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Make Sure You Get What
You Pay For
The prompt return of calls is part of the practice management skill package that every lawyer should have. Sound practice management will prevent the client service problems that are at the root of the majority of disciplinary complaints against lawyers. Yet for far too many years, lawyers have been unable to get CLE credit for courses that help them improve practice management skills. A while back I learned of a situation in which the Bar Association of the State Bar of Washington rejected MCLE credit for a program focusing on "Managing Client Expectations." In their words, the intent of the program was to teach marketing skills to lawyers—and marketing, as an aspect of practice management, did not qualify as professional education. And this of course isn't covered in law schools, where the horrified professors would regard themselves as akin to high school shop teachers for dwelling on such topics.
Fortunately, the pendulum is swinging against such shortsightedness, but this is bringing its own set of problems. In a recent post on his web site, www.prismlegal.com, law firm technology and marketing consultant Ron Friedman observed that the number of practice management conferences offered by professional legal associations like ALA and ABA, as well as legal publications, has "exploded." Yet Ron wonders about the quality of many such proliferating conferences, and I quote his concern here:
Conference organizers should clearly distinguish between "here's what you will learn" sessions driven by a speaker plus PowerPoint and real panel discussions. I find being talked to—whether by a single speaker or seriatim by 3 to 5 panelists—less useful than a truly interactive panel...On the commercial side, let's hope for a shake-out. I've heard too many stories of sessions or whole conferences with just a handful of non-speaker / non-vendor attendees. As a marketing person now, I see way too many opportunities to sponsor conferences or pay-to-meet-buyer events.
Fortunately, lawyers are increasingly becoming aware that we are living in a
world of "duality." That is, we are blessed to be performing a function that
is regarded as a profession, the law, and that this profession is a loving
and care-giving profession. At the same time, we are also in a service
business, a function that has economic consequences for both the lawyer and
the client. Thus, we must operate in a business-like way. We must deliver
our legal services in a way that is reasonably cost-effective for the client
as well as provides us with reasonable value for our time, expertise and
contribution to the client.
Best wishes,
Ed Poll
lawbiz.com
800-837-5880
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Ed's Coaching will:
• Put your professional development on the fast track so you are moving up to the next level of success
• Provide you with a confidential sounding board
• Open your eyes to solutions to your challenges that have a proven record of effectiveness
• Partner you with a peer who has walked in your shoes before and acquired the insight and judgment to mentor and guide you
• Have no other agenda than your success
Clients include attorneys, managing partners, executive directors and
financial directors at small, mid-size, and large law firms. We have seen many of our clients increase their revenue by five or
six figures-that's $50,000 to $400,000 based on reports thus far.
Many of my clients have experienced:
• Increased revenue with long-term strategies for sustainability
• Attainment of partnership level
• Enhanced performance resulting from focused energy and reduced stress
• Feelings of increased control over professional life
• Heightened productivity due to being held accountable and being questioned and challenged
• Objective, situational assistance from one of the country's top coaches and consultants
If you want to be more successful tomorrow, call Ed now!
What Readers Are Saying...
"I look at Ed as my business partner now—my once-a-week essential business meeting to take the pulse of my practice. During our one-hour phone conversations, we hash out the larger and smaller business challenges of my law firm. I always come away from those conversations enlarged, challenged, and sometimes even quite shaken, but with the tools necessary to move forward down the path he and I are constantly redefining for me and my firm."
-AL, Northern California
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