Life at the Bar LLC Blog

By Julie A. Fleming May 19, 2009 No comment

On Thursday, May 21 at 3 PM EDT, I’ll be a guest on Lisa Solomon’s Legal Research & Writing Pro tele-webinar series.  To find out more about how you can join Lisa’s program (which offers interviews and high-value content from top experts), visit http://legalresearchandwritingpro.com/products/.

I’ll be presenting The 5 Foundations of Time Mastery for Attorneys, which always receives rave reviews from attendees.  

If you’re like most lawyers, your “to do” list is overflowing, and you probably feel that you’re facing an uphill battle just to get the “must do” items completed–never mind the fresh ideas you’d like to implement for better client service, business development, or just taking a few moments to enjoy lunch. Join Julie A. Fleming, J.D. to learn how to get a handle on your time, once and for all. You’ll discover:

• How to revise your to-do list so you’ll accomplish what matters most without fail every day; 
• Why you must focus on non-urgent tasks to maximize your effectiveness; 
• How to handle e-mail effectively; 
• Why multi-tasking actually costs you time and undermines your work product; and 
• The six steps for effective delegation and the five most common delegation mistakes.  

This program will be presented as a “tele-webinar.” In a tele-webinar, you call in to a conference call line to receive the audio portion of the program. If you have access to your computer, you can follow along with a Power Point presentation as well. There is no need to install any software on your computer. If you will be calling in from outside the office, don’t worry: you can view or print the slides before the program, if you wish. 

Please visit http://legalresearchandwritingpro.com/products/ to sign up and join us!

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Coaching for lawyers

By Julie A. Fleming April 23, 2009 No comment

Over a year ago when I was visiting my very favorite bookstore (the Upstart Crow, in San Diego’s Seaport Village), I saw a book titled Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way.  Because I am a fan of Mrs. Roosevelt, I knew I had to grab it, but then something happened and distracted me, and I left the bookstore without the book in hand.  One thing led to another, and I never got around to ordering it.  So I was truly delighted when I visited again last month and the book was still there!

Part biography, part instruction on leadership in the business context, Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way is an easy and interesting read.  The author gives a chronological review of Mrs. Roosevelt’s life and draws out the lessons in each stage, which makes for a reasonably effective presentation.  My only quibble with this approach is that (Read the rest of the entry…)

Book reviews

By Julie A. Fleming March 30, 2009 No comment

When a law firm hires me to work with a junior associate, very often one part of the engagement centers of the associate’s leadership presence and self-confidence – how he or she presents to others.  (Of course, that focus is not by any means unique to junior associates.)  Although reviewers may use a variety of words such as proactive, poised, assertive, or self-assured, they’re usually looking to see to what extent the lawyer is able to present as a leader, as someone who is sufficiently self-confident to inspire others’ confidence.  Such a person typically contributes to conversations, asks insightful questions, and is willing to express an opinion or espouse a position.

Interactions with someone who lacks this level of confidence tends to leave others (supervising lawyers and client alike) uncertain of the message being conveyed.  Does a lack of contribution indicate lack of comprehension?  Boredom?  Something else entirely?  It may be difficult to interpret what what’s happening, but the result is a lack of clarity and an unwillingness (Read the rest of the entry…)

Coaching for lawyers

By Julie A. Fleming February 20, 2009 No comment

I was in Boston last week for the ABA midyear meeting, and the mood was grim. Conversation was centered on the economy, especially in light of the announcement that nearly 800 large firm employees were laid off on Thursday, a toll that climbed to over 1000 by the end of the day Friday, according to The National Law Journal.  Anecdotal reports suggest that some smaller firms are making similar layoffs, though they’re not getting the same press.  

An article in The American Lawyer titled “The Fire This Time: Thoughts on The Coming Law Firm Hiring Crisis” has (Read the rest of the entry…)

Coaching for lawyers

By Julie A. Fleming January 26, 2009 No comment

This week’s task: Set up Google Alerts for your top 5 clients.

Why is this a good activity?  Google Alerts deliver news results about whatever topic you select direct to your mailbox on the schedule you select.  They function as a free clipping service.  In this instance, receiving alerts about your clients will let you know what’s happening with their business or industry, what others are saying about them, etc., and put you in an opprtunity to be proactive in providing advice or offering assistance.

How to undertake this activity?   Go to http://www.google.com/alerts and complete the form.  It’s simple of self-explanatory.  Use your clients’ names as the search terms.  If you choose to expand this week’s task, you might also add other terms relevant to your clients — perhaps their industries, their products or service, or their competitors.  Two tips to avoid an avalanche of results:

1. Be selective in the terms you use.  For example, if you represent Boeing, you would not want to use “Boeing” as a search term because you’d get millions of alerts in a few days’ time.  Instead, you might use “+Boeing +airplane +manufacturer” or ” +Boeing +air +defense +contractor.”
2. Set up email filters so alerts go to a specific email folder.  You’ll need to make checking that folder a part of your routine, but that’s far preferable to missing a critical email because your in-box is overly full with alerts.

How long will it take?  Just a few minutes to set up the searches, and probably 5-10 minutes daily to review the results and/or edit your searches.

Client development

By Julie A. Fleming January 19, 2009 No comment

This week’s task:  Review your biographical sketch and update it if appropriate.

Why is this a good activity?  Your bio sketch is likely to be your first introduction for potential clients who are referred to you, for potential clients who find you on the Internet or otherwise, for other lawyers, etc.   Your sketch may also (Read the rest of the entry…)

Coaching for lawyers

By Julie A. Fleming January 12, 2009 No comment

One of the keys to being a successful rainmaker is making a habit of consistent client development activity.  I recommend that lawyer doing something designed to increase business every single day, whether it’s writing a 2-minute email, hosting an hour-long lunch, or attending an all-day industry meeting. 

I’m launching a new blog feature this week: the Weekly Rainmaker Activity.  Each Monday, I’ll offer a business development task.  Those who choose to accept that challenge will make the time to engage in the activity of the week at least once.  If you’re so moved, please post a comment (anonymous is fine, of course) to let me and the other readers know what you’ve done this week.  Healthy competition of this sort can benefit everyone.

So, this week’s task: talk with a current client about the economy’s effect on his/her business.  (It should go without saying, but for the sake of clarity: this is an “off the meter” conversation.)

Why is this a good activity?  For better (Read the rest of the entry…)

Client development

By Julie A. Fleming January 08, 2009 No comment

I know you’ve been reading the negative legal news over the past few months.  Some of you have been directly affected, and some fear that you might be hit next.  Today’s post presents the five steps that you must take now.  These apply whether you’re looking for a new job (voluntarily or otherwise), trying to make yourself more valuable so your practice will flourish or so you’ll be considered indispensable at your firm, just starting out, a seasoned practitioner – you get the idea.  These five steps are also critical in business development, so pay special attention if rainmaking is on your goal list for 2009.

1.  Get crystal clear about whom you seek to serve and

(Read the rest of the entry…)

Coaching for lawyers

By Julie A. Fleming December 18, 2008 No comment

The last couple of weeks of the year offers a fine time for several activities.  Finishing the last work of the year and getting bills out is task critical, but not the only one on the list.  Attending holiday gatherings and talking with clients and other contacts to express your appreciation and good wishes for the new year is likely at the top of the list.  (If it isn’t, perhaps you should reconsider.)  Recreation, relaxation, and re-energization may be on the list for many, which presents a good chance for starting 2009 ahead of the game. 

Client development, Coaching for lawyers