The Legal Chamber • May 2010
Top Gadgets for Lawyers in 2010
Lawyers enjoy one of the few professions that are notorious for having really cool stuff like corner offices, fancy cars, and vacation homes. Lawyers also have one of the most demanding jobs which can sometimes wear you down. If you feel monotony setting in check out the gadgets below that promise to increase productivity and spice up your work life!
- Livescribe Pulse Smartpen records what you write and up to 400 hours of audio recording and playback - show me a Mont Blanc that can do that! The pen synchronizes what you were recording and what you wrote down so you don't miss anything.
- NeatReceipts Scanalizer is finally a decent scanner that fits neatly inside your briefcase. One drawback is that the Scanalizer is not Mac-friendly but the ease of use, portability, and convenience make it a keeper.
- Corsair Flash Survivor GTR will keep your information safe in case you're involved in some kind of James Bond explosion and subsequent chase scene. The Flash Survivor is encased in aircraft aluminum, water resistant up to 200 meters, and includes a 10 year warranty making it a must have for any spy-lawyer worth his salt.
- Canon Mini Projector is our favorite portable projector when it comes to presenting the facts or watching YouTube videos on the go. The projector emits 2600 lumens and even supports 1280 x 800 resolutions like your wide screen monitor at home.
- 8 GB Video Watch is the all-wrist entertainment you'll need whether you're bored in court or waiting for the jury to deliberate. Load up to 8 gigabits of your favorite MP3 or WMA files like past episodes of Matlock or Judge Judy.
Sinking Your Teeth into Search Marketing
If you have a law firm, then you likely have some form of website to attract internet users searching for a lawyer. Many lawyers, and internet businesses, use a tactic called Search Engine Optimization (SEO) spreading links throughout the internet which in theory makes your site easier to find. LegalMatch lawyers enjoy the benefits of a staff with years of SEO experience attracting potential clients. For you other folks, the websites below are a few places to check out if you are trying to increase your website's popularity:
SEO Chat has a lot of informational and interactive links that will help you grasp essential SEO concepts and theories. They also have informative articles on topics like selecting dynamic keywords and how-to sections if you run into trouble.
Directory Listings are a good way to get your links out so that people stumble upon your site. The more visitors you get the higher your website's rank will be. Make sure you are listed in the legal industry and specify your area of practice so clients are aware the services you offer.
Start a Blog and update it regularly. Make sure to write about things that target the kind of clients you want and remember to keep it related to your practice area. Blogs are commonplace in every industry now because they are a great way to reach your target demographic and demonstrate your knowledge.
Twitter is everywhere. This dandy little social media application is probably already on your mobile phone and it's a great way to connect with other folks in your industry as well as showcase your expertise by posting links to your blog. Plenty of the Big Law attorneys Tweet. Why aren't you?
Legal Marketing Tip 4: Your J.D. is NOT an M.B.A.
Do you remember taking that really great course in law school? You know—the one where you learned how to effectively operate, market, and sell your business in the post-graduate world?
Funny. Neither do I.
Lawyers graduate from law school. Not business school or marketing school.
The first step toward running a successful law practice is to acknowledge that you don't know everything about running a business, and that it's perfectly ok (and even expected) to seek the help of those who do.
Hanging a shingle in the street just isn't going to cut it—especially in a highly competitive market like law. Every attorney out there is constantly seeking out new ways to get clients in the door, and not one of them wants to compromise their integrity or come off as desperate.
If you're looking to run at the head of the pack, you have to accept that you will need to seek help from other people. Especially those who did go to school for marketing and do have experience getting new clients for businesses like yours.
Outrageous Court Rulings = Big Money
Practicing law is like a game and nothing can feel better than a blowout to assert your legal prowess and earn a load of cash from that contingency fee. These kinds of cases rarely happen, but for some reason clients think it's the norm. For a personal injury lawyer, cases like these are what get you into a new Mercedes AMG or funds the new office in that downtown location you've been eyeing up. Check out the outrageous awards below and remember that it could be your next consultation:
- Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania recently won a slip and fall lawsuit against a restaurant. The court ordered the Philadelphia eatery to pay over $110,000 after she slipped on a soft drink she had thrown at her boyfriend seconds earlier and broke her coccyx.
- Carl Truman of Los Angeles, California was attempting to steal his neighbor's Honda Accord hubcaps. The neighbor unknowingly tried to drive away and ran over Truman's hand. A Los Angeles County Superior Court then ruled that Truman should be paid $74,000 in addition to medical expenses to compensate for the mishap.
- New York City resident Cedrick Makara was awarded almost $3 million for injuring his thumb in a bathroom door that didn't have a knob. Makara sued Newmark Realty and 40 Worth Associates for negligence because he missed work and underwent surgery on his tendons. The award was $2 million for past and future suffering, $200,000 for medical expenses, and $750,000 to his wife Sharon.
- Kathleen Robertson was awarded $780,000 by an Austin, Texas court for her poor parenting and lack of coordination. Robertson was awarded the staggering sum for breaking her ankle after tripping over an uncontrolled toddler in the store. The toddler belonged to Ms. Robertson.
