Archive for December 2012
The Future of Law: Been there, done that, let’s do it better.
As the saying goes, there’s nothing new under the sun. What law profs and thought-leaders tout as “the future of law” — from non-lawyer representation or nonlawyer ownership of firms and form-based, assembly-line style or virtual law practices (for the record, not all virtual practices follow this model) — have their roots in legacy models that the…
Read MoreContinue Your Education with Skillshare.com
When it comes to post-law school learning, most lawyers think of continuing legal education or CLE. And while it’s important for lawyers to stay fresh on law-related developments in their respective practice areas, in these dynamic times, lawyers — and particularly solos — need to learn other skills as well. While large firm lawyers or…
Read MoreQuick Thoughts on E-Newsletters and E-Annual Reports: Time to Send is Now
Because I’m an avid blogger, for years, I resisted sending an electronic newsletter as part of my law firm marketing portfolio. If potential clients wanted a sample of my legal analysis, they could follow my blog, I reasoned. Plus, I assumed that my newsletter would get lost in the hailstorm of big firm client alerts…
Read MoreUnderstanding Technology to Save Clients from Themselves
On several occasions, I’ve described myself as a practical technologist, mastering and adopting new technology tools on a strictly need-to-know basis to serve clients. So for me, having the latest, greatest gadget was never as important as being an early adopter of tools like client portals or webinar platforms or blogging so that I could…
Read MoreFree Products in Your Law Practice: Work Them or Shirk Them?
Free Stuff for Going Solo; an excerpt from Launching a 21st Century Law Practice from Carolyn Elefant Free stuff abounds for lawyers starting or running a practice. From document sharing platforms to conference call services to websites to legal research, the cost of running a law firm is nosediving. Free products are also proliferating; my…
Read MoreCelebrating A Decade At MyShingle
Ten years ago yesterday, I pushed the “enter” key and launched MyShingle.com on to the World Wide Web. I didn’t know what to expect, but I fell in love with the medium and my solo/small beat so I just couldn’t stop. But this blog has been so much more than just a place to write…
Read More21st Century Retainer – Last Call for 2012
Last call for the 21st century retainer agreement, scheduled for its final run on December 18, 2012. Register here – http://21stcenturyretainerdec.eventbrite.com/. The $49 fee is an amazing value, with a webinar and ebook and 14 pages of contract clauses included – but as a gift to readers and in celebration of MyShingle’s upcoming 10th Anniversary,…
Read MoreThe Miracle of the Solo (reprise)
Editor’s note: Tomorrow night is the first night of Chanukah, one of my favorite holidays not because of the presents but what it stands for. Chanukah inspired one of my favorite posts in nearly a decade of blogging, and if you didn’t catch it last year, here it is again. Tonight marks the first night…
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