Oh, Canada!
February 28, 2006
In some quarters, there is the misperception that Canadian law firms lag behind their American counterparts when it comes to marketing practices, but in fact Canadian firms are no less sophisticated at marketing. They simply operate in an environment that is vastly different. Based on conversations with various Managing Partners, Chief Operating Officers, Chief Marketing Officers and other legal industry insiders it is clear that the marketing of Canadian law firms suffers more from the structure of the Canadian sector than from any specific approach to marketing.
THE MLF Canadian 20
February 28, 2006
For the first time, <i>Marketing The Law Firm</i> will present the MLF Canadian 20 ' The Top 20 Canadian Law firms in the areas of Marketing and Communications. This listing will bring to bear all the achievements that our friends and colleagues to the North have been so diligently working on in terms of their marketing and communications programs.
<b>Op-Ed:</b> The Year of the Dinosaur: Being Oblivious to the Obvious
February 28, 2006
What's in a name? Apparently nothing! Over the past several months, we have seen many top rainmakers leave firms that are considered to be the "creme de la creme" of the profession for "greener" pastures and assurances that they can continue to practice law, keep their clients and remain viable. There is no surprise to this trend that can be summed us as follows: Money talks and, in some cases, mandatory retirement walks. <br>What makes this trend all the more interesting is the fact that coupled with these departures is a sense that the firms from which the partners are leaving seem to be oblivious to the obvious: You, and you know who you are, have become irrelevant and for lack of better terminology ' You are a dinosaur!
Sorting Through Your Marketing Options
February 28, 2006
With 2006 in gear, your firm should be well into its marketing budget. In all likelihood, you have made decisions to sponsor events, renew existing advertising and the like. As a primer to making those decisions a little less intimidating, I thought it might be useful for me to share a personal experience.
Note From The Editor
February 28, 2006
Our esteemed Editor-in-Chief talks about this issue and presents the first MLF Canadian 20.
<b>Book Review:</b> Weekly Reminders for Revenue-Focused Leaders
February 28, 2006
There are lots of "How To" Books out there for lawyers on subjects ranging from going solo to building six figure books of business. I have read many of them and frankly there comes a time when it all becomes something akin to "yadda, yadda, yadda"! Now, however, comes something quite unique ' a small (7" x 5") top spiral bound "stand-up" booklet of weekly reminders. As the author, David Freeman, indicates in his cover note the booklet is "designed to show lawyer leaders how to grow their practice group; motivate lawyers to act on personal and group initiatives; and create a sustainable culture of business development."
<b>Technology in Marketing:</b> Podcasting For Lawyers: The Nuts And Bolts
February 28, 2006
In layman's terms, podcasting provides publishers with the ability to create their own audio broadcast and store it on the Internet for download by interested individuals to listen to at any time ' and anywhere ' they want. <br>This article will explain the nuts and bolts of creating a "podcast."
<b>The Place to Network:</b> Mind Over Matter
February 28, 2006
Visualization can help speed the process of learning a new skill ' networking, for instance. My coaching clients' main priority is often increasing their level of confidence and comfort in networking. They want to feel absolutely confident when walking into a room full of strangers at a cocktail party, or when going onstage to face a sea of people at a conference. They want to feel perfectly at ease, and perform at their best, when meeting a new client, or current clients ' especially someone who they know to be difficult. Visualization is a perfect tool for this: through guided imagery, you can ensure that whatever you're feeling is exactly those feelings you want; and that you're performing at the top of your abilities. Visualized behaviors can be practiced more easily, quickly and frequently than actual behaviors, so they're an ideal complement to actual, practice.
A Regulatory Lawyer's Perspective: The FDA's Guidances on Risk Assessment, Minimization and Management
February 28, 2006
In the pharmaceutical industry, due to all types of business pressures and constraints, it is not atypical for a company to behave reactively and in triage-mode, rather than considering proactive steps that it can take in the compliance arena. In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") issued three final guidance documents to help focus the industry and encourage companies to consider more thoughtfully and thoroughly the issues of quality risk assessment, minimization, and management collectively.
Protecting E-mail For Complete Client Privacy
February 28, 2006
Attorney-client privilege, liability for breach of confidentiality obligations and damage to a firm's reputation were all reasons originally cited for stopping the use of e-mail at law firms before it even started. Convenience and responsiveness to clients became justification enough to ignore the basic issue that e-mail was inherently insecure. The standard form disclaimer that we now see at the end of every lawyer's e-mail became the solution to protecting the confidential nature of attorney-client communications. Is it sufficient today?
