July 2007

The Virtual Assistant: Every Lawyer Needs One!

by J. Liz Saunders-McManus and Erica L. James

No longer will you waste time formatting a document or making simple additions and changes. The Virtual Assistant can fix your documents and email them back right away – saving you time and frustration.

Columns

Monthly Marketing Brief

What Differentiates the Rainmaker?

by Bob Weiss

A recent study confirms that rainmakers work more hours, are more involved in professional associations and are more likely to hold leadership roles.

Management Tips and Tricks

Associate Salaries: Do We All Get What We Pay For?

by Ed Poll

The economics of the legal profession make it desirable for law firms and clients to select young lawyers to work on a case. Yet there is no equity between starting salaries and experience at that level. Are there any alternatives?

Management by Agreement

Happy Father's Day

by Stewart L. Levine, Esq.

Some of the greatest lessons in life and law are learned from fathers - or father figures. Commemorating the great mentors in his life, Stewart Levine shares some fatherly advice related to the practice of law and the management of legal institutions.

Departments

Marketing

Scoring Big Points on the Telephone: Turning Frustration Into Satisfaction by Making People Feel Important

by John Remsen, Jr.

In those rare times you actually speak to a live person on the phone, little things make a big difference. Next time you pick up the phone, follow these basic techniques to establish yourself and the firm as client-friendly.

Management

Divide to Conquer: Law Firms Use Strategic Teams to Master the Marketplace

by Janet Ellen Raasch

Bolster your strategic plan using multidisciplinary teams. An industry team can raise the firm's profile within an industry segment and a client team can focus on the firm's top existing clients to strengthen loyalty and provide opportunities for repeat business. The end result: a boosted organizational culture, a differentiation tactic in your firm's marketing and accomplished strategic goals.

Technology

Using Data Classification Solutions for Legal Regulation Compliance

by Eric Madison

Managing data storage can be a considerable challenge for IT departments. Compliant data classification tools must be affordable, efficient and user-friendly for both IT and business professionals. Check out the newest automated solutions.

Finance

A Business Plan and Budget: The Foundation of a Successful and Profitable Practice

by Dave Bilinsky and Dan Pinnington

Hard work alone does not guarantee financial success. A business plan and budget are essential for any firm, new or old, and can help you better understand the finances of your practice to ensure a more profitable future.

Contacts

Editor in Chief:
service@americanbar.org
Werner Associates, LLC

Associate Editor:
service@americanbar.org
North Carolina Bar Association

Advertising:
Anne.Bitting@americanbar.org

Sponsorship Information:
service@americanbar.org
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Board of Editors:

service@americanbar.org, Brady & Associates Career Planners, LLC
service@americanbar.org, Oklahoma Bar Association
service@americanbar.org, Mass.LOMAP
service@americanbar.org, Lawyers' Insurance Association of Nova Scotia
service@americanbar.org, Briggs and Morgan, P.A.
service@americanbar.org, Kay, Griffin, Enkema & Brothers, PLLC
service@americanbar.org, Stevens MacPhail, P.A.

Advisory Board:

service@americanbar.org, Burney Consultants
service@americanbar.org, Ledjit Consulting
service@americanbar.org, WealthCounsel, LLC
service@americanbar.org, FIOS, Senior Manager and Consultant
service@americanbar.org, State Bar of Wisconsin
Catherine.Reach@americanbar.org, ABA Legal Technology Resource Center
service@americanbar.org, Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP
service@americanbar.org, Sensei Enterprises, Inc.
service@americanbar.org, Catalyst Repository Systems, Inc.

LPM Resources

Law Practice is the ABA Law Practice Management Section's award-winning magazine. Published six times a year, Law Practice is the leading magazine on the business of practicing law, providing insightful articles and practical tips on marketing, management, technology, finance and more.

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