Integration is the Key

One of the things I sorely regret about my firm's website and blog is that they're not integrated too well. Sure, I think they're each marvelous in their own right, but I wish when I started the firm site and blog that the Headway theme was available when I created mine.

The thing I see, especially with a lot of "home made" blogs/websites, is that someone pays to have their site designed, and starts a blog using Blogger.com, Wordpress.com, or some other free host. This breaks continuity between the image you're trying to portray on your firm site, and creates a disconnect between the two sites. How is someone supposed to find your information when they're visiting your professional site at joelawyer.com, but have to acquire your updated content at myjoelawyerincity.free.freehosted.blog.com? It just doesn't work.

You'll notice that my blog and site create the disconnect I'm talking about. Don't agree? Check out the color schemes, fonts, permalink style on each. They're both different. You want cohesion, you have to create it.

This should all be a segment of your marketing plan. You need to package it all together and ensure that you're synced in every aspect.

The great thing I found with the Headway blog theme is how easy you can integrate each element. It's quick and easy, making the integrated changes that are necessary.

If you're just starting out, make sure you integrate well.

Note: I get a "kickback" from the makers of Headway if you purchase using the link, but regardless, it's not about the money, it's about helping you get your firm going.

Management & Me

One of the biggest challenges in running your own firm is being able to manage one million tasks, and then adding one more.

Sure, you've learned some time management skills in law school, and there's wonderful programs to detail responsibilities, but when it all comes down to it, your duty as a solo is to get things done quickly and perfectly.

It's tough, especially as a "newbie", to determine how much time and energy one "simple" set of discovery requests is going to take. Or worse, when the other side sends you heaps of motions due within 20 days. I get even more frustrated when I lose time performing other out-of-the-office tasks, which dissolve the amount of time I can play with back in the office.

Recently I spent some time attending a hearing. I had expected the hearing (including travel time) to last about an hour. To my distress, 2.5 hours I walked away from the court. What was more, I spent most of the at the hearing waiting in the lobby of the building, not waiting for the judge or other attorneys. This was valuable time I could spend working on other projects or handling other business. This is time, which because of this client's particular agreement, I couldn't recover by a future billing.

Unfortunately, these are the games you play, and the risks. Your task is to make it work, keep your sanity, and accomplish your tasks. You're always going to have stress and unexpected, additional hitches. However, if you can work hard and smart, you're going to be just fine.

As always, if you'd like some advice or recommendations, visit my firm's contact page, and send me an email.

Handling Business

I'm at that point in my practice where business has increased, but revenues remain similar. I'm trying to figure out how to improve productivity without having to increase costs.

Any suggestions?

IP Protection

One of the great things about hosting your own website or blog is the ability to customize it in a variety of ways, including on the server side.

I recently discovered a feature (which I'm sure you already knew about) that allows me to block ".htaccess" to my website. My host provides a number of "CPanel" controls to edit particular .htaccess features. Some of these include IP address blocking, password protection, and URL redirects.

Since I have been receiving a lot of unsolicited emails alerting me that I have millions of dollars waiting in some Nigerian bank, I decided to start blocking these senders' email addresses.

My host allows me to enter a specific IP address, or a range of IP addresses. If you're going to block the range, you only need the first 3 proxy ranges: xx.xx.xxx, rather than the full address.

I know this is a limited protection, and isn't likely to cause too much damage, but if I can stop/slow down one more foreign idiot, I'll be happy.

SPU Stuff

I'm a student at Solo Practice University. I think it's well worth the tuition, especially if you're a solo or small firm practitioner.

In recent weeks, SPU took some harsh criticism from some (unmentioned) bloggers. Their criticism about the idea is that the information really is a waste of money because the solo is dying. That's not true, and unfortunately for all law graduates, the harsh reality is that SPU gives you the practical skills, if not some small insights, into uncharted territories. I'm learning Social Security from Johnathan Ginsberg, and bankruptcy from Jay Fleischman. These are just two of the many classes you can take to improve your practice.

One of the other courses I'm in is taught by James Chartrand. The course deals with marketing and other information. James' most recent post gives some great pointers into designing a better website homepage. The keys: Be Brief; Be Even Briefer; Be Commanding.

Of course, these aren't new principles or even groundbreaking ideas, they're simple. With the additional information James' post provides though, you're able to evaluate your website and tweak it. It's these kinds of simple principles in every class that set SPU apart, and make it worth your tuition.

If you're interested in joining, let me know.

Subscribe

If you're clicking over to this site to check out new posts, you need to subscribe to my RSS feed.

I like to use Google Reader, because as I'm sure you're aware, I'm a Google fan (even if they are trying to take over the world - do you think they have a "Pinky and The Brain" complex?).

I use the MobRSS app on my iPhone to aggregate my blog posts, and read them on the go.

Case Loads

A law student, and prospective solo practitioner, recently asked me a great question about handling cases. The question was, "how many cases do you think you can handle at any one time as a solo with no staff before you can't handle it?"

I'd never really considered the question, because I've never had that problem. Like any good attorney, my answer was as vague as possible. I simply said that "it depends on various factor, but probably no more than 100."

We continued discussing the various factors, problems, and scenarios. I've though more about the question and some of the intricacies, and continue to believe that 100 is the magic number.

Here's my thoughts, and I'd like yours:

First, many cases are not so intense as to require a significant amount of time. Sure, you'll have heavy periods, but like anything, you're going to have a significant number of slow periods. If you're good at time management, and you improve your organizational skills, you'll likely be able to handle this many cases alone.

Second, if you're focusing on one or two practice areas, chances are, you'll see a lot of the same issues. Therefore, it's easy to convert/modify pleadings, letters, etc., from another case to your current one. This will save some time and other hassles.

There are some drawbacks too with handling everything yourself.

As chief and worker, you're responsible for everything that happens in the law office. You're responsible for the letters that go out, and answering the telephone, sometimes at the same time. Every task you have to perform takes time, and takes away from the tasks on other cases. You must be able to do everything quickly and efficiently.

Having a large number of cases also results in a large amount of excess work. In order to settle each claim, you have to work the file. This extra work can add extra stress and longer work days. I've spent several late nights/early mornings worrying about the cases and the tasks that need to get done.

It's really easy to think that you can handle everything alone without support and staff. The truth is, most of the things you can do alone. However, like any business, if you want to grow and serve your clients best, you need to add support staff.

You can add staff in a number of ways. For instance, you can hire an intern (check IRS restrictions/labor laws on this) to help draft documents and work with you. This is a great opportunity for the intern, and can add some extra value to your business.

You may also hire a "virtual assistant" who can draft routine correspondence and help reduce or eliminate some of the mundane tasks that take extra time. Remember, every minute you can save yourself from having to draft a letter to someone on the case, is a minute you can devote to other paying tasks.

There are a variety of things you can do without incurring a large amount of overhead or extra monthly costs. The important this is to be creative.

New Resolutions

Over at The [Non]Billable Hour blog, Matt Homann is dispensing a wonderful cacophony of ideas for developing a new ideology of behavior in 2010.

Matt's recent "resolutions" series tackles some fairly common issues, and gives you a great strategy to address them. I am especially intrigued by Homann's posts on firing better, developing a client "worthiness" index, asking more from your clients (developing a survey), and seeing yourself like your clients do. 

I think these resolutions can be used as benchmarks in any stage of the law firm's growth and development, but most especially when the law firm begins to grow. Our firm is struggling with a few of these issues, and reevaluating them can help "patch" holes, and continue our firm on its growing path.

After a bit of thinking, I think it's possible.

This post had been scheduled to go out, but I just sat on it. Here you go:
 

Recently I posted regarding Tim Ferriss's book, The 4-hour Work Week: Escape the 9 to 5, live anywhere, and join the new rich. I'd queried whether his idealistic view were possible in a service-based industry.

At the time of the post, I'd only ventured a mere 5 chapters into the text, so I made some assumptions based on a minimal amount of information. Since posting, I've finished the book, and have taken several opportunities to reflect on the content. I still affirm my initial conclusion that there is absolutely no way to accomplish the feats he advocates as an attorney or in any other service-based profession, at least not if you'd like to maintain your license.

However, there is still some ability to free yourself from the office, and enjoy life (although, even this has some limitations, i.e. billable hours, client meetings, etc). The key I think is recognizing one of the core principles discussed by The Positivity Blog, Jim Calloway, and Susan Cartier-Liebel. This core principle involves manipulating the 80/20 principle to your competitive advantage.

One of the things Tim discusses in the book is creating, or building efficiency, by emphasizing the 80/20 principle. Tim suggests that the reader consolidate the time he/she spends answering phone calls and responding to email, as one valuable method to build more free time. Tim suggests using email autoresponders and voicemail as a way to prompt clients to specifically articulate their needs, and stave off the multitude of unnecessary conversations. Note also that he suggests telephone conversations if email responses become too extensive.

I think this principle would improve client expectations, although it may "bite you in the butt" too. Recently, one attorney I work with attended a CLE where he discovered that sometimes client expectations aren't quite our expectations. The presenter said that more bar complaints occur because of "failure to communicate with clients" than anything else. The presenter stated that some client expectations are unreasonable, considering the attorney's workload. For instance, most attorneys believe that a same-day response to an email is okay, while most clients believe that an email gets answered within 1 hour. This divide could lead to confusion, especially if you rely heavily on email as a primary medium for communication.


I think if you're going to use Mr. Ferriss's principles, it's important to set client expectations at the initial client meeting.

WordPress Plugins to Get You Started

I love WordPress and the Headway Theme. I think the two systems are very useful, and cost effective (check out this post for my Headway review). I like WordPress because: 1) it's the blogging platform supported by my webhost (very useful when you screw up); 2) it's free (I think TypePad charges for hosting); and 3) the WordPress site has millions (literally) of helpful people creating plugins, applications, and support forums.

I've decided to give you a list of my favorite WordPress plugins, and hopefully, you'll add to this mix (in no particular order).

1. Sociable Plug-in - this plugin adds a nifty little banner at the bottom of your posts to allow readers to add the posts to their favorite social website.
2. Simple Google Sitemap Generator - sitemaps are key to getting recognized in Google. This generator does the hard work, and you take all the credit.
3. RSS Footer - if you're a paranoid, "end-of-the-world" type guy like me, you're afraid that someone's going to rip off your content, sell it to the "gub-ment", and use it to create the next Kennedy conspiracy, of which you'll get no credit. This plugin stops that. You get credit for uncovering/creating the conspiracy. P.S., it also protects you from getting copied and reused without credit.
4. Google Analyticator - I use Google Analytics, you should too. This makes it easy. Analytics is it's own monster.
5. Dean's FCKEditor - this plugin adds extras to your simple editor.
6. WP-Cumulus - If you like cloud tags, this is an easy one to use.
7. Wordpress Automatic Upgrade - easily upgrade your WordPress site and plugins. One-touch upgrade...SWEET!
8. Statpress Reloaded - A great plugin to get more information about your blog's visitors, search terms, etc.

Hopefully, this list will get you started on your blogging adventure. If you find a good WordPress widget or plugin you're happy with, please let me know.