Law Firm Management

Last month, we highlighted the Top Five firms from The Fifth-Anniversary MLF 50. This month, Numbers Six and Seven from the Top 10 are featured. Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto and Pryor Cashman are profiled here as firms that literally "made a move" and used marketing in ways that increased their exposure and their business.

Nineteen million Twitter users can complain about their jobs instantly by "Tweeting." A reported 33% of Americans online are on Facebook, where they can upload embarrassing or questionable digital photos. This exponential growth has significant consequences for the workplace.

As of April 3, 2009, employers were required to use the new Form I-9 for employment eligibility verification for new employees and applicable re-hires. The new form is the latest step in what has been an unsystematic effort by the United States government to create and enforce immigration laws in the workplace.

How will law firms deal with the different class and experience levels that may be joining law firms at the same time? In this new legal world, designating classes for advancement by law school graduation year may no longer be feasible.

SHAKING HANDS DURING THE FLU EPIDEMIC - Legal Sales British Airways is currently running an ad which states, "Emails do not end in handshakes." And while their business development team is hoping you will jump on one of ther planes and run over the pond to England, their message is "spot on." All too many involved in lawyer marketing believe electronics are the way to client retention or demonstrate strong closing skills. If they were but to…

It is vitally important that partners examine the culture of their firm before making "blanket" modifications to the partnership structure/admission practices simply to satisfy the current, and perhaps short-term, economic issues.

When a Pension is addressing its liabilities and assets, it is important that it present a simple, straightforward way to fund for the future for its participants in a meaningful and effective manner. The volatility of the markets since 2007 has increased demands on the Pensions, as an uneasy balance of influences and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 have required increasing funding levels to meet mandated levels.

At long last, marketing and communications can take center stage and become the key indicator by which law firms can measure their success ratio.