6 things opposing counsel can teach you about being a legal professional
What can you learn from how opposing counsel handles various challenges and opportunities throughout the life of a case? From a former attorney with experiences to share.
5 ways attorneys can support other legal professionals within the firm
Discover how supervising attorneys can improve on how they support non-lawyer employees around the firm, and improve the working environment for all.
The top complaints about law firms from clients and how to avoid them
Has your office heard these top complaints about law firms? Learn more about what clients are saying and how you might address the issues.
5 ways to be a standout employee in your law firm
Why sit back when you can stand out? Check out these ways to prove your value to the firm and develop your career.
4 key legal writing skills to hone now
Editing and writing are two critical abilities for any legal professional. Have you honed these top legal writing skills in your law office?
4 simple ways for paralegals to develop new business for their firms
Wanting to do more for your firm (and for your career)? Consider these simple ways to develop new business for your firm in your role as a paralegal.
5 common grammar pitfalls for legal professionals
Do you fall into these common grammar pitfalls? Review these frequent mistakes made by legal professionals and brush up on your language skills.
Origins of legal processes and key industry practices
As legal professionals, it is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of day-to-day practice. There’s always a trial to prepare for, a contract to negotiate, or an executive compensation package to draft. With the flurry of activity, it’s hard to find time to reflect upon the history and origins of our profession. History, […]
8 steps to improve your interpersonal skills
Good interpersonal skills are one of the most important characteristics of a successful legal professional. Whether we’re meeting with clients, attempting to persuade a judge or jury, or simply negotiating law firm life, solid interpersonal skills are critical to career success. Unfortunately, not everybody was born with a knack for working with people, which can […]
10 things you can do in five minutes or less
Let’s face it: from time to time, every legal professional feels overwhelmed. Work piles up and the to-do list keeps getting longer. Then, once the workday ends, family obligations take over. Even though we’re constantly rushing about, it can sometimes feel like we aren’t actually accomplishing anything. In times like these, it is important to […]
6 problem-solving strategies for legal professionals
Legal professionals are known for being problem solvers. Indeed, just about every engagement involves some type of problem a client needs to have solved. Typically, we handle these issues with ease. Our education and training have taught us to apply established rules to a given set of facts in order to reach the desired solution. […]
7 modern terms that have lost their original meaning
We often write about the myriad of ways technology is changing the legal profession. From online legal research to instantaneous eFiling, it seems technology keeps making us faster and more efficient. What is slow to change, however, is the language we use to describe the things we do. In fact, many of our most commonly […]
3 ideas for exercising creativity in your law firm
If you had to use one word to describe legal professionals, it probably wouldn’t be “creative.” Indeed, law schools and paralegal programs intentionally teach us to think methodically. Every problem can be solved using good old IRAC – Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion. We rely on precedent to persuade judges and, in fact, are often chastised […]
Bringing effective legal project management to your team
For decades, the term “project management” invoked images of construction workers and engineers huddled around a set of blueprints, scheming to raise a building from the ground up. It was rarely, if ever, applied in the legal setting. In recent years, however, the legal profession has embraced the concept of project management. In fact, the […]
The 7 PDF skills you need to successfully eFile in Illinois
You’ve probably heard by now that Illinois State Courts now require electronic filing of court documents almost without exception. As discussed in earlier posts, the courts are rather particular about the formatting of these electronic documents. Scanned PDFs are discouraged. Electronic signatures must be affixed in different formats, depending on the identity of the signatory. […]
4 tips for meeting filing deadlines—every time
There may be no more deadline-intensive industry than the law. Courts, agencies, and clients are unforgiving when it comes to timeliness. Some days, it feels like it’s all one can do just to keep on top of the calendar. And this is no small issue – according to the American Bar Association, calendaring mistakes are […]