June 2007

Mind the Gap: Train Today's Young Lawyers to Become Tomorrow's Rainmakers

by Janet Ellen Raasch

Baby Boomers are reaching retirement.is the younger generation prepared to take its place? Eliminating the current knowledge and experience gap will require law firms to develop a formal structure that will build the rainmaking skills for the next generation of lawyers.

Why Attorneys Should Be Working with the Press, Instead of Against Them

by Paramjit Mahli

You know that public relations is an important aspect of your business development strategy. But do you know the appropriate plan of action to take in order to achieve optimal success?

Columns

Monthly Marketing Brief

Effectively Market to In-house Counsel Through Your Pro Bono Work

by Bob Weiss

Soon to become a model in pro bono work, law firms are increasingly partnering with in-house attorneys. There are benefits all around. Lawyers tend to enjoy pro bono work, it allows for increased trust with an outside lawyer and there is increased probability of additional work in the future.

Management by Agreement

Climate Change 2007: Challenges and Opportunities (A Strategic Overview)

by Stewart L. Levine, Esq. and Anita R. Bahe, Ph.D

These days we are all more aware of the effects of climate change. In this short article, Levine and Bahe, a senior environmental scientist, highlight the science of climate change and then provide ways that lawyers can take a leadership role in this global issue.

Departments

Management

Law Firms: Use Competitive Intelligence to Make Better Business Decisions

by Janet Ellen Raasch

What do the top firms have in common? Competitive intelligence, or CI. Rise above the competition by using a program for collecting, analyzing and managing outside information.

Technology

How to Develop an Online Brief Bank

by John Powell

Advanced technology has allowed for greater ease in creating and maintaining a brief bank. Now, a full-text searchable brief bank has a user-friendly interface, similar to Google, but customizable and with quick updates.

Finance

Flat Fees and Contingency Fees - Do They "Fix" Hourly Rates?

by Edward Poll

All clients are not the same. Their preferences and their projects differ. As such, each project or case may require different billing options. Consider the alternatives before creating a one size fits all policy.

"Third Thursday" CLE Teleconference Series

Collecting Your Fees: Ethically Getting Paid
from Intake to Invoice

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Program Summary

Failure to collect fees can sink a law firm. After billing $100, some lawyers can collect only $65. Can your firm survive with a realization rate of only 65%? What enables some lawyers to collect what they bill and other lawyers unable to do so? What are the ethical pitfalls to avoid under ABA Model Rules 1.5 and 1.8?

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
**************************************
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.

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