Differentiating your firm with technology
Are you sending the message that your law firm stands above and apart from the competition? Everything you do for your law office indicates what you will do for your clients. From the way you brand your firm to the services you offer and the convenience with which you offer them, your firm shows clients and […]
Tips for taking a break from work—and why it matters
The prevalence of portable electronics has pushed us as professionals to always be “on.” Because we can work from anywhere, we often feel like we should work from everywhere. But is this constant drive to produce actually harming our productivity? Many experts believe the answer to that question is a resounding “yes.” Various studies have […]
10 alternatives to meetings your firm should try
The face-to-face interaction of a team meeting is often useful for picking up nonverbal cues and team building, but is it always necessary? While being crucial and extremely useful in some scenarios, meetings as a whole are notoriously time-wasting. Too much waiting around, not enough staying on task. Too much discussion, not enough decisions made. […]
14 commonly misused words in the legal industry
Legal terminology and jargon are tough enough to learn, but the many words and phrases that are often used incorrectly can cause confusion and misunderstandings in legal agreements and communications. Brush up on some of the most commonly misused words in the legal industry to make sure your writing stays clear and concise. [textblock style=”1″]Solve […]
Strategies for handling the busy seasons in your law firm
There is no doubt that law firms are busy places. If you ask a legal professional when the busiest time of year is, however, the answer would likely be “it depends.” Litigation teams are swamped in the months leading up to trial. Corporate and real estate attorneys tend to find themselves underwater as major deals […]
Tips for implementing new technology at your law firm
Despite the benefits of a more tech-savvy firm, not everyone in the office may be gung-ho to learn the necessary skills and make the various changes. A large law firm may ask the IT staff to champion the conversion to the new technology, but at a smaller law firm, it may be an office administrator […]
How to create templates in Microsoft Word for legal documents
In just about every role in a legal office, you’ll find yourself creating multiple documents for clients, cases, and financial purposes. Each type of document will often require the same format with headings, logos, font types, spacing, and more. Create templates and save for company-wide use to keep specific designs and stylings in place and […]
8 science-approved ways to be happier
Happy New Year! We say it to each other and we resolve it to ourselves. This year will be a good year, a happy year. Sometimes it may seem easier said than done, but being happy isn’t out of reach. Truly! In fact, science tells us that 40% of a person’s happiness is derived from […]
The evolution of legal support: past, present, and future
From creating elaborate presentations to navigating ever more complex legal technology, the responsibilities of paralegals and legal support staff have grown significantly since the days when lawyers worked alone with paper and pen. More than one quarter-million paralegals and legal support staff are currently working throughout the nation, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects […]
10 blogs legal professionals should be following in 2018
Are you a legal professional who wants to sharpen your skills, advance in your workplace, stay apprised of the latest legal technology, and gain a competitive advantage in today’s legal market? Reading cutting-edge legal blogs can help do all those things, and provide you with a source of valuable information—as well as much-needed entertainment. [textblock […]
How to outsmart context switching (and get more done)
You’re working on a case for a client when you remember that you were supposed to finish editing a different brief by lunchtime. You go to work on that just before realizing that a colleague has been waiting on an email from you–since yesterday. By the end of the email, you’ve thought of several calls […]
Are you an I- or a T-shaped paralegal?
The legal profession is renowned for being traditional, conservative, and extremely resistant to change. Consequently, many lawyers (and some paralegals as well) tend to avoid the unfamiliar and focus on just one thing – their chosen area of expertise. However, at a time when creativity and ideas are vital to the success of a law […]
How to eServe in Illinois courts
On July 1, 2017, Illinois enacted a plethora of revisions to the Supreme Court Rules. Among them were sweeping revisions to the procedures for effecting service of pleadings and other case documents. As one of the state’s certified Electronic Filing Service Providers (EFSPs), we get a lot of questions about the new rules. Here are […]
Top 5 expert legal research tips
One of the most labor-intensive tasks that support staff must undertake is legal research. Whether you’re very familiar with the area of law that you’re considering, or just beginning to take on this responsibility in your law firm, there are many ways to become better at conducting legal research. Here are the top five essential […]
Persuasive literary phrases to use in your next legal brief
Legal briefs are written for one reason and one reason only: to persuade a court to agree with your client’s position. To accomplish this goal, legal professionals might use strong verbs or add in compelling metaphors. Especially creative attorneys could consider pumping up their arguments by including a few of the following snippets from famous […]
6 tips for getting started with e-discovery
Electronic discovery, or e-discovery, is the process of seeking, locating, securing, and searching electronic data with the intent of using it as evidence in a civil or criminal legal case. This process is about more than a new way to handle discovery requests. It’s about beginning to answer how our industry will handle the rise […]