Introducing The Law Practice Management School: Online Law Practice Management Instruction in marketing, technology, finance and management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Chicago) November 15, 2010

For further information contact: Nick Augustine (312) 854-7149 / nick@alrpra.com

Online Law Practice Management Instruction in marketing, technology, finance and management

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Webinar-based law practice management course material will be taught by The Law Practice Management School beginning January 5, 2011.  One hour classes meet online each Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm Central Time.  Course materials are designed to offer lawyers pragmatic law practice management tools.

Course subjects are split by week each month in the following order: marketing, technology, finance and management.  Periodic guest lecturers will share professional experience and advice on core topics.  Courses are offered in traditional academic quarters.

The online webinar platform makes attendance and participation easy.  Weekly lectures are recorded and available for later use and review.  Quarterly tuition is competitively priced to make The Law Practice Management School affordable to lawyers in need of practice management education.

The Law Practice Management School is a private organization funded solely through course tuition.  Instruction and administration are provided by ALR/PRA, Inc., a national law practice management agency headquartered in Chicago.

ALR/PRA President and founder of The Law Practice Management School, Nick Augustine, earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications and Rhetorical Studies from Marquette University and a Juris Doctor degree from The John Marshall Law School.  Augustine is active in the Law Practice Management Section of the American Bar Association and also writes a weekly column for “Attorneys In Transition” a career resource published by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company.

The Law Practice Management School is currently taking applications for classes beginning January, 2011.  Interested applicants should send their inquiries through the contact portal on http://www.alrpra.com/.

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For interviews regarding The Law Practice Management School, and for information and applications, contact Nick Augustine at (312) 894-7149 or mailto:nick@alrpra.com

© 2010 ALR/PRA, Inc.

Legal Marketing Questions Answered by James E. Thompson, J.D.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  (Chicago) October 7, 2010  For further information contact: Nick Augustine (312) 854-7149 / nick@alrpra.com### EVENT – Appearance on Law Talk Radio webcast: “Legal Marketing Questions Answered by Jim Thompson, J.D.” On Thursday, October 7, 2010 Legal Marketing Coach, Jim Thompson, J.D., will appear to audience questions submitted by e-mail following previous appearances on Law Talk Radio. WHO – Attorney James E. Thompson is well-known for helping attorneys get on track to earning more clients through simple cost-effective activities.  Link to web: www.midwestconsultants.net Link to Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/getclientsnow?ref=ts SUBJECT MATTER – Attorney James E. Thompson is a regular guest on the Law Talk Radio programs, often giving marketing advice and tips during the Lawyers’ Toolbox Show.  Jim practiced law as a trial attorney for 26 years before he retired from law practice and now Jim helps attorneys in transition and those who want to get more clients.  Jim will be answering questions on this episode that were submitted by e-mail to Law Talk Radio staff.  Please take some notes of the great advice in this episode. The broadcast on ALR/PRA Law Talk Radio airs 10/07/2010 at 3:00 pm CDT (4ET/1PT) via http://www.blogtalkradio.com/alrpra <- keeps archived links / also available -> www.alrpra.com. ### For interviews regarding Attorney James E. Thompson and law firm marketing coaching generally, contact J. Nick Augustine at (312) 854-7149 or mailto:nick@alrpra.com © 2010 ALR/PRA, Inc.

Legal Marketing: Where is Your Number Listed and Who Answers Your Phone?

By J. Nick Augustine J.D.

Lawyers:  Read the following short article and think about what a client might experience when they have an unanticipated legal problem.  From the person who answers your phone to the professional who is mindful of the patient/client’s valuable time, here is

Today while at a luncheon on law firm financials (exciting stuff) I realized that I lost a filing on my front tooth when attempting to take a bite of a sandwich with bread you could use as a weapon.  I just wish I could remember the name of the catering company so I never use them.  Sitting there I realized that I hadn’t been to a dentist in several years and had no idea who to call or what to do.  I certainly had to do something quickly because clients don’t like their marketing and PR guy to have a chipped front tooth!

Being a savvy consumer I first went to the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce website to find a dentist in my neighborhood on the north side of Chicago.  I searched their membership list for “Dentist” and the search revealed a few names, one of which I recognized, Robert S. Wier D.D.S..  When I called Dr. Wier’s receptionist was very friendly and asked relevant questions to identify the type of service I needed to fix my tooth.  I told Dr. Wier’s staff that I really needed immediate attention because I have several events this week and cannot meet people with my bad tooth.  They were very kind to fit me in at 4:00 (2 hours after my original phone call).

Not being sure what the cost of treatment would be I made a couple more calls and was surprised by the other dental offices.  One of the offices said the first time they could see me was two days from now – not good enough.  Another office told me they couldn’t even tell me the price of an exam and the doctor would have to see me before I even knew what their treatment options were – again, unacceptable.

At 3:00 I left the office, hopped a Brown Line train and headed home to see Dr. Weir for my 4:00 appointment.  When I arrived I noticed a Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce decal prominently placed in the front window.  The office and staff were friendly and I was barely done filling out the new patient documents when the hygienist called my name and I was off to the races.  After a quick X-ray I was taken into a waiting room where Dr. Weir met me, sized up the damage and repaired my tooth with a filing and then shaped the tooth to look as good as new.

I was out the door by 4:30 and the bill was a fraction of what I expected to pay!  I told the staff and Dr. Weir how I came to find them by searching for a listing on the chamber web site and recognized Dr. Wier’s name from living in Lincoln Square.  As I was walking home from Dr. Wier’s office I thought about how pleasant the experience was when otherwise I was very stressed by the unexpected dental emergency.

As a satisfied consumer I am now writing about my experience and sharing my positive thoughts on the Chamber Facebook page and on Yelp to encourage referrals and let local residents know about Dr. Weir.  Even though many legal services are more complex than a filling repair, the experience of the consumer can be just as satisfying.  Take a look at your own office and consider where you are listed and who answers the phone.

Here are our 10 impressions of Scribd:

ALR/PRA is hip to Scribd.  What on Earth is this document sharing site recently launched spring, 2010?

Here are our 10 impressions of Scribd:

1.  When I first went to Scribd.com there was an option to sign in via Facebook which makes things very easy for the new Scribd user. I was prompted by Facebook to allow Scribd, as an application, to access my user settings and information on Facebook. I was surprised to see that about 20 of my Facebook friends were also on Scribd.

Click here to take a peak to see my Scribd page as an example.

2.  Scrolling through some of my friends’ profiles on Scribd I was able to see the documents they were reading or had recently read which causes some privacy concerns of which users should be aware.  The feature called “readcast” allows you to republish a document you find on Scribd on your profile.  When connected through the Facebook application there may be a notification on your Facebook wall that you were reading or publishing on Scribd – based on your personal settings.

3.  As a resource for research I noted that there is an inherent authenticity concern on Scribd; I quickly found what purports to be an internal document from HP regarding the resignation of their CEO following sexual harassment issues, which, although may be true, the document I found could easily be a fake.

4.  RSS feeds are available so that you can select a reputable user such as the New York Times and you will receive updates with their documents uploaded on Scribd. As a commercial publicist I often track my clients’ competition and the RSS feeds provide an option for keeping your eye on the other guy.

5.  My next impression of Scribd is that there are great opportunities here for search engine optimization.  When you upload documents there is an option to add keyword tags and document descriptions.  I uploaded some company marketing material with hopes the search engine scrubbers find it and boost our page rank.

6.  Concerns about document authenticity and potential copyright violations were on my mind when I quickly found the purported internal memo to employees regarding the recent HP CEO resignation following scandal.  I have no way of knowing whether “barry457” who “readcast” and posted this document was in possession of the real document.  Users should also be aware of the copyright issues regarding the “readcasting” of documents you find online.  Just as someone shouldn’t copy or distribute my copyrighted work without my consent, I might be sensitive to readcasting my documents.  This may be a settings issue and/or a function of the license agreement to use the site.

7.  Settings should be attended to on first use of Scribd or you might be filling your Facebook or Twitter feeds with every click of your mouse on the Scribd site.  When testing the site I noticed the option for “auto” vs. “ask” regarding posting to Facebook and/or LinkedIn that I was reading a document on Scribd.  All I had to do was click on a story regarding Chicago’s handgun ban and it was automatically posted on my wall on Facebook – be careful with settings.

8.  Money drives the site, possibly in lieu of early adopting advertisers, where the download of other documents costs money.  I had the option of paying $9/month to have download capabilities.  This may be where the copyright issues are answered in the click through licensing agreement.  Not having paid to download anything the details remain a mystery to me.

9.  Importing documents is easy on Scribd and there was an option to upload directly from Google documents.  To the extent this site software was designed to work well with the commonly used internet search and social networking sites I will give Scribd a thumbs up in the user friendly department.

10.  My final impression after only taking a quick look at this site is that anyone who uses Scribd become familiar with the settings and be aware of the potential benefits and detriments we often notice with any other social networking/sharing site.  Companies might want to look into adding language to employee handbooks regarding the use of Scribd relative to official activities.

Please add your two cents on Scribd – we always appreciate your comments.

by Nick Augustine

Nick Augustine speaks to “Attorneys In Transition” at Law Bulletin Publishing

Attorneys in Transition event – July 1, 2010

Law Bulletin Publishing Company (Chicago)

www.attorneysintransition.com

Speaker:  Nick Augustine

http://attorneysintransition.com/events/

This presentation offers instruction on how Lawyers can organize and leverage their professional brand during transitions to another firm, or solo practice.  Two main ingredients to success are practice development and lawyer marketing.  Practice development is a skill we learn and protect, and lawyer marketing is a means to the development end.  Practice development first requires us to recognize our professional brand and what qualities make us effective and memorable.

The biggest social media mistake that legal job candidates and professionals generally make is inundating their social networks with irrelevant material, causing confusion and irritation.  A working knowledge of your audience is essential before publishing targeted information.  In deciding how to best use social media to leverage your brand, start with a marketing plan you can maintain.  Remember, when planning your content, your reader is always asking “what’s in it for me.” Your response should be to that end.

Lawyers can best use social media when they approach it as a large canvas upon which they can paint their best professional portrait.  Understanding the style of each channel of social media communication will take time, but is worth the investment.  Although social media may be cost effective, successful usage requires long term planning and commitment.  Creating and using a profile is an ongoing journey and as the sites evolve, their platforms require active participation.

The main advice for lawyers looking to make a career transition is to start with a set of blindfolds, forget for a moment where you currently work or even that you went to law school.   Then, make a list of your strengths; an honest self-assessment is necessary to determine your best career goals.  Once you feel you are on a solid path towards a career transition, just do it and don’t look back.

Shifts in consumer trends: how consumers shop for both retail and commercial law firms

It wasn’t long ago that we had a local attorney or law firm who handled legal affairs for our families and small businesses.  For some, this remains, but for many it is a new and different day.  The attorneys who are going to grow and prosper are those who embrace consumer expectations.

Our marketing consultant, John Augustine, forwarded a recent e-mail regarding sales of high-end boats, which have fallen off during recent years.  What on Earth you ask, do high-end boat sales have to do with hiring attorneys?  Everything!  The boat dealers understand that potential buyers are turned off by pitches sounding of immediacy.  Buyers are acting on their own time frame and comfort level, only after the facts and data were made available for consumer review.

Commercial law firm shoppers rely on value and a proven track record.  The consumer is going to use branding to differentiate only among those with a tradition of performance.  To the extent your brand building is performance-based, you need to earn that reputation by visibly demonstrating your worth.

Similarly, retail law practices who expect to earn the best clients will do so by providing examples of cases in which they achieved the results their clients expected.  Good intention and skill alone do not cut it for many law firm shoppers.

You should be able to identify your track record and demonstrate professional accomplishments that would matter to a potential retail or commercial client.

Calvin Jansen, Staff Writer

ALR/PRA, Inc. 77 W. Washington St., Ste. 705, Chicgao, IL 60603; (312) 505-2604

Big firms are working on value – is your practice viable 10 years out?

Trending is a great buzzword but few people really think it applies to them – why is that?

ALR/PRA, Inc. was already four years old when it was re-launched in November 2009 as a national law practice management agency.  The social media boom of 2009 provided direction for the growing company which was built without debt and by maximizing already present human capital.

Law Publicist, Nick Augustine has spent years trying to stay ahead of the curve and provide innovative marketing solutions to attorney clients of the former Augustine Legal Research business.  Today, being a member and attending events hosted by the Chicago Legal Marketing Association and the group, Legal PR Chicago, Augustine is in constant contact with the big firms (the AMLaw100’s) who are exploring various ways to remain viable with local regional competition.

What does this mean to a suburban firm with 10 attorneys?  Well, according to Augustine, “The big firms have to make smart decisions and the standards are going to change globally, the days of the billable hour being the only driving profit model are long gone; “value added” is a buzzword going around and it’s catching on as managing partners figure out how to reorganize these huge private law firms.”

ALR/PRA looks forward to sharing tips and trends with law firms and clients through blog updates, seminars, and articles published in the Law Publicist – On Point.

Get on board with us – we know the trends you need to compete.

Calvin Jansen, Staff Writer

ALR/PRA, Inc.