Have you read these?

A smattering of relevant and interesting posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “Law and Surgery” from Adam Smith, Esq. Because its focus is the economics of law firms, this blog is on my short list of must-reads. Whether he’s dissecting law firm layoffs or market economics or the GM bankruptcy, Bruce MacEwen always provides an invaluable perspective on the business of law. That said, this post rises to the top precisely because it is NOT about law firm economics. Why? Because it is about passion. Read it and see why this Adam Smith, Esq. should be on your short list, too.
  
  
• “Welcome to the Future: Morgan Lewis Signals Armageddon” from AmLaw Daily. Like everyone else in the legal profession, you’re probably following the growing trend of summer program cancellations at the AmLaw 200 with the same abject horror as you did the layoffs of the past 18 months. This stuff is big. Really really big. Paul Lippe calls it “Armageddon” in this piece, and I see no reason to disagree. Read it and you will agree. Pay special attention to the comments, where readers appear more interested in Lippe’s use of “syllogism” than the fact that the profession as we know it will never be the same.
  
  
• “More problems with gated online legal communities: Cannot link to profiles” from Real Lawyers have Blogs. More and more lawyers are exploring and adopting Web 2.0 tools to market their practices, share knowledge and experience, and develop relationships, sparking more and more debate on the right way to do it. Kevin O’Keefe is often at the center of those conversations, and this post is no exception. Read it to see what your peers think about closed online communities. And while you’re at it, read “The State of Legal Social Networking” from Compliance Building, in which Doug Cornelius gives his take on a handful of social networking sites for lawyers.
  
  
• “Winning on the uphills” from Seth Godin’s Blog. I’m a cyclist, so I know from personal experience that the payoff for my work in the saddle is in the climb, not the descent. But you probably know that too, if only because it is July, and Lance Armstrong is back in the Tour de France, and the riders are currently in the Alps. The Tour is won on the uphills, when the challenges are greatest, when the conditions are dismal, when the risks are highest. Kind of like the economic environment today, isn’t it? Well, get over it, get out there, and get climbing. And read this post for inspiration on your way out the door.
  
  
• “Strategic Marketing in Five Easy Leaps” from Virtual Marketing Officer. Lawyers and legal marketers: read this post, and ask yourself where your firm lands on the strategic marketing continuum. Then ask where you think it should be. If yours is like most firms, those two places are not the same. How can you close the gap? By reading this post, and applying some of its useful ideas to your business development and marketing efforts.

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and insightful posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• "50 Web Resources for the Suddenly Solo Lawyer” from ABA Law Practice Today. Whether you’re suddenly solo, facing the possibility of becoming solo, or just looking for resources that will help you improve your practice, you need to read this piece. Jim Calloway and Allison Shields have put together a valuable list that has something for everybody. You used to have to pay to get access to this information. The bonus? This article is part of an entire issue devoted to the “Suddenly Solo” lawyer, where each and every article is chock-full of invaluable advice from the likes of Ed Poll, Jay Shepherd, Grant Griffiths, Dennis Kennedy, and others. Find it here.
  
  
• “The Answer to How is Yes” from Conversation Agent. I try to avoid recommending the same blog in subsequent posts, but when I saw this post from Valeria Maltoni, I couldn’t help myself. Perhaps it has something to do with the advice for out-of-work lawyers @JeenaBelil provided when I interviewed her on 22 Tweets this week: “Stop saying I can’t….” Whatever the reason, you need to read this post. And read it again. And then print it out and tape it to the wall next to your monitor so you can read it every day.
  
  
• “Prove Your Worth (and Profit) as a Results-Oriented Agency” from PR New Online. This post isn’t about public relations, it’s about value, about service providers finding ways to provide greater value to their clients, about changing the way things have always been done to meet the demands of the new marketplace. While the suggestions in this piece do not apply across the board to the legal profession, the message does: it’s time for a new business model.
  
  
• “10 Reasons Why PR People Need to be on Twitter” from Social Media Today. I’m a firm believer in Twitter as a communications tool. It is changing the nature of business relationships, for good, and whether or not it is around in 10 years, the changes it brings about will be. For this reason, I am convinced that lawyers need to be on Twitter: to know it, to be able to communicate via the tool, to meet others doing the same thing, and to gain exposure to people and ideas that will add value. This post is written for PR pros, but a number of the ten points raised apply directly to lawyers. Read it and you’ll agree.
  
  
• “Seller's Remorse in the Marketing Business” from Trust Matters. This is a story about how an advertising agency reacted to being eliminated from consideration in an RFP process by Zappo’s. But it’s much more than that. One reason is that it reminds us of a valuable lesson: “One of the biggest fallacies sellers make is that buyers buy based on their own stated rational criteria.” Another? It has sparked some very interesting and insightful comments (including one from David Maister!) about the RFP game.

Have you read these?

A smattering of relevant and interesting posts from the blawgosphere and beyond.

• “What’s Holding Organizations Back?” from Conversation Agent. This is an interesting post that explores the reasons for which companies are not engaging more actively in Web 2.0 and, when they do, why they might not be able to realize the full potential of the new tools. How does it apply to lawyers and legal marketing? Because it explains why “joining the conversation is the tip of the iceberg.” Read it and think about how it could apply to you.
  
  
• “10 Tips for Kicking Ass as a Freelance Writer” from copyblogger. I know that lawyers aren’t freelance writers. But they write, don’t they? And they give presentations, don’t they? And they pitch work, don’t they, sometimes in elaborate dog-and-pony shows, with PowerPoint slides and handouts and everyone on the team playing a specific role? So they might learn something from this post, which is really about communicating with your audience.
  
  
• “State of the AmLaw 200 Blogosphere, June 2009” from Real Lawyers Have Blogs. Want to know which of the AmLaw 200 firms are blogging, which aren’t, what they are writing about? Read this impressive compilation. The bonus: learning that number of blogging firms has more than doubled over the past two years. Still not convinced it’s a valuable use of time and resources? Nearly half of the AmLaw 200 is....
  
  
• “BigLaw Partner Compensation Systems Hurt Clients” from In Search of Perfect Client Service. Anybody else not a big fan of the expression “eat what you kill”? Clients aren’t prey, and lawyers shouldn’t build a business model out of feasting on them. Patrick Lamb, founder of Valorem Law Group, doesn’t like this business model either, and explains in this post why lawyers who eat what they kill shouldn’t be handling your legal work.
  
  
• "Blow Up Your PR Program” from PR Squared. Though written about PR, this post applies to lawyers (and accountants and consultants and just about any service provider who has clients). Don’t get stuck in “maintenance mode.” Challenge yourself – and your clients – to generating greater value from the relationship. You probably won’t do it the way this post describes, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and valuable posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “Five Things Lawyers Should Know About Social Media” from Practicing Law in the 21^st Century. Lawyers: whether you’re just starting out in social media, a social media pro, or somewhere in-between, you need to read this post. I read a lot of posts about lawyers and social media, and this one sums up quite nicely the key themes that should guide you in your Web 2.0 activities. Don’t let the title fool you, though: you don’t have to be a lawyer to learn from it.
  
  
• “Overcoming Procrastination” from Jim Calloway’s Law Practice Tips Blog. Rather than crack “put off until tomorrow” jokes, I’ll go straight to the punchline. Everyone procrastinates. Some are better at it than others, and some of us have elevated it to an art form. But the cost of procrastination is high no matter how you slice it: added stress, missed deadlines, dissatisfied clients, etc. This post can help you, so read it. Today. Without delay.
  
  
• “Practice the 10/20/30 Rule for Presentations” from law.com. I’ve seen Guy Kawasaki make a presentation. I liked it. Whether you make presentations six times a day or six times a decade, yours will be significantly better if you follow his 10/20/30 rule. The bonus? Being able to quote a professional fisherman the next time you’re giving someone advice on their presentation.
  
  
• “Will alternative fee arrangements be profitable for lawyers?” from Legal Ease Blog. This post is a valuable addition to the ongoing “alternative fees v. hourly billing” debate, one of the key issues shaping the legal profession today. In it, Allison Shields takes a thoughtful look at some of the hurdles – perceived and real – that may be keeping lawyers from embracing alternative billing methods.
  
  
• “Dragons' Den” from The Adventure of Strategy. I really enjoy seeking out new blogs and posts that add to the legal business development and marketing conversation. Why? Because I find blogs like this one, and get to add them to my RSS feed. This post is about a possible future for selling in the legal profession. What if you had only three minutes to convince your clients to hire you? How would you articulate your difference? What would you have to do differently to show clients that you are indeed better than the competition? And what would the impact be on the way you run your firm?

Have you read these?

A smattering of insightful and valuable posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “Why Being Extraordinary Wins” from Altitude…brand elevation through social media. Think you’re good at client service? What would it take for you to be great at it? What would that cost? Would it be worth it? This story of customer experience at a dentist’s office just might give you some ideas on how you could be extraordinary. Read it.
  
  
• “Want to be a better PR professional?” from Client Service Insights (CSI/Season 2). Don’t let the title fool you: this post is really about being a better professional services provider. How? By putting the client first. Before you say “but I already do that!” (like I did…), read this post. And then ask yourself if you know your client’s business as well as you should.
  
  
• “A Blogging Guide for St. Louis (and Other) Lawyers (and Others)” from DennisKennedy.com. Lawyers, want to start blogging? Read this interview with four pioneers of the legal blogosphere who all hail from St. Louis, “Blawg City USA.” This is great advice, the kind that you normally have to pay for, the kind that will help you understand the cost and demands of blogging, the kind that will make your blog better. The bonus? Even the most seasoned blawger will learn something from this group.
  
  
• “Some Thoughts About Pitching In-house Counsel for Business” from Legal Marketing Blog.com. This post is written for smaller firms, who are increasingly getting opportunities to pitch for work from larger corporations traditionally represented by BigLaw. But everyone will benefit from this advice, especially the in-house counsel who won’t have to sit through another bad pitch. And if they appreciate it, you most likely will, too.
  
  
• “A Thought For Law Students” from In Search of Perfect Client Service. If you read my other blogs, you know the importance I place helping law students prepare for the future. That’s why I was especially pleased to find this advice for law students from Patrick Lamb, founder of Valorem Law Group. Why? Because Lamb isn’t waiting for the future to happen, he’s writing it. And in this post he tells future lawyers how they can write their own futures, too.

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and valuable posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “Outsourcing: What Indian Firms Have Planned for the Future of Biglaw” from Above the Law. As the debate continues about the relevance of the billable hour in today’s market, some firms are developing different models. No, I’m not talking about “billable hours” firms changing their spots to become “alternative billing” firms. I’m talking about finding different ways to deliver value. This post gives us an in-depth look at outsourcing as a business model for the legal profession. Will more firms adopt this approach?
  
  
• “All the things you don’t need” from The Art of Non-Conformity. I can tell already that this post is going to make my “all-time greats” list. It will be on yours, too. It will help you move beyond the obstacles that are holding you back, that are keeping you from doing what you want to do, from becoming that which you would like to be. Because most of the time, success isn’t dependent on the things we don’t have. Read this post and you’ll agree.
  
  
• “Whither Sales in Law Firms?” from Corcoran’s Business of Law Blog. Disguised as a report on a recent panel discussion in which he participated, Tim Corcoran provides a valuable primer on law firm marketing, business development and sales. Should law firms have a sales force? They already do. Read this post. Then give a copy to everyone in your firm to read too. They’ll thank you.
  
  
• “Navigating the seven Cs of knowledge” from Enlightened Tradition. Don’t be fooled: this post isn’t about knowledge management. That’s just the context. This post is about value and success and service and perspective and a whole lot more. Lawyers, legal professionals, accountants, consultants, PR professionals, this post was written for you, too. Read it.
  
  
• “What's that Chirping in the Forest?” from Leadership, Women, Lawyers. This post is a good addition to the ongoing “lawyers on Twitter” conversation, but not because it talks about the vast potential of Twitter as a communications tool, or the meaningful relationships that Twitter can help you establish, or even the fun you can have when you tweet. Because it contains ideas like this: “…if you have client that tweets, you are a fool if you don't follow. You can bet that some other lawyer will.”

Have you read these?

A smattering of insightful and useful posts from the blawgosphere and beyond.

• “Draft Horse” from Belgium Knee Warmers. I don’t often get the chance to recommending a cycling post in the context of legal business development and marketing. This is a great post about working hard, satisfying the needs of your client, and the satisfaction that comes from being a true team player. Lawyers: don’t make your clients tell you what they need. Know their business, know their industry, know their objectives and strategies and challenges, so that you can smell their need and satisfy it before they ask. Then you know you’re adding value.
  
  
• “You Need to Be Proactive to Sell” from Alan’s Blog at Contrarian Consulting. I’ve featured posts from Alan Weiss before. This one features stories about selling, value and how one vendor makes their client feel important, special and valued. Guess who’s going to get repeat business?
  
  
• “Decision making defines the leader” from Harvey MacKay. This article doesn’t need much in the way of introduction, because you already know who MacKay is and why you should be reading his weekly column. My favorite part of this one? The quote from Harry S. Truman: “Whenever I make a bum decision, I just go out and make another."
  
  
• “Tips for Pitching Your Firm to In-House Counsel Without Going Overboard” from Law.com. It may seem like you’ve heard these before. After all, you have a lot of experience on the buyer side making purchase decisions based on how people pitch their services. Then why do you need to read this post? Because you’re probably not using your “buyer” experience when wearing your “seller” hat. Read this post and put what you learn into action.
  
  
• “What do recruiters want from a resume?” from MN Headhunter. I feature a lot of posts for job seekers that offer valuable lessons for all who sell themselves (including the fortunate ones who currently have jobs). Don’t let the title of this post fool you: it too is for everyone. Yes, it is full of very practical advice for job seekers writing, updating, or merely circulating their resume. But there’s a broader lesson here: don’t deal in generalities. Find out precisely what your buyer is looking for, and tailor your materials to communicate your ability to meet those needs.
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of insightful and important posts from the blawgosphere and beyond.

• “How Essential is a CMO?” from AmLaw Daily. This is what I do, so it’s not surprising that I have a viewpoint on this question (first thought: this isn't the right question to ask). But that’s not why you need to read this article. You need to read it because your own answer to the question should provide the foundation for your marketing plan, for the initiatives, budget and scope of how you market your practice. You also need to read the responses it has sparked, including those from Heather Milligan in The Legal Watercooler, “How Essential is a CMO? Depends,” Mark Beese in Leadership for Lawyers, “How Essential is a CMO?,” and Tim Corcoran in Corcoran’s Business of Law Blog, “Law Firm Leaders and Law Firm CMOs: Stop Whining and Get On With It,” and Jordan Furlong in Law21.ca, "Trust and the marketing department."
  
  
• “Testing Marketing Competence” from Branding Strategy Insider. This post fits well with the ongoing discussion about the necessity of law firm CMOs. Why? Because these are the types of questions lawyers should be asking when talking to law firm marketers. And legal marketers should be articulating what they do, how they do it, and why it works or doesn’t work, in these terms. That’s how your clients do it.
  
  
• “Twitter – New Opportunities and Headaches for Companies” from Howard Rice. This is a client alert written by Howard Rice attorneys that takes a broad (and cursory) look at legal issues raised by blogs, Facebook and Twitter. Lawyers: whether or not you are directly involved in social media and social networking, your clients are. This isn’t going away, and the risks are only going to increase. You need to know this stuff. Really well.
  
  
• “Graduating into a recession” from Law21.ca. I ask lawyers what advice they have for law students when I interview them on 22 Tweets. So when I saw that Jordan Furlong had answered the same question, in a blog post, I had to read it. And recommend you read it too. It’s not by accident that I regularly feature his work on this blog: his analyses are thoughtful, comprehensive and insightful. And this one rises to the top: in the course of advising student, Furlong provides an in-depth examination of how the legal profession is evolving, and how lawyers must evolve to survive in the world. Read it.  
  
  
• “Tough times, tougher questions” from legalweek.com. Still trying to figure out what to do in today’s economic climate? You’re not the only one. This article captures a recent debate on the future of the legal profession (sponsored by Legal Week). In the process, it gives us valuable insight how this very diverse group of legal professionals see the profession and where it is going. The bonus? Reading what your peers and colleagues think the profession is doing right (and not so right).
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and valuable posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “Answering the Social Phone” from Conversation Agent. Whether you are actively involved in, still trying to figure out, or waiting until someone demonstrates the value of, social media and social networking, you can learn something from this post. Read these ten ways that customers / clients are using those tools, and you’ll understand pretty quickly that you need to be part of the conversation.
  
  
• “The Worst Thing About PR” from Communications Catalyst. You should read this post for two reasons. First, because you might employ PR professionals without demanding that they demonstrate how PR can add strategic value to your practice. Second, because David Mullen’s criticism of PR professionals might also apply to lawyers. Heed his advice, and you’ll probably find yourself providing greater value to your clients. 
  
  
• “In Defense of the Billable Hour: Bad, or Just Misunderstood?” from The National Law Journal via law.com. I like this article not just because I have been known to defend the billable hour (in spite of its obvious drawbacks), but because it takes the debate beyond “good v. evil.” Doesn’t true value come from the services provided, not the billing method? Read this post before you answer that question.
  
  
• “Lawyer Marketing Resources” from MyShingle.com. If you are looking for a valuable collection of lawyer marketing resources, aimed particularly at solo attorneys who don’t have a lot of time and money to spend on marketing, then this is a must read. 
  
  
• “Lawyers and Career Uncertainty” from Some Assembly Required. Lawyers: this post contains really good career advice. Legal professionals: though written for lawyers, this post contains really good career advice for you, too. Non-lawyers / non-legal professionals: you might have missed it because it’s directed at lawyers, but this post because it contains really good career advice. Did I make myself clear? Then why aren’t you reading it yet? 
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and insightful posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “The Great Newspaper Meltdown, and What It Means For Our Pricing” from Adam Smith, Esq. The dying newspaper industry provides the perfect backdrop for another thoughtful post from Bruce MacEwen on law firm economics and pricing in the face of increasing debate – from all sides – on how lawyers should bill for their work. Regular readers of this blog know that I am a big fan of MacEwen’s work. This post will make you one, too.
  
  
• “Great conversations build great relationships” from Building Enduring Client Relationships. You already know this, don’t you? So did the guy in this story. And yet he still couldn’t figure it out on his own. Conversations lead to relationships which, in the professional services business, lead to work. That’s one of the exciting things about social networking: it makes starting the conversations – traditionally the hardest part – simple and easy. But that doesn’t mean the hard part goes away…. 
  
  
• “First Signs of a New Equilibrium in Entry-Level Salaries” from Empirical Legal Studies. Unless you live on Mars, or are on vacation, you probably have already heard about Drinker Biddle’s one-year associate training program. Why should you read this post? Because Bill Henderson is one of the leading thinkers in the empirical analysis of the legal profession space (he co-organized the recent FutureFirm competition), spends his time studying how law firms are structured and managed, and knows this stuff better than most. Need another reason? The future is now, and Drinker Biddle is writing it. Shouldn’t you be doing the same?
  
  
• “Buying Lessons from a Master Salesman” from Trust Matters. Another post that tells a story about selling (and buying) to give valuable insight on the buying process. It works. Lawyers, read this post every time you’re pitching work. The people across the table already know you’re an expert. You don’t need to convince them of that. You need to show them that they can trust you.
  
  
• “Bear Experiences vs. Bare Products” from Working Knowledge. This post is about innovation. And teddy bears. Intrigued? Read it, and you’ll see why it is summarized as “innovate the experience, not just the product.” When you’re done, think about the ways you might be able to innovate the experience for your clients. Your competition is, and some of them are even doing it. Don’t let yourself be left behind.
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and valuable posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “Nine myths held by some in-house lawyers about their management of law firms” from Law Department Management. Lawyers: need ideas on differentiating yourself from the competition? Read this post. More than half of these myths have to do with what in-house counsel think YOU think about them. What if you were able to better align your firm with these beliefs? Think you would get more business?
  
  
• “Should law firms be in the hospitality business?” from legal sanity. I added Arnie Herz’s blog to my feed after reading this post. I find it full of practical advice while generating – at the same time – thought-provoking ideas on improving customer service in the legal profession. Read this post and you’ll agree that Herz is an important voice in this conversation.
  
  
• “Of Stars & Schmoes: The Mandate to Synch Social Media & Customer Service” from PR2 Squared. Whatever you think about social media, it is changing the way sellers communicate with buyers, lawyers with clients, corporations with consumers, doctors with patients, etc. But blogging, tweeting, using Facebook are useless if you’re not applying those lessons to the entire customer service experience. This post explains why. 
  
  
• “Text of Commencement Speech” from tins. Technically, this is not a blog post. But it is a great read. It is the text of the speech Rick Klau gave to students graduating from the University of Richmond School of Law on May 9. I like it because it answers one of my favorite questions for lawyers: “what advice do you have for people going to law school today?” You’ll like it too.
  
  
• "Dealing with Recessionary Times" from tompeters! Dispatches from the New World of Work. Want some ideas on getting through the recession? Read this post. I have to warn you, though: all of them involve you doing more, or better, or longer, or harder, or some combination of all of those (and more). These economic times will end. But you’ll have to take it on yourself to make it through them in the meantime. This post will help you with that.
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and insightful posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “How to Perfect an Elevator Pitch About Yourself” from Harvard Business Publishing’s Voices column. This is a useful post for job seekers, who will find five pieces of very practical advice about selling themselves in 15 seconds. Not you? Don’t kid yourself: your life just as full of 15-second blips during which are you are required to communicate your value in an interesting and engaging manner.
  
  
• “Can We Honestly Measure the ROI of Online Relationships?” from Law Firm Blogger. This post, and the discussions that it sparked, is a must read for legal professionals struggling to quantify the value of social media relationships. Whether you think that using metrics to evaluate these types of time/effort/expense costs is pointless or you think demonstrable ROI is a requirement before you make any investment whatsoever or you still haven’t figured it out, you will learn something from these discussions.
  
  
• “Neighborhood #1: The Regal Queen” from WonderBranding: Notes on Marketing to Women. I don’t know when I picked up this feed, or whether I’ve even noticed it will sifting through the hundreds in my RSS reader. But this post makes me glad it’s there. What if legal marketers applied the same discipline to understanding – so they can better communicate with – their different customer types?
  
  
• “Thinking about business models” from Seth Godin’s blog. Godin always uses fewer words to say more than just about everybody else: he’s great at reducing ideas and concepts to their essential elements, and articulating them in concise and thought-provoking ways. Lawyers, if you are indeed serious about exploring alternative business models, this post will help you frame the discussion.
  
  
• “Excellence. Always. All You Need to Know. (More or Less.)” from tompeters! Dispatches from the World of Work. Posts like this really demonstrate the power of blogging. It used to cost money to get advice like this. Today it’s free. And Tom Peters is most likely doing more work because of it. There’s probably a lesson there. There is definitely a lesson in this post, six tremendously valuable ones to be exact. Read it and learn.
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of valuable and relevant posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “50 Tips to Help You Win Client Competitions” from Ann Lee Gibson. Good ideas never lose relevance: the advice in this article is as valuable today as it was in 2001. Lawyers and legal marketers, this is a must read. The bonus? You don’t have to implement all 50 to see results. Making just a handful of changes suggested by Gibson is enough for you to improve the pitch process, the first step on the road to winning more work.
  
  
• “Key Account Management” from David Maister. When you read this article, you’ll think it was written in response to the challenges facing lawyers in today’s dismal climate. Think again. It’s hard not to wonder what the profession would look like today if more firms had adopted in 1997 the program outlined by Maister in this piece. There’s really no excuse for not heeding these lessons today, is there? 
  
  
• “10 Tips to Build Trust with Social Media” from Sometimes it’s better to be socially creative. A lot has been written about optimizing your Web 2.0 presence to gain readers / followers / traffic / hits / etc. But it’s not just about ears and eyeballs, is it? Isn’t developing clients a function of building trust? Your Web 2.0 activities aren’t any different from your other trust-building activities, and this post will help you frame the discussion in those same terms.   
  
  
• "A merger followed by a decimation of the acquired company’s law department” from Rees Morrison’s Law Department Management blog. If you don’t have this blog on your RSS feed, add it right now. Why? Because Morrison writes for in-house legal departments, and outside firms can gain a tremendous amount of insight from what he says. This post is a good example. Read it as a reminder that even if you do everything right and make your clients happy and provide them with value that goes beyond all expectations, you can't control everything. Plan for it. 
  
  
• “Tips for Delegating Marketing on the Cheap” from Nolo’s Legal Marketing Blawg. Written with sole practitioners in mind, this post provides extremely practical advice on how lawyers can maximize the value of their marketing time. Don’t let the context fool you, though. Even if you’re not on your own – even if you have marketing staff – this post will very likely help you better manage the time you spend marketing your practice. 
  

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and insightful posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

• “Why Thinking Like a Lawyer Is Bad for Your Career” from the ABA Journal online. Lawyers, although they may not have changed your behavior, chances are you’ve already thought about the points raised in this article. But it’s worthwhile to think about them again, and then reflect on how “thinking like a lawyer” can impact other aspects of your career, like knowledge management (see Mary Abraham’s post) and marketing.
  
  
• “Extraordinary Impact” from Conversation Agent. Yes, Web 2.0 has changed the way professionals communicate. Yes, it has changed the way they market their services. Yes, it has changed the way they establish the relationships that drive success. But don’t be fooled: the same principles apply today as they did in the last century. This post explains how and why.
  
  
• “Being popular or populist? Innovation in law firms” from Decent Shred. Innovation is hard in any profession. It takes good ideas, relentless commitment, powerful marketing, effective selling, and significant goodwill. But it’s essential, even in the context of law firms, and this post provides practical advice for anyone trying to bring about change in their firm.
  
  
• “Nine Legal Technology Trends for 2009 - The Year of Hunkering Down” from Dennis Kennedy’s blog. If you’re not familiar with Kennedy’s comprehensive and insightful work, I won’t be able to do it justice in a single paragraph. So let me put it this way: read this if you are (i) part of the legal profession, (ii) use any form of technology to do your job, and (iii) want to remain competitive as the delivery of legal services evolves. Did I miss anyone?
  
  
• “A Shot Across the Marketing and Sales Bow” from Demand Trigger. I recently discovered Mike O’Horo’s blog, and promptly added it to my RSS feed. Read this post and you’ll know why I did. You’ll also get a better understanding of why legal marketers need to drive the repositioning of marketing as one of the legal profession’s core business functions.