congratulate Matt for being a lawyer turned entrepreneur.

In 1999 Jason Finger graduated law school at New York University’s School of Law, along with a joint degree at NYU’s Stern School of Business. After less than a year of working at a private equity-focused law firm, he left to start an online delivery website called Seamless Web. He was so reluctant to back out of the new venture that after passing the Bar Exam he never got sworn in. Jason figured he had two years to get sworn in, and if the company failed he could always go back to practicing law. Well, fail it did not! It quickly grew and according to the New York Enterprise Report, in 2006 it was sold for an undisclosed sum rumored to exceed $100,000,000.  Visit New York Enterprise Report to read a great interview with editor-in-chief Robert Levin.

Lawline.com would like to congratulate Jason for his hard work, passion and the guts to take the risk to succeed as an entrepreneur. 

If you know any ‘lawyer-turned-entrepreneur’ stories, please email support@lawline.com.

In late October 2008 New York Ranger Goalie, Steve Valiquette, visited Manhattanville College to talk about his achievements in life and career.  About 50 students turned out and were fortunate enough to listen to Steve share his experiences on and off the ice, from growing up and working with his father as an electrician to finally figuring out what it took to be an NHL goalie in the minor leagues in his late twenties.  During his visit Steve helped raise $400 to the Travis Roy Foundation during an autograph session with the students.  Lawline.com has graciously matched the $400 raised during Steve’s visit that will benefit a paralyzed United States War Veteran.

The students listened and interacted with questions to Steve ranging from his taste of music to his future goals after his hockey days were over.  The one thing everyone learned during the event was Steve has set out to not only share his talents to fans as one of the premier back up goalies in the NHL, but Steve is dedicated to helping and educating others reach their goals.

As is true with Lawline.com, Steve wants more than anything else to use the platform he has as a professional athlete to educate others.  Steve talks to both young and old that they can achieve their dreams as long as they strive for it.  “For the past 5 years my biggest motivation in hockey and life is knowing the better I do on and off the ice the bigger my platform to help other grows,” said Steve.

Spending nine seasons in the minors and floating from the OHL, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, and one year of professional hockey in Russia, Steve never lost sight of his ultimate goal: to be, in one way or another, a mainstay in the NHL. 

Finally after that one year of professional hockey in Russia, Steve was signed by the New York Rangers as the back up to Henrik Lundqvist.  The 2007-2008 season would be Steve's first full year in the NHL.  At the age of 30 Steve made it to the big show.

What Steve stressed most during his talk to the students is having a positive mental attitude while pursuing your goals.  He credited his sports psychologist with helping him with this focus that allowed him to get to where he is today.  After his career, Steve plans to pursue a career in sports psychology to give young athletes the opportunity he was given to get to where he is.

Manhattanville College Student Government, My Soldier, and Lawline.com cannot thank him enough for his time and dedication to both the students and charity. 

Feel free to visit SteveValiquette.com to learn more about him and his endeavors.  We wish him and the New York Rangers the best of luck!

As it is evident from the historic election three days go, the United States is progressing. Regardless of one's political preference, there is no question that Barack Obama has shattered barriers, falsified stereotypes and provided hope to so many of those who did not experience the privilege of hope before.  Momentous events for African Americans and women in history have frequently gone hand in hand.  Women are frequently stereotyped, misunderstood, and under represented.  This especially holds true for women in the legal community.  

Women are now fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go to the top law schools, to work in large firms, and even to be elected to high public service positions.  While this is positive, it doesn't eliminate the fact that women are underestimated and stereotyped. Coming in January is a new magazine designed specifically for women in the legal community that hopes to banish some of these notions.  The publication is titled "Sue:  For Women in Litigation."

"Our belief is that there is a glass ceiling.  However, it's probably time for women to stop staring at the glass ceiling and start getting off the sticky floor," says the publications creator, Chere Estrin.  I'd agree with her.  All women can glimpse the possibilities, but to step off the floor and break the glass is not a particularly easy task.  The attention is almost always focused on familiar problems such as unequal pay, consideration for women with families, etc.  Estrin says, "While these are important issues, we found that most of those articles are primarily written about major firms.  Not every woman wants to be partner in a major firm and the majority of attorneys are not in major firms. Not every woman has little children. There are many more issues."

What are these issues?  They come from the foundations.  Estrin places an emphasis on the fundamentals such as establishing independence and strength.  She believes through information, women can learn how to hone their soft and hard skills, thereby empowering themselves as a whole to defy traditional stereotypes, "We feel that abolishing stereotypes and recognizing strengths is one avenue for success and equality."  We think she's right.   Additionally women should have a channel through which they can associate with other women who they can relate to, whom they can be inspired by--they should feel as if they are part of something.  They should not feel singled out in the legal world. The legal community has been dominated by men since the establishment of the United States and "Sue" will be a valuable asset in helping women in litigation to equalize that dominance and further develop their position in the legal community.

For a glimpse at Sue Magazine visit http://www.suemagazine.com/.  The magazine which will first be released in January will be published bi-monthly.

Lawline.com is frequently in search of more female faculty and we encourage any interest.  Please send us an e-mail.

The companies on Wall Street are not the only ones who are feeling the heat with our declining economy; small businesses are also being severely impacted.  In fact, they employ more than half of the workforce in the city.  With this in mind, Mayor Bloomberg and Robert W. Walsh, the Commissioner of Small Business Services (SBS), announced that they are teaming up with the Chambers of Commerce from each borough to expand small business assistance through NYC Business Solutions Centers.  The partnership is intended to increase awareness of the resources that NYC Business Solutions Centers offers.

Walsh says, "Through NYC Business Solutions, we have account managers across our City who are experts in helping small businesses access capital, develop or refine business plans, and navigate City government." The SBS will give the chambers descriptions of their services and the qualifications that must be met by particular businesses in order to receive assistance.  Among the services being offered are legal aid (including pro-bono lawyers), business courses and business planning, hiring services, training, M/WBE Certification and perhaps one of the most important aid currently desired, connections in financing.  The present economic condition is making it difficult for many, including small businesses, to get a loan.  The SBS will hopefully be able to assist the businesses in meeting the necessary requirements of getting a loan, "[they will] help businesses package their applications and leverage existing relationships with lenders to increase the businesses' chances of successfully receiving a loan."          

It is reassuring to see that the government is taking action to ensure the survival of the small businesses of New York.  After speaking to several of those who are employees of small businesses, they said they were worried they would be left in the dark with all the attention focused on the dramatic events occurring on the streets of Downtown Manhattan.  It is not to be forgotten that what occurs on Wall Street effects the economy in its entirety, but as stated, small businesses employ over half of the workers of New York.  New York remains a city that requires attention to all spectrums of business.

Frank Furbacher Jr. is currently a senior at Manhattanville College. He is the President of the Student Government Association and a member of the varsity baseball team. Frank is an entrepreneur himself, and an aspiring law school student. You can contact Frank at Frank@lawline.com with any questions or comments.

Daniel Gershburg started his own law practice straight out of law school.  To many people around him, this was a crazy decision, one that they did not understand.  He had been a solid student with strong experience, and was on path to work for a large firm and earn a nice wage.  But Daniel was looking for something different, and he felt strongly about doing his own thing.  He recently shared with us his five step process to starting your own practice.

1. Get Mentors.  Learn as much as you possibly can from as many people as you can meet.  This will help you create personal and professional networks as well as increase and expand your knowledge of many legal issues.

2. Find Office Space.  You will need to look as professional as possible, so it is important to have space where you can meet with clients.  Virtual and home offices will not cut it if you truly want your practice to grow.

3. Get in Touch with Every Single Association Available to Help You.  There are so many people out there to help you get started, the trick is just knowing where to look.  Bar associations and business development organizations are a great place to start.

4. Good Client Relationships.  Too many large firms are run like corporations, with little or no focus on client support.  Adapt a customer service philosophy toward dealing with clients.  Be there for them whenever they need you and you will get many more referrals.

5. Strong Web Presence.  Your website is a great tool for marketing, referral generation, and client management.  Use it wisely and it will save you money in addition to getting your name out there.

Daniel Gershburg is also a Lawline.com faculty member.  Please look for his upcoming course entitled, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: The Initial Meeting, which is coming soon.  For a brief video interview with Daniel, click play below:

Happy New Year!  We move boldly into a new year with new possibilities.  As lawyers and businessmen alike, it is important to use the new year to develop new strategies of growth and success.  2008 marks the year that new internet technologies and increased market awareness should lead to many new and effective ways of marketing.  Technologies that once seemed too difficult to master or too futuristic to be effective are now intuitive and efficient.  To kick off the new year of the Lawline.com Friday Five, here is a list of new technologies that you can use to help jump start a year of business development.  Enjoy!

TOP 5 TECHNOLOGIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IN 2008

1. Email.  Today the traditional uses of email as a means of communication have become so commonplace that it has become vital to the day to day activities of many individuals.  More and more, email is becoming a marketing tool favored by many to communicate with current and potential clients/customers.  Surveys, promotions, newsletters, and other email mechanisms can be automated to provide customers with information easily and efficiently.

2. Blogging.  Everywhere you look, people are blogging.  It is important to see that blogging has emerged out of a way for a few web users to write down their opinions on certain topics, and into a way that companies and clients alike discuss the most important aspects of any industry.  Blogging can be used to let people know what is going on behind closed doors, and to encourage an interactivity between businesses and their customers.  It takes the companies goals and values and helps match them up with their customers.

3. Video.  Online video has become mainstream.  Videos can be used in a number of ways as a marketing tool.  Websites like YouTube, Google Video, and the like make it easy to upload and host videos anywhere.  Videos can be used to share offerings, discuss values, showcase talents or highlight expertise.

4. Social Networking.  Networking sites are everywhere.  For every tiny niche or industry, there is a social network of people online ready to share their ideas and experiences.  Along with that, there are social bookmarking sites that allow users to share things they find on the internet.  It is important to take advantage of the communication channels there.  Companies can take an active role in discussions, listen to what people are saying, and mold the way they approach new clients based on that information.  It is a great way to create a brand name that appeals to the masses.

5. Podcasting.  News, opinions, lectures, and ideas are all being shared in the form of podcasts across the internet.  It’s just another form of online media that allows internet users to really listen to things they are interested in.  Just like online video, this can be a great way to showcase talents and experience on a given subject.  For lawyers, you can feature yourself on a podcast that reveals your knowledge of a certain practice area to potential clients on many online forums.

It does not matter what you use it for, only that online media and marketing technologies are for everyone.  Treat your practice like a business, and take advantage of everything available to grow that business.  We wish everyone the greatest success in 2008.

The learning process never stops.  Continuing education is something that many of the world’s top executives and leadership coaches have preached to the people in their respective fields.  Obviously there are certain professions where continuing education is mandatory, but there are certain topics and areas of life where advanced knowledge should be something we seek.  That is the belief at TrueNYC.com.

The goal for TrueNYC.com founder David Schnurman was to create an online environment where learning never ends.  The website is the start of a dialogue that can take someone in any line of work and teach them the entrepreneurial spirit that can lead to personal and professional growth.  Through interviews and articles about successful entrepreneurs and innovative business minds, the learning process is made much simpler and more enjoyable than ever before.

For lawyers, the lessons learned in TrueNYC interviews are simple enough.  You can learn how to grow and manage your professional life without getting stressed out.  Managing employees and a growing client base is similar to starting a business.  By listening to the challenges and obstacles faced by some of the most successful entrepreneurs in and around New York City, you can grasp the mindset that it takes to be successful.  After all, success is a feeling and an attitude that we are all seeking in life.

In one of the most recent interviews, restaurant owner Vikas Khanna discussed some of the driving forces in his life that have led him to prosperity.  The passion he has for his work and his food is the same type of passion we find in almost every successful businessman.  If you are not confident in your abilities and your ideas, there is no way you can continue to develop and grow.  “You can start at any level and rise,” expresses Vikas, “you have that feeling that you’re moving, going forward.”

In another interview, Richard Matasar, dean of New York Law School, discusses everything from building a law school to comparisons between law and the business world.  “Nowadays many lawyers are finding that they have a solid grasp of the law but are lacking a background in basic business skills,” says Matasar.

The many other interviews and articles discuss topics like branding, sales, real estate, customer service, family, and much more.  “We are creating a way for people to empower themselves through learning,” David Schnurman, founder of TrueNYC, says about the website.  “It is a place where the desire to learn and grow is not only supported, but it is encouraged.”  One thing that is obvious is that this could be the beginning of a trend in continuing education.  Learning will no longer be looked upon as something feared or irritating because it takes away from other things in life; now it can be seen as a way to further enjoy everything else out there.  It is a way to open up new doors and take advantage of new opportunities that were never available before now.

Lawyerpreneur.  It is a word that seems to be coming up more and more.  The word was coined by Nader Anise in 1999 to describe a solo or small practice attorney trying to run his own practice.  And it means exactly what you think it means, a lawyer who is also an entrepreneur.  After all, running your own small practice is a lot like running a small business.  If only more attorneys took that mindset, suggests Nader, they would have a better chance to be successful.

I spoke with Mr. Anise, who runs Nader Anise Lawyer Marketing, a full service marketing firm for lawyers and law firms, about some of things that lawyers must do to be successful in growing a small practice.  Much like when an entrepreneur comes up with an idea for a new business, lawyers need to find a way to distinguish themselves from the competition.  There are plenty of needs out there that are not being addressed by the many law firms vying for new clients.  The key is to find a market, or even create one, and then focus your efforts.  Too many lawyers try to be everything for everyone and end up suffering because of it.

Once you have a target market, running the law firm is much like running the small business.  Some of the same keys for survival hold true.  Such concerns as managing employees, project management, dealing with time constraints, direct mail and other marketing activities are vital for the success of any growing practice.  For many lawyerpreneurs out there, this can be even more important than actual skill in law, because it requires a different type of knowledge and expertise.

Please enjoy the podcast of Lawline.com’s interview with Nader Anise below.