Technology in Marketing
May 30, 2007
It's not just who you know anymore that counts in the business of law. It's what you know and how you and others can access the information when a client needs it. When a client calls and asks, 'Can you help us negotiate an acquisition of a power plant in Dubai,and do you have lawyers experienced with this kind of transaction?' how quickly can your firm respond?
Getting Systems in Line
May 30, 2007
As law firms realized the benefits of having a billing system specifically designed to their needs, they sought out systems that could help streamline the then-manual processes for searching conflicts and managing client files. IT personnel are most likely more familiar with the processes involved in managing time and billing system conversions. However, the same methodology cannot be applied universally from system to system. For firms about to embark on records management or conflicts management conversions, recognition of how these key firm systems define and manage data is critical to ensuring a successful transition.
Professional Development
May 30, 2007
The author started conducting etiquette-training sessions in the mid 90s. The typical program focused on good manners and business protocol. Fast-forward to the new millennium and she is discussing etiquette topics that were unknown a decade ago, like appropriate use of cell phones, PDAs and electronic mail. Interesting thing about etiquette, she says: It constantly changes to keep up with society, technology and new business philosophies.
A Rare Extradition In IP Case
May 30, 2007
One of the first U.S. extraditions for an intellectual property crime highlights the growing sophistication and reach of cybercriminals ' and the extensive resources law enforcement must devote to reining in cybercrime.
The Place to Network
May 30, 2007
There is clearly a branding benefit to touting diversity. It certainly raises the image of the firm, and may get it through the RFP process. However, the question from a marketing standpoint is ' how can law firms use diversity to network successfully for business development?
Career Journal
May 30, 2007
Employer brand is top of mind for many firms. The way a firm's brand is perceived by staff and potential employees is a critical success factor. There was once a time when marketing and HR were very different schools of thought; people from each discipline had very little in common. Now, HR professionals are beginning to put on marketing 'thinking caps' and utilize marketing principles and strategies to brand their firms; therefore, successfully attracting talent ' and not just fee-earner talent!
Defective Pet Foods: New Litigation Theories Or Just the Same Old Chow? An Animal Law Attorney Argues for More Than Market Value Damages
May 30, 2007
One of the biggest stories in product liability in the past month has been the recall of tens of thousands of cans of food sold to consumers to feed to their companion animals. The news has attracted public attention because it is a tragedy of potentially epic proportion: Somewhere between 20 (according to the FDA) and 20,000-plus (by extrapolating statisticians) of the nation's nonhuman family members have developed serious illnesses and/or died from eating food containing something very toxic that has caused renal failure (still being debated). Furthermore, in the litigation arena, plaintiffs' attorneys ranging from sole practitioners to the large class action law firms most often in the headlines have all filed actions representing both individual clients and broad-ranging classes of thousands of individuals affected by the poisoned food. (At the time of this writing, more than 30 cases had supposedly been filed across the country.)
The Case for Mentorship
May 30, 2007
Career guidelines, career plans and mentors. These are familiar terms to most lawyers, especially law students and laterals looking for the right 'fit.' And many, if not most, large law firms highlight one or more of these career-planning tools on their Web sites and recruiting materials. But the 'inside' story of their effectiveness might not be as rosy. Several recent articles in legal journals and newspapers have bemoaned the state of mentoring programs at larger firms, saying that they are boilerplate, empty promises designed to recruit, and that they are usually unsuccessful due to lack of follow-up. Here's how our company overcame these problems.
Can Money Laundering 'Travel with the Business'?
May 30, 2007
It can often be difficult for a white-collar attorney, who may have at least a passing familiarity with money laundering, to explain to a corporate attorney colleague how federal money laundering laws can impact deals on which the corporate attorney is advising clients. This article provides an example that may help you explain to your corporate law colleagues the impact that the federal money laundering laws could have on their work.
