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With experts recently citing the official conclusion of the Great Recession as June 2009, companies are slowly beginning to stabilize after an 18-month downturn that left 55 percent of Americans recovering from a mix of hardships.

Even after the gloom and doom has officially ended, law firms are still recovering from that difficult period. Now the question is how should companies spend their resources as they get back on their feet?  Should they invest in advertising, blogging, attending trade shows etc.? Or should they review current marketing plans and update them as necessary?

To be candid, all of these lead-generation methods have their advantages, but, there are other actions attorneys can take, in their legal practices, that are more likely to produce more bang for your buck when things are slow.
Here are some areas to review in your legal practice:

1. How frequently do you reach out to your professional networks? How well do you maintain your extended networks?
2. Harvard Business School research found that a 5-percent increase in customer loyalty can lead to 40 percent to 90 percent increases in the lifetime value of that customer relationship. You need to earn your customers’ loyalty. What are you doing to improve your client systems?
3. Are you perceived as the expert in your niche? If not, what concrete actions steps are you taking? Do you know where to begin to start building your expert status?
4. Review your strategic plans. Slow times are a great time to review your plans and see if you are still on track.
5. Are you taking opportunities of collaborating with strategic partners and authoring articles for local papers and trade journals. If so, how are you leveraging them?
6. Are the systems in your legal practice operating efficiently like a well-oiled machine? If not, what area needs improvement? Your marketing? Public relations? Managing clients? Are you still searching for a system that works for you?
7. Is the press calling to quote you? When was the last time a reporter called you?
8. Do prospects get to see and hear you up close and personal? How often and where are you speaking?
9. Reviewing all these different areas of your law practice and discovering where weaknesses lie are far more likely to be  productive and dollar cost effective instead of trying new marketing strategies and hoping they will work.

About SCG Legal PR Network

SCG Legal PR Network is a global network that connects lawyers as expert sources with reporters and features a 24/7-accessible database of legal experts from a variety of areas. Its team is comprised of former award-winning journalists whose experience spans over three continents and 30-plus years of experience in the field of journalism and public relations. The network was started by a former journalist, Paramjit Mahli, who has worked within news outlets like the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Financial Post, CNN, CNNfn and The Journal of Commerce. For more information about the SCG Legal PR Network, please call 212-661-9137 or visit SCG Legal PR Network’s Web site at http://www.scglegalprnetwork.com.
 

Public relations is the art of changing perceptions. One is either managing, building and/or changing perception with groups or stakeholders whom the success of a business is highly dependent on. Stakeholders or interest groups may include:

1. The press

2. Current clients

3. Prospects

4. Trade and industry groups, essentially anyone who can assist in the growth of business.

All these relationships are managed, guided and steered effectively by good public relations practitioners. Yes, lawyers, it’s the relationships not the transaction. Rightly or wrongly how many times have you heard the expression: “it’s all about perception”. Look what happened to New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani after September 11. His reputation literally skyrocketed into the stratosphere. Of course since his foray into national politics,  one could argue his reputation has changed somewhat.

Well, a good public relations IS all about perceptions. A note of caution: public relations is not only about putting seminars together, getting published, speaking, or sending out the odd news release to the media. What good public relations does is change behavior. This, in turn, facilitates business growth. For example, your firm may want to:

1. Be seen in a more favorable light in an important target group. (This could be the firm’s ideal client target market);

2. Demonstrate how the firm’s services are different from its competition;
Communicate effectively the firm’s participation in a particular community that is critical to the growth of the firm;

3. Showcase attorneys in the firm who are experts, those at the top of their game in a specific area of law.

If you’re still not clear ask yourself, when was the last time you or another attorney in your firm received a call from the press regarding input on a story they were working on? When were you last invited to speak by a trade or industry group? When was the last time your work was published? Remember the old axiom of “publish or perish.” Of course getting published is in today’s internet driven is quite easy. But, it still doesn’t match the value and prestige of getting ink in a well-respected publication. Unquestionably it is  a critical component in building your firm’s reputation.

A common question I am frequently asked while talking to law firms, particularly those who are considering public relations initiatives is the difference between advertising and public relations. One is based on building credibility, visibility and reputation through third party endorsements. The other is essentially paying to be seen and heard.  Typical questions range from: which is more effective?  Which tactic should we start with? What can we implement in-house? And of course the investment and when will the firm see return on investment.

For firms considering advertising experts such as Al Reis, author of marketing classic "Positioning: The Battle For Your Mind"   advises that its best to start with public relations initiatives and then build upon awareness and visibility with advertising.  

Each tactic including social media has its merits. One thing is for certain, regardless of whether these strategies are implemented by in-house staff and or external agencies; success is dependent on the right hand knowing what the left hand is doing. Otherwise, it will be yet another case of throwing things at the wall and hoping that one of them will stick!

Bottom-line perceptions matter more than facts. Can you afford to ignore public relations? Call us directly 646-763-1407 for a free no cost no obligation strategy session.

Paramjit L Mahli is with award winning SCG Legal PR Network. She is a former journalist who has worked with CNN Business News, Canadian Broadcast Corporation and Journal of Commerce. Comprised of small and large firms, SCG Legal PR Network connects legal experts with reporters nationally and internationally. Ms. Mahli is a contributor to Legal Broadcast Network and writes frequently for Technolawyer. She also trains and gives CLEs  regularly on media relations.

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!

Paramjit Mahli, of the award winning SCG Legal PR Network, reports at The Legal Marketing Association Conference in Denver, CO.

The Legal Marketing Association is a non-profit organization that  supports legal professionals in marketing, communications, business development, and client services. Mahli, who also provides Marketing and Public Relation insights for lawyers here on The Legal Beat, produces an overview of the top issues and how communication technology is transforming the worldwide business platform into a global community.

Take a look...

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.

Applying to college can be a daunting task for high school seniors. Perhaps the most intimidating aspect of the application process is the essay. Not only is quality of the utmost importance, the quantity of essays needed to be written can be overwhelming. Many colleges require two essays and even colleges that use the common application often require supplements.

One new online resource designed to guide students through this trying task is College Essay Optimizer. By entering a list of colleges, CEO’s Essay QuickFinder generates a list of essays required for each school, along with additional information and deadlines for each particular school. The Essay RoadMap helps students reduce the number of original essays needed to be written by instantly showing students how to complete all requirements with only a few essays. As an added bonus, this service also provides sample essays. The Essay Wizard matches students with their own essay guide, who assists the student via email through the entire essay writing process. This service can turn a good essay into a good college admissions essay, and a good college admissions essay into a great one.

CEO provides valuable tools for any student applying to college. Its consolidated and simple approach to writing college admissions essays will save any student time and reduce stress, making the college application process easier and more manageable.  

To visit the site click here.

To conclude my trilogy of blog posts about negotiation styles, here are my Top Seven Characteristics of Conflict Avoiders:
 
1.  Strong need to avoid conflict, especially open conflict
2.  Belief that almost all conflict is unproductive
3.  Extremely uncomfortable with emotional conflict
4.  High skill level at avoiding answering questions
5.  High skill level at avoiding addressing undesirable issues
6.  Rarely will overtly control the agenda
7.  Can appear aloof and uninterested as they rarely engage in negotiations involving conflict
 
If you recognize your counterpart is a conflict avoider, how should you proceed?  First, be patient because it will take more time and effort to fully explore conflict-related issues.  Second, stay focused on your goal because it’s easy to get off track when your counterpart is skillful at avoiding issues.  Finally, aggressively probe their interests.  Find out what your counterpart wants and needs, keeping in mind they may try to hide these if they believe discussing them will lead to conflict.


Marty Latz is the founder of Latz Negotiation Institute, a national negotiation training and consulting company, and ExpertNegotiator, a Web-based software company that helps managers and negotiators more effectively negotiate and implement best practices based on the experts' proven research.  He is also the author of Gain the Edge! Negotiating to Get What You Want (St. Martin’s Press 2004). He can be reached at 480-951-3222 or Latz@ExpertNegotiator.com.

Thinking about starting a small business? Consider forming it under an S Corporation. These can be preferable to an LLC for tax purposes. Under an S Corporation, individuals are only liable for self employment tax on their "reasonable salary." Under an LLC, self employment tax applies a wider category--revenue minuses expenses. Finally, Lawline.com faculty member George Cornell mentions that self employment tax does not apply to passive income like real estate. This clip is from his course "Using LLC's and Other Forms of Asset Protection."

            Lawline.com values customer service to the fullest extent.   We take pride in our customer service and in our ambition to continuously improve the “customer experience.”  Everyone has something to learn from the concepts that comprise customer service, regardless of whether you work for a company that is directly servicing many customers every day.   In some way or form, 99% of jobs can relate to customer, or client service.  We’re all communicating, and working for each other.  Customer service concepts can be applied in many different situations, and at Lawline.com we want to facilitate the sharing of such ideas and strategies.
             For this reason, we are implementing a weekly blog series that talks about improving client relations and experience.   Every week we will provide tips for attorneys, and all others, that will help communications in any setting.   As customer Service expert John DiJulius often says, there is a growing Customer Service Revolution,  it is important that we all take part in it if we want to succeed in the business world.

               Today’s blog is on accessibility.  If you’re looking to sell a service or product, you have to be accessible to both potential buyers and previous buyers. 
                   For attorneys, when there is a potential client trying to contact you, it should be easy for him or her to get information about you and your company and to eventually speak with you.  Direct connection is important-- If you’re inaccessible in general, potential clients may assume that you will also be inaccessible throughout the course of the case.  The same holds true for other products and services, if a potential customer is trying to reach you to find out information about the product, you need to get back to that person right away.   This assures the customers that they can rely on you if they need support later on in the relationship.
                What can you do to stay accessible to customers?  Offer multiple ways to be contacted.  Phone, e-mail, website, etc.  Set a deadline for you and your team in regards to responding to both phone calls and e-mails.  In after business hours, set up a messaging service that e-mails you the messages left for the company.  If you or one of your team members has time, you can call them back, or even e-mail easily.   And if you have a Blackberry or Smartphone, you should definitely have those e-mails forwarded to you, so you can respond from anywhere with convienence.

Former President Bill Clinton met yesterday with North Korean leader Kim Jung-il seeking the release of two imprisoned American journalists.  Fortunately, he was successful and the journalists have now been reunited with their families in the United States.  In light of Kim Jung-il’s sordid reputation, here are my Top Ten Tactics for Negotiating with the Unethical and Untrustworthy:

1.  Ensure significant negative consequences for any breach by your counterpart, increasing the likelihood they will actually follow through on their commitments

2.  Independently confirm all statements that may provide your counterpart with leverage, especially if they say they have a better alternative (or Plan B) to doing a deal with you

3.  Discount the relevance of statements that cannot be confirmed

4.  Consider recording the negotiation – it’s tough to dispute a recording of statements actually made

5.  Aggressively explore your potential alternatives (or Plan Bs)

6.  Be wary of vague and ambiguous statements

7.  Build mechanisms into the agreement that independently ensure each party fulfills its commitments

8.  Understand that such negotiations take more time and effort than others, and recognize this as a cost of dealing with this person or entity

9.  Pay attention to the details and don’t leave ambiguous issues unresolved

10. Consider bringing in an independent third party to help

In addition, define what constitutes a breach of any agreement, provide for a fair and efficient way to resolve disputes that may arise from a potential breach and finally, don’t lower yourself to their level.  Your reputation is far too important to risk!

Marty Latz is the founder of Latz Negotiation Institute, a national negotiation training and consulting company, and ExpertNegotiator, a Web-based software company that helps managers and negotiators more effectively negotiate and implement best practices based on the experts' proven research.  He is also the author of Gain the Edge! Negotiating to Get What You Want (St. Martin’s Press 2004). He can be reached at 480-951-3222 or Latz@ExpertNegotiator.com.
 

    Social media and the internet offer unprecedented opportunity for attorneys and all professionals.  While everyone should recognize these potential benefits, they should not forget the possible downfalls that also exist.
      Publishing something on the internet places it there forever.   It also makes it accessible by an infinite amount of people.  Attorneys often do not realize that unfavorable information may be available about them.  In terms of social media, they may often be the ones who are actually posting the content.
      A recent article in the ABA Journal notes that BigLaw Associates “Google” all candidates before considering them for a position.  Most companies do this as it offers insight into the individual that they are considering for a position.  It can easily be assumed that potential clients will do the same.  On the internet, almost everyone is a public figure.  Attorneys must pay attention to the information that they make available and, if necessary, control it.

What Can You Do?

1) Regular Checks on Major Search Engines
Not just to boost your ego….search your name and make sure that there is nothing you wouldn’t want others to see.   If there is content that you control (such as a blog post, twitter, etc.), you can probably erase it easily.  If not, you may have to contact website administrators.

2) If it’s Personal, Make it Private
If you plan to post pictures partying with friends, don’t make your Facebook or MySpace profiles public.  The same goes for blogging and Twitter.  When using them for personal use, limit the visibility to just your friends so that they are the only ones who see it.

3) Use an Alias
If you really have something that you want to share on the internet, but you believe it can potentially put you in an unfavorable light, use a different publishing name.  You can easily create an alternate e-mail address and/or social media account so that way you can still receive feedback on this content.

These are just some tips on what you can do to control the content that is available on the internet.  Anything you post that has your name on it can be associated back to you.  Comments should always be as neutral or inoffensive as possible, because you never know when they may resurface.

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.

In today’s Legal Tip of the Day, Richard Roth expands on his experiences in the Entertainment and Sports Litigation world, using his past cases as examples for each category. The clip below, entitled “When a Lawsuit is Necessary in Entertainment and Sport Litigation”, is a highlight on Roth’s explanation on why sometimes a lawsuit is inevitable in the entertainment and sports arena.

Richard Roth is a prominent lawyer in New York City. His practice areas include complex commercial litigation, securities litigation and arbitration, employment litigation, entertainment and sports litigation, real estate litigation, and more. An alumnus of Hofstra University School of Law, Roth has had several high profile cases, including a major sports litigation case with Peyton Manning, the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts.

This clip can also be found on YouTube.com, in Lawline’s Legal Tip of the Day series. 

Attorney Jay Sullivan's work has appeared in the New York Times, the New York Law Journal, and Readers Digest. Now he brings his expertise to the YouTube community as a part of the Lawline.com Legal Tip of the Day series. Watch as he explains how to transform abstract ideas into a concrete, easy to follow presentation.

His advice originally appeared in a course at Lawline.com entitled "Building Dynamic Client Meetings" but can apply to anyone who wants to improve his or her communication skills. His ideas regarding using space strategically and organizing presentations logically can apply to the client meetings and beyond.

Watch the clip for more information.

Another week has passed, and another group of people have started using new internet technology to connect with others and build business.  Hopefully, that group of people includes some lawyers.  Welcome to part 9 of our blog series on social media for attorneys.  This week we will focus on your public relations department.

Odds are, if you are an attorney looking to grow your practice, you are engaged in some sort of public relations effort.  Either you do a little PR yourself, you work in a law firm that has a PR department, or you outsource your public relations work to a firm that specializes in that type of work.  The most popular one is most likely the third, let the pros handle it.  But the many areas of social media are so new that even the pros need to catch up.

You can use your ever evolving knowledge of the social media landscape to make sure that whoever is handling your public relations efforts are well informed and doing all that they can do to help you grow.  Call them in for a meeting and let them know that you want to go after the online marketplace.  Tell them that you expect to spread the word about your practice through new media, and that they can help you out in many ways.

In a recent poll, “Public Relations” was voted as the number one industry with the most opportunity in the social media landscape.  It is clear that the social media experts can see the positive effects that the social web can have in PR.  Do the PR firms see it yet?

Here are some things that your public relations team can be doing in the social media landscape:

1. Using Technorati, Google Blog Search, Twitter Search, and others to comb the web for mentions of your name, your firm, or other news that relates to you.

2. Joining groups on Facebook and other networks that can provide leads for articles, stories, reports, studies, and books.

3. Sign up for automated alerts from various niche networks in the legal community to find newsworthy events and stories.

4. Actively reach out to Twitter users and Social Network members with information regarding your online efforts.

5. Help create viral marketing efforts through interesting stories spread across networks like the blogs, Digg, StumbleUpon, Reddit, and other bookmarking services.

There are many ways to take advantage of the social media space in public relations, and you need to be sure that whoever you hire is using this space to their advantage.  At this moment, the number of lawyers trying to grow their business in a stale market is greater than ever.  Those who take advantage of new media channels, and cutting edge technology, will be on the winning side in the longer term.  Making sure that your Public Relations department (in house or outsourced) is following up on your own online strategy is a major step to getting your name out there.

Other Social Media News: This blog series was mentioned as a resource in an article on blogging for lawyers.  To read the article, click here.  Also, this blog series was used as a reference for an article on hiring a social media manager for your organization.  To read that article, click here.

Past Installments of this Series:
Part One – Intro to Social Media for Attorneys
Part Two – Signing up for the Networks
Part Three – Using Blogs as an Information Source
Part Four – Start Blogging Today
Part Five – Introduction to Twitter
Part Six – Introduction to LinkedIn
Part Seven – Networks as a Communication Tool
Part Eight – Submit Yourself to Blog Catalogs

Another week has passed, and another group of people have started using new internet technology to connect with others and build business.  Hopefully, that group of people includes some lawyers.  Welcome to part 8 of our blog series on social media for attorneys.  This week we will focus our efforts back on blogging.  Hopefully by this point you have started writing your blog.  If not, start now.

There are many ways that you can leverage your blog to take advantage of the many other people out there blogging about similar topics.  One such tool is a blog catalog.  Blog catalogs of blogger networks allow you to group your blog alongside the blogs of other popular bloggers in your area.

The advantages of submitting your blog to a blog network are many.  First, it gives you more exposure as a contributing member of the blogging community.  This will drive more traffic to your blog, entice more readers to subscribe to your blog, and get you noticed by a large number of internet users.  All of these things give your blog more credibility, and builds the awareness of your name and “brand” online.

Second, submitting your blog to a network, or simply searching for networks to submit to helps you get in touch with all the possibilities that are out there for bloggers.  You will find more blogs on legal topics that interest you than you found before.  Don’t be afraid to contact these bloggers.  Anyone who is posting material to the web is doing it to connect with people.  The more people that know about you and your blog, the more you’ll be able to do with it.

Finally, it allows you to mention the fact that you are included in these catalogs.  You can post a link or a “badge” on your blog that shows your readers where your blog has been listed around the web.  This, in turn, provides even more credibility.  It could turn the casual reader into a subscriber, and someone that comes back to your blog over and over again.  You can start to label yourself as an expert in your field, and turn your blog into a business producing tool.

Convinced?  Ok.  Let’s go over some of the catalogs that are out there that you should be checking out.  The key here is that there is no end to the amount of blog networks that you can submit to.  Find the ones that seem the most interesting and valuable to you.  Here is a list that you can start with.

1. Blawg.com: A must for all legal bloggers.  This is a law specific blog catalog, one with sections ranging from practice area to law professors to legal marketing. http://www.blawg.com

2. BlogCatalog.com: This is one of the largest and best known catalogs out there.  This network allows you to create a personal profile and add your blog to it.  It allows you to converse and exchange information with other bloggers. http://www.blogcatalog.com

3. Technorati: Technorati.com is a search engine that shows the most “important” information on the web.  They use an authority system to rank blogs and news sources.  You can claim your blog there, something every blogger can do, then use it to track performance and find similar blogs. http://www.technorati.com

There are many other catalogs and directories of blogs and bloggers that can help you.  A simple search on Google for those words will give you all the answers that you need.  The greater your online distribution of material, the more people you will attract, and the more powerful your blog will become.  So get out there and put these skill to work.

Past Installments of this Series:
Part One – Intro to Social Media for Attorneys
Part Two – Signing up for the Networks
Part Three – Using Blogs as an Information Source
Part Four – Start Blogging Today
Part Five – Introduction to Twitter
Part Six – Introduction to LinkedIn
Part Seven – Networks as a Communication Tool

Another week has passed, and another group of people have started using new internet technology to connect with others and build business.  Hopefully, that group of people includes some lawyers.  Welcome to part 7 of our blog series on social media for attorneys.  This week we will continue to introduce the various tools and networks that people are using to connect to other people on the web.   Whereas Twitter and LinkedIn are more directed social services, it is important to sign up for a number of pure social networks as well.

Facebook is a big win simply because it is the most popular.  Facebook just reach 150 million users worldwide, and that number continues to grow.  Though it may be hard to imagine where lawyers can use Facebook in a professional sense, there are many opportunities there.  I recommend signing up, adding your personal information and starting to search for and accumulate friends.  I would also recommend adding links to your blog, other networking sites in use, and your firm’s website.  If nothing else, this will add some extra online exposure for now.

Lawlink, JDSupra, and LegalOnRamp are some networking sites that are designed specifically for attorneys.  Each has a variety of services that you can take advantage of if you are a part of the network.  It can get a bit confusing to sign up for all of these networks, but I would recommend doing a little research and signing up for one or the other.  It will help you connect with other lawyers in your field and of similar interests.

There are a lot of things to consider when thinking of the future of legal networking.  These community sites that we discuss here will continue to add features that make it easier to practice law more efficiently and effectively.  The fact that these sites are designed for, and in a lot of ways by the users, means that they will continue to evolve into more complete services.  You can start to share and spread information among others in the legal community that you could never do in an offline environment.

For now, some of the basic things that you can use them for are simple discussions and promotion.  Use Facebook to promote your blog and other websites.  Use JDSupra to share articles or other works you authored.  Use Lawlink to discuss topics of interest with lawyers across the country.  Take advantage of whatever down time you have to get involved in these communities and you will uncover the many opportunities before you.

Where are we headed from here?  Next week we will discuss another great way to promote your blog and get involved with other bloggers, blog catalogs.  From there we will dive a little deeper into some of the networks, and learn more specifically how you can use them to grow your practice.

Past Installments of this Series:
Part One – Intro to Social Media for Attorneys
Part Two – Signing up for the Networks
Part Three – Using Blogs as an Information Source
Part Four – Start Blogging Today
Part Five – Introduction to Twitter
Part Six – Introduction to LinkedIn

Another week has passed, and another group of people have started using new internet technology to connect with others and build business.  Hopefully, that group of people includes some lawyers.  Welcome to part six of our blog series on social media for attorneys.  As we continue to cover various networks that you can use to build relationships, promote your practice, and develop your online brand, we turn our attention to LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is just as new to the social web as Twitter, but also just as important.  Created as the social network for professionals, LinkedIn is targeted toward the working world.  It developed ways to “Link” with people that you would want to develop a professional relationship with.  Starting out with friends, colleagues, and old classmates, you can build a series of connections with people across your industry and in your area.

When you signup, you are asked to add information about yourself and your professional background.  For many people, it is as simple as adding your resume.  From there, you can search for people that you know, or want to know, and connect to them.  In addition, more recently LinkedIn has been adding applications to the site that help you better connect to more people and use their services more conveniently.

The advantages of a profile on LinkedIn can be many.  One, you can use it to self promote in a way that is not as intrusive as other networks.  By adding your blog, website, and other professional contact information to your profile, you expose the information to anyone who searches for you.  Also, they have a question and answer service that allows you to ask or answer questions posted on the site.  For example, if someone in your network asks a question that you have the answer to, posting your answer will automatically give you credibility and access to anyone who sees it.

In addition, communicating with other people in your network is getting easier.  You can email your connections, post comments, and find personal contact information very easily.  And if you are looking to hire people for your practice, LinkedIn is one of the best new ways to find top talent.  Recommendations from other people within your network are easy to get and more reliable than other hiring or recommendation engines out there.

If you are not already on LinkedIn, I suggest heading over to http://www.linkedin.com/ and joining today.  If you are a member, you probably could be using it more.  Try spending some time on the site and learning a few new things.  If you do this once a week, you are sure to find a few features that you never knew about, and some that you can take advantage of very easily.  As is the case with many social networks, the more you use it, the more you will get out of it.

Past Installments of this Series:
Part One – Intro to Social Media for Attorneys
Part Two – Signing up for the Networks
Part Three – Using Blogs as an Information Source
Part Four – Start Blogging Today
Part Five – Introduction to Twitter

Welcome to the 5th installment of our series on Social Media.  In the past two weeks, we have discussed the ins and outs of blogs.  We’ve gone over the best ways to use blogs as a knowledge source, and an introduction to blogging for yourself.  Over the next few weeks, we will discuss a few networks that you should start to use.  Each of them can also be used to promote your blog, using the blog as the base of your online identity, or brand.

First, we will cover Twitter.  Twitter has become the “hot commodity” of the web of late, and it is important that everyone at least be aware of what it’s all about.  Twitter is a site where people can share experiences and ideas in 140 characters or less.  It is like a miniature blog (or microblog) that brings together many people to comment and discuss certain topics.

Signing up is easy, if you haven’t already.  Simply go to www.twitter.com and select Get Started Now.  Fill out a short form and you are ready to join the conversation.  Once you are up and running, the operational process is very intuitive.  You can update your status whenever you like, as often as you want.  You can invite friends and colleagues to join using an email address.  You can find other people on Twitter and begin to follow their updates.

Following someone simply means that you will see their updates on your own Twitter page.  And when someone decides to follow you, they will get yours.  To take advantage of this service as a business development and promotion engine, you’ll want to add as many followers as possible.  Do this by getting involved with other users, start conversations, and discuss interesting topics.  The followers will come.

To find people who may be discussing things of interest to you, you can use search.twitter.com to search any conversation topics.  If you find people you’re interested in, follow them.  Common practice on Twitter is to follow those people that follow you.  So searching for these people and following them will lead to more followers for you, a good thing.

In addition to the normal conversations, you can send direct messages, both public and private, to other users.  If you want to reply to someone, or start a conversation, use the “@” symbol followed by their Twitter name.  For example, if you type @Lawline before your message, that update will come directly to Lawline.com’s twitter account.  This is how you can start more one on one conversations to discuss specific topics and build a relationship.  The more people you involve yourself with, the more popular your Twitter identity will become, and the more you can get out of the experience.

Past Installments of this Series:
Part One – Intro to Social Media for Attorneys
Part Two – Signing up for the Networks
Part Three – Using Blogs as an Information Source
Part Four – Start Blogging Today

Welcome to the 4th installment of our series on social media for lawyers.  Last week we focused on using blogs as a source of information.  Hopefully many of you have started subscribing to those blogs that interest you, and find reading them both helpful and enjoyable.  This is a good place to start your journey into the social web.  But now it’s time to participate in the conversation.

The most logical place to go from here is to start blogging yourself.  Blogging is important for many reasons.  First, it helps you start to establish your personal brand in the online world.  It puts your name out there associated with whatever topic you start to blog about.  Second, tying your blog to your website helps your search engine optimization, meaning Google and other search engines will start to rank your website higher.  This will help you draw more people to the website that might have otherwise missed it.  And more people on the site means more attention, and more clients.

The truth is, blogging leads to many other things.  For example, we started The Legal Beat as a way to deliver news and information about Continuing Legal Education.  But it became an outlet to feature our prestigious faculty, deliver current legal news, and get in touch with some up and coming lawyers and legal services.  We have forged more potential partnerships from the blog than we ever anticipated.

So what do you blog about?  Well, that all depends.  Take a look at the other blogs that are out there.  Is there a certain need or area that is not being addressed?  Is there a topic that you know more about than anyone else?  It really does not matter what you decide to blog about, you can always refine it as you go.  But staying consistent and on point is important.  Know who your readers are, or who you want them to be, and give them the information that they need.

If you blog is to draw potential clients, write about important news and decisions in your practice.  If it is just a general blog about your area of practice, deliver some new information that people can’t get anywhere else.  And don’t be afraid to take a stand on certain issues, people like blogs that are opinionated.

So what are you waiting for?  Go get started.  You can go over to blogger.com, wordpress.com, or typepad.com and get a free blog.  If you want the blog to be hosted on your own website, talk to your developer.  It is a very easy process, and you can do it at a very low cost.  Most people shy away from blogging because they think it is a lot of work, but once you get started you will see that everything is easier and faster than you think.  Just commit yourself to writing a couple new posts a week, and you are well on your way.  Happy writing!

Past Editions of this Series:
Part One – Intro to Social Media for Attorneys
Part Two – Signing up for the Networks
Part Three – Using Blogs as an Information Source

The American Dream has changed, especially for many urban professionals. Previously, getting married, having kids, moving to the suburbs and keeping up with the Joneses was the ultimate way to go, even for the lawyer billing 80+ hours per week. Now, many single and divorced people are savoring their unmarried lifestyles, and are leveraging the freedom of being unattached to creatively develop their business networks. There are unique strategies you can pursue when networking as a single attorney.

Free to be Networking

Hays Ellisen, a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, says that being single gives him the ability to plan casual, fun events in the evenings. According to Ellisen, accessibility is a benefit of being single. "Married people in some cases are less accessible than single people. I can do lunch, dinner, drinks and after-hours events." For instance, Ellisen recently organized a casual client dinner for about 25 bank employees at Pop Burger, a trendy but inexpensive New York restaurant. He also gathers people together for karaoke nights in New York’s Koreatown neighborhood.

Olivera Medenica, a partner at Wahab & Medenica LLC, agrees that having evenings free and attending networking events is a huge advantage of being single. Medenica is extremely prolific in attending, as well as organizing, networking events for attorneys. She chairs committees for both the NYC Bar and NYCLA (New York County Lawyers Association). Through NYCLA, she runs PartnerTrack, a lawyers’ networking group that has bimonthly cocktail events after work. Medenica notes, "I have the flexibility to network between 6:30-8p.m., and that is a time when many cocktail and bar association events are held."

Kaye Scholer counsel Mike Sapienza recommends taking the initiative in planning social events for current and prospective clients. He says, "When you’re single, it’s easier to go out after events and be spontaneous. I go out of my way to initiate social events and to cultivate social relationships with my clients. If they think of me as a friend, they are more likely to call me when they have questions or concerns, or deals they may want to bring me in on."

Walking the Line: Personal vs. Professional

Bob Perry is Managing Partner of King & Spalding’s New York office. He says that being single has never impacted his legal career, or his networking. "Clients have not questioned my being single. I do, however, gauge people’s comfort level and act accordingly. For example, if a client is bringing his wife and kids to an event, I’ll consider bringing another partner from the firm with me to balance out the situation." In terms of blurring the line between personal and professional, Perry is very adamant about keeping the two separate. "For me, the line between personal and professional is a very definite one that you just don’t cross. I choose one or the other — not both."
Kramer Levin associate Tamika Cushenberry has had first-hand experience with networking as a single female attorney, and she admits that it is difficult when men’s personal/professional intentions are unclear. She is very serious about keeping the relationship professional and not blurring the line. "As a woman," she says, "I want to be very clear to appear professional. With men, I find that my conversations are more formal than familiar, which could impact the natural development of a relationship. In general, I don’t feel that I am fully receptive to men reaching out to me in what appears to be a professional context, and I’m definitely more conservative than aggressive in pursuing business relationships with men."

Know Your Audience

Various types of networking events require a tailored approach. If you’re a single attorney, you may have to make adjustments for events that are specifically geared toward people with spouses and children, or for events that have more of a social tone.

Medenica says that when she attends off-site retreat events dominated by family activities, she makes sure to be inclusive of the contact’s family when she’s networking. "If the husband is a business prospect, sometimes I’ll end up networking with his wife instead, or talking with them both together. In this scenario, I make sure to include the wife in the conversation, and to explain legal terms to her if she’s not an attorney. Ignoring or excluding the spouse is never a smart move."

Conclusion

From a networking standpoint, being a single attorney has tremendous advantages in terms of flexibility and time to network. However, it is fraught with the challenge of keeping personal and professional contacts separate enough to ensure the integrity and longevity of relationships. Keeping in touch with people, single and married, as they change jobs and move up, is beneficial for all attorneys. By initiating and attending events that suit your personality and interests, and setting clear boundaries for yourself and others, you can enjoy networking and leverage your personal freedom as a single attorney into professional accomplishment. Fortunately today, whether you’re single, divorced or married, basically you can rewrite the American Dream to read any way you want!

(Reprinted with permission of ALM Law Journal Newsletters Marketing The Law Firm.)
_______________________________________
Christy Burke, a member of this newsletter’s Board of Editors, is President of Burke & Company LLC (http://www.burke-company.com/), a New York-based public relations and marketing firm. She can be reached at 917-623-5096 or cburke@burke-company.com.

Our series on Social Media has reached the third week, and we have yet to discuss a specific website or service in detail.  So now, it is time to dive in and get started.  The focus of this discussion will be using Blogs to gain and share knowledge within certain communities.
For this post, we do not have to assume that you currently write for or operate a blog of your own.  That will come later.  This is about taking advantage of the blogs that are already out there, and that other people are using to get information.

A blog, for those who are unfamiliar, is quite simply a webpage devoted to writing articles of interest in a particular area.  They can be owned and operated by one person or a group of people.  The most popular ones have many writers, with new articles (or posts) coming out very frequently (many times each day).

Reading blogs in your area of interest is a great way to get news and updates quickly and easily.  Whereas traditional media like newspapers and television are broad and slow to deliver, blogs offer current, easily accessible information on niche areas of interest.  If you think a specific topic that you find interesting, there are most likely a number of blogs devoted to that topic on the web. 

With well over 100 Million blogs out there, it is important that you can focus your readership to those blogs that will offer the most relevant, and interesting information for you.  You can do this in a number of ways, but the easiest is doing a search on Google.  If you go to google.com and look at the top left corner, there will be a link that says “More”.  Click that and find the link for “blogs”.  That will take you to Google’s blog search.  From there, simply search for anything you might want to read about.

From there, you can subscribe to the blogs that you find most interesting so that you can review updates automatically whenever you want.  Instead of going back to that blog every day, many blogs allow you to enter your email address and receive new articles via email.  However, too many emails can get annoying, so most people will subscribe in a blog reader.

A blog reader allows you to group all your subscriptions onto one page and lets you access all the blogs from your own account.  If you search Google for “google reader”, you can sign up for their blog reader account.  From there, simply type in the web address for each blog that you wish to follow and you are all set.

Blogs can be a great source of information, no matter what area you are in.  With opinionated, up to date information, they offer knowledge and ideas that you would not get anywhere else.  There is a great shift taking place in how people obtain their news, and the more we can gather information online through blogs and other sources, the easier it will be to stay current.

Here are some legal blogs that I would recommend taking a look at to start: Wall Street Journal Law Blog, Above the Law, Simple Justice, The Legal Beat, How Appealing, Overlawyered.  Also, take a look at Blawg.com to see hundreds of other legal blogs.

Past Editions of this Series:
Part One – Intro to Social Media for Attorneys
Part Two – Signing up for the Networks

In part one of our series on social media for attorneys last week, we discussed the very basics of social networking.  We introduced the idea of social media and explained the many forms of online knowledge sharing and communication that are growing in popularity.

There are four general categories of ways that you can use social media to grow professionally.  Each week, as I introduce a new aspect of social media, I will try to give you actionable steps in one or more of these four areas:

1. Networking – using information sharing and online interactions to develop relationships with people.

2. Brainstorming – creating and discussing ideas for new business projects with people in a forum type environment.

3. Learning – using the wealth of information available in the various social media outlets to educate yourself and stay ahead of the game.

4. Promotion – in a way, taking an active role in social media is always promotion, but there are specific ways to do this more efficiently.

Most attorneys that are starting out in the online world are doing it because someone has told them that it’s a great way to get free advertising.  And while that is true, I feel that the concept needs some explanation.

Online marketing is all about getting your name out there.  The more your name is associated with a particular area, the better the affect for you.  You will eventually be looked at as an expert in that area, and your “internet popularity” will increase.  This all leads to a better public awareness, and hopefully more business (or clients).

Think of your name, or your firm’s name as a brand.  And what we are trying to do is associate your brand with quality legal services in one or more areas.  And the fastest, and most times easiest way to do this is an active online marketing strategy.  But with social media, the word marketing can mean just taking part in the conversation.  And you will see how throughout the course of this series.

First thing is first.  Today’s actionable step is to sign up.  Join the networks.  After all, you have to do that before you can use them to your advantage.  Here is a list of networks I would recommend using: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Lawlink, YouTube.  Sign up for as many as you like, but in the world of the social web, more is better.

Past Editions of this series:
Part 1 – Intro to Social Media for Attorneys

You can’t say enough about the usefulness of a good CLE lecture.  A course that provides interesting and up to date information will not only help you prepare for the future, but give you the basic information that you need to grow your practice right now.  It allows you to help new clients, and also service current clients in new ways.

This article from the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, MN talks about a Continuing Legal Education program that is based on a very targeted on a specific, relevant theme.  The program will cover the basics of defending people arrested in demonstration and protest situations.  Why is this so important in Minnesota right now?  With the GOP National Convention happening in St. Paul this year, there are sure to be hundreds of those types of arrests to defend.

The last two conventions, in Philadelphia and New York, led to a combined 2400 arrested protestors.  The police can only do so much to prevent having to make such arrests, so it is a good idea for lawyers in the area to familiarize themselves with the laws regarding such situations.  CLE can help you in the long term, that much we knew.  But this type of CLE course can help a very niche market of lawyers in the very short term.  Sounds like it is worth every penny.

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.

Happy Cinco De Mayo to everyone!  It’s Monday and that means it’s time to get back to the office.  May 5th means that we have made it a third of the way through another year.  So far, this year has been one marked by overall economic troubles and rather interesting presidential primaries.  It can be difficult at times to escape the day to day grind and take a step back to look at things on a larger scale.  But now that we are in the fifth month of the year, I believe it is time to take a day or two to analyze how the year is going for you in a business sense.

Each and every one of us starts the new year with plans for new business development and continued marketing and client relations strategies.  But having those plans is just the beginning, now it is time to see whether or not we are keeping up with those plans, and whether or not they are helping us achieve our goals.  Maybe you have been so busy trying to keep up that you have forgotten all about some of the new projects you wanted to implement.  Or maybe the tough economic conditions have caused you to alter the way you are handling business development practices up until this point.  Though everyone’s situation is going to vary, here are a few questions to ask yourself as you think a little bit deeper about your performance to date.

1. How is your online presence compared to where it was at the end of 2007?  This is an important one because online marketing is not only effective, but almost always cheaper and easier to implement than other marketing strategies.  Are you blogging?  Have you upgraded your website?  How are you showing up in Google and other search engines?

2. How many new contacts have you made?  These can be any type of contacts you may have since last year.  Maybe you went to a few networking events, or maybe you have gotten a few referrals from previous contacts.  It’s a numbers game and it is important, especially in today’s economy, to get out a meet people.  Develop relationships and see where they lead, because they can eventually lead to new business.

3. Are you spending money in the right places?  If you have started any new marketing campaigns this year, it may be time to look back and see what kind of return you are getting on them.  Since times may be slow, it is important not to spend too much money on something that does not seem to be working.  Take a long look at the numbers and see if you can’t cut some unnecessary costs or at least redistribute your money to those initiatives that have been working a little better.

There has been a lot said recently about the importance of lawyer marketing initiatives.  With the amount of lawyers out there vying for the business available, it is so vital to stand out from the crowd.  But what happens behind the scenes and in public after the initial marketing attempts?  What kinds of strategies do you have in place to follow up on your marketing campaigns and retain new clients based on those efforts?

That is where a company like Legal Ease Consulting, Inc. can come in handy.  Legal Ease Consulting is based in New York, and they do exactly what the name suggests, make the life of a lawyer or law firm easier.  How do they accomplish that feat?  Well that depends on who you ask.  Basically, they try to strategize with small to midsize law firms in order to revamp business development systems and make the operations of a law firm more efficient.

It is not enough to have one great marketing campaign if you cannot follow through and serve the type of quality representation you claim.  Following up on that marketing, and living up to the promises you make, are just as important.  That means having the systems in place to arrange meetings, handle paperwork, maintain records and billing efficiently and accurately.  Everything working together provides a good work environment, a satisfied client relationship, and better time management.  Overall, you will be spending less time on the day to day task management issues, and more time on your clients.

With Legal Ease Consulting, Inc., you will get a complete consultation from an expert in the field.  Allison Shields started the company after spending time as a managing partner in a mid-size law firm, focusing on marketing and business development.  With custom tailored services for your law firm, hiring a consulting firm like this one can have you on your way to a more efficient practice in no time.

We all know how important it is for lawyers to get their names out to the public as much as possible.  Perceptions, after all, are everything.  More and more, public relations is the number one avenue taken by attorneys looking to do more business development.  There is a certain credibility firms can gain when quoted in the press or featured at events.  And for many attorneys, the idea of public relations is still a relative mystery.  This is partly due to their legal backgrounds, and also partly due to the fact that PR itself is a drastically evolving field.

That is where a public relations firm or coach can come in handy.  Just as your clients leave the legal stuff up to you, you can leave your public relations up to the professionals.  There are many firms out there designed to work especially with lawyers and law firms to help them increase their media presence.  One such company in the New York area is The Sun Communication Group, who works primarily with small to mid-size law firms.

Boutique firms such as The Sun Communication Group can help lawyers do everything from getting published, speaking at conferences, and other activities that publicize lawyers in newer and fresher ways.  One of the major benefits of working with a specialized PR company is that they already have all the right contacts and necessary information.  You can rely on them to get the job done rather than hire and train someone yourself, wasting a lot of your time and resources.

The general old-school way of thinking for lawyers is that you can sit back and wait for the business to come to you no longer holds true.  With more options out there today, it is vital for attorneys, especially those at smaller firms, to go out and approach potential clients in a number of different ways.  Public relations and the legal industry are slowly growing together and firms like The Sun Communications Group are paving the way for attorneys to grow their business through visibility and reputation.

The internet is a quickly becoming the main focus of advertising and marketing for every industry, including the law.  There is no substitute for online exposure, as many professionals are learning the hard way.  You have to stay one step ahead of your colleagues if you are going to attract more potential clients your way.  At Lawline.com, we have worked with numerous attorneys to help them build their “internet brand recognition”.  The goal is to get your name out there as many places as possible to begin to develop your own online network.  Here are some tips.

TOP FIVE WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR ONLINE EXPOSURE

1. Write Articles.  One of the best ways to associate your name with a particular topic or area of expertise is to write about it.  Attorneys are always trying to get published, and the internet makes it easier than ever.  There are hundreds of websites out there that will take article submission from people in their network.  Most of them are free to join.  Submit your articles for people to read and your name will begin to gain exposure.

2. Join Networks and Directories.  Martindale-Hubbell, FindLaw, Lexis Nexis, and the Lawline.com Featured Attorney Directory are just a few of the popular attorney directories online.  There are many more like them and it is important to have yourself listed in as many as possible.  You may have to spend some money on a subscription fee but the value is well worth the cost.  These directories are well known and visited often.

3. Write a Blog.  Blogs are a great way to get your name and ideas out into the online world.  They are easy to start with many websites offering free blog hosting and templates.  The only trick is you have to commit some time to stick with it.  Add to it often, write about interesting news and trends that apply to your practice area, and people will read it.  It is a great way to boost your search engine visibility.

4. Update Your Website.  Websites today have begun to move away from the traditional one page information source, where all you see is a picture, an attorney bio, and a contact number.  Many attorneys are starting to add more to their website to make it engaging and interactive.  People visiting the site want to be interested.  You have to stand out from the crowd to truly make a name for yourself online.

5. Continuing Legal Education Programs.  CLE is moving online, and it is becoming much more of a marketing tool than ever before.  If you speak on a topic that directly relates to your practice area, others will see it and hear about it.  At Lawline.com, our faculty members gain immediate online exposure related to their Continuing Legal Education course.  These courses are displayed online and show up in search engines.  They are a great source of personal networking and referrals.

These are only a few of the ways attorneys can begin to market themselves on the internet.  The best thing about the world of online marketing, you can be as creative as you want.  The goal is to have your name associated with your individual area of expertise anywhere someone might look.

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:

As an Online CLE provider, Lawline.com deals a lot with legal assistants and paralegals who are interested in our Continuing Legal Education programs.  That got us to thinking, what makes a good paralegal or personal assistant?  Attorneys, like any employer, should know the fundamental skills and talents they are looking for when they decide to hire.  A bad hire, whether it is a personal assistant, secretary, or paralegal, can cost you unnecessary time, money, and stress.  This week’s Friday Five is our guide to a successful hire.

TOP FIVE THINGS ATTORNEYS SHOULD LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING HELP

1. Communication Skills.  This is crucial.  The ability to communicate in person, on the phone, and through email is as important as any other skill.  To limit wasted time and effort on your part, you need to be able to rely on your assistants to communicate with clients and other personnel as if it was you the whole time.  The more they can do and say on their own, the less time you will have to spend clearing up mistakes or dealing with insignificant tasks.

2. Professionalism.  These people that you hire will be interacting with your clients on a daily basis.  In a way, they represent you and your practice just as much as you do.  You need to make sure that they appear professional and well-mannered at all times in order to give the people they see the right impression.  That all starts with how they dress and act on the initial interview, so pay attention.

3. Career Goals and Aspirations. This does not necessarily mean that they are using the job as a stepping stone to bigger and better things, but a good employee should be able to tell you about their goals.  If they have a clear vision of what they desire in a job and future positions, you know that they are confident and determined workers.  They will be more likely to put in the extra effort to get things done.

4. Proven Analytical Skills.  This is obviously very important in the legal profession.  Employees need to be detail oriented and willing to do some in depth research.  Even the smallest mistakes can be costly if you are working on a case, so make sure whoever you hire understands that.  This can be hard to identify in the interview process, but experience with some type of research is always a good thing to look for.

5. Experience/Interest in your Practice Area.  Experience in the legal profession is definitely preferred for the simple fact that is cuts down costly training.  The less you have to coach and train someone, the more you can get done.  Even better is if someone has experience in your particular practice area, because they will be familiar with certain types of cases, forms, procedures, etc.

In the end, it is not easy to say what makes a person a good employee.  A lot of employers use trial and error techniques, basically hoping that they get the type of worker they need.  Hopefully the tips above will give you a basic starting point to build off of.  But just like anything else, you learn from experience, and the more people you hire, the clearer it will be exactly what you are looking for.

Big news for Lawline.com today.  This weekend, The Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas will be the site of the annual ACLEA (Association of Continuing Legal Education Organizations Conference.  As an online CLE provider, of course we will be in attendance.  But even better than that, our President, David Schnurman will be giving a presentation entitled, How to Write a Business Plan for your CLE Organization.  So, in honor of that, this week the Friday Five is all about why you need to go see this presentation.

TOP FIVE REASONS TO SEE DAVID SCHNURMAN SPEAK AT THE ACLEA CONFERENCE

1. It doesn’t matter what you do in life, the fundamentals of planning and setting goals will hold true.  This presentation is as much about the basics of a business plan, as it is about the important of such things as laying out your goals and projections, and following a vision.  It can help any professional to think about their approach to business, investments, and life in general.

2. David will be presenting with a representative from New York County Lawyers Association, our new partner.  This is a great chance to discuss the Continuing Legal Education world from two different points of view, online and offline.  It will be interesting to compare and contrast the missions of the organizations and the basic strategies they use in day to day business.

3. Not only did David write the business plan for Lawline.com, he founded another company called TrueNYC.  You will be getting advice from someone with experience writing business plans that have been successfully put into action.  He will walk you through the do’s and don’ts in addition to general strategy.  It will be an hour jam packed with information.

4. I wrote and prepared the entire presentation so you know it will be good.  I stayed up many a cold January night to get this presentation set up and finished before the conference and I think you need to be there to give me the respect that I deserve.

5. It’s Vegas Baby!

If you can’t make it out to Vegas this weekend, that is a real shame.  You will be missing a once in a lifetime event.   Maybe, if you’re lucky, we’ll tape it and let you watch it on the website.  Happy Friday!

At Lawline.com, you know that we are always paying attention to the newest and best technologies available.  It is quite obvious that the more technologies available to lawyers, the easier it is to manage the many obligations of the legal profession.  In this edition of the Friday Five, I want to pay special attention to the latest and greatest mobile devices and how they can help make the life of an attorney a little easier.

TOP 5 WAYS TO USE YOUR MOBILE PHONE OR PDA FOR LAWYERS

1. TRACK BILLING TIME.  Many of the latest mobile devices have time trackers and stop watches built in that are perfect to use anytime you are working on a case.  Simply stop and start every time you are in a meeting, on the web, or on the phone with clients.  This way you have an exact time instead of trying to remember your hours later.

2. ACCESS DOCUMENTS FROM ANYWHERE.  With the ability to access the internet and store documents, newer smart phones allow you to carry everything you need everywhere you go.  Instead of lugging around physical files and folders, or a laptop, you can access anything you need in the palm of your hand.

3. DO RESEARCH ON THE GO.  Again, the ability to get on the web from any location can come in handy if you need to do some research on a case out of the office.  This is great for commuters and travelers who spend a lot of time on the move.  You are no longer constricted to your office when it comes to researching case files.

4. MANAGE CLIENTS.  Wireless access to email and messaging services allows you to keep in touch with your most important clients no matter what.  Clients will appreciate this and it will help you retain more clients at one time with the ease and mobility of communication.

5. MANAGE YOURSELF.  With the countless personal organization tools on every Smartphone, it will be easier than ever to manage the many obligations you have.  Some examples of useful tools are calendars, phone books, schedules, alarms, reminders, maps, and GPS.  Use them wisely and you may find that you can juggle all your responsibilities and then some.

In addition, many new phones have multimedia abilities built in, making it possible to listen to Continuing Legal Education on the go.  That makes sense, especially for lawyers with busy schedules (most, if not all) who need to complete CLE requirements on their own time.  With these phones getting better, smaller, and more affordable, it makes sense to take advantage of all the tools that they provide.  It can make anyone’s life much more manageable.

Arthur Levin is the Founder of AGL Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in law firm consulting, business development training for lawyers, and helping companies sell products and services to law firms.  Arthur has been involved with the business development side of law firm marketing for years and he has developed several key tips that he offers to every lawyer or law firm that he works with.

Lawline.com spoke to Mr. Levin recently to find out what kind of tips he would be willing to share with us.  The most important thing he said was that a Lawyer needs to really understand what he or she does for the clients.  Representation, as he says, is such a strong word because you are actually speaking and acting for another person.  As a lawyer, you have to be willing to sell your services and your own persona to gain a client’s, or even potential clients, trust.

Below is a clip from the interview in which Arthur speaks about a 30-second pitch that any lawyer should develop to help convey your own personal value to the client.

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.

Alan Schnurman has been practicing the art of negotiations for 37 years as a Personal Injury Lawyer.  He has been involved in many different types of negotiation s and has perfected a few simple rules to achieve success.  He shares those rules as well as additional tips in his one hour CLE lecture on Lawline.com entitled, Negotiation Strategies from the Plaintiff’s Side.  In the video below, Alan previews the course and discusses the major things to consider for every negotiation.

The most important thing to remember is that when parties are negotiating, everyone wants to resolve the issue or case at hand.  You have to establish yourself as credible, and working towards a solution.  This does not mean that you have to be too agreeable that you give up your position, but you have to establish a rapport with the other party so negotiations can move forward and reach a middle ground.

It is your job as an attorney to reach a resolution that is cost efficient and effective for your client.  You learn the tips and techniques needed to be successful through years of practice and experience.  And though every negotiation varies in format and matter, there are certain things strategies that you can employ in every negotiation.  If you do not perfect these techniques than the outcome of a negotiation is more likely to wind up in favor of the opposing party.

Please enjoy the short video below with Alan J. Schnurman and check out his program on Negotiations in the Lawline.com Course Catalog.

In a continuing effort to help lawyers learn how to better market their websites and increase their online presence, Lawline.com has created a video series of how-to guides.  Part 2 of Lawline.com’s series is entitled An Intro to Blogging for Lawyers.  In the following video we discuss the importance of blogging and some of the basic ways to get started.  It is no secret that everything we do in the world is shifting to the web, and this is a major form of communication that cannot be ignored by any professional who hopes to reach potential clients or customers.

Some of the major reasons to start blogging are to increase the amount of content you put online and to help improve your search engine rankings.  Search engines like blogs because they constantly get updated and keep content fresh.  It is important to add to your blog often, keep it current.  Blogs are special because they add the ability to create many links to your site and other relevant sites like yours.  In addition, other sites will link to your blog as a reference.  This is all helpful for search engine optimization.

To get started the best thing you can do is a find a blogging service that matches your budget.  There are many companies out there that have built blogs that are easily duplicated and cost little to add to your site.  These services are good because they allow you to create the look and feel of an established blog right away.  And once you have it set up, just start writing.  Take a few minutes each day or week to write something short and to the point.  It is up to you what to write about, just know your audience and create something they would be interested in reading.  That will create an increase in traffic to your site, add to your “online brand”, and get your site ranked higher.

Please take a moment to enjoy the video below.

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.

Hyper-competition.  It’s a scary thought.  But it is the reality of the world we live in, and it exists in almost every industry out there.  For lawyers, it means that reaching potential clients and leaving a lasting impression is more important than ever before.  One important tool to help you formulate a powerful message is a unique value proposition, an introductory message that distinguishes the benefit and value of working with you.  It is important for any attorney to have a memorable message that they can use to establish themselves as unique and valuable to their clients.

Nancy Fox, the founder and president of Fox Coaching Associates, has developed a simple 3 step process to developing your own unique value proposition.  Fox Coaching Associates is a business geared towards coaching and training organizations specializing in business development, leadership, and professional excellence.  Nancy recommends following this process, and even outlines the basic ingredients needed to get started.  She discusses the three steps in depth in the podcast accompanying this article.  Here is a brief description of the process:

Step 1 – “Stop them dead in their tracks” opener

·         Use bold words

·         Powerful statements

·         Make it magnetic

Step 2 – What’s in it for them?

·         Statement of benefits

·         Address their wants and needs

·         Give a clear picture of why they want what you have to offer

Step 3 – How are you unique from everyone else in your field?

·         What makes you better than your competition?

·         What do you provide that is different?

·         Why does that matter?

Below, please find the podcast of a conversation between Nancy Fox and David Schnurman of Lawline.com.

Ari Kaplan is one of those people that truly enjoys helping and encouraging others. You can tell just by talking to him for a few minutes that his passion is coaching and teaching. He wants to help people succeed in their endeavors, whatever they may be.

One main area of expertise Mr. Kaplan possesses is getting published. In fact, he runs a company called Ari Kaplan Advisors that is dedicated to coaching those who are trying to get published. This is such an important skill to learn for lawyers and attorneys everywhere. Getting an article published in a magazine, newspaper, or law journal can do many things for a lawyer’s reputation and career. It will help establish expertise in a certain area, relate your name to a particular topic of importance, and improve your status as a respected member of the legal community.

Ari Kaplan also has a new book due out in 2008 that is geared toward young lawyers and law students that focuses on the area of getting published and empowering yourself. He says, “The book is really about getting up, and getting out there. Do something that you feel passionate about and inspires you.” There is nothing more important for a young lawyer than to believe in yourself and your abilities. That type of positive attitude can lead to so many opportunities. And the earlier you start, the further your career and passion will take you.

Below is a clip from an interview Lawline.com did with Ari Kaplan. In it, Ari discusses the new book and talks about the importance of lawyer empowerment.