After 30 Years, Law Firm Advertising Is Slow to Change
July 31, 2007
In the early days of attorney advertising, law firms created ads to demonstrate their unparalleled integrity and resourcefulness. Some three decades later, law firms are creating ads to demonstrate their unparalleled integrity and resourcefulness. Although firms themselves have undergone profound changes since the U.S. Supreme Court decided 30 years ago this month that even lawyers were entitled to free speech, the profession's advertising manner and message ' especially among the larger firms ' have evolved very little in those 30 years, according to many industry observers.
Sales and Service Strategies: Simplicity Is the Key to Selling Legal Services
July 31, 2007
Keep it Simple. It sounds basic and obvious, but it is easy to complicate even the most important things. And how many things are more important than growing your practice? You certainly can be a good lawyer and provide technical excellence, but how will that help you achieve your goals for financial success and job security? Will it enable you to achieve the professional status you desire? Will you command sufficient respect within your firm and among your peers?
Technology in Marketing: 'Best Practices' in HTML E-mail Design
July 31, 2007
HTML e-mail (that is, e-mail with images and formatting as opposed to straight text) remains an excellent tool for attorneys to promote their expertise to a targeted group of clients on a recurring basis in a discrete, professional manner. As more and more law firms embrace e-mail as a marketing tool, it is important that they follow 'best practices' in design and coding to ensure that their e-mail communications generate optimal results. While the discussion may be a bit technical, the considerations discussed in this article are every bit as important as the content in your e-mails.
The Practice Group
July 31, 2007
The popularity of the practice group ' an entity within a firm comprised of those who practice a specific area of law or serve a specific industry ' is well grounded, in that it opens a number of advantages to managing a practice and better serving clients. But so complex and management sensitive are practice groups that they open, as well, the easy propensity to misuse the practice group concept in a classic case of poor management canceling the value of a good concept.
Professional Development:: Careeer Success and Life Fulfillment
July 31, 2007
I have always enjoyed trying to understand why some people are very successful and why others are not. Interestingly, I have found many of the most successful people also have greater fulfillment in their personal and family lives. How can this be so? Put simply, they understand both their career and life priorities, they develop a plan based on these priorities, and they use their time wisely. Most of us start our law careers with great enthusiasm and then, to borrow a phrase from a new Seth Godin book, 'we hit the dip'. This clarity of career and life priorities helps successful lawyers get through the dips.
The Place to Network: Innovative Networking Strategies for Women Attorneys
July 31, 2007
If pressed, undoubtedly any woman attorney could come up with a litany of reasons why she cannot be a rainmaker or proactive networker, ranging from responsibilities at home to discrimination or being underestimated in terms of capabilities by bosses or clients, both male and female. The good news is that rather than searching for excuses, many female lawyers are aggressively and successfully networking to develop their client rosters despite challenges they face.
Career Journal: Looking at Law-Firm Marketing Depts. in 2007
July 31, 2007
The first half of 2007 revealed some new trends in law-firm marketing, including structural shifts in departments that are yielding the addition of new job functions. This has made the quest for talent to fill these roles exceedingly difficult.
Announcing the Third Annual MLF 50
July 31, 2007
Once again, it is time for law firm marketing and communications departments to start thinking about their submissions for consideration to earn a spot on the coveted MLF 50 ' The Top 50 Law Firms in Marketing and Communications.
Bit Parts
July 31, 2007
Recent rulings of interest.
