Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Marketing the Law FirmLJN NewslettersNewsSections

Professional Development

By ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |
May 30, 2007

I started conducting etiquette-training sessions in the mid 90s. The typical program focused on good manners and business protocol. Fast-forward to the new millennium and I am discussing etiquette topics that were unknown a decade ago, like appropriate use of cell phones, PDAs and electronic mail. Interesting thing about etiquette: It constantly changes to keep up with society, technology and new business philosophies. Who would have thought or accepted the notion of 'business casual' anytime other than on 90-degree summer days? Or that a named partner would be called by his or her first name?

Unfortunately, along with dressing down our attire and our diminished show of respect for station or attained status, we have also lost our common courtesies and basic levels of good etiquette. Look around your firm and observe. I challenge you to spend time listening and watching how the partners, associates and staff interact with each other. To help you in your observations, look for the following types of etiquette circumstances.

  • Have people stopped saying 'please' and 'thank you' for basic niceties?
  • Do the lawyers know the firm's protocol for meetings, retreats and other activities?
  • Do people introduce each other to visitors, clients or other new faces in the office?
  • At meetings, are people seated in an arrangement that is conducive to a positive working situation?
  • Are basic dining and table manners missing?

A Major Issue

This premium content is locked for LJN Newsletters subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

Compliance Officers: Recent Regulatory Guidance and Enforcement Actions and Mitigating the Risk of Personal Liability Image

This article explores legal developments over the past year that may impact compliance officer personal liability.