Small Firm Management
October 6, 2009 By Howard Roitman & Associates
Call the Attorney at (702) 631-5650 
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Call the Attorney at (702) 631-5650 Free Consultation
According to the ABA: At large law firms, there are entire departments dedicated to many of the logistical and administrative aspects of running a law firm. These include managing office space, conducting conflict checks, overseeing HR matters, even making sure the coffee break room is stocked with half-and-half. As sole practitioners, attorneys are responsible for all of these activities, and many others
I have been trying to grow my practice. But if it is not one thing it is another. Big firms don't seem to have the same problems.According to the ABA: At large law firms, there are entire departments dedicated to many of the logistical and administrative aspects of running a law firm. These include managing office space, conducting conflict checks, overseeing HR matters, even making sure the coffee break room is stocked with half-and-half. As sole practitioners, attorneys are responsible for all of these activities, and many others
Some resources that may help:
http://www.myshingle.com/2008/11/articles/law-practice-management/m...
http://www.myshingle.com/2007/03/articles/marketing-making-money/co...
In fact to my surprise there is something called:
http://solopracticeuniversity.com/faculty/
What is Solo Practice University?
In a nutshell, it's an online university where law students and lawyers can learn a wide variety of topics related to running a successful solo law practice. There are courses, faculty, discussion groups, blogs, videos, comments, and lots more! (I am not a member)
First, remember that trusting the vendor you ultimately choose is very important. If there is cynicism in your mind, the relationship will not succeed. As the saying goes, if you pay only peanuts, you get only monkeys! according to Rahul Jindal
The usual suspects
http://www.law.com/jsp/legaltechnology/index.jsp
http://www.legallyminded.com/default.aspx
Guide for Solo Practitioners
Solo Practitioner Resources, John Marshall Law School
US SBA
Sole Practitioner and Small Firm
THE LEAPLAW SOLUTION
LeapLaw™ is a three part information aggregator: (1) part search engine, (2) part forms repository and (3) part virtual colleague. LeapLaw delivers the procedural resources that business lawyers and their staff need to produce a faster, better work product. Whether used in its pre-customized form or customized to a certain firm's specifications, reduces rework and ultimately decreases the cost of delivering legal services.
About Clio
Clio includes a full suite of practice management tools targeted specifically at the administrative needs of sole practitioners and small firms. Clio is a single resource that eliminates the need for multiple specialized applications by incorporating the principal talents of each. Web-based, secure, and easy-to-use, Clio seeks to overcome many of the technical hurdles offered by conventional practice management solutions. Spend your valuable time building your practice, let Clio handle the rest.
HE 2006-07 INTERNET MARKETING ATTORNEY AWARDS
Firms were selected randomly from the 250 list during the process. No more than 20 reviews were ever conducted on a single day. The daily average was five. Every effort was made to keep the evaluation consistent from start to finish.
Rocket Matter is a web-based, practice management and time&billing; solution designed exclusively for the legal industry.
Florida-based technology company providing premier, web-based software for the legal services industry.
Rocket Matter, in Beta since November 2007, exemplifies our simple, imaginative, Software as a Service (SaaS) approach to developing a superior software experience. Rocket Matter provides increased security, business continuity, decreased technology infrastructure and maintenance, and improved ROI for IT expenses for solo and small firms.
NALA is the nation's leading professional association for paralegals and legal assistants. As a non-profit organization, NALA provides continuing education and professional development programs for paralegals - from novice to experienced professionals.
Virtual Paralegal/Virtual Legal Assistant Services, including
* Drafting pleadings, motions, affidavits and other court documents
* Proofreading and formatting of briefs and agreements
* Conducting legal research and providing a summarizing memorandum
* Tranand undertaking review
* Large document redaction
* Drafting of conveyancing documents, including Transfers of Land and Statements of Adjustment
Virtual Assistants come from a variety of business backgrounds, but the single-most important qualifications to become a Virtual Assistant is at least five (5) years administrative experience earned in the real (non-virtual) business world working in secretary, legal assistant, paralegal, legal secretary, real estate assistant, office manager, etc.
From this level of experience, a VA is expected to possess the skill sets, training and business savvy which are the hallmark accomplished Virtual Assistant.
>> Word Processing
>> Tape Transcription
>> Phone-in Dictation
>> Desktop Publishing
>> Spreadsheet Design
>> Telephone Answering
>> Mail Receiving&Forwarding
>> Packing&Shipping
>> Bookkeeping, Payroll&Billing
>> Proofreading
>> Fax Sending & Receiving
>> Photocopying
>> Internet Research
>> Event Planning
>> Consultation
>> Training
>> Transaction
>> Coordination
>> Email Management
>> Voicemail Management
>> Database/Mailing List Mgmt.
>> Marketing
>> Appointment setting/cancellation
The Solo Attorney's and Small Law Firm's One-Stop Shop for Virtual Paralegal Support, Internet Marketing and Blog Support
Is your small law firm in need of on-demand virtual paralegal support?
Are you a solo attorney looking for a virtual legal assistant to transcribe your motions, legal briefs and correspondence?
Details the major features, benefits, and drawbacks of the four leading e-business models (electronic order taking, electronic payment only, online catalog and electronic payment, and a fully integrated e-business), and provides tips for designing and developing a Web site to match each model.
If Social Media matters, then it matters to law firms because everything that matters to society in general must matter to law firms sooner or later.
The Toolbox.com network of online communities enables anyone to access the collective knowledge of a worldwide audience of experienced professionals. Through Toolbox.com, executives and professionals can collaborate with their peers to resolve problems more efficiently, make better decisions by leveraging best practices and lessons learned, and increase their efficiency in the workplace.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Howard Roitman
Howard R. Roitman, Esq. has been practicing law for 22 years. Howard Roitman is one of the first attorneys to be recognized by the State Bar of Nevada as a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning. He is a member of the Bar in Nevada, California, New York, and the District of Columbia. He is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center (JD in 1984 and LL.M in taxation in 1985), and the Harvard University Mediation Program (2004). He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Charted Life Underwriter (CLU), and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC).
Copyright Howard Roitman & Associates
More information about Howard Roitman & Associates
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
Some resources that may help:
http://www.myshingle.com/2008/11/articles/law-practice-management/m...
http://www.myshingle.com/2007/03/articles/marketing-making-money/co...
In fact to my surprise there is something called:
http://solopracticeuniversity.com/faculty/
What is Solo Practice University?
In a nutshell, it's an online university where law students and lawyers can learn a wide variety of topics related to running a successful solo law practice. There are courses, faculty, discussion groups, blogs, videos, comments, and lots more! (I am not a member)
First, remember that trusting the vendor you ultimately choose is very important. If there is cynicism in your mind, the relationship will not succeed. As the saying goes, if you pay only peanuts, you get only monkeys! according to Rahul Jindal
The usual suspects
http://www.law.com/jsp/legaltechnology/index.jsp
http://www.legallyminded.com/default.aspx
Guide for Solo Practitioners
Solo Practitioner Resources, John Marshall Law School
US SBA
Sole Practitioner and Small Firm
THE LEAPLAW SOLUTION
LeapLaw™ is a three part information aggregator: (1) part search engine, (2) part forms repository and (3) part virtual colleague. LeapLaw delivers the procedural resources that business lawyers and their staff need to produce a faster, better work product. Whether used in its pre-customized form or customized to a certain firm's specifications, reduces rework and ultimately decreases the cost of delivering legal services.
About Clio
Clio includes a full suite of practice management tools targeted specifically at the administrative needs of sole practitioners and small firms. Clio is a single resource that eliminates the need for multiple specialized applications by incorporating the principal talents of each. Web-based, secure, and easy-to-use, Clio seeks to overcome many of the technical hurdles offered by conventional practice management solutions. Spend your valuable time building your practice, let Clio handle the rest.
HE 2006-07 INTERNET MARKETING ATTORNEY AWARDS
Firms were selected randomly from the 250 list during the process. No more than 20 reviews were ever conducted on a single day. The daily average was five. Every effort was made to keep the evaluation consistent from start to finish.
Rocket Matter is a web-based, practice management and time&billing; solution designed exclusively for the legal industry.
Florida-based technology company providing premier, web-based software for the legal services industry.
Rocket Matter, in Beta since November 2007, exemplifies our simple, imaginative, Software as a Service (SaaS) approach to developing a superior software experience. Rocket Matter provides increased security, business continuity, decreased technology infrastructure and maintenance, and improved ROI for IT expenses for solo and small firms.
NALA is the nation's leading professional association for paralegals and legal assistants. As a non-profit organization, NALA provides continuing education and professional development programs for paralegals - from novice to experienced professionals.
Virtual Paralegal/Virtual Legal Assistant Services, including
* Drafting pleadings, motions, affidavits and other court documents
* Proofreading and formatting of briefs and agreements
* Conducting legal research and providing a summarizing memorandum
* Tranand undertaking review
* Large document redaction
* Drafting of conveyancing documents, including Transfers of Land and Statements of Adjustment
Virtual Assistants come from a variety of business backgrounds, but the single-most important qualifications to become a Virtual Assistant is at least five (5) years administrative experience earned in the real (non-virtual) business world working in secretary, legal assistant, paralegal, legal secretary, real estate assistant, office manager, etc.
From this level of experience, a VA is expected to possess the skill sets, training and business savvy which are the hallmark accomplished Virtual Assistant.
>> Word Processing
>> Tape Transcription
>> Phone-in Dictation
>> Desktop Publishing
>> Spreadsheet Design
>> Telephone Answering
>> Mail Receiving&Forwarding
>> Packing&Shipping
>> Bookkeeping, Payroll&Billing
>> Proofreading
>> Fax Sending & Receiving
>> Photocopying
>> Internet Research
>> Event Planning
>> Consultation
>> Training
>> Transaction
>> Coordination
>> Email Management
>> Voicemail Management
>> Database/Mailing List Mgmt.
>> Marketing
>> Appointment setting/cancellation
The Solo Attorney's and Small Law Firm's One-Stop Shop for Virtual Paralegal Support, Internet Marketing and Blog Support
Is your small law firm in need of on-demand virtual paralegal support?
Are you a solo attorney looking for a virtual legal assistant to transcribe your motions, legal briefs and correspondence?
Details the major features, benefits, and drawbacks of the four leading e-business models (electronic order taking, electronic payment only, online catalog and electronic payment, and a fully integrated e-business), and provides tips for designing and developing a Web site to match each model.
If Social Media matters, then it matters to law firms because everything that matters to society in general must matter to law firms sooner or later.
The Toolbox.com network of online communities enables anyone to access the collective knowledge of a worldwide audience of experienced professionals. Through Toolbox.com, executives and professionals can collaborate with their peers to resolve problems more efficiently, make better decisions by leveraging best practices and lessons learned, and increase their efficiency in the workplace.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Howard Roitman
Howard R. Roitman, Esq. has been practicing law for 22 years. Howard Roitman is one of the first attorneys to be recognized by the State Bar of Nevada as a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning. He is a member of the Bar in Nevada, California, New York, and the District of Columbia. He is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center (JD in 1984 and LL.M in taxation in 1985), and the Harvard University Mediation Program (2004). He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Charted Life Underwriter (CLU), and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC).
Copyright Howard Roitman & Associates
More information about Howard Roitman & Associates
View all articles published by Howard Roitman & Associates
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
