Important! November 6th, 2024 Webinar Attendees, please click here to complete our Survey or Verification Request Form.

Click Here

Introducing

Essential Business Skills for Busy Lawyers

Four-Part Free CLE Webinar Series

Featuring

Each Webinar Awards 1.00 Regular Credit

November 6, 2024 1:00 pm EST
1.0 Regular Credit
December 11, 2024 1:00 pm EST
1.0 Ethics Credit

1 Hour

Creating an Attorney Compensation Plan That Will Build Firm Culture and Attract Top Talent

1 Hour

Cybersecurity for Attorneys: Employing Competent and Reasonable Safeguards

1 Hour

Blazing Trails:  The Future of Cannabis in a Changing Legal Landscape

Best Practices for Your Firm

Last update

at

by:

by:

Share

Business basics you can build on.

Executive Summary

Practicing law is an art. Running a law firm is a business. The two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, when properly combined they add up to a stellar practice. Business basics come first. This means laying a groundwork of best practices so that your lawyer artistry can flourish.

The Business of Practicing Law

Some lawyers love the business side of the profession. Others hate it. What about you? Recognizing where you fall on the spectrum is step one.

Alta Pro Practice Pointers

  1. If you’re not business-minded, delegate. Find someone reliable in the office to track critical dates, conduct conflicts checks and keep the work flowing. Leverage case management and time billing software. Ask your assistant to keep you updated on important changes to the law.
  2. Develop procedures and processes. In the short term, this will take a little time. In the long term, it will save you lots of money. And it will lower your risk of malpractice. The American Bar Association is a good place to find systems. For example, this teleconference on Best Client Intake Practices costs less than $20 and is free if you’re an ABA member.
  3. Design your own policies. Don’t be go out and buy a general-purpose procedural manual only when you’re being audited. Come up with procedures that you design to suit your practice – and that you will actually use. Keep it simple. The goal is to provide structure, consistency and baseline standards for serving clients and avoiding malpractice.
  4. Cover the basics. Best practices should be applied to:
    • Marketing and advertising efforts
    • Screening new clients
    • Evaluating new matters
    • Gauging the desirability of new representation
    • Checking for conflicts of interest
  5. Leverage the power of checklists. They are an easy and effective way to avoid mistakes. Develop different checklists for different categories of cases. Review them periodically and revise as needed.
  6. Communicate with clients. At a minimum, best practices call for:
    • Sending file opening letters that clearly explain the scope of representation, the legal issues involved, the billing terms and the engagement agreement.
    • Providing regular file status updates.
    • Copying clients on correspondence and important materials.
    • Documenting the file on important decisions like settlement authority, financial matters and case strategy.
    • Sending file closing letters that explain the firm’s policy on file retention and storage.
  7. Stay up-to-date on the law. The Internet makes it easy to keep current on substantive law and local rules that impact your practice. Spread that knowledge around the office.
  8. Implement quality controls. The best systems in the world are ineffective if they’re not used. File audits and performance reviews help maintain consistency.

The Bottom Line: Best practices don’t happen by chance. They are the result of research, implementation and regular usage.

What’s Next?


Got a question about best practices? Ask the Risk Pro!


Looking for tips on handling firm departures and minimizing risk? Click here!

Heads up!
This information is intended for informative purposes for members of Alta Pro Lawyers Risk Purchasing Group. It is not intended as legal advice. Lawyers should always refer to local and state rules and statutes for applicable standards and rules. These guidelines are designed to help lawyers avoid professional liability claims and are not intended for any other purpose. No legal or fiduciary relationship is intended to be created by receipt of this material.

Share

Related Posts on Altaprorpg.com!

About the Editorial Staff

In an age of consolidation where increasingly impersonal transactions have made customer service an oxymoron, we bring together independent agents, insurance companies, and other industry specific service providers to develop and deliver insurance products and risk management solutions that benefit our insurance customers.

Join Our Newsletter

Occasional newsletters and CLE invites

Upcoming CLE Webinar: Essential Business Skills for Busy Lawyers Part 4 – Negotiate Like a Pro

November 6, 2024 1:00 pm EST
CLE Credit: 1.0 Regular

Colleen L. Byers

Colleen Byers Mediation, LLC

Need Help?

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. 

Or email us directly at info@altaprorpg.com

Or submit your issue in the comment form below and we will respond as soon as possible.