LJN Newsletters

Lawyers have long been the subject of jokes and put downs, but apocryphal anecdotes demeaning lawyers, the courts, or the legal system particularly irk Karen M. Balaban, a Harrisburg attorney and one of three chairs of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Public Relations Implementation Task Force Committee. Lawyers, she believes, 'should not allow these urban legends to proliferate' to the detriment of lawyers and judges and the public's opinion of the profession. Instead, Balaban says, lawyers, who are trained to help adjudicators find the truth, 'should be more conscious about getting at the facts of the matter.' Balaban emphasizes that faux facts make all lawyers look bad, and asserts that lawyers should investigate and then, when they discover that some stories are false, should say, 'these things are not true.'

Throughout your career, you will probably attend more than a few networking events, seminars, conferences, trade shows, and cocktail parties. How much thought have you given to how you will introduce yourself? How much time have you spent preparing your elevator pitch or 30 second commercial?

'Who knows whom?' That's the question.
In today's hypercompetitive legal marketplace, the need to leverage information is at an all-time high. It's no longer sufficient to rely solely on law school, a golf club or other social affiliations to get new business. While relationships are still key to opening doors, winning the work requires more.

Legal publications' lists of lawyers can increase the reputation of a particular attorney, practice or law firm. While getting listed can be a boon for a firm's marketing efforts and for lateral and associate recruiting, unfortunately, 'Sorry, maybe next year,' is the most common phrase heard by law firms vying for these sought after spots.

As much as we might try to brand, differentiate, cross-market, and otherwise distinguish our law firms in the legal services marketplace, a law firm's success ultimately comes down to individual lawyers. They are the ones who must bring in the business, retain it and grow it. That is good reason for law firm marketing departments to focus on their internal clients first and foremost. Think inside the box, then build outward to devise strategies and tactics for building and retaining external clients.

'Equal justice under law' ' these words, written in stone on the face of the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC, express the goal of our judicial system. But what exactly is justice, and when was the last time you and your partners and associates thought about justice as it relates to your practice?

Many of the stories about senior partners pressured to retire so the next generation can take over are not pretty. Ironically, they clearly contradict the long-held notion of what a partnership should be at a time when less formal 'partnerships' are a management buzzword for getting things done in business. ('We partner with '' [our clients, other organizations, etc.]) And long time partners' needs and futures beyond financial arrangements are neglected.
For the younger generations in the workplace to get what they want, there must be something in it for the more senior people too. Here are my thoughts and recommendations.

Highlights of the latest franchising news from around the country.