Legal Marketing & PR

November Issue of Originate Focuses on How Economy Affects Law firms

Posted on November 21, 2008
It's crunch time in both the legal business and the economy at large. In the newest issue of Originate! - the business development newsletter - we offer many basic, but powerful, ways to make a difference in your business development so you can stay ahead of the turmoil – from advice by general counsels to simple plans of action to knowing how to connect with a prospect...

Last chance to register for Webinar: Generate New Business with Six Technology Tools

Posted on November 20, 2008
Smart lawyers are using the Web and other online technologies to work as lead generating-machines for them.  You don't need to be a technology wiz to use the six top techniques for online business development.  In fact, you'll learn just how easy it is to harness the Web to attract clients in the LIVE one-hour webinar featuring: Famous online marketer and entrepreneur Kevin O'Keefe of Seattle, Washington...

You can still register today for Webinar: Generate New Business with Six Technology Tools

Posted on November 20, 2008
Smart lawyers are using the Web and other online technologies to work as lead generating-machines for them.  You don't need to be a technology wiz to use the six top techniques for online business development.  In fact, you'll learn just how easy it is to harness the Web to attract clients in the LIVE one-hour webinar featuring: Famous online marketer and entrepreneur Kevin O'Keefe of Seattle, Washington...

Survey of Women Lawyers Reveals Shocking Results

Posted on November 19, 2008
The 2008 National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) Survey produced some shocking data, including that, on average, a female equity partner earns $87,000 a year less than a male equity partner. The best way for a woman lawyer to reach the position of equity partner may be to make a lateral move: two-thirds of the new women equity partners in the sample were laterals, and 31% of all new equity partners were recent laterals...

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"Elevator Pitch" Post Deleted

Posted on November 17, 2008
I sincerely apologize for the crude and offensive "Elevator Pitch" post I put online last week.  In the clear light of morning, it is clear that it was anti-Semitic and repellent.  I want to thank all the people who commented and called me about it; I listened and took what you said to heart...

Marketing the Marketing Department

Posted on November 16, 2008
Nothing is more frustrating when a an MBA or JD who has toiled in the firm's marketing vineyards, striven mightily to generate new business for the firm, and vainly proposed great ideas like CRM, client surveys and competitive intelligence only to have them ignored -- than it is to have a lawyer at the firm ask: "What exactly do you do in marketing?" The ever-successful Iris Jones of Chadbourne & Parke in New York has come up with a remedy: print a one-page directory of the Business Development and Marketing Department, naming the marketing professionals, describing concisely what they do and listing their phone number...

Best "Elevator Pitch" Ever

Posted on November 14, 2008
I was conducting business development training at Chicago-area law firm when the focus turned to "30-second commercials" or "elevator pitches."  Each lawyer in the session was assigned to write their own, following guidelines I outlined...

LTN AWARDS Deadline Extended to Dec. 3 - Nominate your firm/law dept.

Posted on November 13, 2008
By popular demand, Law Technology News has extended the deadline to enter its 2008 LTN Awards to WEDNESDAY DEC 3. Especially in tough economic times, here's an opportunity to showcase your organization's technology stars -- and projects...

White & Case Lays Off 70 Associates

Posted on November 12, 2008
From the AmLaw Daily Blog: White & Case said it will lay off about 3 percent of its global legal and staff head count as part of a review of firm operations in light of the economic downturn. The layoffs, first reported on the blog Above the Law, will affect about 70 associates and 90 staffers, spokesman Nicholas Clarke says...

New Technology Affects Public Relations

Posted on November 12, 2008
I just picked this up from a public relations agency: New technologies have made an impact on how newsrooms operate. Journalists are simultaneously facing added on-line duties and large staffroom cuts and are increasingly dependent on the internet and press releases...

White & Case Lays Off 70 Associates, 100 staff

Posted on November 12, 2008
From the AmLaw Daily Blog: White & Case said it will lay off about 3 percent of its global legal and staff head count as part of a review of firm operations in light of the economic downturn. The layoffs, first reported on the blog Above the Law, will affect about 70 associates and 100 staffers, spokesman Nicholas Clarke says...

The Silent Treatment from the Boss Means You Could be Laid Off

Posted on November 11, 2008
If your boss suddenly stops talking to you, it may be a warning sign that you will soon be laid off, according to Debra Cassens Weiss. The Wall Street Journal talked to job coaches and management consultants to put together a list of warning signs. They include: Your boss stops making small talk with you, even though he or she continues to shoot the breeze with other co-workers...

Lawyers Among WSJ "50 Women to Watch"

Posted on November 10, 2008
Several lawyers lawyer made the list in today's "50 women to Watch" section of the Wall Street Journal, and the only practicing lawyer is Marcia Goldstein of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. " "Marcia Goldstein sits atop what is arguably the hottest legal practice of the moment," the newspaper says...

Defense Bar Launches Blog

Posted on November 09, 2008
The Defense Research Institute, the organization that is to the civil-defense bar what the American Association for Justice is to the plaintiffs' bar, recently launched a blog, For the Defense, as an adjunct to the organization's magazine of the same name...

Matt Homann's 10 New Rules of Legal Marketing

Posted on November 07, 2008
According to lawyer and marketer Matt Homann of St. Louis, "Legal Marketing has changed.  It used to be enough to keep an ad in the yellow pages and belong to the Rotary Club.  Not anymore.  Times are tough, so I present to you Ten "New" Rules of Legal Marketing...

TV vs. the Web for Law Firm Marketing

Posted on November 06, 2008
I asked my networks the following question: "I’m advising a law firm that is spending a ton of money on TV advertising (they do some plaintiff PI work, but also have a billable-hour business practice.) Which is a better marketing medium: TV or the Web? Give me your opinion...

LTN AWARDS - Nominate your firm/law dept - DEADLINE FRIDAY

Posted on November 05, 2008
The deadline to nominate your law firm or law dept for the 2008 Law Technology News Awards is FRIDAY (NOV 7).  Click here for the entry form. "As Law Technology News prepares to present our sixth annual Technology Awards, we will once again recognize leaders in the field - both in innovation and implementation...

Obama Presidency is Good News for the Legal Profession

Posted on November 05, 2008
In my opinion, the election of Barack Obama as President brings all sorts of good news for the legal profession.  Regulatory law. After 8 years of minimal regulation of business (except for crackdowns on illegal aliens), lawyers with a regulatory practice will see much more activity in their practices...

You shouldn't be reading this...

Posted on November 04, 2008
Don't just sit there. GET OUT and VOTE FOR CHANGE!

Don't just sit there.

Posted on November 04, 2008
GET OUT and     VOTE FOR CHANGE!  

Black October for Layoffs in Law firms

Posted on November 03, 2008
The profession has demonstrated that that article "2009: Another Year of Economic Darkness for Law Firms" is based on fact. Law.com has even created "The Layoff List" as a running tally. (Also see below.) There are plenty of ways using law firm marketing to respond to the economic downturn...

85% of Firms Offer Business Development Training to Lawyers

Posted on October 31, 2008
In response to the bleak news about the economic prospects for the legal profession, smart law firms are training their lawyers to bring in new business.   A new survey by The BTI Consulting Group of Boston found that 85% of law firms offer formal sales and business development training to their lawyers...

Beat the Recession by Creating Your Personal Business Development Plan

Posted on October 29, 2008
      Get More Clients. Make More Money. Visit http://tinyurl.com/6xvudu Does business development at your firm look like a Warner Brothers’ cartoon with lawyers dressing up as hunters, going out into the business forest and shooting at anything that moves? If your business development seems more about “wascally wabbits” than verified business leads, you aren’t alone...

Bad Economy Forces Thelen Reid Out of Business

Posted on October 29, 2008
According to a report in New York Lawyer, the Partnership Council of 400-lawyer Thelen announced it voted to dissolve the firm. The firm expected to close on Dec. 1. An early sign of trouble for Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner came last March, when the firm laid off 26 associates (which was 10% of their associates) and 85 members of its support staff, including members of the west coast marketing staff...

Beat the Recession With an Organized Business Development Program

Posted on October 29, 2008
      Get More Clients. Make More Money. Visit http://tinyurl.com/6xvudu Does business development at your firm look like a Warner Brothers’ cartoon with lawyers dressing up as hunters, going out into the business forest and shooting at anything that moves? If your business development seems more about “wascally wabbits” than verified business leads, you aren’t alone...

2009: Another Year of Economic Darkness for Law Firms

Posted on October 27, 2008
New research shows a dark economic picture for law firms during the next 12 months: The current year will represent a significant downturn for the legal industry as a whole. Across-the-board rate increases will not be possible in 2009 . Profits per partner in 2008 will on average be flat to a minus 10 percent, as compared to profit levels in 2007, causing a severe strain on many firms...

The Economic Picture for Law Firms Gets Worse

Posted on October 24, 2008
As the law firm recession enters its second year, new research shows that corporations are sending less work outside, rate increases will be smaller in 2008 than in the past, and 40%+ corporations have fired some of their law firms. The new research reveals that one reason for the economic downturn in the legal profession is that corporations are sending less legal work to law firms, and handling more work by in-house lawyers...

63% of Law Firms say Client Satisfaction Surveys are Top Business Development Tool

Posted on October 23, 2008
Some of the surprise statistics that came to light during the Chief Marketing Officers' Forum in New York were: Almost two-thirds (62.7%) rated client interviews and surveys as a “very effective” or “extremely effective” strategy for leading to business development...

Last Chance to Register: Getting Client Feedback to Generate More Business

Posted on October 20, 2008
To get more files from clients, lawyers need to know what is happening at their businesses.  To get this key business development information: More than 50% law firms conduct client surveys. 63% of law firms say client satisfaction surveys are their most effective business development tool...

Last Hours to Register: Getting Client Feedback to Generate More Business

Posted on October 20, 2008
To get more files from clients, lawyers need to know what is happening at their businesses.  To get this key business development information: More than 50% law firms conduct client surveys. 63% of law firms say client satisfaction surveys are their most effective business development tool...

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