SWOT It Out
October 06, 2003
Take a glance at any general business publication these days and chances are you'll come across the term 'SWOT Analysis,'referring to your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Although SWOT is used ubiquitously in the business world, it's not often heard in law firms. Despite the fact that many accomplished attorneys react with blank stares when asked about it, SWOT can be one of the most powerful ways for lawyers and their marketing staff to create an effective strategic business development plan. What is SWOT?
Ensuring CRM Success
October 06, 2003
In an article entitled What's Hot and What's Not in Law Practice, which appeared in the December issue of Marketing the Law Firm, CRM (customer relations management) was listed as the second 'hottest' technology in the 'Marketing Strategies & Tactics' section. The comment that followed was, '[b]ut there's a lot more involved than just having the right software: It must be used.'
A Question Of Copyright
October 06, 2003
When a lawyer writes an article for a journal, newspaper, legal newsletter or other kind of collective work, the publisher typically asks the lawyer/author to assign the copyright in the article to the publisher. On occasion, the lawyer, or his or her firm, will insist that the lawyer retain the copyright in the article and instead will offer the publisher only a one-time license to publish the article. If this gap cannot be closed, the publisher will lose an article that would have benefited its readers (and its subscriber base) while the lawyer/author will lose a valuable marketing opportunity to reach potential new clients. Fortunately, when both sides understand the nature of what they are seeking and what they are giving and getting, and when both sides refuse to stand on ceremony, the copyright question should not be a bar to publication.
BITS & BYTES
October 05, 2003
Payne Consulting of Seattle has announced the release of Metadata Assistant for Microsoft Excel, which cleans out hidden information from Excel documents. Following the positive response for Metadata Assistant for Word, this new software extends the same functionality to Excel files, which have even more hidden data than Word files.
GhostFill Continues Its Climb
October 05, 2003
GhostFill Technologies has released version 4.2 of its document assembly software, which adds new power and flexibility to an already impressive product.
AROUND THE FIRMS
October 02, 2003
In the Face of Economic Hardship, Bay Area Partner Classes Fluctuate. Although the faltering economy has been taking its toll on partner classes at many of the San Francisco Bay firms for 2002-2003, some were nonetheless able to award partner status to litigators. The majority of firms polled by The Recorder, an affiliate of this publication, either increased their class size or stayed the same. Most of the firms' elevations were in the areas of business and litigation.
Professional Development: A Key Tool for Law Firm Management
October 02, 2003
Professional development. Bright-eyed law school graduates who need finely crafted orientation programs; seasoned practitioners who require CLE credits; law firm CFOs who need strategies to control the costs of outside CLE courses. Is this all it is? Absolutely not! Professional efforts and opportunities can be used to pursue many of your firm's most important strategic objectives. You simply need to remember to tap into professional development in order to use it to its full advantage.
Why Are These Law Firms Smiling?
October 02, 2003
Savvy law firms smile as clients cut their roster of law firms, chuckle as others feel rate pressure and delight in offering new services and advice to their clients. Client research lies at the core of their success.
Beware The Temptations of Short-Term Thinking
October 02, 2003
I recently had a discussion with a client about the issue of firms backing away from supporting practices that were hot and now are in the doldrums but are likely to bounce back. He had been vigorously sought after as an information technology and corporate lawyer just a few years ago. Since technology is not bound to disappear from or be less important in our lives, these areas of practice can be predicted to have a sunny future.
