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Halloween is just around the bend, and since most people will be celebrating it this weekend, I thought I would celebrate it right now. Here is a special Friday Five dedicated to the massive amounts of candy that will purchased, given away, and eaten in recognition of this oddity of a holiday.
TOP 5 CANDIES FOR LAWYERS
1) NERDS. With all the studying you guys did in school, and still do with continuing case analysis and CLE, this one should need no explanation. Next item please.
2) ONE HUNDRED GRAND BARS. I saw mentioned in an article earlier this month that the first few attorney’s topped the $1000/hour mark this year. This means that to get $100,000 on a particular case is no stretch. For this candy, maybe it would make sense to get the fun size, because you will be giving your lawyer a few “hundred grands”. See also, PayDay and those little gold coin chocolates.
3) JAWBREAKERS. This is for all of those people that have an attorney out there they wish to see fail. Here at Lawline.com we do not advocate violence, hatred, or anything ill-willed in nature. However, giving a jawbreaker to an attorney could wind up eliminating his ability to carry out those long-winded speeches necessary for him to operate. After all the pain he will be in when he tries to bite into one of these candies, he will have to resort to doing more research, and leave the talking to everyone around him for awhile.
4) KIT KATS. This one is more for the theme song than the actual candy. “Gimme a break” could be the theme song of any lawyer out there. With so much work to be done, every minor issue can become a major hassle. If you ever feel the need to go off on a hysterical fit because there is so much to be done and people keep asking for your help, just remember the motto made catchy by the good people at Hershey’s. Even eat one, chocolate calms you down.
5) LIFESAVERS. Lawyers take a lot of heat from the general public. People sometimes see lawyers as evil or detrimental to society. However, most of the time this is only because people are judging lawyers based on a lack of knowledge of the legal system and all the work that goes into it. The truth is, when you are in a bind, a lawyer can be the best friend you have.
And so ends the sweetest version of the Friday Five to date. I hope everyone enjoys Halloween, however you celebrate. Just remember to save that candy for that much needed late afternoon sugar rush.
For so many lawyers, marketing is the last thing on their minds. It is easy to see why this is the case. First, time spent marketing is time spent away from working on cases and earning money. The rewards for the time you spend marketing does not show up in the bottom line as billable hours do. And second, marketing is not something that many lawyers learned or have experience in. Therefore, marketing to go out and get more clients gets put aside until things get desperate.
In actuality, marketing is the most important aspect of business development for every law firm, from the big firms to the solo practices. Educating yourself and taking risks on the marketing side of the business is so important to growing your practice. Christy Burke, founder of Burke & Co., writes a column about lawyer networking and business development for a publication called Marketing Your Law Firm. Lawline.com invited Christy to talk with us about some of the tips she gives lawyers and law firms.
One major recommendation is to use lunchtime as a chance to meet with contacts and potential clients to create a relationship and open the lines of communication. It is important to develop a working relationship, and continue to network to increase the amount of relationships you create. Marketing is truly a numbers game, and too many lawyers limit the amount of people they talk to and deal with. Getting yourself out there and branding your name and your practice will allow you to reach more people.
Of course, there are many different ways for lawyers to market themselves. For more of Christy Burke’s tips, please enjoy Lawline.com’s interview with her below.
Information Backup for Law Firms Posted: October 22nd, 2007 By: Zach Heller Category: Law Firms, SHOWCASE CORNER, Technology Corner, Videos
No matter what type of work you do, it is always important to feel a sense of security. Just that feeling that someone is looking out for you can alleviate a lot of the stress of day to day work. Backup my info!, a data and information backup company, has been doing just that for law firms for years.
Jennifer Walzer, president and founder of the company, knows the value that Backup my info! can bring to any size law firm. With so much information stored on office computers, it is easy to see how disastrous a complete system crash could be on a law firm and their clients. Just thinking about that big of a mess can cause you to worry and fret over every single document. Backup my info! solves that problem with an automated process designed to back up and recover your information with the click of a button.
Jennifer has always found that service comes first and foremost. Operating as a boutique company, Backup my info! is designed to put the client’s mind at ease by offering the highest quality service. All of the law firms that she works with have one less thing to think about every day because if anything were to go wrong with their system, a full-time service representative will let them know about it and solve the problem within seconds. And in the fast-paced information driven world that most lawyers and law firms operate in today, that proves to be an important service.
Please enjoy Lawline.com's interview with Jennifer Walzer below.
Don’t look now, but I think we just made it through another week. Since last Friday so many incredible things have happened. Al Gore won a Nobel Prize. The Rockies made the World Series. And you all probably did some work on a case. I was also hard at work on another fantastic top 5 list for your viewing pleasure. Please enjoy.
TOP 5 EXCUSES TO TELL YOUR STATE IF YOU MISS THE CLE DEADLINE
1) I AM TOO SUCCESSFUL. With so many clients, and so many cases, there is no extra time to fit in those pesky CLE courses. The schedule is too packed and there is not enough time in the day as it is. What are you gonna do, sue me?
2) I ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING IN THOSE COURSES. The Allen Iverson “I am so good I don’t need to practice” approach. There is nobody out there that knows more about the law than I do. I learn more by listening to the thoughts in my own head than I ever would by taking courses taught by other people.
3) MY DOG ATE MY CERTIFICATES. The classic elementary school excuse. I could have sworn I left those darned things on my desk to fax in the morning. Oh well, I guess Sparky got a little hungry last night. Maybe I can get copies sent to you in a couple of weeks. Is that okay?
4) THERE’S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR. The Chicago Cubs approach. I know the deadline was yesterday, but these things come around once a year. So it seems that in about 364 more days, there will be another deadline for me to meet. Well as long as I get that one I will be up to date right?
5) IT’S THE PROVIDER’S FAULT. The blame game. I did all my required courses with one provider. Didn’t they send you the certificates? I thought they were supposed to give me the credits for those courses themselves. I apologize so much for putting my faith in them. I will never use that company again.
Any way you decide to do it, do it well. Sell it. And sit there and take it like a man when you are forced to pay the penalty.
Friday is here and that means one thing above all else, Lawline.com has a new Friday Five for you to sink your teeth into. This weekend calls for some inclement weather conditions, offering the perfect chance to enjoy a quality movie. It is in that spirit that we bring you a top 5 list for your DVD player.
TOP 5 LAWYER MOVIES OF ALL TIME:
1)My Cousin Vinny. "Your honor, I respectfully request a whole day to go over this sh... er stuff." This was the only unanimous selection on the list. Vincent Gambini, played by Joe Pesci, is the most memorable big screen lawyer of all time. If you have not seen this movie you are missing out, and I recommend you buy or rent it as soon as possible.
2)The Firm. “Hey Ray, wouldn't it be funny if I went to Harvard, you went to Jail and we both ended up surrounded by crooks.” Tom Cruise as a law school grad who gets lured into a prominent firm in Tennessee, only to find out that everything there is not as it seems. You should get Ethics Credits for watching this one.
3)A Time to Kill. “What is it in us that seeks the truth? Is it our minds or is it our hearts?” This is a powerful movie about a trial that brings to light racial tension in the south when a young black girl is raped. Matthew McConaughey plays a determined lawyer who seeks justice for a black man against a white jury.
4)The Devil’s Advocate. “Because the law, my boy, puts us into everything. It's the ultimate backstage pass, it's the new priesthood, baby.” Al Pacino stars as the devil, lawyer and manager of a prestigious law firm in New York City. His son, played by Keanu Reeves, is an up and coming lawyer who has never lost a case. They eventually go head to head in a dramatic ending, what more could you ask for.
5)Philadelphia. “What I love the most about the law? It's that every now and again - not often, but occasionally - you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens.” We couldn’t leave this one out because of its classic status. Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks offer terrific performances as the courtroom battle pits one lawyer against a large firm.
Honorable Mentions: To Kill a Mockingbird, A Few Good Men, The Verdict, Liar Liar, Find Me Guilty
Hyper-competition. It’s a scary thought. But it is the reality of the world we live in, and it exists in almost every industry out there. For lawyers, it means that reaching potential clients and leaving a lasting impression is more important than ever before. One important tool to help you formulate a powerful message is a unique value proposition, an introductory message that distinguishes the benefit and value of working with you. It is important for any attorney to have a memorable message that they can use to establish themselves as unique and valuable to their clients.
Nancy Fox, the founder and president of Fox Coaching Associates, has developed a simple 3 step process to developing your own unique value proposition. Fox Coaching Associates is a business geared towards coaching and training organizations specializing in business development, leadership, and professional excellence. Nancy recommends following this process, and even outlines the basic ingredients needed to get started. She discusses the three steps in depth in the podcast accompanying this article. Here is a brief description of the process:
Step 1 – “Stop them dead in their tracks” opener
·Use bold words
·Powerful statements
·Make it magnetic
Step 2 – What’s in it for them?
·Statement of benefits
·Address their wants and needs
·Give a clear picture of why they want what you have to offer
Step 3 – How are you unique from everyone else in your field?
·What makes you better than your competition?
·What do you provide that is different?
·Why does that matter?
Below, please find the podcast of a conversation between Nancy Fox and David Schnurman of Lawline.com.
Every six months, it happens – it’s inevitable. For a block of 3 weeks in May and in December, I get lonely and upset. Why, you ask? Because of Law School final exams. They are a tough and trying time for me, and I get through it by staying strong, remaining hopeful, and getting ready to celebrate when the exams are finally over with. Oh, and by the way…I’m not even in law school.
Having a good portion of friends and acquaintances that are in law school has always put me in a weird position. They discuss torts, and talk about their professors. They talk about proximate cause and fraud deterrence, and I stand there and observe and have no idea what they are talking about. And then when finals time comes, they disappear. Whether they lock themselves in their bedrooms for days at a time, or pull consecutive all nighters at the Law library, you can guarantee that contact with them is limited at best. And when you do get a few minutes to say hi and attempt to catch up a bit, you can hear the stress, exhaustion, and desperation in their voices (even in their emails!). You begin to feel bad for them, until you realize of course that while they are keeping busy with their studies, it is you who is lonely and companionless, not them!
So how do you cope? Well for one thing, it is important to be supportive and accessible to them. Offer to meet them for a cup of coffee or a beer, to help break up their studies a bit. And don’t save it for the weekend either (as during finals, law students often cannot distinguish the week from the weekends.) Bring them dinner one night to give them a little human contact (even during finals, these students need to eat). Plan a post-finals outing or party for them to give them something to look forward to. These three things will surely help get them through finals, but perhaps more importantly, it will help you overcome your loneliness. After all, you are the victim here remember.
So the next time that finals time is upon us, we can be prepared for the hopelessness, loneliness, and suffering that comes with not having to take final exams. In some instances, it might even be wise of us to read up a little bit on what your friends are studying. That way, the next time they decide to discuss ownership statutes and alternative dispute resolution, you can jump right into the conversation. Now, wouldn’t that be nice?
Lawline.com, a leading provider of online Continuing Legal Education, has just released four new Virginia Continuing Legal Education bundles. Each of these bundles contains 12 credits, including two hours of ethics, and can be used to complete all the MCLE requirements for the year.
With the deadline to complete Virginia CLE requirements for attorneys practicing in the state of Virginia coming up on October 31st, Lawline.com is making it easier than ever to obtain credits. The four new bundles include a wide selection of courses and practice areas. Two of the bundles are general bundles, to give the attorney a broad overview of the law. The third focuses on real estate law, and the fourth bundle focuses on business and corporate law. Each one of these bundles is priced at $275, a savings of more than 40% off the listed price.
Since 1999, Lawline.com has been on the cutting edge of online Continuing Legal Education. Through their streaming audio & video courses, as well as MP3 downloads, their goal has always been to bring high quality CLE programs to attorneys across the country. Lawline.com’s mission is not only to serve individual attorneys, but to make the CLE process easier, more efficient, & streamlined for law firms. Lawline.com recently launched Firm CLE to give law firms the ability to pre-purchase blocks of credit hours and easily share them with their partners & associates.
Welcome to first installment of the Lawline.com Friday Five, the weekly countdown of the best of the best in every topic imaginable. The Friday Five is a top five list on topics that vary from law and CLE to weekend and vacation plans and activities. You never know what you are going to get. To start it off, we have a top 5 list that every one of you lawyers out there are sure to love.
TOP 5 PLACES TO LISTEN TO CLE ON YOUR MP3 PLAYER OR IPOD
1) AT HOME. Nothing beats a little down time at your home after a hard day’s work or over the course of a nice relaxing weekend. Why not make it even more worthwhile by getting caught up on some extra Continuing Legal Education. Whether you are out in the yard, relaxing on the couch, or lying in bed at night, the home can provide the ideal atmosphere to absorb as much as you can about new rules and regulations pertaining to your practice area.
2) ON THE ROAD. I do not advocate driving with headphones on, but a car ride is a great time to listen to a good CLE lecture. The reason is, you’ve got nothing else to do, and you can focus. There is no reason you can’t plug an IPod or some other device into your car’s stereo system, granted you have the capabilities to do that, and rock out to the classic tunes of Personal Injury or Litigation.
3) AN AIRPLANE. Do you have some travel in your future? A long airplane ride can be almost unbearable. That is why I would suggest bringing your mp3 player along so you can listen to some CLE while you fly. You will be soaring through the clouds and cruising through this year’s mandatory credit requirements at the same time. That is some trick. You know one thing, wherever you land, you will be that much closer to knowing everything there is to know about the legal profession.
4) A BORING SOCIAL EVENT. We have all been dragged to a gathering that we wished was over before it even started. Whether it is a family reunion, a corporate bonding activity, or a party that never really got off the ground, it can be a real drag. No need to worry, you’ve got an mp3 player loaded up with CLE courses. Not only can you complete some of your requirements, but you can pretend to be having the time of your life while you listen to a great lecture. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.
5) AT WORK. There is nothing worse than a boring meeting, or the busy work required in a big case. Sometimes work can be so dull that you question those years in law school and think, “If only I were an astronaut”. That will never happen again if you fill every dull moment with the excitement waiting for you in your CLE downloads. Simply pop in the head phones, cover your ears, and continue to look interested and hard at work. Billable hours never seemed so productive. And just think, if your boss or client catches you in the act, they can’t say you weren’t working. Because hey, you couldn’t be a lawyer without your CLE.
