Legal Ease Blog

Getting Ready for ABA TECHSHOW 2019

We're just about two weeks away from ABA TECHSHOW® 2019 to be held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago beginning on February 27, 2019, so it's time to get planning for the event! This year's ABA TECHSHOW features over 60 educational sessions in 16 different tracks, an EXPO Hall filled with vendors with all sorts of legal tech products to help you in your practice, as well as networking and social events, wellness and exercise breaks, and more. 

I'm particularly excited about this year's ABA TECHSHOW because although I planned to attend in both 2017 and 2018, factors beyond my control prevented me from attending. That means I missed seeing a lot of my friends who I only get to see at ABA TECHSHOW, and I didn't get to experience the first year at the new venue at the Hyatt, so I'm looking forward to seeing the new setup.

Here's a preview of some of what you can expect at this year's event, and some of what I plan to do this year:

Women of Legal Tech Summit

While not an official ABA TECHSHOW event, the Women of Legal Tech Summit, held at the Chicago Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology, is a one-day event featuring a series of fast-paced five-minute sessions in the morning, followed by a keynote presentation by Kimberly Yuracko, Dean of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. The event's luncheon will honor this year's class of the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center (LTRC)'s 2019 Women of Legal Tech*.

In the afternoon, Caitlin Moon of Vanderbilt Law School will lead an interactive design thinking workshop. The event ends at 4 p.m., so you'll have plenty of time to get to the Hyatt for the startup competition.

This promises to be an enlightening and exciting event, and I am looking forward to meeting our 2019 LTRC Women of Legal Tech in person!

Startup Competition

Fifteen new legal startups will be showcased before the welcome reception on Wednesday night. These startups will have an opportunity to make their pitches to ABA TECHSHOW attendees who will be able to choose their favorite. All of the startups will remain in the EXPO Hall throughout ABA TECHSHOW, so if you miss the Wednesday competition, don't worry - just head on over to Startup Alley to see them for yourself!

The startup competition was first introduced to ABA TECHSHOW in 2017, so this is an event I haven't had the pleasure of seeing before - I'm looking forward to seeing what these innovators are doing in legal tech and what we can look forward to in the future!

Networking and Social Events

To me, one of the best parts of any conference is the networking opportunities these events provide. It's a great chance to catch up with old friends and contacts and to meet new people. The law, like any service business, is all about relationships, so take advantage of all of the networking events ABA TECHSHOW provides - they are well worth the effort. 

Start off on Wednesday evening with the welcome reception in the EXPO Hall and get a sneak peek at the exhibitors (and the Law Practice Division bookstore) while mingling with other ABA TECHSHOW attendees.

Attend one of the "Taste of TECHSHOW" dinners on Thursday or Friday night - sign up to attend one of these dinners (everyone pays their own way) at a great Chicago restaurant. Each dinner is hosted by a tech expert and is based on a technology topic.

Take advantage of lunch and EXPO Hall breaks to meet vendors and other ABA TECHSHOW attendees, too.

ABA TECHSHOW Communities

Last year was the first year that Communities were introduced, so I haven't had the opportunity to experience them myself yet, but the idea of Communities is to make it easier than ever for you to meet new people and exchange ideas with others who share your interests or your practice areas. You can choose your Communities in the ABA TECHSHOW app, attend Community meetups and hear lectures on your topics of interest. I am interested to see how Communities add to the ABA TECHSHOW experience.

Educational Sessions

As always, ABA TECHSHOW is packed with so many educational sessions, it's hard to choose which ones to attend. This year's event includes 16 different "tracks" - you can choose to follow one full track or choose individual sessions from many different tracks. Try not to get overwhelmed, and remember, as an attendee, you will have access to all of the materials from every one of the programs, whether you attend them or not - and the presenters' PowerPoint presentations will be available to you after the event.

Tracks for this year include the "How to" track, the Mac track specifically for those you use Macs in their practices, an expanded academic track, a track specifically focused on litigation, one for advanced IT, another for core technology, a solo and small firm track, and a track devoted to technology trends, among others.

When choosing which sessions to attend live at the show, consider whether:

• You will benefit from hearing about in person and/or being able to ask questions of the presenters, as opposed to topics that you think written materials will suffice to provide you with the information you need
• The presenter is a particularly good speaker or well-known expert on the topic that you may not have other opportunities to see live
• The presentation includes a live demonstration of technology that you would like to implement in your practice 
• The topic is one which you likely won't see at any other event
• The presentation covers cutting-edge technology or ideas that you want to be one of the first to learn about
• There is an interactive component to the session that will enhance your learning and that you can't get from written materials alone

This year's show includes a Saturday morning plenary with some key take-aways from many of the sessions, so if you want just the highlights of a particular session and plan to be at the show on Saturday, attending the plenary might give you all of the info you need for a specific session, making your choices on Thursday and Friday a bit easier.

I know I will have a difficult time choosing which sessions to attend this year, but some of the topics I'm interested in this year include: automation tools, artificial intelligence, technology competency, using technology to improve the client experience, bitcoin and blockchain, design thinking, and technology training in law schools.

Keynote Address

This year's Keynote address, scheduled from 1-2 p.m. on Friday, will be presented by Betsy Ziegler, CEO of tech incubator 1871 will discuss how advancements in technology will impact the future of the legal profession and the world.

Ranked as the number one university-affiliated tech incubator in the world in 2018, 1871 was created to support Chicago’s digital startup community. According to its website,

1871 is the home of nearly 500 early-stage, high-growth digital startups. Located in The Merchandise Mart, this 140,000 square foot facility is also the headquarters of nationally recognized accelerators, industry-specific incubators, tech talent schools, the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition — the state’s leading technology advocate, a number of Chicago-based VCs, and satellite offices for Northwestern University, University of Illinois, University of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, Trinity University, and DePaul University.

Immediately following the keynote, Betsy will be available to talk to at the "meet the keynote speaker" event in the EXPO Hall from 2-3 p.m.

ABA Law Practice Division Bookstore

The ABA Law Practice Division will be showcasing both its latest titles and tried-and-true practice favorites at this year's ABA TECHSHOW. The book booth will be centrally located on the lower level. All full Conference registrants will receive a $10 “LP Book Buck” to use toward a book purchase. Don't let this $10 gift go to waste - LP publishes innovative books focused on practice management, marketing, finance, and technology. 

Some of our latest tech titles* include:

• The 2019 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide
• Macs in Law: The Definitive Guide for the Mac-curious, Windows-using Attorney
• Microsoft Office 365 for Lawyers, Second Edition
• The Lawyers' Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies: Smart Ways to Work Together
• The Ultimate Guide to Adobe Acrobat DC

Recent non-tech titles include:

• Strategic Networking for Introverts, Extroverts, and Everyone in Between
• Fix It: How History, Sports and Education Can Inform Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Today
• The Best Lawyer You Can Be: A Guide to Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Wellness
• The Lean Law Firm: Run Your Firm Like the World's Most Efficient and Profitable Businesses

To see more of our titles, or to check out any of the books above, don't forget to stop in to the LP book booth - many of our authors will be stopping by to chat (or visit the ABA website to see our available publications)!

EXPO Hall

In addition to the LP Division bookstore, the EXPO Hall features hundreds of exhibitors with almost every kind of legal technology imaginable, from practice and document management software to virtual receptionists and everything in between. The vendors are there to answer your questions and demonstrate their products, so don't be afraid to ask questions. Some of the vendors will be presenting lunch and learn sessions as well in the EXPO Hall. And if you're into 'swag,' take a spin around the EXPO Hall to see (and/or collect) this year's give-aways.

Whew! As you can see, there's lots to do and see at this year's ABA TECHSHOW - and this doesn't even cover everything! Whether you're a first-time attendee or you're a TECHSHOW veteran, you might want to check out the TECHSHOW First Time Experience Guide which includes helpful tips to help you plan your TECHSHOW experience. Make sure to download the TECHSHOW app, follow the social feeds and the TECHSHOW blog, peruse the schedule, and make a plan before you arrive - hope to see you there!

*I am a member of the Board of the Legal Technology Resource Center and helped to choose this year's class of Women of Legal Tech; I am also a member of the Law Practice Division's Publishing Board (and former Chair), which is responsible for publishing Law Practice books.

Interview with Nicole Galli of Women Owned Law

Nicole Galli, Esq. Women Owned Law

I recently had the pleasure of conducting what I hope with be the first of many interviews with experts, legal innovators and other interesting folks in the legal field with  Nicole Galli, an intellectual property litigator and trade secrets lawyer who is also the founder and President of Women Owned Law (WOL), a network for women-owned law and legal services firms.

Nicole and I talked about a number of topics, including networking, challenges facing women lawyers today, why and how she started WOL, and how WOL can help women lawyers and other women in the legal industry. We also chat a bit about grit and resilience.

I'm planning to do a series of these interviews and eventually turn it into a full-fledged podcast, but for now, click below to play the interview:

Nicole Galli interview 2018

As noted on their site,

WOL is a national organization for women owned law and legal services firms to provide a forum for networking opportunities; to increase visibility and media coverage of women entrepreneurs; to help interested firms grow into larger organizations with significant influence in the legal industry; and to provide an “on ramp” for women considering their own legal ventures.

WOL offers several different types of memberships for individuals, law firms, and other organizations in the legal space. Learn more about WOL here.

Women's History Month: 8 Tips for Managers

March is women's history month and this year's theme is "Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives." Is disparate treatment in the workplace an element of women lawyers' (and other professionals) stories?

I came across this presentation entitled, "LeanIn Together: 8 Tips for Managers" that describes how men and women are treated differently at work and how managers can address those issues. I've decided to share it in honor of women's history month.

Do you see these kinds of things still happening in your workplace?

Are female lawyers treated differently and do they have more trouble getting promoted than men?

Is the fact that we need a "Women's History Month" at all evidence of disparity? 

Do these issues need to be addressed in order to create future women leaders in the legal profession and elsewhere?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

#LeanInTogether: 8 Tips for Managers from Lean In

 

You can get the complete tips at LeanIn.org

Packing for a Conference: The Basics (for Women)

I have been doing a fair amount of traveling in the past several years, and packing continues to be a challenge. When packing for my most recent business conference two weeks ago, I decided I needed to come up with a system - and possibly a series of checklists - to make packing for these trips easier, particularly since I often attend the same types of conferences over and over.

This post is the beginning of that process; it's the general packing list, which may need to be tweaked for specific conferences, or if there are activities planned that may require something not included in the general list. Hopefully this post will be as helpful to you in planning for conferences as it was to me.

General Tips

Planning ahead is key, particularly if you want to travel without having to check any bags (which is becoming more and more important, with fewer and fewer direct flights and higher and higher checked bag fees). This is even more important if you're presenting at the conference - and I had a scare once when I was presenting in New Orleans and my checked luggage didn't arrive...

I find it helpful to actually write down what I’ll be doing each day and what I can wear to do it, especially if I anticipate needing to change for evening activities, etc. This also helps with "specialty" activities, like going to the pool, working out, etc. On my last trip, I actually created a quick chart to print out and use for this purpose. If you're interested, you can download it here:

Download Outfit planner

I like to plan that I can wear pretty much everything twice (or at least two ways). It’s a good idea to try everything on before you pack it to make sure it’s good to go (it fits, is comfortable, has no stains, missing buttons or rips, and no other repairs are needed) and everything goes with everything else.

It’s usually easier if you bring neutral bottoms and colored or patterned tops or shirts, but if you're an expert outfit planner, there's no reason you can't mix and match. Just keep in mind that to get the most punch from your travel wardrobe while keeping it minimal enough to carry on, everything should coordinate with everything else. This helps with the "two ways" rule, because if everything coordinates, it's easier to layer different pieces. Try to pack pieces that aren’t prone to wrinkles. I find synthetics are more breathable and more wrinkle-free than cottons. Clothing with a little stretch makes it more comfortable, too.

Choose pieces that fit with the style and culture of the conference. If you'll be presenting, you may want some pieces that are a bit more structured or business-like. If you're just attending, you may wish to tend a bit more toward the casual side. But don't forget that conferences are as much about networking as they are about learning, and you never know who you might meet, so be prepared.

Basic 4 day conference clothing list

• 5 tops (including one dressier top if there's a dressier dinner or other evening event)
• 2-3 bottoms (ex: 1 pants+1skirt+ 1 jeans or shorts)
• 1 dress (these are easy because they can be worn on their own or with some of the other pieces for a different look)
• 1 jacket
• 1 sweater/wrap/cardigan - most hotel conference spaces are cold (you could replace this with a button down that you can wear on its own, as a ‘sweater’ over a tank or as a coverup at the pool, or you could bring the button down as one of your tops and bring the sweater, too)
• 1 scarf – good for the plane, chilly conference rooms, or to liven up an outfit
• 1 pjs
• 2-3 pairs of shoes – 1 flats +1 heels (or 2nd pair of flats) +1 additional of your choice - could be sneakers or other comfortable shoes for walking/traveling 
• 1 belt (great to help change up outfits and add interest)
• 1 hat  - I usually bring one just in case for the pool or touring around on sunny days
• 1 bathing suit+Swim coverup (if the pool is an option)
• workout gear 
• Socks and/or hose if you need them – depends on your shoes and the weather
• I usually throw in a camisole or 2 for good measure; they take up no room and can come in handy to wear as pjs, under a top, or to layer for the plane
• Jewelry – I usually keep this to a minimum on business trips so I don’t need to worry about it, but sometimes it’s nice to have something that will help add some interst, or if the conference has dressier evening activities. I like a long necklace that can be worn long or doubled up for a second "look."
• Undergarments
• 1 small purse or clutch -  so I don’t have to carry around the big tote that I use during the day with my laptop; the small bag might be easier for your non-biz days or if you go out to dinner at night. Just big enough for $, phone, credit cards, etc.

If you want to be really minimal (or have a really small bag) you can limit this even more, because the above list will give you more mix and match outfits than you need for a 4 day trip, but I like to have options - and I often like to change things up a bit for the evening, depending on the planned activities. 

Although this list is obviously for women, it can be 'tweaked' for men - the essential basics are the same - tops, bottoms, shoes, jacket and/or sweater, using layers to re-use pieces, etc.

Tech Items

• Laptop 
• Phone
• iPad/Tablet/e-reader (You may or may not need it if you’re bringing your laptop)
• Phone  and other charger(s)
• Laptop cord
• Extra eyeglasses case or zip bag for cords, chargers – I find it’s easier to keep smaller ones together this way - especially if there are ones I might need en route
• Power strip (you may or may not need it)
• Headphones

Necessities to Keep Accessible

• Eyeglasses
• Sunglasses
• Business Cards
• Pen
• Hand lotion
• Lip balm
• Tissues
• Wet wipes
• Medication
• Snacks (especially for long flights)
• A refillable water bottle comes in handy and helps you stay hydrated
• Ear plugs and an eye mask can be great for the plane or for noisy hotel rooms

• Toiletries: of course, you'll need the basics, including your toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, hair brush, razor, makeup, etc. In addition to these, depending on your activities and destination, you might consider bringing sunscreen, a stain stick and a travel sewing kit. 

Packing Tips

I usually try to pack my toiletries in 3 separate pouches – 1 for liquids (which need to be separate anyway for security if you’re not checking bags), 1 for makeup, and one for everything else. In 3 separate containers, it’s also usually easier to fit them in the suitcase. I've also taken to preparing a complete set of travel toiletries that I keep in my suitcase since I travel so much; when I return from a trip I try to replenish what's missing or getting low so that I'm all set to go the next time I travel.

If you pack right, you should be able to get all of this in a carry on and your ‘personal item’ so you don’t have to check luggage. I like to “bundle” my clothes when I pack – you can fit more in and it really reduces wrinkles - but it means you'll need to unpack everything when you arrive at your destination. You can learn more about it (and there’s a handy diagram) here: http://www.onebag.com/pack.html#bundle.

I like to use packing cubes to use as the "core" of the bundle or to pack separately with less wrinkle-prone items like t-shirts, undergarments, swimwear and other accessories. I like the packing cubes from e-bags - they are durable, inexpensive and there are plenty of options. To keep electronics under control, use grid-it or similar organizers.

I've found that it's definitely worth the investment to get a suitcase with 360 spinner wheels - it's so much easier to pull and I've had far fewer shoulder problems since switching my bag.

I'd love to hear your travel and packing tips!

Is There a Gender Gap in the Law?

Here's an interesting infographic from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, addressing the state of women in the law:

 

Brought to you by the online Master of Legal Studies program at @WashULaw

What do you think? What are you experiencing in the legal field - is there a gender gap? If there is, what are your suggestions for closing the gender gap? Do you think women in the legal field are contributing to the existence of a gender gap or helping to eliminate it?

Related articles

How Will Legal Services Be Provided in the Future?

Resources for Women Lawyers: National Women's Small Business Month

Women to Watch in Legal Technology

In this month of March, which is both Women's History Month and ABA TECHSHOW (the leading legal technology conference and EXPO), the ABA Journal has posted a gallery of women to watch in legal technology:

• Lisa Colpoys, Illinois Legal Aid Online
• Michelle Crosby, Wevorce 
• Monica Goyal, MyLegalBriefcase
• Christie Duley, Fork the Law
• Marci Harris, Popvox
• Monica Palmirani, University of Bologna
• BeiBei Que, AttorneyFee.com
• Amy Wan, The Legal Pioneer Blog, Law Tech Ladies Group
• Tanina Rostain, Georgetown Law
• Rebecca Williams, Sunlight Foundation

To learn more about these women and their thoughts on technology and the law, check out the gallery. Let's hope their stories inspire more women to explore the intersection of law and technology.

If you're attending the ABA TECHSHOW, don't forget to check out some of the ace female presenters, including Ruth Carter, Jennifer Ellis, Sharon Nelson, Carole Levitt, Catherin Sanders Reach, Samantha Meinke, Debbie Foster, Peggy Gruenke, JoAnn Hathaway, Adriana Linares, Diane Ebersole, and of course, TECHSHOW 2014 Chair, Natalie Kelly.

I'll be presenting on both Thursday and Friday. Please feel free to stop by!

 

 

Related articles

ABA TECHSHOW 2014 Preview

Wevorce Gets $1.7 Million To Use Technology To Make Divorce Less Messy

How Popvox Can Improve National Dialogue

ABA Techshow, March 27th to 29th, Chicago

Women Are More Active Than Men on Most Social Media Platforms

Check out this new infographic from financesonline.com that shows more women are using social media than men (with the exception of LinkedIn). Women also seem to use the visually-oriented social media platforms much more than men. None of this really surprises me - how about you? How can you incorporate more visuals into your social media presence if you're trying to get the attention of women?

Courtesy of: http://reviews.financesonline.com | Author: David Adelman | Follow our LinkedIn

Related articles

So do you agree that women are truly more sociable online?

LinkedIn Tip #8: Adding MultiMedia Elements to Your Profile

Pinterest for Lawyers

Resources for Women Lawyers: National Women's Small Business Month

October is National Women’s Small Business month.

In an article last week on Forbes.com outlining the top 10 workplace trends of 2013 , contributor Dan Schwabel says that one of those trends is that women will start to outpace men at work.

According to Schwabel,

One billion women will enter the workplace in the next decade. Research shows that they are more educated than men and many are saying that they will start taking leadership positions away from them. Sheryl Sandberg and Marissa Mayer are just the beginning. Look for more females to break into top roles next year and beyond.

Of course, Schwabel wasn’t speaking about women in the legal profession, and although women have made some gains, there is still much work to be done, both by the women themselves and by the profession.

The ABA Commission on Women in the Profession is dedicated to the issues faced by women in the legal field.  According to the ABA’s “A Current Glance at Women in the Law 2013” statistical report, women comprise 33.3% of the total population of lawyers in the U.S., but only 19.9% of partners, and only 15% of equity partners. In Fortune 500 companies, women comprise 21.6% of general counsel.

The ABA’s Goal III report from this year, reporting on women’s advancement into leadership positions in the ABA, indicates that Women comprise 31.5% of the lawyer members of the ABA and 32.4% of the lawyer, associate, and student members of the ABA.

Earlier this year, in an article in the ABA Journal, then-ABA President Laurel Bellows noted that since the Equal Pay Act was signed into law in 1963 women have made some gains, but the pay gap between women and men still exists, with women in 2013 earning 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, and “female equity partners in the 200 largest firms, who do comparable work to men, earn 89 percent of the compensation of their male peers.”

In response, Bellows, along with the ABA Task Force on Gender Equity and the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession launched an initiative to help law firms of all sizes achieve gender equity in partner compensation by preparing a toolkit for bar associations to use to prepare programs on compensation systems. The Gender Equity Task Force’s web page includes resources to help both firms and individuals, including publications about what you should know when negotiating compensation, and recommended steps firms can take to ensure gender equity in their compensation systems, as well as the aforementioned “toolkit.”

One indication that there is still work to be done is that registration for the program scheduled for October 24, 2013 entitled, “Closing the Gap: Achieving Gender Pay Equity in Law Firm Compensation,” presented by the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession and the Task Force on Gender Equity closed out early had had a waiting list. It is clear that these issues are still at the forefront for women in the profession.

Other resources women can look to for specific guidance and resources geared specifically toward them include:

The National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL)  A “national voluntary legal professional organization devoted to promoting the interests and progress of women lawyers and women's legal rights.” It was founded in 1899, and provides programs, networking opportunities and other tools for women lawyers “to advance, prosper and enrich the profession.” Membership is open to anyone and there are membership rates for law students, junior lawyers, lawyers in the government/nonprofit sector, solo and small firms, as well as rates for firms of all sizes.

NAMWOLF (the National Association of Minority and Women Owed Law Firms), another organization promoting women in the profession, “initiat[es] contact with major corporations and public entities on behalf of its members and encourages these corporations and public entities to form business relationships with minority and women-owned law firms.” Law Firm NAMWOLF applicants must have an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbel as well as corporate references.

Although not specifically targeted at lawyers, the Small Business Association can be a helpful resource for women-owned law firms. The SBA has resources for women-owned businesses , including information on estimating startup expenses, writing business plans, preparing business taxes, hiring employees, credit card processing and more.

There is also the ABA Women Rainmakers, an active group within the Law Practice Division which puts on programs for women lawyers, organizes rainmaking circles, and provides additional resources about women lawyers and marketing.

This blog post from Findlaw.com contains a list of resources that might be helpful for women attorneys trying to build their firms.

If you’re a woman lawyer, celebrate National Women’s Small Business Month by taking some time to check out some of these resources to see how they can help you – or how you can help other women in the profession.

Do You Let Clients Pick Your Brain For Free?

"I love giving advice. I write blogs, articles and a newsletter. I host a radio show. I tweet, Facebook and share nuggets of advice almost daily. So what is it in all of that, that would make anyone think they can still have the right to “pick my brain”?"

No, You Can't Pick My Brain - It Costs Too Much-Adrienne Graham, via blogs.forbes.com

This article created quite a discussion on one of my lawyer list-serves this week after it was posted by a fellow list-member.

I highly recommend the article; I think Graham makes some great points in her post. And what she says applies to lawyers, too.

Are you squandering your most valuable asset?

Too many lawyers offer too much free advice. That may sound funny coming from me, since I've got not only this blog, but I contribute to the Lawyerist blog as well as Slaw.ca and I do a free e-newsletter and offer additional free articles on my website, LawyerMeltdown.com (not to mention speaking for free at various bar association CLE programs). Up until recently, I did fairly extensive initial consultations for free - even though I was advising my clients not to do that if at all possible. (I'm changing that in my practice).

Part of the problem with giving free advice is that people come to de-value it and they expect more and more for free.

Other than offering a potential client a free consultation, is there any other way you might be able to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise or show the potential client how your consultation will benefit them so that they feel more comfortable paying for the consultation? Do you have other free materials you can give, send or direct them to (like those mentioned above) that will establish your expertise and provide information, but not advice?

As Graham acknowledges, you can give away information for free - specifically, talking to people about what they should do and why they should do it - but the *how* is a different story.

Sean D'Souza, one of my early marketing mentors, calls this "giving the idea, but selling the system."

You can give information for free - but in a limited way. Direct people to your blog or free resources on your website. Agree to a BRIEF no-cost consultation either in person or by phone, just to find out what the potential client might need, whether you can help them and whether you *want to* work with them. If both you and the potential client want to proceed to the next step, it's time for paid work - even if that turns out to be a one time only paid consultation.

Why? In part to eliminate the tire-kickers who don't really value your advice or who aren't in a position to pay. And in part to send a signal to everyone else that your knowledge is valuable.

Want to 'do right' by your actual clients? You can always offer to apply the consultation fee to the client's first payment so that it becomes free for those who move on to work with you, but not for those who take your valuable advice from that first consult and run with it.

Crediting the consultation fee to people who actually become clients and are paying for your work can be a wonderful way of building up loyalty with a client from the beginning of the engagement. And I often tell my clients that there is no reason that they cannot refund a consultation fee to someone who decides not to retain them (or, more importantly, who the lawyer decides they just don’t want as a client) *after* the potential client has demonstrated their commitment by forking over the fee for the consult. 

But telling them ahead of time that you won’t bill them for the consultation is the same thing as saying, “Sure, you can pick my brain for free,” or worse, '"My advice isn't valuable enough to require a fee." 

Many of my clients who have instituted a paid consultation system say that they waste less time with potential clients who aren't serious or who wouldn't be a good fit for their practice. Many of those who pay for the consultation actually become clients, but of those who don't, the lawyers feel that at least they were compensated for the effort they put in to conduct the consult.

Does this work in all practice areas? Perhaps not. If your practice is a contingency-based one (such as personal injury), where a big selling point is that the client doesn't have to lay out any money for legal fees up front, and that legal fees are paid from settlement proceeds or otherwise at the end of the engagement, a paid consult might not work. But beware how you conduct the initial consultation and how much you give away before the client signs a retainer agreement.

One final footnote: whether you institute a paid consultation system or not, be sure to send a non-engagement letter to those with whom you choose not to work, or who choose not to retain you.

What are your thoughts? Can lawyers successfully charge for initial consultations? What has your experience been?

photo credit: http://flic.kr/p/61eaPC

Are Women Lawyers Still Encountering the Glass Ceiling?

The theme of the January 2011 issue of Law Practice Today is "Glass Ceiling or Hot Air?" - addressing the status of women in the profession today. Is there a 'glass ceiling?" Are women lawyers being given the same opportunities as men? How can women lawyers advance their careers?

Law Practice Today is the webzine produced by the Law Practice Management (LPM) Section of the American Bar Association (ABA) and it's one of my favorite resources for practice management, technology, marketing and finance ideas and advice for lawyers.

Here are some of the highlights from this month's issue:

Dealing With Obstacles That Women Face Along the Career Path, edited by John D. Bowers is a compilation of responses from women members of the ABA LPM Section who were asked for advice on suggested approaches to surmount barriers women may face when it comes to career advancement.

In Women Say They’re Still Banging Their Heads on the Legal Industry Glass Ceiling , Nick Gaffney provides another perspective, revealing that, at least according to a national survey of women lawyers by the ABA Law Practice Management Section, the legal profession is still struggling to address its gender inequity problem.

Read Jamie Spannhake's review of Women on Top – The Woman’s Guide to Leadership and Power in Law Firms, by Ida Abbott.

Want to own your own firm? Lisa Harris Jones gives six tips on how to do just that in Making Your Dream a Reality: Tips for Owning Your Own Firm.

Law Practice Today's core articles include a management article on outsourcing support services by Channing Migner and Rodney Dowell entitled Outsourcing Support Services Domestically and Globally, and Ed Poll shows lawyers why an investment in technology may be well worth the up front costs in his article Technology Investment - Any Happy Returns?

Read the entire January 2011 issue of Law Practice Today here.

As a reminder, you can subscribe to receive Law Practice Today via email or read it on the web for free, whether or not you are a member of the ABA.