Category: Legal Marketing

Consultant Time Tracking Apps: How to Make the Most of Them And What to Avoid

Legal time tracking software is great for law firms, but what about consultants and freelancers? Consultant time tracking apps should allow you to easily and accurately capture your time. If you find yourself guessing your time, you may be losing out on revenue.

Accurate and reliable time tracking is arguably the most important metric a consultant or freelancer can track. If not done properly, inaccurate time tracking can lead to billable leakage, poor utilization rates, decreased productivity, and poor performance in the long term. If you’re using a time tracking app and you have the following red flags, you may want to take note.

Time Tracking Habits to Avoid

Red Flag #1: You Must Enter Your Time Manually

A common issue with consultant time tracking apps is manual time entry. Many apps rely on users remembering to track their time accurately. This may seem like a reasonable expectation at first, but it doesn’t take into account the other tasks a legal professional needs to handle.

Multitasking is a frequent occurrence in the legal industry, but there is a point where it goes too far and ends up impacting performance. Manual timekeeping isn’t as easy as it seems.

To dive into the science of it, psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky coined the term planning fallacy in 1977. Planning fallacy, in short, is the psychological phenomenon where people are optimistic in guessing how long a task will take to complete, underestimating the true number.

Kahneman expands on this idea in his book, “Thinking Fast and Slow.” In the book, Kahneman states that we struggle with time estimation for two reasons:

  1. We don’t consider how long similar tasks have taken us in the past.
  2. We assume or fail to account for barriers, challenges, or complications that will delay our plans.

The planning fallacy affects individuals, groups, and entire organizations.

The trouble with this is the fact that consultants and their clients are often unaware of the problem. As optimism bias clouds our judgment, we fall into the trap of assuming that our tasks will go well.

Manual time tracking and entry forces consultants to make the mistakes discussed above. Consultants enter their projections ahead of time, ensuring that they neglect previous tasks and the amount of time taken to complete them. Or, they reconstruct their time from memory, losing a significant amount of revenue due to faulty judgment, errors in thinking, and inaccurate estimates.

In a perfect time tracking world, you should be able to start and stop your tracking, while the app measures the amount of time you’ve spent on a specific task or tasks automatically. You shouldn’t be forced to reconstruct or project time, which is a recipe for disaster.

Manual time entry has a direct impact on the amount of revenue you’re able to generate — even if you bill at a flat rate. This is why it’s so important to track time correctly.

You should be able to edit your time if you need to make changes, track meetings, and convert them to time entries automatically. Look for this in a mobile consultant time tracking app.

Red Flag #2: Uniform Time Tracking

Time tracking requires granularity.

In an ideal consultant time tracking app, you should be able to track billable vs. non-billable work automatically — track employees, contractors, and third-party time. You should be able to easily differentiate between the various types of timekeeping (e.g., tasks, projects, meetings, etc.).

Unfortunately, many consultant time tracking apps force users into a timekeeping model that may not be best for their business. This isn’t ideal, as it requires more time and attention when it’s time to analyze time entries for billing, invoicing, or internal analysis.

Red Flag #3: No reporting or analytics for consultant time tracking

There are lots of options for time tracking software consultants can use. However, many of these don’t provide management with the data and intel they need to make good decisions. Good legal time tracking software enables consultants to answer the following questions:

  1. Where are we losing the most time?
  2. Which employees are most productive, and why?
  3. Which employees are the least productive, and why?
  4. Which projects, clients, or tasks are most productive or profitable?
  5. Which projects, clients, or tasks are minimally productive and unprofitable?
  6. What is my profit per employee, partner, client, etc.?

Why are these questions important? They give your business the clarity you need to answer higher-level questions like:

  • How do we avoid unprofitable clients in the future?
  • How do we attract more of the clients we want and none of the clients we don’t like?
  • What 20 percent of projects produce 80 percent of our revenue?
  • What 20 percent of clients produce 80 percent of our headaches, conflict, or concerns?

These questions provide clarity.

However, a comprehensive look at your time entries isn’t enough. You’ll need to be able to break your reporting down into actionable, bite-sized chunks you can use to grow your consultancy.

Many time tracking apps are generalists in the sense that they provide you with a limited set of data on your team’s performance. They don’t provide you with the level of granularity and analysis your consultancy needs to grow.

Why Is Time Tracking Valuable for Consultants?

Time tracking is valuable for consultants because it can be easily translated to money. While many organizations feel they’re on top of their time tracking, this isn’t always the case. If your consultant time tracking app has any of the red flags I’ve mentioned, it may be time to switch.

These red flags lead to billable leakage, poor utilization rates, decreased productivity and poor performance over the long term.

Consultants need reliable time tracking software in order to run a productive business.

As a consultant, you’re busy. The software you use should simplify everyday tasks and keep your law firm running without the hassle.

©2006-2023, BILL4TIME. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Article by Bill4Time
For more articles on legal marketing, visit the NLR Law Office Management section.

Understanding Domain and IP Reputation in Email Deliverability

If you’re in the legal field, you’re well acquainted with the ways in which a good (or bad!) reputation can have an enormous impact on your practice’s success. Email deliverability is no different; mailbox providers (MBPs) use a variety of factors to determine what kind of reputation should be associated with your emails. Let’s break it down:

IP Reputation

An IP address is like a home address for your computer on the internet or local network, ensuring data sent from your computer reaches the correct destination and that data sent to you arrives at your computer.

When it comes to email, the IP address from which it originates is not just a technical detail—it carries a distinct reputation with it, much like a credit score. Just as lenders use credit scores to gauge the financial reliability of a person, MBPs evaluate an IP’s history to determine its trustworthiness. This reputation is shaped by different variables including:

  • Email volume and its consistency (or lack thereof)
  • Frequency of those emails being marked as spam
  • Bounce rates

If an IP address consistently sends out high-quality, relevant emails that recipients engage with, it’s much more likely to enjoy a positive reputation. On the flip side, its reputation can quickly plummet if it becomes associated with behaviors such as:

  • Sending large quantities of unsolicited email
  • High bounce rates
  • High frequency of spam complaints

A damaged IP reputation can have significant consequences that lead Email Service Providers (ESPs) to filter or block emails from that IP. This affects the sender’s ability to reach their intended audience effectively.

Domain Reputation

A domain, often recognized as a website or the web address, is a unique name that identifies a website or email address on the internet.

Every domain that sends email carries its own reputation, akin to a business’s standing in the community. This reputation is shaped by various behaviors and practices associated with the email you send:

  • Engagement
    • Mailbox providers want to see that your subscribers are engaged
    • They rely on hundreds of different signals to filter email, but engagement is heavily weighted.
    • Any time your subscribers show strong interest or engagement in your content, it’s a big win for your overall deliverability
  • Permission
    • Sending unsolicited email is a surefire way to harm your domain’s reputation
    • Unsolicited email is highly likely to result in spam complaints or even a spamtrap hit
    • Any domain associated with large numbers of spam complaints raises serious alarms for mailbox providers
  • Bounces
    • Large numbers of bounces can decrease trust in your domain
    • Because of this, it’s important to regularly curate and update your email lists Sending emails to old, unengaged, or invalid addresses often results in high bounce rates
    • List hygiene practices such as removing inactive subscribers or those who haven’t engaged in a long time are an effective preventative measure
  • History
    • Your domain’s email-sending history plays a significant role in its reputation
    • A consistent track record of sending high-quality, engaging emails can enhance your domain’s standing while any past transgressions, like sending to purchased lists or being flagged by spam traps, can linger and affect future deliverability
    • MBPs have a long memory, so it’s important to avoid these problems wherever possible
  • Authentication
    • Many inbox providers won’t accept your mail if it isn’t able to pass email authentication protocols like SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
    • If you have a sending domain validated within Lawmatics, SPF and DKIM are automatically implemented when you add our CNAME records to your domain
    • However, if you remove or alter those records, there’s a good chance that authentication will fail and your mail will bounce
  • Blocklists
    • Having your domain listed on a blocklist can have a major effect on your deliverability
    • That being said, it’s worth noting that anyone can create a blocklist and not all of them are reputable or affect your email delivery

Ultimately, you and your firm play a major role in your domain’s reputation. Being mindful of the content you send, maintaining updated email lists, and engaging with your subscribers in a meaningful way aren’t just strategies to maintain a strong domain reputation; they’re essential steps to elevate your firm’s credibility. They also serve to enhance client engagement and secure consistent deliverability for your communications.

©2023 — Lawmatics
Article by Shay Paris of Lawmatics
For more articles on legal marketing, visit the NLR Law Office Management section.

March 2023 Legal Industry News Highlights: Law Firm Hiring News, Industry Awards and Recognition, and the Latest Updates in Diversity and Inclusion

Welcome back to another edition of the National Law Review’s legal industry news roundup. We hope you are remaining safe, happy, and healthy! Please read on below for the latest in law firm hiring and expansion news, key industry awards and recognition, and a spotlight on important diversity, equity, and inclusion updates!

Law Firm Hiring and Expansion

Joanna Horsnail has been named managing partner of Mayer Brown’s Chicago office, effective February 28, 2023. Her appointment marks the fourth consecutive female leader for the firm’s largest office. Ms. Horsnail’s practice has primarily focused on advising clients on key transformational deals, primarily in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois. Most notably, she counseled on the deal securing the James R. Thompson Center as the corporate headquarters for Google, and has also previously worked with the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and other public and not-for-profit organizations.

“Joanna’s well-earned reputation for professional excellence, coupled with her outstanding profile in the Chicago community make her an exceptional choice to lead the office,” said firm chair Jon Van Gorp. “Her natural charisma, approachability as a mentor to many and vision for the office will make her an inspirational and hugely successful leader. I look forward to working closely with her to achieve the growth and development objectives that the firm has for this office, which is where I started my career at Mayer Brown.”

“I’m delighted to be named office managing partner,” said Ms. Horsnail. “I have such tremendous enthusiasm for both Mayer Brown and this office and look forward to guiding the office as we continue our success in Chicago.”

Morten Lund has joined Foley & Lardner’s San Diego office as an of counsel in the Finance Practice Group. Mr. Lund has more than 25 years of experience advising developers, lenders, investors, and other project participants and has extensive experience in the energy sector.

Mr. Lund’s practice has primarily focused on solar energy and energy storage projects. His range of project experience also includes wind energy projects, combustion generator projects, nuclear energy facilities, hydroelectric facilities, cogeneration facilities, chemical facilities, forestry/paper facilities, large aircraft, and shipping fleets. He earned his JD from Yale University.

Eversheds Sutherland has added Megan K. Hall to their Tax Practice Group as a partner. Ms. Hall, located in the firm’s Washington D.C. office, further strengthens the firm’s international tax capabilities, focusing chiefly on transactional matters, cross-border employment and global mobility. She has previously worked with clients including multinational corporations on international tax matters, including the tax aspects of acquisitions, mergers, internal restructurings and business formations.

“I’m very excited to welcome Megan to the team and know she will add depth to our international tax practice,” said Robert S. Chase, US Tax Practice Group Leader. “Megan’s familiarity with cross-border operational structures and the tax considerations relevant to operating a multinational business enhances the firm’s ability to support clients in an area of increased focus for international tax authorities. The firm’s global footprint will provide a unique opportunity to enhance support to her international network.”

Jeremiah Kelly and Justin Coen have joined Venable LLP as partners in the firm’s FDA Group. Mr. Kelly’s practice concentrates on the FDA’s complex regulatory framework, helping clients with product development, application, and compliance for drugs, biologics, medical devices, and combination products. Mr. Coen’s practice focuses on guiding companies through FDA regulations related to drug, biologic, and device development, advising them on every stage of product development and commercialization.

Claudia A. Lewis, a co-chair of the firm’s FDA Group, said, “Venable has established itself among the premier practices in the FDA regulatory space and is regularly called upon to handle a myriad of issues involving the development and marketing of products regulated by the FDA. With the addition of Jeremiah and Justin, our services now include robust legal capabilities for companies navigating the FDA regulatory framework to commercialize drugs, biologics, devices, and combination products, among other product categories.”

Legal Industry Awards and Recognition

Janet Wagner, principal in the Banking practice at Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., has been accepted as a fellow of the respected American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA) for 2023. Fellows of ACMA, which is composed of lawyers in North America who are authorities in mortgage law, seeks to give back to their profession, improving and reforming laws and procedures affecting real estate secured transactions and raising the level of performance of lawyers practicing in this area. Candidates are recommended each year and are selected after thorough review of their qualifications and achievements.

Ms. Wagner primarily focuses her practice on banking and commercial financing transactions, providing key counsel to commercial banks, credit unions, institutional lenders, insurance companies and other lenders. Previously, she has represented lenders involving a variety of classes of real estate in states across the country on acquisitions, refinancing and construction loans.

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has named Lawrence J. Buckfire to their prestigious Preferred Attorneys Program. The objective of the Preferred Attorneys Program is to offer a credible, diverse listing of outstanding attorneys to be used as a resource for both referring attorneys and individuals with brain injury, their family members/caregivers, and others seeking legal counsel. BIAA Preferred Attorneys are selected for their demonstrated legal credentials and their knowledge of the physical, cognitive, emotional, and financial tolls a brain injury inflicts.

Mr. Buckfire has consistently demonstrated skill and ability in representing those affected by a brain injury. He is the lead trial attorney and managing partner at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. His practice focuses primarily on child lead paint poisoning, wrongful death, nursing home neglect, medical malpractice, and other serious injury cases.

Adam Beaudoin of Ward and Smith has been chosen to serve as President-Elect of the Board of Directors for the Community Associations Institute of North Carolina (CAI-NC). The Community Associations Institute seeks to promote and strengthen community associations, focusing on education and resources for homeowners, volunteers, and professional managers.

Mr. Beaudoin brings extensive experience to his new role with CAI-NC, having previously practiced community associations law for nearly two decades. He is the Co-Chair of Ward and Smith‘s Community Associations Practice Group, and he has been a CAI-NC member since 2006. He has presented at several local and national CAI events, served on the Legislative Action Committee, and was a board member prior to his election.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion News

Katten Health Care Partner and Deputy General Counsel Kenya Woodruff has been profiled as a Leader in Diversity by the Dallas Business Journal. Ms. Woodruff is the National Chair of Katten’s Diversity Committee Women’s Leadership Forum, where she leads efforts to provide women attorneys with the professional tools and support to take their rightful place as leaders in law.

“I’m particularly proud of the professional development programming we have offered through the Women’s Leadership Forum to help empower our female attorneys at the firm and give them the skills needed to advance in their careers,” says Ms. Woodruff.

Woodruff’s practice centers around the healthcare industry, where she uses her legal, business, and regulatory expertise to support successful clinical operations and corporate transactions. She has previously worked as Deputy General Counsel for Parkland Health & Hospital System and Privacy Officer for a publicly traded radiology company.

Three Barnes and Thornburg attorneys will represent the firm in two 2023 Leadership Council for Legal Diversity Programs. Adetayo Osuntogun, Partner at the D.C. office, will join LCLD’s Fellows Program, a year-long training program focused on relationship-building and leadership skill development. Indianapolis Associate Alyssa Hughes and Los Angeles Associate Mihran Yezbekyan are joining the LCLD Pathfinders Program, which gives early career professionals the chance to develop tools related to leadership, career development, and professional networking.

Mr. Osuntogun is an international trade law expert focused on helping businesses handle global commerce matters related to trade policy, customs, imports, economic sanctions, export laws, and more. He is active with Alpha Phi Alpha, the Diverse Associates Network, and the National Bar Association. Ms. Hughes, who The Best Lawyers in America listed as one of 2023’s “Ones to Watch,” works in the Litigation Department on matters related to government and internal investigations, corporate criminal defense, and general commercial disputes. Mr. Yezbekyan also works in the Litigation Department, handling product liability, mass torts, and consumer class actions. Outside of the office, he volunteers with the Los Angeles County Bar Association Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee.

“LCLD has been a long-standing partner of Barnes & Thornburg. Their pathfinder and fellow programs align with our mission to position all of our talent to win,” said Dawn R. Rosemond, firm diversity partner. “We know that these programs will only further elevate Adetayo, Alyssa and Mihran’s professional practice and presence.”

Stanley Blackmon, Partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings’ Birmingham office, has also been selected to be a 2023 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow. The program will provide alumni networks, mentoring, accountability partners, leadership lunches, and class meetings to advance his legal diversity efforts and help others to do the same. LCLD Fellows are selected for their leadership, engagement, and commitment to diversity and inclusion, which Mr. Blackmon demonstrates through his active pro bono practice and involvement with the Birmingham Bar Association as President of the Young Lawyers’ Section, the Magic City Bar Association as an Executive Committee Member, the Alabama Standing Committee on Rules of Appellate Procedure, and the American Bar Association.

“We congratulate Stanley on his selection as an LCLD Fellow,” said Bradley Director of Inclusion and Diversity George D. Medlock, Jr. “Since Bradley joined LCLD in 2020, we have been proud to participate in and support the LCLD’s programs, which help prepare future generations of diverse talent for the highest positions of legal leadership.”

Article By Chandler Ford and Crissonna Tennison of The National Law Review / The National Law Forum LLC

For more legal marketing news, click here to visit the National Law Review.

Copyright ©2023 National Law Forum, LLC

January 2023 Legal Industry News Highlights: Law Firm Expansion and Promotions, Industry Awards and Achievements, and a Spotlight on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Legal Field

Welcome back to another edition of the National Law Review’s legal industry news roundup, including a focus on law firm hirings and expansions, noteworthy awards and accomplishments in the field, and the latest in DEI efforts across the industry. We hope you are remaining safe and healthy, and that your new year has started off strong!

Additionally, be sure to check out the latest episode of our legal news podcast, Legal News Reach. New episodes will be forthcoming in 2023!

Law Firm Hiring and Expansion

Jennifer L. Budner has joined Goldberg Segalla’s White Plains office as a member of the Civil Litigation and Trial group. Ms. Budner focuses her practice primarily on litigation and trial counseling, having specialized in personal injury and wrongful death litigation for more than 20 years. She has a great deal of experience handling high exposure labor and construction law matters, and has represented many different types of clients, including property owners and contractors, product manufacturers, and a variety of business owners in various employment and product liability law actions.

Mayer Brown has added partner Richard Snyder to the firm’s Antitrust & Competition practice in Washington DC. Mr. Snyder focuses his practice on civil antitrust litigation, having previously represented clients in both federal and state court, and having appeared regularly before the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. He has a great deal of experience in many areas, including merger reviews, criminal antitrust investigations, and a variety of conduct matters.

“With increasing enforcement activity, Rich’s experience in successfully handling antitrust matters in strategic transactions and before various government agencies will be invaluable to our clients,” said William Stallings, co-leader of Mayer Brown’s global Antitrust & Competition practice.

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. and The Acta Group recently announced a number of noteworthy promotions within the firm:

  • Catherine M. Croke, DBA, has been named Director of Product Stewardship and Regulatory Affairs. Dr. Croke has decades of experience executing product stewardship and regulatory compliance programs in the field of chemicals and materials, formerly serving as Senior Advocacy and Compliance Manager with Evonik Corporation, Regulatory Affairs Manager for Arkema, and a Physical Science Technician with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  • Irene M. O’Hara has joined B&C® Consortia Management, L.L.C. (BCCM) as a Consortium Manager. Ms. O’Hara’s specialty is in association management, including stakeholder engagement, project management, and external affairs. She has previously worked with the Association of Corporate Counsel, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and the Smithsonian Institution’s Hirshhorn Museum.
  • Karin F. Baron, MSPH, has been named the Director of Hazard Communication and International Registration Strategy. With around 20 years’ experience in developing, implementing, and managing complex chemical regulatory compliance strategies, Ms. Baron primarily focuses her practice on navigating the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, including classification, labeling, and authoring of compliant safety data sheets, as well as hazard and risk assessment.

Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner of B&C, President of Acta, and President of BCCM, said of the hirings, “Our growing team of experts reflects the diversity of our substantive skill set, our expanding client base, and our commitment to providing our clients with the best and most efficient team of legal, regulatory, and scientific experts available.”

OLIVARES has named two new partners to the firm: Rommy Morales and Jaime Rodríguez. Ms. Morales, who co-chairs the Patent Group at the firm, focuses her practice on prosecution and enforcement of pharmaceutical patents in Mexico. In addition to her wide array of experience counsel to national and international clients regarding the protection and enforcement of their intellectual property rights, she has also repeatedly obtained patents for complex biotechnological inventions that have not been protected elsewhere.

Mr. Rodriguez’s practice is focused on intellectual property and copyright law matters, with extensive experience in trademarks, unfair competition, and domain name dispute resolution. Since 2007, he has achieved a number of impressive litigation results at OLIVARES, and has continued to serve as a professor at various educational institutions in Mexico, as well as publishing a great many articles related to his practice and to intellectual property law in general.

“Our new partners exemplify the success that comes from dedication to the firm’s mission. We are all excited about what the future looks like with these new leaders with us,” said Sergio Olivares, managing partner of the firm.

Legal Industry Awards, Events, and Recognitions

Ward and Smith has been named a 2023 Data Privacy Week champion by the National Cybersecurity Alliance. A non-profit organization that seeks to create a more secure and interconnected world, the National Cybersecurity Alliance works to develop notable partnerships between governments and companies to foster the greater digital good. With the reception of this title, Ward and Smith has committed to upholding the important responsibility of protecting personal information and individual privacy.

“Privacy is a right that must be proactively safeguarded and protected,” said Angela Doughty, CIPP/US. “Data Privacy Week helps remind us of actions we can take now – before it’s too late- in order to ensure security against costly incidents and harm.”

Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky attorney Alexis M. Wheeler has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Bethany Christian Services of Western Pennsylvania. Bethany Christian Services is a global non-profit organization that supports children and families with world-class social services. Ms. Wheeler, who first began working with the organization last year, has assisted by providing support for a transitional foster care facility, as well as providing long-term refugee foster care and refugee and immigrant resettlement services.

At Strassburger McKenna, Ms. Wheeler focuses her practice primarily on municipal law and real estate, and additionally works closely with the litigation practice group and the investigation practice group. Ms. Wheeler started with SMGG as a Law Clerk and was asked to join the firm as an Associate after graduation from law school.

Mark Brutzkus and Nick Rozansky of Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP have been named to Thomson Reuters’ Top 100: 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers List. Thomson Reuters recognizes Super Lawyers each year in Southern California, a process that involves peer recommendations, independent research, and peer evaluations. The lawyers who excel in the Super Lawyers selection process are prominently recognized in the Top 100 list.

Mr. Brutzkus, a partner at the firm, primarily focuses his practice on representing consumer product companies in corporate, commercial, intellectual property, finance, transactional, and other matters. Mr. Rozansky, also a partner at the firm, works in both the Business Litigation and Trademark and Brand Protection Practice Groups. He represents clients in several industries, including fashion and apparel, jewelry, banking and finance, and consumer products.

The Legal Sales & Service Organization (LSSO), the leading industry association for law firm sales and legal service professionals, is beginning 2023 with the announcement of its 20th Anniversary Advisory Board and Editorial Board.

LSSO Co-Founder Silvia Coulter, a Principal of LawVision:

“These industry influencers are the right people at the right time for LSSO to build on its legacy, and together we can reflect on impact to date and act on plans for the future support of LSSO’s members and the broader legal community’s sales and service goals.”

LSSO launched two decades ago, as positions such as Chief Business Development Officer, Client Relationship Executive, Chief Strategy Officer, Director of Project Management, and Client Value Director did not exist inside law firms. Then and today, these roles are essential for any law firm to survive and thrive, and LSSO was formed to meet the unique needs of these roles in a law firm environment.

LSSO is well known in legal circles for annual RainDance Conference, which in 2023 will be held June 7 and 8 in Chicago, which features tactical discussions with senior business development and legal sales professionals, along with keynote speakers who are sought-after industry change agents, and veteran legal services executives.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts

Twelve lawyers from Barnes & Thornburg have been named to the Lawyers of Color’ Law Firm Leaders publication:

  • Michelle N. Bradford, Partner, Co-Chair of Financial and Regulatory Litigation Practice Group
  • Michael A. Carrillo, Secretary of Management Committee and Managing Partner of Chicago Office
  • Jeff Davis, Of Counsel, Chair of Native American Law and Policy Practice Group
  • Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., Chair of Racial Justice Committee and Managing Partner of Washington, D.C., Office
  • Naomi Y. Kwang, Partner, Chair of Greater China and Southeast Asia Practice Group
  • Salvador P. LaViña, Partner, Chair of Real Estate Department
  • Alan K. Mills, Partner, Chair of Special Servicers Group and Co-Chair of Supply Chain Group
  • David Paragas, Partner, Co-Chair of Federal Relations Practice Group
  • Mari Yamamoto Regnier, Partner, Chair of Global Services-Japan Practice Group
  • Kristen L. Richer, Partner, Co-Chair of Consumer Class Action Defense Practice Group
  • Erika Weiss, Associate, Member of Legal Personnel Administration Committee
  • David A.W. Wong, Partner, Chair of Internet and Technology Group

Lawyers of Color is a national nonprofit dedicated to promoting diversity in the legal profession. The organization regularly recognizes noteworthy attorneys in the field through publications and conferences, seeking to advance democracy, equality, and inclusion in marginalized communities and the practice of law.

Michael D. Thomas, Principal at Jackson Lewis P.C., has been featured in the Los Angeles Times’ 2022 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility magazine as a DEIA Visionary. The magazine seeks to highlight notable thought leaders in the California business community who place great emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion within their field. Mr. Thomas primarily focuses his practice on defending employers in state and federal wage and hour class actions, working in industries including manufacturing, retail, and hospitality.

“Michael’s longstanding efforts to promote and strengthen DEI policies throughout businesses in California are another affirmation of our commitment to these initiatives as a core value of the firm,” said Alison L. Lynch, the firm’s Orange County office managing principal. “We congratulate him on this recognition and look forward to his continued advocacy for a more inclusive workforce.”

Rebecca E. Shope, Partner and Labor, Employment and Benefits Regional Service Line Leader at Shumaker, has been named a 2023 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow. Ms. Shope, who primarily practices in the fields of labor and employment, litigation, and family law, will be a part of the prestigious LCLD program, which since 2011 has sought to identify, train, and advance the next generation of leaders in the legal profession. The program provides participants with the opportunity to learn from top leaders in the legal profession, as well as experts in the fields of learning and development and executive coaching.

“Rebecca is an exceptional lawyer and future leader who joins a select group of experienced attorneys from diverse backgrounds who have been recognized for their leadership skills within their organizations and in the wider profession,” said Shumaker Partner and Diversity and Inclusion Committee Co-Chair Cheri Budzynski.

Article By Chandler Ford of The National Law Review / The National Law Forum LLC

For more business of law legal news, click here to visit the National Law Review.

Copyright ©2023 National Law Forum, LLC

B.S.ing with Bob Major [PODCAST]

When Bob Major founded Major, Lindsey & Africa in 1982, he could not have envisioned what the organization would become and the impact it would have on the legal profession. In this episode of B.S.: Beyond Stereotypes, Bob shares his journey with Merle Vaughn, including his childhood in Texas and Oklahoma, his Stanford education, and how both influenced his outlook on life personally and professionally.

Bob Major, founder and Partner at Major, Lindsey & Africa, grew up in Texas and Oklahoma. He received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and attended The University of Texas at Austin where he received a J.D. degree. Bob spent five years at the Washington, D.C., firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering (now WilmerHale) practicing in its federal administrative practice. Prior to founding his own legal recruiting firm, he spent a year in-house as securities counsel at Saga Corporation (Menlo Park, California).

Article By Merle Vaughn of Major Lindsey & Africa

For more law office management legal news, click here to visit the National Law Review.

©2023 Major, Lindsey & Africa, an Allegis Group Company. All rights reserved.

December 2022 Legal Industry News Highlights: Law Firm Hiring and Growth, End-of-Year Industry Awards, and Diversity and Inclusion News Updates

Happy New Year from the National Law Review! We hope you are remaining happy, safe, and healthy as 2022 ends and 2023 begins. We thank you for all the time you’ve spent with us this past year, and we are looking forward to an even brighter year coming up!

In case you missed it, be sure to check out the National Law Review’s 2022 Go-To Thought Leadership Awards, which recognizes around 75 noteworthy thought leaders that have published with the NLR in the past year. Awardees have been selected for their high-quality writing, timely publication, and wide readerships! The NLR’s thought leadership awards go to a small subsection of our talented contributing authors, and we sincerely appreciate their part in providing the legal community a free to use, reliable news source.

Finally, please be sure to check out this year’s final episode of our Legal News Reach podcast: Creating A Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Work Environment with Stacey Sublett Halliday of Beveridge & Diamond! Also, a big shout out to Crissonna Tennison and Shelby Garrett for taking on the hosting duties of the NLR’s podcast.

Law Firm Hiring and Expansion

Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP (DGS) has announced the addition of six new partners: Andrea M. Bronson, who focuses her practice on environmental law and litigation; Nathan J. Goergen, who focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions; Jonathan M. Goldstein, who focuses his practice on real estate law; Almira Moronne, who focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions and financing; Alena Prokop, who focuses her practice on executive and equity compensation; and Daniel A. Richards, who focuses his practice on complex civil litigation.

“These six attorneys have shown an impressive level of dedication to the firm and to the community we serve,” said Davis Graham & Stubbs Co-Managing Partner Kristin L. Lentz. “Their professionalism, experience, and commitment to our clients make them valuable additions to the firm’s partnership. We wish them all the best in this exciting next chapter in their careers as lawyers at DGS.”

Rob McFadden has joined Hill Ward Henderson as Senior Counsel. A commercial real estate attorney, Mr. McFadden’s practice is primarily focused on representing clients in commercial development work with an emphasis on retail, office, industrial and ground leases. He provides clients with practical advice and solutions that safeguard their interests while furthering their business objectives.

Hill Ward Henderson has also added four new associates: Ana Abado, who focuses her practice on general commercial litigation; Ezichi Chukwu, who focuses her practices on commercial leasing and real estate acquisitions; Matthew Kelly, who focuses his practice on real estate transactions and development agreements; and Tyler Miller, who focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and private equity.

Laquan T. Lightfoot has joined Goldberg Segalla’s Transportation and Civil Litigation and Trial groups in Philadelphia. Ms. Lightfoot focuses her practice on a wide array of civil litigation matters, with a particular focus on transportation law. She has also formerly litigated in a variety of fields, including product liability, premises liability, premises security, motor vehicle accident, catastrophic injury, and employment law matters.

In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Lightfoot serves as an arbitrator with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Compulsory Arbitration Program adjudicating various civil disputes. Before entering private practice, Lightfoot served as an assistant district attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, where she was assigned to Major Trials of the Southwest Division.

Blank Rome LLP has added twelve new partners, as well as four new counsel, effective as of January 1st, 2023. The following attorneys were selected:

“We are thrilled to announce our firm’s 2023 elevated class,” said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Rome’s Managing Partner and CEO. “This group’s demonstrated talent, stellar client service, diverse backgrounds, and collaborative leadership and teamwork in their respective practice areas reflects Blank Rome’s commitment to recruiting, supporting, and advancing talented attorneys who will not only help our firm continue to grow and succeed, but also elevate the next successful generation of legal industry professionals.

Awards and Recognition for Law Firms

Sean C. Griffin, a member at Dykema Gossett PLLC in Washington, D.C., has joined the International Association of Defense Counsel, a highly-recognized, invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests. Mr. Griffin, a former trial attorney for the Department of Justice, represents government contractors, law firms, construction companies, and other businesses in complicated contract litigation. He additionally serves as the senior director at the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel.

“I look forward to my membership with the IADC and the opportunity to contribute to this global association of preeminent attorneys,” Mr. Griffin said. “I am excited to meet my fellow members.”

Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP attorney Roger Lee has been recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal in its annual list of “Leaders of Influence: Thriving in Their 40s.” The list, which specifically honors leading business professionals between the ages of 40 and 49, covers Mr. Lee’s noteworthy representation of Bushfire Kitchen in its new partnership with leading private investment firm CapitalSpring to fuel Bushfire’s growth in Southern California and beyond.

Mr. Lee is senior counsel at Stubbs Alderton & Markiles. His practice is primarily focused on advising emerging growth and middle market companies in a wide variety of transactions, including buy and sell side mergers and acquisitions, mezzanine and senior debt financing transactions, and asset-based financing transactions. Notably, Mr. Lee was also recognized as a 2022 Go-To Thought Leader by the National Law Review for his coverage of President Biden’s Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors Act.

John Rolecki of Varnum LLP has been named to the Privacy Bar Section Advisory Board for the International Association of Privacy Professionals, a not-for-profit association committed to providing a forum for privacy professionals. As the world’s largest information privacy organization, the IAPP is dedicated to defining, promoting, and improving the privacy profession globally by allowing professionals to share best practices, track trends, and advance privacy management issues.

Mr. Rolecki is a partner in Varnum’s Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice. Primarily, he advises leading technology companies on emerging domestic and international data privacy regulations, and additionally provides counsel on matters such as data breach responses and ransomware situations.

Legal Industry Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion News

Emily Burkhardt Vicente, a labor and employment partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth, and Jane Hinton, a real estate investment and finance partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth, were recognized as 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Visionaries in The Los Angeles Times’ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility magazine. This publication recognizes diverse business leaders who inspire change and exhibit achievements both within their organizations and the community at large through actionable programs and initiatives impacting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

Ms. Hinton focuses her practice primarily on real estate transactions, which includes joint ventures, acquisitions, and leasing and portfolio property management. She places a particular emphasis on structuring debt and equity transactions. Ms. Vicente co-chairs the firm’s labor and employment group, focusing her practice primarily on complex employment litigation (such as California and FLSA wage and hour class and collective actions), PAGA actions, and employment discrimination class actions.

Recently, a number of lawyers and legal professionals have been named to the Lawyers of Color 2022 Hot List. Four attorneys at Foley & Lardner LLP have been named to the list, including partner Senayt Rahwa, senior counsel Olivia Singelmann, and associates Elizabeth Nevle and Jennifer Park. The publication is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting diversity in the legal profession, as well as advancing democracy and equality in marginalized communities.

Ms. Rahwa and Ms. Singelmann are both located in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Ms. Rahwa focuses her practice on finance and financial institutions, whereas Ms. Singelman focuses her practice on government enforcement defense, investigations, and business litigation. Ms. Nevle, located in the firm’s Houston office, focuses her practice on business litigation and dispute resolution. Ms. Park, located in the firm’s Chicago office, focuses her practice on business litigation and dispute resolution as well.

Katten’s Fabiola Valenzuela has also been added to the Lawyers of Color 2022 Hot List. Ms. Valenzuela concentrates her practice on structuring, negotiating and documenting business transactions, previously representing companies and investors through the entire corporate life cycle. She places particular focus on formations, mergers, acquisitions, venture capital financings, and corporate governance.

At the firm, Ms. Valenzuela also maintains an active pro bono practice, handling, among other matters, cases involving minors in federal immigration and deportation proceedings.

Moore & Van Allen’s (MVA) Jules W. Carter has also been named to the 2022 Lawyers of Color Hot List. Located in the firm’s Charlotte office, Ms. Carter concentrates on financial regulatory compliance issues, helping clients navigate complex regulatory environments and pursue business strategies that balance innovation with risk-awareness.

“Making the Lawyers of Color Annual Hot List is a prestigious and well-deserved honor for Jules,” said Thomas L. Mitchell, MVA’s managing partner and chair of the firm’s Management Committee. “We are proud of Jules’ commitment to provide sophisticated litigation and regulatory services to our clients, and grateful for her leadership as the chair of the firm’s Black Attorney Resource Group.”

Article By Chandler Ford of The National Law Review / The National Law Forum LLC

For more business of law legal news, click here to visit the National Law Review.

Copyright ©2022 National Law Forum, LLC

An Essential Guide to Become a Paralegal

Paralegals are the backbone of the legal industry. By supporting lawyers and managing their day-to-day tasks, paralegals ensure that the law firm runs smoothly and efficiently.

If you’re interested in becoming a paralegal or want to strengthen your skills, continue reading to learn more about this growing field, the job responsibilities, and what you can do to position yourself for success.

What Is a Paralegal?

A paralegal is a professional in the legal field who performs tasks that require knowledge of the law and legal concepts but not to the full extent of a lawyer licensed to practice law. As part of the support staff, a paralegal is working to enhance a lawyer’s work, and the lawyer takes full responsibility for that work produced.

What Do Paralegals Do?

Paralegals assist lawyers with legal cases by researching and preparing reports for lawyers to use in their work. They’re not permitted to work alone and must be under the supervision of a licensed attorney. Paralegals may work in many legal settings, including law firms, nonprofits, and government agencies, but their duties may include:

  • Investigating information about a case

  • Researching information about a case

  • Interviewing witnesses

  • Researching and learning about regulations and laws

  • Writing reports

  • Maintaining a database of records related to each case

  • Drafting letters, documents, and emails

  • Acquiring affidavits for court

  • Helping to draft legal arguments

  • Corresponding with clients

  • Preparing wills, real estate contracts, divorce decrees, and other civil documents

The duties of a paralegal can vary according to the environment in which they work. They can work within an area of practice, just like lawyers do, with different duties. For example, they may work in probate, immigration, litigation, intellectual property, or corporate law.

Is Paralegal Work Difficult?

The legal field is high pressure, high stakes, and driven by deadlines, and not just for lawyers. Working as a paralegal has its perks, but it can be stressful and demanding. Clients trust in the lawyer to protect their best interests, and that lawyer is depending on the paralegal to make that possible.

What Skills Should a Paralegal Have?

Paralegals have a variety of hard and soft skills, including:

  • Communication: Paralegals must communicate with lawyers, clients, court officials, witnesses, government officials, and insurance companies in both verbal and written correspondence.

  • Investigative Skills: A lot of paralegal work involves researching, analyzing, and seeking out information to assist lawyers. Paralegals must have attention to detail and a good eye for discerning relevant facts.

  • Teamwork: Paralegals don’t work alone. They must interact with other paralegals, legal assistants, secretaries, and lawyers throughout the day, so teamwork is essential.

  • Time Management: Much of the legal field revolves around good time management, and not just for lawyers. Paralegals have to adhere to deadlines and complete tasks in a timely manner, knowing how to prioritize appropriately.

  • Technology Skills: Paralegals use technology to complete their work, often using word processors, spreadsheets, and presentation software. Many law firms use law practice management software, which paralegals must also learn to use effectively.

How Do You Become a Paralegal?

Paralegals are not licensed on the national level, so there are no federal standards for the profession. Only a few states regulate the profession on the state level. Instead, the employers establish the hiring standards and require some formal education.

The options for paralegal education or training include:

Associate Degree

An associate degree takes about two years to complete and requires a high school diploma. Some schools may have additional admissions requirements.

Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree in legal studies, paralegal studies, or similar fields is appropriate for paralegal education. Typically, bachelor’s degrees take four years to complete. According to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), more employers are placing an emphasis on earning a bachelor’s degree.

Master’s Degree

If you have a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in legal studies (MLS) is a good choice to increase your knowledge in skills like negotiation, employment law, legal writing, and intellectual property law. This not only deepens the skill set for a paralegal, but it offers a broader scope of work as a legal professional.

Paralegal certification is another option to either replace a degree program or enhance it. The NFPA recommends achieving a paralegal certification to enhance employment prospects. There are several options available from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), including a Certified Paralegal, an Advanced Certified Paralegal, and a Professional Paralegal certification.

Several schools also offer certification programs for paralegal work, though it’s important to research carefully to ensure you’re getting a certification that will benefit you professionally.

Are There Different Requirements in Each State to Become a Paralegal?

Generally, paralegals don’t have to meet any state licensing requirements, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Professional certification or degrees at the national and regional level is voluntary.

That said, state governments have no restrictions from establishing their own rules, and a few states have chosen to regulate the paralegal profession closely.

According to the American Bar Association, California has restrictions for workers using the title “paralegal,” as well as “freelance paralegal,” “contract paralegal,” “independent paralegal,” “legal assistant,” and “attorney assistant.” These rules prohibit paralegals from engaging in certain activities, including representing clients in court or giving legal advice. They also have minimum education and experience requirements, as well as continuing education requirements.

In addition, both Washington and Utah require licensing for paralegals and non-attorney roles in the legal field. This doesn’t mean these paralegals must be licensed to work, but that highly educated and experienced paralegals can become credentialed to perform a broader scope of legal work.

Outlook of Paralegals

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $56,230 as of May 2021. Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 14% from 2021 to 2031, which is a faster rate than all occupations. About 45,800 openings for these roles are projected each year, on average, over the next decades.

Since the recession, law firms have been making changes to become more efficient and competitive, which may include expanding the scope of work for paralegals. Other institutions also recognize the benefits of workers with legal training, such as government agencies and banks.

Since then, there’s been a rising demand for paralegals — particularly ones with technology skills. Paralegals that can navigate technology tools, such as law practice management software, digital forensics, and electronic evidence discovery and preservation, are highly sought.

Paralegals often handle billing and invoicing, which is simplified with legal billing software.

Pro Tip: To gain a competitive edge, paralegals should consider receiving a certificate in law practice management software. PracticePanther offers the certification for free and can be completed on your own time.

Become a Skilled Paralegal

The role of paralegals is growing in demand and constantly evolving. Though it’s not required, the more educated and technologically sophisticated paralegals are, the more career opportunities they have in the legal field – and that includes experience and skills with law practice management software.

Article By Nina Lee of PracticePanther

For more business of law legal news, click here to visit the National Law Review.

© Copyright 2022 PracticePanther

Bouncing Back with Shaun Sethna [PODCAST]

Finding the right home for your career can do wonders to change your perspective. For Shaun Sethna, the move in-house was exactly what he needed to go from feeling like work as something he had to do to work being something he enjoyed. In this episode of Bouncing Back, he talks to Rebecca Glatzer about his career journey, the bumps along the way and his growth mindset.

Shaun Sethna is Deputy General Counsel at Altisource, a FinTech and services provider to the mortgage and real estate industries.  Shaun has been at Altisource for almost 10 years, where his practice focuses on technology transactions and M&A.  He also developed and helps to manage a team focused on contracts, compliance, and general legal support to Altisource’s technology, mortgage cooperative and insurance businesses. Previously Shaun was at Schlumberger in Houston, and he got his start in the IP practice group at King & Spalding LLP in Atlanta. Shaun received his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his J.D. from Columbia Law School.  Shaun’s favorite aspect of his job is managing and developing teams.

Article By Rebecca Glatzer of Major Lindsey & Africa

For more business of law legal news, click here to visit the National Law Review.

©2022 Major, Lindsey & Africa, an Allegis Group Company. All rights reserved.

When Corporate Legal Teams Break

Forward-thinking organizations that refocus their legal teams on the removal of systemic friction and value creation can better detect and forecast risk; however, organizations that have not modernized their legal teams often miss subtleties masking surprisingly deep areas of risk. Recent history shows nothing is too big to fail, but earlier risk detection may have helped avoid some of the most catastrophic losses.

The most recent and notable industry-wide example, of course, was the financial services industry, which triggered the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009.

In the world’s most infamous accounting scandal, Enron imploded in 2001, wiping out $74bn of shareholder funds and the pensions and jobs of thousands of employees. Enron’s auditor also collapsed. The organizations were interconnected and dependent systems. One fell, the other followed. Undetected risk festered and worsened, and the interconnectedness of these organizations and systems created a complex network that made detecting risk more difficult.

As modern society demands more capable systems, they become more interconnected and complex by necessity. As Meltdown: Why Our Systems Fail and What We Can Do About It posits, this staggering complexity means that tiny mistakes or simple accidents can lead to devastating catastrophes that often go undetected. The reasons for failure can stem from very different problems, but the underlying causes are similar.

In accounting scandals with nefarious actors, huge debts are obscured and once revealed, lead to corporate failure. In legal departments with good actors – led by a noble General Counsel (GC) who serves as the defender of the enterprise – business risks are obscured and once revealed, can lead to devastating consequences: bet-the-company litigation, core intellectual property battles, merger & acquisition failure, and crippling regulatory fines, to name a few.

Embracing digital helps identify and expose risk, but organizations set the stage for failure when legal, or other critical functions, don’t keep up, fail to embrace the digital evolution, become disconnected, and lack or lose visibility. Those organizations make decisions without a clear view of the legal implications, and they might not even know it because, for now, they operate with blind trust of the Office of the GC.

Corporations in all industries are “going digital” to remain competitive amidst technological disruption. This focus on digital starts with core products and service offerings, and then is pushed throughout the business to align company to product. The result? Faster moving businesses with a wave of demand pummelling the legal department…if not yet, then soon as digital initiatives across the business mature.

Most corporate legal departments simply do not have the systems required to keep up — providing consistent regulatory counsel, detecting and preventing impending litigation, or simply knowing who is doing what in the legal organization is already a challenge Risk is obscured. A “break” like we’ve never experienced is primed.

If we examine the ecosystem, the warning signs are there.

Catching up to other corporate functions

As demands on legal teams continue to grow and CFOs ask GCs to do more with less, quality suffers amid rising law firm rates and unchecked complexity. Corners get cut. Risks emerge while their likelihood to go undetected rises. Of course, when adding headcount is not an option, revamping processes and technology is often the answer.

In finance, accounting, information technology, and human resource departments, among others, advances in technology have enabled self-service, helped control costs, made it easier to compare costs, and increased quality choices. These corporate functions have embraced systems-level restructuring with artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, cloud computing and “Big Data” to modernize working practices and improve performance.

In their often siloed and conservative world, most GCs and corporate legal departments, on the other hand, make crucial decisions guided as much by gut instinct as by data and industry benchmarks. For decades, they have resisted change or lacked sufficient resources to enable change in technology, working practices, and corporate culture. Now, with the real-time requirement for speed, scale, and transparency — that era is over.

To retain and increase influence, improve their performance and trim costs as recessionary fears grow, GCs would be wise to more fully modernize their legal departments quickly through an open, digitally-savvy, and collaborative working culture.

Collaborate and listen

Building a data-driven, digital, secure and scalable legal system is an ethical and commercial imperative for GCs. Technology is part of the solution but not the place to start.

To more proactively expose, manage and mitigate risk, executives and their boards need GCs to emphasize the imperative for a more analytical, data-based and efficient approach to corporate legal practice with concrete examples to punctuate the “Why.”

You could start with three actions.

  1. Educate yourself and your colleagues about trends in legal digitization, performance improvement and new working practices. A comprehensive source of information is the Digital Legal Exchange, a global institute of leading thinkers from academia, business, government, technology and law.
  2. Become Modern. Be the change. Lead the change. Make tough decisions about your top leaders and whether they are capable of a data and digital-first mindset and way of working. Change leadership is the prime point of failure for legal modernization efforts.
  3. Be ambitious in the scope of your reforms. Small, pilot projects (ie, e-signature or automated NDAs) won’t make much of an impact and won’t convince your board of the need for bold legal change.

Modernizing the legal system and companies’ legal departments can improve affordability and performance for clients, lawyers, company boards, and shareholders.

Absent modern means of detection, legal risk can proliferate unknown and unseen only to all too often reveal triggers of impending corporate failure when it’s already too late.

Article By Anusia Gillespie of UnitedLex

For more corporate law legal news, click here to visit the National Law Review.

© 2022 UnitedLex, All Rights Reserved

How to Unplug From Work During the Holidays

It can be challenging to fully unplug from work during the holidays, especially if you have a lot of responsibilities or if you run your own business.

But taking a break from work during this slower period can be beneficial for your mental health and overall well-being.

It’s really important to not feel guilty about taking some time off or deciding that you don’t necessarily want to take time off, maybe want to spend time building your brand and business and if you do, I have plenty of tips for that as well!

Here are a few tips for unplugging from work during the holidays:

  • Set boundaries: Let your coworkers and clients know that you will be unavailable during specific times, such as during the holidays or on a certain day of the week. This will help prevent you from feeling pressure to respond to work-related messages or calls while you are trying to relax.
  • Create a relaxing routine: Plan activities that will help you relax and unwind, such as exercising, reading or spending time with family and friends. Having a relaxing routine can help you disconnect from work and focus on self-care.
  • Avoid checking work emails or messages too often. Try to resist the temptation to check work emails or messages all the time while you are on vacation. If you must check your email, set a specific time each day to do so and limit the amount of time you spend on it.
  • Take breaks from work-related tasks: If you are working on a project or task during the holidays, take regular breaks to rest and recharge. This will help you avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
  • Plan in advance: This is a great time of year to repurpose your content and utilize social media scheduling tools so that you don’t actually need to be present online to post. That being said, if you post anything you should still check social media so that you can engage with the comments on your posts, because that helps increase visibility. Let what you already have work, harder and smarter for you!

By setting clear boundaries, creating a relaxing routine and taking breaks from work-related tasks, you can help ensure that you fully unplug from work and enjoy your time off during the holidays!

Which of these tips resonate with you and do you have any others to add?

PS – If you’re looking for ways to build your brand during downtime here are a few ideas:

  • Use this time to assess your brand and identify areas for improvement. This could involve updating your website, revamping your social media accounts, or reassessing your target audience.
  • Create valuable content that can be shared during downtimes. This could be blog posts, videos, podcasts or other forms of content that showcase your expertise and add value to your audience.
  • Engage with your audience on social media or through email newsletters. Keep your audience updated on your brand and continue to provide value, even during downtimes.
  • Partner with other brands or influencers to cross-promote your products or services. This can help expose your brand to a new audience and increase your reach.
  • Take advantage of any downtime to learn new skills or attend workshops or conferences. This will help you stay current and improve your expertise, which can benefit your brand in the long run. (Check out my YouTube channel for lots of videos!)
  • Use downtime to reflect on your brand and consider new ways to innovate and stand out in your industry. This could involve launching new products or services, or finding unique ways to differentiate your brand.

Which one of these will you try? Happy holidays!

Article By Stefanie M. Marrone of Stefanie Marrone Consulting

For more business of law legal news, click here to visit the National Law Review.

Copyright © 2022, Stefanie M. Marrone. All Rights Reserved.