Recently in Law Firm Office Management Category

Law students are finishing up their finals and gearing up for their summer jobs. But is your firm ready for your summer associates?

What are you going to do when they show up on their first day? After introducing them around the office, what are they going to work on?

A few simple considerations will ensure that your law firm benefits from the summer associates you've hired, and vice-versa. Here are three tips to keep in mind:

Blame it on a fascination with leaning in before Lean In became a thing, but we find female executives pretty fascinating. In a male-dominated corporate world that doesn't seem to grasp the concept of a work-life balance, we (sometimes falsely) believe that the women in charge will create more family-friendly workplaces.

Then, a prominent exec like Marissa Mayer takes reins at Yahoo! and rescinds work from home privileges.

Earlier this year, we described that move as the "WORST. IDEA. EVER." But, after listening to Mayer's latest defense of the strategy, we can concede that there may not be a one-size-fits-all solution to work from home policies.

Have you identified the closest WiFi-accessible coffee shop to your office? Do you have a backup location where you can meet with clients? You might want to think of one.

As spring sets in for part of the country -- many condolences to those of you shivering through snow storms in April -- businesses are preparing to send their power bills surging by turning up the air conditioning. But, as the mercury rises, what happens when your air conditioner stops working?

Many lawyers hire high school or college students as office workers. They make coffee, answer phones, run errands, and file. It’s cheap labor and a chance for the attorney to teach the student about the day-to-day responsibilities of the legal profession.

Everyone wins. Except, perhaps, for the clients.

In case you haven’t noticed, youngins these days post everything online. Even the little hooligans who are committing crimes are bragging about their exploits — with photos! — on Facebook and Twitter. That constant need for attention does not bode well for client confidentiality.

Lawyers -- especially plaintiffs' attorneys -- love respondeat superior. Superiors tend to have deeper pockets than employees; an injured person is more likely to recover from the boss than the underling.

Employers, on the other hand, dread the day they will be held accountable for their employees' tortious mistakes.

Not that lawyers aren't sympathetic. Lawyers aren't just responsible for staffers' torts, but for their run-of-the-mill screw-ups, too. As Attorney at Work noted earlier this week, a non-lawyer "staff member's error or omission can lead to a malpractice claim or disciplinary complaint just as readily as a lawyer's."

Last week, President Obama mentioned during a fundraiser that California Attorney General Kamala Harris is "by far, the best-looking attorney general in the country."

Well, duh. Anyone who has eyes can see that Harris is stunning. But Obama caught flack for stating the obvious, and later called Harris to apologize for his comment, Politico reports.

Why is this a topic that people are actually discussing? And what can lawyers learn from this situation?

For some lawyers, the work day never ends.

Twenty years ago, lawyers left their phones and computers at work. Thanks to increased mobility, lawyers now send email from their phones, read briefs and cases on tablets, and are rarely seen without a laptop. Unfortunately, the never-stop-working work ethic means that more attorneys are burning out.

So how do you stop the vicious cycle? Try actively disconnecting from the office at the end of the day.

As you may have gathered from prior posts on this blog, there are lots of ways that your email can ruin your life. Or at least your reputation.

In the past, we've discussed how spell check won't always make you look smarter, and the fact that giving your clients (or opposing counsel) pet names in your phone is simply a terrible idea. To illustrate these points, I've offered true stories from professionals who have made these mistakes and lived to tell the tales.

Today, I'm tattling on myself -- and attempting to save you from yourself -- with a cautionary tale of what not to do with an Outlook appointment invite.

Solo practice can be a lonely existence. When you first hang a shingle, you’re probably the only person in your office, (if you have an office at all).

When business picks up, you may find yourself overwhelmed. Suddenly, delegating tasks seems like a good idea.

Previously, we discussed factors to consider when weighing the benefits of hiring a full-time or contract paralegal: specifically, the amount and type of work, and your long-term plans. But there’s also the financial factor.

As the one-time head of a law firm’s “fun committee,” I understand the importance of injecting a little frivolity into an otherwise bland work week. I also understand the importance of confirming that your light-hearted fun complies with the law.

(Maybe I know someone who once accidentally ran an unsanctioned bingo operation out of a law firm.)

There are obviously-illegal pursuits — like hookers and drugs — which law firms strictly avoid. At least, firms should strictly avoid them. But even seemingly-harmless activities like March Madness pools can raise a few regulatory eyebrows.