Editor's Note

Welcome to 2006!

Every year is filled with new opportunity and as Henry Ford said: “If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you are right.” So, take a step back as a management team and look at what's happening in the legal market. A few noteworthy opportunities that I see: Increased competition all around  ' clients are shopping more than they ever did. The opportunity ' more chance to build relationships with prospective clients than the firm has possibly had in the past when business seemed “locked up” with one firm. Companies are demanding diversity on their client teams. The opportunity ' getting more people involved means spreading success across the firm and building loyalty among the legal team to one firm.

There are lots of other opportunities ' some may seem like clouds; but like the saying, find the silver lining.

The New Year provides a fantastic opportunity to be in touch with clients. Creating a message from the firm's managing partner or management team is a wonderful way to reach out to clients. Everyone likes to hear they are working with successful people. So why not showcase some of the firm's 2005 successes? Share the information and you will be surprised to read some of the responses you will receive from pleased clients.

The beginning of the year also provides a fantastic opportunity to communicate to your team. To tell the whole team at your firm that they have helped to create a successful year for the firm, and thank them. Bonuses are one thing, but an in-person (or for larger firms a firm-wide video conference) first-hand acknowledgement about their contribution to the whole is well received and very much appreciated. This effort takes little time and sends a warm message throughout the firm. Strong leaders for organizations make this gesture all the time and find it is well worth the effort.

Last, do something almost no one does ' send a heartfelt thanks to all the vendors and suppliers with whom your firm does business ' right from the managing partner. Again, building advocacy into all your relationships will go a long way. Suppliers, consultants and other vendors deal with client organizations too. And, wouldn't it be great to know they are saying good things about your firm.

So, use 2006 and the turn of the year as an opportunity to take advantage of new beginnings. Happy New Year and thank you for continuing to be a reader of Law Firm Partnership and Benefits Report. Please let us know what you'd like to read about in 2006! Warm wishes,

' Silvia L. Coulter

Welcome to 2006!

Every year is filled with new opportunity and as Henry Ford said: “If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you are right.” So, take a step back as a management team and look at what's happening in the legal market. A few noteworthy opportunities that I see: Increased competition all around  ' clients are shopping more than they ever did. The opportunity ' more chance to build relationships with prospective clients than the firm has possibly had in the past when business seemed “locked up” with one firm. Companies are demanding diversity on their client teams. The opportunity ' getting more people involved means spreading success across the firm and building loyalty among the legal team to one firm.

There are lots of other opportunities ' some may seem like clouds; but like the saying, find the silver lining.

The New Year provides a fantastic opportunity to be in touch with clients. Creating a message from the firm's managing partner or management team is a wonderful way to reach out to clients. Everyone likes to hear they are working with successful people. So why not showcase some of the firm's 2005 successes? Share the information and you will be surprised to read some of the responses you will receive from pleased clients.

The beginning of the year also provides a fantastic opportunity to communicate to your team. To tell the whole team at your firm that they have helped to create a successful year for the firm, and thank them. Bonuses are one thing, but an in-person (or for larger firms a firm-wide video conference) first-hand acknowledgement about their contribution to the whole is well received and very much appreciated. This effort takes little time and sends a warm message throughout the firm. Strong leaders for organizations make this gesture all the time and find it is well worth the effort.

Last, do something almost no one does ' send a heartfelt thanks to all the vendors and suppliers with whom your firm does business ' right from the managing partner. Again, building advocacy into all your relationships will go a long way. Suppliers, consultants and other vendors deal with client organizations too. And, wouldn't it be great to know they are saying good things about your firm.

So, use 2006 and the turn of the year as an opportunity to take advantage of new beginnings. Happy New Year and thank you for continuing to be a reader of Law Firm Partnership and Benefits Report. Please let us know what you'd like to read about in 2006! Warm wishes,

' Silvia L. Coulter