Law practice tips, tools and trade secrets. http://www.cba.org/practicelink http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/images/logorss.gif http://www.cba.org/practicelink This is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site, subject to copyright and fair use. Ottawa law firm Soloway Wright isn’t a family law specialist – unless you’re talking about the makeup of its staff. Not only does the firm’s roster include a number of children of senior members, those children tend to work in teams with their parents. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/-Y6-5LOLL_Y/2012-09-children.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/solosmall_people/2012-09-children.aspx The bright lights of the big city are a magnet for young professionals of all stripes, lawyers included. Law firms in smaller centres, where senior lawyers are hoping soon to retire, are finding the junior bar is not all that interested in taking over – a trend which is depriving citizens in those areas of a certain access to justice, and communities of the professionals who used to be their pillars. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/3BApFQrE01c/action_plan.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/careerbuilders_people/action_plan.aspx Recruiter Pierre Arcand, in this article reprinted from Droit-Inc, responds to a question from a young lawyer, just out of school, who wonders whether there’s any point in taking an articling position if the firm doesn’t guarantee that a job will follow. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/gkY-mdBuo7c/articling.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/careerbuilders_students/articling.aspx Some people own a room the minute they walk into it – they shake the right hands, tell the right jokes, schmooze in all the right places. Those who are far more comfortable sitting quietly behind a desk don’t have to just look on in quiet envy, however. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/bZbroRFUEAo/networking.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/careerbuilders_people/networking.aspx There are many good reasons to get involved in the CBA and its Sections and Conferences, but they all pretty much boil down to one: networking. Active participation puts you on the map with senior practitioners in your field, and gives you the opportunity to enhance your own profile. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/myl18rS4kQM/participating.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/careerbuilders_advancement/participating.aspx National spoke to four recruiters from top law firms across the country to learn how they assess job candidates a long with tips on how to succeed in the big leagues. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/mGr5G7V31xM/confidential.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/careerbuilders_students/confidential.aspx Many law students talk about making a difference in the world through law, but it’s not easy to connect with the right opportunities. Three lawyers offer advice on staying focused, overcoming obstacles and being ready when opportunity knocks http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/0D-_32d8pN8/travelled.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/careerbuilders_students/travelled.aspx The purchase of an interest in a law firm should result in an expected benefit stream. Here’s how to apply the business valuation technique to the job of valuing a law firm. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/bpaQz7gPLTk/valuation.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/solosmall_finances/valuation.aspx Without a successor type lawyer in place, the retirement of the founder will challenge the very existence of the firm. In this respect, every solo practitioner or small firm has a succession issue. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/LU6_pFVs8l4/succession.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/solosmall_finances/succession.aspx The author of Reinventing Professional Services: Building Your Business in the Digital Marketplace offers creative yet practical advice on putting social media to work for you. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/hO9vquzIP18/profiting.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/careerbuilders_marketing/profiting.aspx Now more than ever, proving chain of custody matters. In the words of one civil litigation expert in Toronto: “You need to show what happened before or after the evidence was created, to establish that it means what you say it means.” http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/VUQPvWJ3pKo/web-evidence.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/careerbuilders_technology/web-evidence.aspx Co-managing partners have become more common as law firms struggle to find partners who aspire to be full-time managers. Yet embracing shared leadership brings its own challenges. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/mwi6_A0yeIg/two_play.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/leadership_people/two_play.aspx One legal services question raised, but hardly answered, by the recent recession is whether the billable hour as it has long been known is dead. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/Vk3yBODRnJI/billable_hr.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/leadership_strategy/billable_hr.aspx Lawyers are unquestionably growing their practices by virtue of social media. No longer a novelty, choosing the right strategy and platforms to use can make all the difference. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/09piVyp5p9E/SoMe.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/leadership_marketing/SoMe.aspx If your outflow exceeds your income, the upshot is your downfall. This lesson is hard for lawyers to grasp because they too often equate financial success with hours billed out rather than cash realized in. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/MPHqAKfoGN8/fin_plan.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/solosmall_finances/fin_plan.aspx Design a process that allows you to assess whether your current system encourages or discourages desired behaviours. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/xP4Pt_hMh2I/compensation2.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/leadership_finances/compensation2.aspx Some of the most simple and powerful ways to signal leadership and power are non-verbal. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/bPIu_W3ikQk/presence.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/careerbuilders_people/presence.aspx One of the most effective ways to get the attention of newspapers, magazines, and broadcasters is through the strategic use of new media. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/kf0BE31IJLg/old_new.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/solosmall_clients/old_new.aspx Tips on selecting an articling student. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/xJRSwnJo_Ow/hiring102.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/solosmall_people/hiring102.aspx Leading KM practitioners identify trends and challenges in an evolving field. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/raM_N1vGR5E/KM.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/leadership_strategy/KM.aspx Courts and clients are placing greater emphasis on negotiation and problem solving in order to save time and money in settling legal disputes. As a lawyer, how do you navigate the shift from acrimony to accord? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/E30FUKEC8vI/negotiation.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/careerbuilders_advancement/negotiation.aspx Wean yourself away from relying on rainmakers and concentrate on the ability to develop business. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/OcKbsai8KdM/shirt_on.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/careerbuilders_advancement/shirt_on.aspx How to work with a team to get the best value from a fraud investigation. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/ie6zgIlLPP8/forensic.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/leadership_strategy/forensic.aspx Distinguish yourself as a leader by effectively handling, and even excelling at, the difficult conversations that many lawyers dread. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/TYVGEvEW78Y/toughtalks.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/careerbuilders_advancement/toughtalks.aspx The best-laid plans don’t guarantee a smooth law office move. Expert help, fortuitous timing, and good tact are needed to help you find a location, negotiate costs, and devise an acceptable floor plan for the new office. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/HL4X4hWa5AU/moves.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/solosmall_people/moves.aspx Learn how you can protect against and/or cope with vicarious trauma, and understand the other special risks you face with emotionally distressed clients. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/Gt5T7tTVkFk/vicarious.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/balance_wellness/vicarious.aspx As a team leader, you should take a cue from firms’ best practices: never take on a new responsibility without a signed letter that sets forth the responsibilities of each party to make the engagement a success. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/M9aI9LFpSz0/pgleaders.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/leadership_partnership/pgleaders.aspx Long-term clients are the surest source of work and future stability. Here are some must-have strategies to keep them on your side. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/W8WSsMQtbCM/client_relations.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/leadership_marketing/client_relations.aspx How should a law firm assess its leader’s performance? From implementing the firm’s strategic plan to enhancing its marketing culture to resolving partner conflicts, there’s a long list of potential evaluation criteria. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/1OkLhyZnN7U/mp-evaluation.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/leadership_strategy/mp-evaluation.aspx Have you planned for what would happen, both professionally and personally, in the event of illness or incapacity? In taking time to put a succession plan in place, you will be protecting your clients, your practice and your family. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/z6vsz4kbaBA/successionplan.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/solosmall_people/successionplan.aspx How should you communicate with a distressed client, dealing effectively with his or her legal problems while protecting yourself? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/K7VkflbLGQc/psych.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/careerbuilders_clients/psych.aspx The trend towards greater outsourcing may have important implications for sole practitioners and small law firms. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/ddciOEmA1Uw/outsourcing.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/solosmall_finances/outsourcing.aspx Lawyers who understand how to grow a career can better assess the value they provide, and better reflect it in their performance. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/PYhUnAnoRFw/worth.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/careerbuilders_advancement/worth.aspx Interested in taking a break from your law practice, but not from the intellectual stimulation associated with the law? There are several ways you can enrich your skills and experience while taking time away from your practice. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/XwPcEBPqEW4/leaves.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/balance_general/leaves.aspx More legal practitioners are using the internet giant's business tools, says the author of a new book on how Google know-how can benefit lawyers. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/0AL1RQ90DqM/google.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/solosmall_technology/google.aspx Vancouver law firm Bull, Housser and Tupper has once again been recognized for its attention to the “people” side of the business. Managing partner Herb Isherwood and human resources manager Ann Johnston spoke to PracticeLink about how BH and T keeps employees engaged and why it's so important. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/RUyq_UMbqMQ/happy.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/PracticeLink/national/happy.aspx Most public companies are well on their way to converting to International Financial Reporting Standards. The situation is a little more complicated for private enterprises, which can choose between IFRS and the New Canadian GAAP. Here is what private business owners must understand about their options. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/JUA6vXaxflM/accstnds.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/national/accstnds.aspx Whatever else can be said about the economic downturn of the past two years, it is unquestioned that law firms, like every other sector of the economy, have learned (or more likely re-learned) they cannot ignore the fundamental rules of business. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/dWEdTLvIb64/recession_lessons.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/practicelink/leadership_finances/recession_lessons.aspx Consider preparing printed material for the client to take away with them, material that will help them understand what is going on. "Hand-holders" are tangible symbols of the help that’s being given, of the work that has been and will be done on the client’s behalf. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/dwnH2SGjV7Q/sthg_in_writing.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/solosmall_clients/sthg_in_writing.aspx You’re not just practising law, you’re running a business. Try some of these simple tips and you’ll not only keep clients and staff happy, you’ll boost your practice’s bottom line. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/xAFOTuD1qEI/fiftytips.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/solosmall_marketing/fiftytips.aspx Do you find yourself daydreaming about teaching yoga, delivering mail, doing anything but practising law? Maybe you’re in the wrong field. Or maybe you just need a change of scenery. Here’s how to perform a thorough self-assessment to determine if law is the right career for you. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/x2CMX4ckJ-Y/self_assessment.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/careerbuilders_advancement/self_assessment.aspx If you want to build firm revenue, don’t let individual players steal the show. Working as a team means greater value for the client and greater long-term success for the firm. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/4QSnwd4QiT8/noiinteam.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/leadership_strategy/noiinteam.aspx While other firms are bracing themselves to weather the bleak economy, here’s how you can use these tough times to foster change and catapult your firm into the forefront of the marketplace. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/dvy4sR2EucE/leadorfollow.aspx http://www.cba.org/cba/PracticeLink/leadership_strategy/leadorfollow.aspx Here are thoughts on how to follow up on a client survey to truly get the benefits. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/d2zVRfy9oVQ/Client_feed_fllwp.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/leadership_marketing/Client_feed_fllwp.aspx After 17 years in the trenches as a litigator with a large firm, I moved to an in-house role two years ago and the transition to “client” was surprisingly difficult. Have I fired lawyers in the past two years? Yep. Have I been tempted to fire others? Absolutely... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/UdpDfdXlIgU/losing_clients.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/solosmall_clients/losing_clients.aspx Lawyers and law firms are rapidly adopting social media to market themselves and connect with peers. These are new tools. We are all trying to figure out how to use them. Just to make it more difficult, the tools themselves are rapidly evolving as we are learning how to use them. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/YfU9pgGmMhM/mistakes.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/solosmall_technology/mistakes.aspx With this economy, it would not be unusual to feel that your world has been turned upside down and your sunny disposition transformed into that of a neurotic alley cat... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CBAPracticeLink/~3/hpUXkz6Gb-M/visibility.aspx http://www.cba.org/CBA/practicelink/solosmall_people/visibility.aspx