Archive for September 2009
Client Confidentiality Is Paramount, But Communication Matters More
Back in the day when I started my law firm and handled court appointed criminal cases, my first meeting with my clients usually took place in the noisy, cramped holding cell behind the courtrooms. On warm days especially, the cells teemed with waiting defendants and I’d have to yell my client’s name loudly so they’d…
Read MoreDon’t Tarnish Your Fresh Start With A Rotten Ending
Opening a law firm by choice or by circumstance offers a chance at a fresh start. However, it’s all too easy to tarnish that bright, shiny new beginning with a nasty ending at your former position. That is what appears to have happened with Jim Driscoll’s departure from St. Louis law firm Brown & Crouppen,…
Read MoreLaw Practice Building Idea: Join a Non-Profit Board
If you’re a solo trying to break into a new practice area, beef up your existing corporate experience or learn new skills, then serving on a non-profit board may be just the ticket. This piece from Fast Company touts the many professional benefits of serving on a non-profit board which include: 1. Learn about an…
Read MoreWhy I Won’t Change My “Specialties” Listing on Linked-In
This past month, both Eric Mazzone, North Carolina’s law practice management expert and blogger at Law Practice Matters and the Illinois State Bar Association advise lawyers against filling in the “specialties” box on Linked-In without including some nerdy little caveat like “My state bar does not recognize specializations” or “I am not a certified specialist” BUT…
Read MoreMyShingle Virtual Videos with Sam Glover, Minnesota Consumer Lawyer
MyShingle Virtual Videos from Carolyn Elefant on Vimeo. I’m proud to present the launch of the MyShingle Virtual Video series, which will have a permanent home and dedicated page when my site re-lauches in the next few weeks. As video gains traction, I realized that many solo and small firm lawyers would like to incorporate…
Read MoreWhat Does the “Good Enough” Phenomenon Mean for Solos?
There’s been a discernible silence in the legal blogosphere over Robert Capps’ recent article, The Good Enough Revolution: When Cheap and Simple Is Just Fine from Wired.com. Perhaps it’s because uber-trendspotter Jordan Furlong wrote about the Good Enough trend a full year ago and the topic is already yesterday’s news. More likely, lawyers haven’t been…
Read MoreOff They Go
Another September, another school year begins begins for my daughters and me. This year, my almost-ten year old enters fifth grade while my almost teenager goes on to eight grade, the last before high school. Today, we officially dispensed with the tradition of my dropping them off at school on the first day and instead,…
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