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Mind Your Business

Mind Your Business is a column with practical advice for attorneys on how to run their practices; insight into the latest in legal technology; and thoughtful strategies for building a successful legal business.

58 ABA Journal Mind Your Business articles.

How to integrate marketing insights into legal writing

Assuming that you share your legal knowledge and experience without oversimplification, advice from marketing experts can be worthwhile and immensely useful. Here are a few ways to embrace marketing advice without leaving your legal training behind.

Sep 3, 2024 1:10 PM CDT

Beyond Logic: The case for emotional branding for law firms

Businesses increasingly recognize emotion’s pivotal role in decision-making. Research in the Harvard Business Review shows emotional connections can drive significant gains.

Aug 5, 2024 8:53 AM CDT

7 steps to successful crisis management

How you manage a crisis is critical and may be the difference between a swift resolution and a prolonged public nightmare. Consider these seven lessons to help guide your clients successfully through their next crisis.

Jul 26, 2024 9:12 AM CDT

You were probably not taught to market yourself; now what?

Few law schools offer their graduates LinkedIn self-branding workshops as an employment game-changer before law firm hiring managers. Today, even when taught, self-branding coursework is outdated, even at the best law schools. Or, as widely lamented by attendees in my recent online seminar, marketing courses not offered at all.

Jun 21, 2024 9:21 AM CDT

Top artificial intelligence insurance tips for lawyers

To better advise artificial intelligence decisions, lawyers should know the benefits, shortcomings and best practices of incorporating insurance into AI risk management.

May 10, 2024 1:52 PM CDT

4 data security considerations for GCs when engaging contract lawyers

Contract management. Compliance updates. Discovery responses. Intellectual property portfolio management. These rote, often-time-consuming tasks can all be part of an in-house counsel’s day-to-day schedule. The problem? Many can devolve into costly time sinks for a legal department’s salaried talent.

Apr 17, 2024 3:08 PM CDT

Existing methods of accessing knowledge will coexist with generative AI

As generative artificial intelligence stormed the scene over the past year with its snazzy Q&A interface, it was fair to ask whether existing ways of accessing knowledge, such as keyword search or templates, would become redundant. After all, why would you need those old ways of tracking down specific pieces of knowledge if you can just ask the all-knowing AI to call it up for you?

Apr 1, 2024 2:30 AM CDT

5 tips for law firms to incorporate DEI best practices in 2024

Many law firms are seeking to increase diversity, equity, inclusion accessibility and belonging within their team (collectively, “DEI”). Following are five tips for how law firms can apply DEI best practices in 2024.

Mar 21, 2024 9:07 AM CDT

Do you know who your legal recruiter is?

As 2024 begins, so does the business of legal recruiting. And not surprisingly, we have already seen numerous transfers of law firm partners and groups. The market also anticipates several more major firm mergers this year. As we start this new year, I would like to broach the question, do you know who your legal recruiter is?

Feb 23, 2024 1:37 PM CST

What to do when friends or family members ask for legal advice

“It’s never going to go well,” Arizona attorney Lynda C. Shely says about the prospect of representing anyone you are close to, including family members and friends. Shely, the immediate past chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, works in private practice and has advised more than 2,500 law firms around the country on legal ethics matters.

Jan 25, 2024 8:34 AM CST

Start 2024 off right with these 12 Mind Your Business columns

The ABA Journal hosts the Mind Your Business column to facilitate lawyers talking to other lawyers about the business side of law. We had 12 contributions in 2023, and we've put together this roundup as a perfect way to help readers get in a growth mindset for 2024. Please enjoy, and scroll to the bottom to see how you could share your own wisdom next year.

Dec 22, 2023 10:05 AM CST

Now is the time to consider a lawyer exchange

As lawyers, whether we practice in a corporate legal office, a global law firm or an independent firm, we are all trying to position ourselves for success in a changing and more globalized legal landscape. We are also all facing challenges in recruiting and retaining the young lawyers who will help us get there. Lawyer exchanges are one tool that can be effective on both fronts.

Dec 12, 2023 12:22 PM CST

It’s not too late to adopt a virtual or hybrid work model at your firm

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, offices worldwide have been compelled to adapt to virtual or hybrid work models, transforming the way businesses operate. While the urgency to implement these changes may have diminished since restrictions have become almost nonexistent, the impact of virtual and hybrid work environments continues to resonate strongly, particularly within the legal industry.

Dec 1, 2023 2:10 AM CST

Making It Work for Working Moms (and Dads): How law firms can support new parents

There are few events in life more pivotal and significant than becoming a parent, especially for the first time. Yet even in today’s era of post-COVID-19 extravagant employee wellness initiatives that focus on mental health, many employers fail to recognize the importance of providing their workforce with the one benefit that will enhance both employee retention and job satisfaction: a robust parental leave policy.

Oct 24, 2023 2:30 PM CDT

4 ways to grow your new law firm without overextending yourself

Before you start drafting a plan to expand your firm into new territories or practice new areas of law, it’s important that you don’t fall into the habit of overworking yourself in order to achieve your business goals.

Sep 18, 2023 11:19 AM CDT

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Seeking Submissions

The ABA Journal is open to receiving submissions from legal professionals and subject-matter experts for the Mind Your Business series. Read submissions guidelines here »

All submissions must comply with the ABA Code of Conduct. Submitted works will be edited as needed for style, content and length. The ABA Journal reserves the right to reject publication of an article for any reason.

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