It is interesting to check outside the legal profession from time-to-time how other cash-strapped entrepreneurs (and we lawyers in private practice like to think of ourselves as such, don't we?) are handling marketing with fewer dollars in a down economy.

In an August 18, 2010 Wall Street Journal piece entitled "On a Tight Budget? How to Land a Client", Emily Maltby points to a number of techniques that could provide useful.

Creativity is key, Maltby writes. She points to techniques such as aiming to reach a particular targeted, "specific demographic" for new clients, and "focusing more on niches or specialties" within a particular industry. Offering free services, "learning more about search engine optimization," creating a more powerful on-line presence, and making better use of social media are also things to consider. 

Employment Prospects Dim as Firms Retrench, Derailing Career Paths for Many - Wall Street Journal, May 6, 2010

Link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704866204575224350917718446.html?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLEThirdNews

The 2009 Chief Legal Officer Survey, conducted annually by Altman Weil, Inc., reports ongoing, incremental change in corporate law departments in response to the new economic landscape, but a deep skepticism that their law firm counterparts are equally serious about change.

Read the full story here

In her article "BlackBerry Behaviour: Is It Ruining Your Reputation?" author Allison C. Shields compiled a list of BlackBerry etiquette tips. It is worthwhile reading. For the full text of the article, go to http://www.abanet.org/lpm/lpt/articles/mgt05092.shtml.

Allison C. Shields, Esq., President of Legal Ease Consulting, Inc. is a former practicing attorney and law firm manager. Her blog is found at http://www.legaleaseconsulting.com/ and her website is at http://www.lawyermeltdown.com/.

David W. Zizik
Chair, Law Practice Management Committee
Zizik, Powers, O’Connell, Spaulding & Lamontagne, P.C.
690 Canton Street, Suite 306, Westwood, MA 02090
Email: dzizik@zizikpowers.com

In his review of The Myth of the Paperless Office, Abigail J. Sellen and Richard H. R. Harper, MIT Press 2001 (see http://www.techsoc.com/paperless.htm), Kirk McElhearn writes:

“The authors’ conclusion to the ‘problem’ of paper is mostly common-sense: ‘paper will continue to occupy an important place in office life but will increasingly be used in conjunction with an array of electronic tools.’ They go on to say, ‘The paperless office is a myth not because people fail to achieve their goals, but because they know too well that their goals cannot be achieved without paper.’ Don’t throw away those books yet—the future won’t be that different after all.”

For lawyers, “going paperless” will not happen until the state courts require e-filing, permit lawyers to store closed files in digital format, and allow the destruction of non-essential paper when a matter is closed. Few state bar organizations have issued definitive rulings to guide law firm managers on these issues. We have a distance to travel before we reach that goal. But don’t let this fact discourage you from using paperless case management software. It is worth the effort.

A critical factor in managing “paperless” technology is getting on the same page with the rest of your firm or practice group about the protocols to be used in receiving, distributing, and “efiling” “documents.” If you have one or more professionals and/or staff persons who insist on doing it “their way,” your firm’s IT Manager and Managing Attorney will not be able to manage the flow of paper in your office in the most effective manner, and the chances that paper and digital “documents” become lost or misplaced will increase exponentially.

Note: Find out more about Kirk McElhearn – a freelance writer specializing in Macs, the iPod, iTunes, digital music and more – at his website: http://www.mcelhearn.com/.

David W. Zizik
Chair, Law Practice Management Committee
Zizik, Powers, O’Connell, Spaulding & Lamontagne, P.C.
690 Canton Street, Suite 306, Westwood, MA 02090
Email: dzizik@zizikpowers.com

In these difficult times, how we practice is as important as what we practice. DRI’s Law Practice Management Committee is committed to providing timely, targeted assistance to DRI members in all aspects of practice management, client development and retention, and related topics.

The Committee is looking for motivated people to serve on its Steering Committee, to assist with publications, annual meeting planning, membership, programming and related planning and activities.

If you are a managing attorney, manager, or are simply interested in topics that relate to practice management, DRI's Law Practice Management Committee has something for you. For more information about how you can get involved, please contact David W. Zizik, Committee Chair (Tel: 781-320-5401; email: dzizik@zizikpowers.com); or Stephen Acker, Committee Vice Chair (Tel: 213-347-0240; email stephenacker@ackerandwhipple.com).