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A Daily Dose of Law Practice Management Advice from Blogs
November 2005
You can improve your practice through consistent exposure to great ideas and tips on law practice management issues. Today, a number of blogs focus on law practice management topics and offer a steady stream of ideas and tips. All are free and, in terms of the good ideas you'll get from them, would be bargains at almost any price. There's no good reason not to check out these blogs on a daily basis to see what new insights, tips and techniques you can learn.
Adam Smith, Esq. (http://www.bmacewen.com/blog/)– Bruce MacEwen's blog regularly takes in-depth looks at important strategic and management issues. Look for solid and insightful commentary on a variety of issues, with a focus on large firm issues, but valuable material for any lawyer or firm.
Amazing Firms, Amazing Practices (http://www.gerryriskin.com/) – Gerry Riskin of the Edge Group has an outstanding blog that features concise, thought-provoking commentary that often draws key lessons from other sources and applies them to the practice of law. Gerry's posts will get you thinking in new ways.
Between Lawyers (http://www.corante.com/betweenlawyers/) – This group blog (which includes Tom and Dennis, along with noted bloggers Denise Howell, Ernie Svenson and Marty Schwimmer) is part of the Corante network of blogs and regularly talks about law practice issues, often with an eye toward the future of the practice.
DennisKennedy.Blog (http://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/) – Dennis's blog is well-known for its coverage of legal technology and related issues. Dennis puts the technology issues into the context of its actual use and implications in the day-to-day practice of law. He also covers strategic issues and a wide range of law practice management topics.
The Greatest American Lawyer (http://greatestamericanlawyer.typepad.com/greatest_american_lawyer/) – Enrico Schaeffer writes about his personal experiment with innovative approaches in his law practice. He also does an excellent job of finding and pointing to other useful material on management and business topics.
In Search of Perfect Client Service (http://patricklamb.typepad.com/perfectservice/) – the title of Pat Lamb's blog perfectly describes its content. The blog posts are filled with practical experience, accumulated wisdom and a sense of curiosity. Pat has an engaging style that always makes his blog an enjoyable read.
Jim Calloway's Law Practice Tips Blog (http://jimcalloway.typepad.com/lawpracticetips/) – Here is another blog that could not be more accurately titled. Jim Calloway is Oklahoma's Practice Management Advisor, and he’s well-known and regarded. After reading his blog, you'll understand why. Jim serves up a regular diet of helpful tips and practical points.
LawBiz Blog (http://www.lawbizblog.com/) –Management consultant Ed Poll has a great blog that features a wide variety of tips on management issues. Ed also includes commentary and insights based on his years of experience in this enjoyable-to-read blog.
Law Practice Management Blog (http://www.pa-lawpracticemanagement.com/) - Ellen Freedman's relatively new blog specifically covers the business side of the practice of law. Ellen is another well-known practice management expert and offers solid practical tips, checklists and other useful advice.
Leadership for Lawyers (http://leadershipforlawyers.typepad.com/) – here’s a blog from someone in the trenches: Mark Beese is the marketing guy at Holland & Hart, and he’s interested in helping lawyers become better leaders. Look for posts on client service, creativity, marketing, and law firm operations, among others.
The Legal Compass (http://legalcompass.typepad.com/) is a relatively new weblog from Silvia Coulter, who is putting her experience as Chief Marketing and Development Officer for two global 50 law firms to work for you. She hopes to deliver timely information on legal sales, service, strategy, and success.
The LexThink! Blog (http://lexthinkinc.squarespace.com/lexthink-blog/) – Dennis Kennedy and Matt Homann are behind this blog that focuses on innovation in the practice of law. The posts are short, thoughtful and often point you to resources you might not otherwise find. They will get you thinking.
More Partner Income (http://www.morepartnerincome.com/blog) – Tom Collins writes on perhaps the most important issue to partners in law firms. Again, the title says it all. You'll find thoughtful analysis and many useful insights on this blog as part of its excellent coverage of financial and other management issues.
My Shingle (http://www.myshingle.com/my_shingle/) – Carolyn Elefant has long maintained the premier resource for solo lawyers on the Internet, and her blog is one part of it. The site offers a regular stream of practical information and observations for solo and small firm lawyers.
The [non]billable hour (http://thenonbillablehour.typepad.com/nonbillable_hour/) – Matt Homann's well-known blog is chock-full of useful tips, new ideas, innovations and lots of questions for you to think about. Matt may be best known for his coverage of alternatives to hourly billing, but you'll also find great information on marketing and management topics.
Professional Marketing Blog (http://pm.typepad.com/professional_marketing_bl/) – Larry Bodine's blog is a great resource for information related to law firm marketing, especially at the large firm level. You'll find highly useful tips, highlights of interviews and regular commentary on a wide range of marketing issues. Larry’s Associate Marketing Mentor blog (http://pm.typepad.com/associatemarketing/) also provides terrific information, to lawyers who are generally ignored in marketing strategy discussions: the associates.
Real Lawyers Have Blogs (http://kevin.lexblog.com/) – Not surprisingly, Kevin O'Keefe's blog covers the use of blogs by lawyers. However, the regular reader is also rewarded with Kevin's insights and comments on a variety of law practice issues. Kevin is another blogger who makes you think in new ways.
Reid My Blog (http://reidtrautz.typepad.com/reidmyblog/) – Like Jim Calloway, Reid Trautz is one of the most highly-regarded authors and speakers on law practice management topics. His blog offers tips and commentary on the business of the practice of law, all offered with Reid's keen eye and creative approach.
riskybiz (http://suzanneroseconsulting.blogspot.com/) is a new blog from Suzanne Rose, the former practice management advisor for the Tennessee Bar. She sees a need to for a change in thinking about how to build and maintain a successful, effective, viable law practice – and she’s talking about it regularly on her blog.
Now you have a list of nineteen blogs on law practice management topics that should give you some good ideas and tips, and probably make you think about what you are doing, on a daily basis. They are all free. Check them out and see what all the buzz about blogs is all about.
About the Author
Dennis Kennedy is a technology lawyer, legal technology consultant, and well-known blogger based in St. Louis, Missouri. An award-winning author and frequent speaker, Dennis has written extensively on the technology of electronic discovery and co-authors the "Thinking E-Discovery" column at DiscoveryResources.org. His website and blog are well-regarded resources on legal technology and electronic discovery topics. He is a member of the Council of the ABA's Law Practice Management Section and the Webzine Board. He podcasts with Tom Mighell about legal technology, with a focus on the Internet, in The Kennedy-Mighell Report.
About the Author
Tom Mighell is Senior Counsel and Litigation Technology Support Coordinator a Cowles & Thompson in Dallas. He publishes the Internet legal research and technology weblog Inter Alia , and is the current Chair of ABA TECHSHOW 2008. He and Dennis Kennedy talk about legal technology, with a focus on the Internet, in The Kennedy-Mighell Report .