http://thewomenlawyerscoach.com/blog Practical Tips, Inspiration and Guidance for Women Lawyers Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:16:38 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A: This has been a tough year for many associates (and partners) to meet their hours, so know that you are not alone and try to keep your concern in perspective. There will be lean years in your career and there will be years when you exceed the targets ... http://thewomenlawyerscoach.com/blog/2009/08/31/q-i-am-a-second-year-associate-in-a-medium-sized-firm-i-have-not-been-able-to-meet-my-billable-hours-targets-this-year-and-am-getting-very-stressed-out-about-that-what-can-i-do/ While sitting on the plane reading a stack of publications yesterday, I was reminded of a simple but very useful business development technique i.e. before you sit down with a pile of reading (or a batch of e-communications that need to be cleared out of your inbox) remind yourself to ... http://thewomenlawyerscoach.com/blog/2009/07/03/using-your-reading-pile-to-stay-in-touch/ I was reminded today of the effectiveness of setting goals that are bite sized. Like many of you, sometimes I have so many new ideas and so many goals on the list that my energy and focus get diffused among them. Or worse yet, the goal appears to be a ... http://thewomenlawyerscoach.com/blog/2009/05/20/mini-goals-for-faster-results/ One of the simplest and easiest ways to exponentially increase the effectiveness of your business development efforts is to put a system in place that enables you to easily track the status of each of your contacts. The system does not need to be elaborate or complicated. A simple calendaring ... http://thewomenlawyerscoach.com/blog/2009/05/11/using-an-effective-follow-up-system/ Many lawyers have asked me recently, “What is the #1 thing I should be doing to weather the current economic storm?” While there are many things that lawyers should be doing, connecting with clients should be at the top of the list. Now is the time to make certain that ... http://thewomenlawyerscoach.com/blog/2009/03/05/what-is-the-1-thing-i-should-be-doing/ I found myself up late last night writing holiday cards. As with many of my clients, about thirty cards into the project I thought the unspeakable i.e. "Are these worth the time and effort?" I concluded that they were, and that they need to get out on time ... http://thewomenlawyerscoach.com/blog/2008/12/19/holiday-cards-to-do-or-not-to-do/ The National Association of Women Lawyers released its annual survey on the Retention and Promotion of Women in Law Firms yesterday. The survey results are a compilation of data collected over the past year from 137 of the Am Law 200. At the risk of overgeneralizing the 25 ... http://thewomenlawyerscoach.com/blog/2008/11/18/national-association-of-women-lawyers-survey/ Here are two tips for effectively using your business card at a networking event. Tip One: Write something on the back of your card when you give it to someone. The notation on the back will help trigger the person's memory about where they met you e.g. "met at ... http://thewomenlawyerscoach.com/blog/2008/11/13/business-cards-make-a-notation/ One of the issues that comes up most when working with clients is "asking for the business." Most lawyers are lawyers first and sales people second, or third or close to last. Almost all of the lawyers I know would rather be practicing law than feeling like a ... http://thewomenlawyerscoach.com/blog/2008/10/30/asking-for-the-business-offer-your-help/ I was reminded a few days ago of the importance of having your business card with you when you are in even the most unusual of places (I was at a horse stable). One never knows when a potential business opportunity will present itself. If you can hand a potential ... http://thewomenlawyerscoach.com/blog/2008/10/29/business-cards-where-to-have-them/