Online Pharmacy Ordered to Pay FTC $15.8 Million
July 30, 2008
Saying they 'dispensed deception,' a federal judge in Atlanta has ordered the founders and operators of a now-defunct online pharmacy business to pay the FTC $15.8 million for fraudulent claims associated with the drugs they peddled.
DIY-ing to e-Plan
July 30, 2008
Professional services requiring insight and judgment ' and application of sophisticated expertise on a case-by-case basis ' seemed immune to the e-commerce onslaught. After all, no one wants to trust the future welfare of one's family and affairs to a device that makes the phrase 'computer problem' a redundancy. And why would people who need to spend thousands of dollars on estate planning even think about trusting an online service just to save a few dollars ' even if only to pass on post-mortem thoughts from the grave?
On the Move
July 30, 2008
Who's doing what; who's going where.
Innovation in the Law Firm World
July 30, 2008
Despite over a decade of widespread discussion of innovation within the corporate environment, innovation within law firms remains a relatively unfamiliar topic. The meaning of the word 'innovation' (often defined as 'the act of introducing something new') remains foreign within the context of law firm services, processes, and operations. Very few law firms recognize the opportunities associated with innovation or the market and competitive pressures that will ultimately drive successful firms toward this important business concept. In many ways, innovation represents an untapped opportunity for law firms ' the next great frontier for firms looking to expand their businesses and improve their competitive positions.
(ALMOST) INVISIBLE MARKETING III.
July 02, 2008
(ALMOST) INVISIBLE MARKETING III. This third in a series of Invisible Marketing tactics presents two approaches which are not quite "invisible," but are often overlooked by attorneys. The first is: DURING SPEECHES, HAVE OTHER FIRM MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE WORKING THE CROWD. Make sure you introduce your colleagues from the podium and indicate that they and you are availble to answer questions, send featured articles, discuss opportunities, etc. You are there to do more than "educate;"…
Developing a Partner Scorecard That Is Meaningful to Your Firm
June 30, 2008
This article is the first in a series about developing a customized scorecard for your firm's partners, specific information to include in the scorecard, tailoring it to your firm's goals, and getting partners to understand the scorecard and achieve greater success.
Profitable Use of Associates
June 30, 2008
Partners must be willing to make an investment in the future by becoming more involved in the associate's early experience at the firm. By monitoring each associate's progress, under the auspices of the coordinating partner and the individual partner-mentors, the firm can build toward its successful future.
Business Development Does Not Have to Be a Pain in the Associate
June 30, 2008
Some believe that there are a few naturally gifted rainmakers in each firm who are born with a talent for generating business. That theory is not quite accurate. There is a science to it and that science is to promote oneself without ever engaging in self-promotion. Those who appear to be naturally gifted simply internalized this idea many years ago and have built it into their daily routine.
Practice Building Skills: Can I Really Learn How to Be a Rainmaker?
June 30, 2008
The authors note: "It is amazing to us how often we meet attorneys who have the self-limiting belief that they will never be successful rainmakers. We constantly hear things like, 'I didn't go to law school to sell something,' or 'the people I know who develop business can do so only because it comes naturally to them.' These are excuses that may make us feel better when we say them, but they will not ever help us move out of our comfort zones to become well-rounded professionals.
