Small Law Firm News – February 2010

A NOTE FROM THE SLFC DIRECTOR

“There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of life.”
~Frederico Fellini

Dear Solo and Small Firm Practitioners,

As we leave the first month of 2010, the post-holiday spirit is slowly being replaced by a heightened sense of reality. Many of us have hoped that as we turned the corner into the new decade, things would greatly improve – clients would find it easier to pay their legal bills, and we will feel less stressed than we did in 2009. Unfortunately, for many solo and small firm practitioners this has not yet taken place. As many of us struggle with an increased but lower paid case load, we have less and less time to devote to the incredibly important task of marketing, billing and law practice management. Fortunately, our high tech world provides many free opportunities to connect with clients and network and brainstorm with colleagues. The time investment is minimal and the benefits are great, so here is a short “to do” list to quickly uplift the spirit of your small law firm:
>>read more

Practice Management Consultations

As a Member Benefit of the NYC Bar, any member who is interested in starting and/or growing his/her small law firm is entitled to one free practice management /brainstorming session with Alla Roytberg, Director of the SmallLaw Firm Center. If further consultations are needed, NYC Bar members can schedule additional consultations with Alla Roytberg at a discounted consultation fee of $50 per consultation. Payment for the additional consultations should be by check made payable to “The New York City Bar” in advance of each consultation. A consultation would last up to one hour, as needed. To schedule a consultation email aroytberg@nycbar.org.

Including Associates in Client Development
Contributed by Russ Korins
Russ Korins Consulting LLC

In their efforts to generate more work, many small firms have asked associates to play a greater role in client development. For an associate, this can require a shift in thinking. Many junior associates join firms under the impression that the partners are responsible for developing business. Law school graduates arrive at firms equipped to research, analyze, write, and perhaps negotiate, but few have as strong a foundation in developing a client base of their own. However, partners can make these efforts successful. This article describes a few key aspects of helping associates generate as much business as possible.>>read more

Get 2010 going in the right direction….profitable

LexisNexis offers free marketing consulations to City Bar members!

As an NYCBA member, you are entitled to a free marketing consultation where you will:

• Have your website evaluated for best practices for internet marketing and converting visitors into clients
• Be given an analysis of where your website ranks on the most used search terms for your practice areas
• See what your competition is doing and how they are ranking
• Be shown what the potential client traffic is for your areas of practice so you can determine how many potential clients you may be missing and what the potential return on investment could be for an internet marketing program

Time slots are limited so please contact early for your 30-min session with a Certified SEMPO Institute consultant (Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization).

The days available are February 22nd to the 26th starting at 9am until 5pm (if you need a time before or after we will try and accommodate).

The first 30 registrants will be put into a drawing for a Flip Video. The marketing consultation will take place at 125 Park Avenue, 22nd Floor (at the corner of 42nd Street). To register please send your desired day and time towilliam.franck@lexisnexis.com and include:

Name:
Firm Name:
Website Address:
Firm Address:

Save the Date!

Effective Technology for the Small Law Firm
Part II of the three part luncheon series
Thursday, February 11, 2010 12:30 – 2:00pm

The Efficient (Virtual) Office: The Virtual Office can be a reality using a combination of technology and efficient office procedures. In this luncheon seminar you will learn what’s required to create a virtual office, and what you need to be aware of to assure that it meets your needs as well as makes you more effective and productive with your clients.

Moderator: Mark Josephson, Esq., CPA, CFP, CFE, Murray & Josephson, CPAs, LLC

Speakers: Lisa Aldisert, Pharos Alliance, Inc.

Sponsored by:

Registration by February 8, 2010 is necessary. The fee, which includes lunch, is $30 for members; $50 for non-members.

AN IMPROVED BENEFIT FOR MEMBERS

ABA Books at 15% Discount to Members of the NYC Bar can now be purchased DIRECTLY from the ABA.

The Small Law Firm Center is pleased to announce that members of the NYC Bar are now able to purchase any book publish by the American Bar Association at a 15% discount DIRECTLY from the ABA. To take advantage of this benefit click on the following link, http://www.ababooks.org and enter discount code PAB8ENYC upon checkout.

We want to hear from you!

The Small Law Firms Committee of the New York City Bar Association has created a survey for the purpose of collecting information on law firm management from solo and small firm practitioners.

The survey is completely anonymous. You may obtain the final results by contacting Olivera Medenica at OMedenica@wrlawfirm.com. Your participation is crucial as it will assist our committee in accurately assessing the needs of our community with the view of creating a report on law firm management best practices in the current economic environment.

The estimated completion time for this survey is approximately 10 minutes. To fill out the survey, please click HERE. We thank you for your time.

Save the Date!

Small Law Firm Center Stress/Time Management Luncheon Series – 1 of 3
Cultivating Work-Life Synergy for a Solo or Small Law Firm Practitioner
Thursday, March 11, 2010 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM

Effective Technology for the Small Law Firm
Computer and Data Security, Session III
Thursday, March 18, 2010 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM