Practice, Practice

Peruse most law school course listings and you will find little mention of the business of law. You can ace the bar exam without knowing the first thing about recruiting or accounting.

But most lawyers soon realize that they aren’t just attorneys but businessmen and women, most with little or no training in how to run a small business.

That’s why we are debuting Practice, Practice, our new monthly section devoted to the business of law.

The section, which will appear the last week of every month, will be narrowly focused on the ins and outs of running a law firm. The emphasis will be on small firms because most Missouri lawyers are solos or in small firms. But the practical advice from business professionals will apply to all legal practitioners.

We would like to know what you want to know. So if you have a question about the business of law, please e-mail it to rick.jackoway@molawyersmedia.com, and we will try to answer it in a future Practice, Practice.

Richard Jackoway

Editor,

Missouri Lawyers Weekly

 

 

 

 

■ Practice, Practice: Going Solo (January 2010)

LONE GUN

MONEY MATTERS

EIGHT ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS 

HELP WANTED

ONLINE HELP FOR SOLOS 

 

 

■ Practice, Practice: Benefits & Payroll (October 2009)

Climbing the pay scale: Move by some to merit raises creates new challenges for Missouri lawyers

‘You can be as flexible as you want to be’: The pros and perks of working for small firms

Small perks make big difference

Tips for setting up and maintaining merit-based systems

Health Care Reform: What you need to know now

The business of law

Small businesses to raise premiums

Is a wellness program right for your firm?

Health Savings Accounts help employer, employee

 

 

■ Practice, Practice: Building Business (September 2009)

31 days, 31 ways
Tips to build your business in a month

 

■ Practice, Practice: Document Management (August 2009)

Overwhelmed? Getting organized can help make your workspace work for you

Electronic records support clients’ needs

Ethics rules govern file storage, destruction

Dos, don’ts of file storage, destruction

All those files take up space
Off-site storage may be solution

How to manage e-mail, fight inbox overload

Commentary: ‘I really do know where everything is’
One man’s struggle to straighten his desk … well, sometimes

 

 

■ Practice, Practice: Cut Overhead (July 2009)

Good walls make good neighbors
How to avoid ethical problems while sharing office space with other firms 

Q&A With Lewis, Rice & Fingersh Chairman Jack Pruellage

Open doors to better lease deals

It isn’t always easy leasing green

Go green to save green

Cut costs with Software as a Service

 

 

■ Practice, Practice: Succession Planning (June 2009)

Ready for the handoff?

Succession preparation: Lawyer’s death shows need, may prompt rule

Succession planning helps firms survive

Mentor talent to find next generation of leaders

Smoother transitions occur with plan in place

Unloading a law practice can be a load of work

How to keep your firm’s clients

 

 

■ Practice, Practice: Vacations (May 2009)

Can’t let it go? Hit these hot spots

Ways to set your staff free

Push for vacation rule on break

How to make a great escape

Books for the beach and beyond

Sabbaticals: ‘Removed from the grueling pace’

Take a break (it’s good for you)

 

■ Practice, Practice: Technology (April 2009)

Tips to conduct your own technology review

Blackberry vs. iPhone: Which should you buy?

The best iPhone apps for attorneys: Tech-savvy lawyers offer the lowdown on their favorites

Trim electronic discovery; cut costs to clients

What to consider when buying a laptop

Save thousands on technology for your firm

Technology spending still a firm priority: Tech leaders share ideas about IT budgeting

A solo guide to case-management software

Zero in on the right software

 

 

■ Practice, Practice: Benefits & Payroll (March 2009)

The merits of outsourcing

Helpful hints

Co-employment arrangements

Karl Truman’s tips for new attorneys

Keeping the office happy with perks that work

401(k): Is suspending a match the right thing to do?

Retirement planning: Big traps for small law firms

Sweeping COBRA changes have big impact

Supreme Court mulls pregnancy leave pension credit

Six FMLA changes employers, employees need to know

 

■ Practice, Practice: Marketing (February 2009)

Sponsoring public events promotes branding

Attracting referrals

Doing well by doing good

  

■ Practice, Practice: Business (January 2009)

Cutting overhead can be a painful procedure

Temp help, permanent fix

The right choice

Putting together a diverse staff

Tough economy: Where do you cut? When do you hire or outsource?