LawyersUSA

2008: The year in practice management, marketing

From credit crunches to social networks, a look back through the top practice management and marketing stories from the year that was.

Partnership agreement doesn’t violate professional rules

A firm partnership agreement that imposes identical financial consequences on all partners who voluntarily withdraw, regardless of whether they compete with the firm after withdrawing, doesn’t violate the professional rules of conduct.

Click here for the Massachusetts Supreme Court opinion.

Top tips for more hits: search engine optimization

If you are looking for new clients and more business, it’s time to take your website to another level with search engine optimization (SEO).

SEO involves understanding how search engines index and rank websites with the goal of being at the top of the list.

See also: Is your website guilty of these 5 mistakes?

Ethical pitfalls in unsolicited e-mails

The increasing use of e-mails has complicated an already difficult issue – what are the ethical ramifications of lawyers obtaining confidential information from prospective clients?

Lawyers receiving hundreds of daily e-mails have difficulty controlling the flow of information. And folks sending e-mails can address the same e-mail to many people without much effort, which increases the risk of mischief.

Is your website guilty of these top 5 mistakes?

Many websites need some redecorating – if not major renovation.

A 2007 ABA technology survey found that one-third of small firms and two-thirds of solos have no web presence at all. And many firms that do have an Internet presence are not making the most of their websites.

How to have ‘no drama’ with emotional clients

Dealing with emotional clients is an issue for many lawyers, especially family lawyers, and more recently for lawyers counseling clients in financial distress.

Simple rules, such as keeping the client informed about the case and returning phone calls, can go a long way with emotional clients.