Best Practices for Your Practice: Advice from 10 Legal Characters
Lawyers learn from each other’s experiences. Discover what you can learn from ten experienced lawyers as each relates an important best practice.
“Most lawyers know very well how errors reflect their lack of ability,” said Prudence Juris. “It’s not only about being aware of the law in their jurisdiction, you must also recognize how asking the right questions is important. Smart lawyers rely on law practice management software to gather all documents necessary to prevent themselves from being placed in an actionable position. While law practice management software cannot prevent a lawyer from making a mistake in judgement or law, it can severely curtail the odds of a mistake occurring.”
“Upon meeting a new client, I discuss expected outcomes,” said Solomon Solicitor. “Experience has taught me that a prospective client who spends more time listening than talking is more likely to listen to my advice.
“During our initial conversation, I tactfully bring up rates, billing, and how I track my time. My fee agreement and all other new client intake forms are only a click away in my law practice management software. Neither I nor my staff enter time or expense entries until after we have accepted the client.
“Experience has also taught me that when I accept a client who cannot afford my level of service I’m accepting I will not be paid. It’s not improbable that a client who cannot pay will find another lawyer to sue me as a means of stalling payment.”
“To prevent myself from missing deadlines I set ticklers, also known as reminders, in my legal practice management software,” said Catharine Counsellor. “The local bar association has the jurisdiction- and rule-specific resources that integrate with my software.
“When someone in the firm sends an email or adds a document to a case file, practice management software automatically updates across the entire system. I can be at the beach enjoying peace of mind, knowing files are totally up to date and therefore I won’t miss deadlines.”
“The first thing I do when deciding whether or not to accept a new case is run a conflict of interest search in my law practice management software,” said Daniela Defender. “It searches contacts, notes, relationships, events, documents, time entry, communications, appointments, fee and cost entries and research. It searches our entire firm, regardless of who is in the office at the time, and returns the results in seconds. It presents me with a list to review, which I can save in the event I need to prove I conducted a search for potential conflicts of interest with due diligence.”
“My law practice management software lets me provide clients with my own online portal, where they can view and electronically sign documents” said Alan Advocate. “That saves them a trip to my office, the cost of mailing every document, and also lets them check at any time how their cases are progressing. They complete their own intake forms, after which I change the material they can see, share, and collaborate on.”
Click here to read more tips from Lee Gallman, Bianca Barrister, Lawrence Litigator, Patricia Practitioner, and Samuel Sidebar.
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