Jay Reeves

At the end of an email to a client, it’s always safe to say “Kind regards” or “Thanks” – or for a bit more formality, sign off with “Sincerely.” But don’t say “Later” – you’ll come across as a teenager. And closing with “Cheers… Read More

Sure, you might be wowed by the summer associate who is an expert in antitrust law, a whiz at cloud computing, and can even do a little computer coding on the side. But don’t overlook the candidate who shows up with a bright smile and great attitude. Or the one who plays piano on weekends at a popular do… Read More

Here’s a risk management tip: if you’ve been accused of doing little to nothing on your client’s case and lying to them about it, the fact that you have sleep apnea will probably not get you off the hook. Especially if at the same time you were billing your client and aggressively pursuing pa… Read More

If you missed the ABA TECHSHOW 2019 and its always-popular 60 Tips in 60 Minutes presentation, you’re in luck. A greatest-hits compilation has been posted on the NC Bar Association’s blog. “Some of the tips can be whimsical or esoteric,” writes Catherine Sanders Reach, director of… Read More

A federal prosecutor in Louisiana was disbarred for posting scathing commentary online – including more than a hundred anonymous posts about cases his office was prosecuting. In December 2018, the Louisiana Supreme Court said the assistant U.S. Attorney had violated ethics rules prohibiting conduct preju… Read More

Here’s some free risk management advice: think twice before giving another lawyer a chest bump – especially if the recipient is a criminal prosecutor. Just ask the defense lawyer in Louisiana who was suspended for a year after chest bumping a District Attorney in a judge’s chambers. In a Jan… Read More

Millennial lawyers say the traditional law practice model is broken beyond repair – but even so, many say making partner at their present firm is their number one goal. And three-quarters of them would happily take less pay in exchange for more time off. Those are some of the findings from a survey of y… Read More

For the first time ever, digital advertising – led by Facebook and Google – has eclipsed not only print advertising but also TV and radio as well. Advertisers in the US will spend $129 billion on digital media in 2019, according to estimates from eMarketer. That’s 16 percent more than the $10… Read More

Take a look around your office: what you see today will likely appear much different tomorrow. That’s because law firms – how they look, feel and function – are undergoing a massive makeover. The longstanding office-based model is no longer the only option. Firms are experimenting with open … Read More

A simple sentence of less than 10 words could attract close to 20 percent more clients to your practice. No, the magic words are not: “Hire me and all your legal dreams will come true.” The message is simpler – and more honest – than that. To-wit: “I can really put myself in your… Read More

Congratulations! You’ve reached the end of our Lawyers in Transition series. We hope along the way you picked up some pointers, insights, and nuggets to inspire you on the next step of your journey. We leave you with a final self-test. Below are all 20 of the Lawyers in Transition blog posts. Go through… Read More

There is a cheap and easy way to boost referrals to your law practice. Just ask for more business. Of course this sounds obvious. Self-evident. Yet many lawyers – possibly including you – don’t do it. Many lawyers want to grow their practice and get more out of their law lives. They are terr… Read More

To market your law firm in a new and creative way, consider giving out earbuds, backpacks or sugar cookies with your logo on it. Ditch the tired old refrigerator magnets, desk calendars and keychains. “Some law firms are strategic with swag while others seem to put their logo on everything,” write… Read More

Here’s a little risk management tip: when you’re in court, be careful not to appear too chummy with the judge. It might provoke the other side to try to get the judge tossed from the case. That’s the story in Miami, where a plaintiff has petitioned the Florida appeals court to remove the pre… Read More

If you want to get and keep top young legal talent, create a firm culture based on principles that are important to them. Here are four to start with: diversity, inclusion, environmental sustainability, and mentoring. Recent workplace studies show that an overwhelming majority of millennials are making job de… Read More