practicePRO - practice aids: the Lending Library

As a resource for Ontario lawyers, practicePRO has a lending library of almost 100 books on a wide variety of law practice management related topics. You may borrow a book in person or via e-mail (to be delivered and returned by courier).

The practicePRO Library is located in our office at 250 Yonge Street, Suite 3101 in Toronto and can be visited during our regular business hours (Mon to Fri, 8:30 to 5:00). We invite you to come by anytime to peruse our selection.

If you would like to order a book by mail, please email library@practicepro.ca with the name of the book, your name, LSUC number and your mailing address (only lawyers called to the bar in Ontario can take out these books). We will ship the book to you via courier at no charge, and it will be your responsibility to ship it back at your cost within three weeks. If the book is already on loan, we will reply letting you know the date on which it is expected to be available. If a book is not returned, or returned in poor condition, we will invoice you the cost to replace it. In order to ensure the books are as widely available as possible, loans are limited to one at a time.

The majority of the books in the practicePRO Lending Library were published by the American Bar Association's Law Practice Management Section. You can view a full catalog of ABA LPM books and purchase them online at www.abanet.org/lpm/catalog

The books in the practicePRO Lending Library below are listed under the following topic areas (some titles appear in more than one category):

Collecting Your Fee: Getting Paid from Intake to Invoice
Edward Poll, Published 2002, 166 pages with CD-ROM
This practical and user-friendly guide provides you with proven strategies and sound advice that will make the process of collecting your fees simpler, easier, and more effective! This handy resource provides you with the framework around which to structure your collection efforts. You'll learn how you can streamline your billing and collection process by hiring the appropriate staff and drafting a bill that the client is motivated to pay. In addition, you'll benefit from the strategies to use when the client fails to pay the bill on time and what you need to do to get paid when all else fails. Also included is a CD-ROM with sample forms, letters, agreements, and more for you to customize to your own practice needs.

Compensation Plans for Law Firms 5th Edition
Edited by James D. Cotterman, Altman Weil, Inc., published 2010, 186 pages (Table of contents...)
This newly updated fifth edition of Compensation Plans for Law Firms examines the continually evolving compensation landscape and the concepts that will affect your law firm most.

The Essential Formbook: Volume II: Human Resources/Fees Billing and Collection
Gary A. Munneke & Anthony E. Davis, 300 pages, 3-ring binder with diskette
Part I of this volume addresses the hiring process, training and development, compensation, and discipline and termination. Part II covers billing practices, hourly billing, pricing legal services, alternative fee agreements, engagement letters, and managing the billing process.

The Essential Formbook: Volume III: Calendar, Docket & File Management/Law Firm Financial Analysis
Gary A. Munneke & Anthony E. Davis,224 pages, 3-ring binder with CD-ROM
Part I of this volume addresses document backup, retention, destruction, and security. Part II covers financial analysis of the risks that all law firms confront.

How to Draft Bills Clients Rush to Pay 2nd Edition
J. Harris Morgan & Jay G. Foonberg, published 2003, 136 pages (Table of contents...) (Book review)
For the first time ever, noted law practice management authorities J. Harris Morgan and Jay Foonberg have joined forces to write this revised and expanded second edition of an ABA classic bestseller. Now these two distinguished ABA authors share their secrets on client billing so you, too, can get paid without delay, hassle, or misunderstandings. This book will help you communicate trust, confidence, and value to the client. Spend an hour or two with Morgan and Foonberg as they take you step-by-step through the process of building the client relationship, setting the appropriate fee agreement, and drafting the bill that will get you paid. You'll find, in plain language, a rational and workable approach to creating fee agreements and bills that satisfy your clients, build their trust, and motivate them to pay. Comparisons and samples of fee agreements and invoices are integrated throughout the text, along with a clear explanation of which methods work best-and why.

The Lawyer's Guide to Increasing Revenue: Unlocking the Profit Potential in Your Firm
Arthur G. Greene, published 2004, 180 pages with CD-ROM (Table of contents...) (Book review...)
Are you ready to look beyond cost-cutting and toward new revenue opportunities? Learn how you can achieve growth using the resources you already have at your firm. Discover the factors that affect your law firm's revenue production, how to evaluate them, and how to take specific action steps designed to increase your returns. You'll learn how to best improve performance and profitability in each of the key areas of your law firm, such as billable hours and rates, client relations and intake, collections and accounts receivable, technology, marketing, and others. Included with the book is a CD-ROM featuring sample policies, worksheets, plans, and documents designed to aid implementation of the ideas presented in the book. Let this resource guide you toward a profitable and sustainable future!

Results-Oriented Financial Management: A Step by Step Guide to Law Firm Profitability 2nd Edition
John G. Iezzi CPA, published 2003, 272 pages with CD-ROM (Table of contents...)
This hands-on, how-to book will provide managing partners, law firm managers, and law firm accountants with the budgeting and financial knowledge needed to make critical decisions. The newly revised and expanded second edition describes the entire financial management process, from gathering a firm's historical data to preparing and analyzing the overall financial plan. Whether you're a financial novice or veteran manager, this book will help you examine every facet of your financial affairs, from cash flow and budget creation to billing and compensation. Most, if not all, of the analysis and methodologies used in the book come from actual, time-tested techniques developed by author John Iezzi in his dealings with firms of all sizes and practice disciplines. Also included with the book are valuable financial models on CD-ROM allowing you to compute profitability and determine budgets by inputting your own data to:

Prepare annual financial plans

Calculate billings rates and perform analyses on results

Perform timekeeper breakeven analysis

Perform cash-flow analysis

Winning Alternatives to the Billable Hour: Strategies That Work 3rd Edition
Mark A. Robertson and James A. Calloway, published 2008, 175 pages with cd-rom (Table of contents...)
Your entire practice is based on doing battle for your clients. Unfortunately, the issues that arise when it comes to assessing the value of these protective and beneficial services are a source of contention for both yourself and your clients. This newly revised third edition of the highly acclaimed Winning Alternatives to the Billable Hour: Strategies that Work, provides you with tools you can use in your practice to implement and evaluate alternative billing methods, including real case studies of lawyers and firms successfully using alternative billing to deliver value to both the client and the lawyer.

200 Ways to Make Your Law Firm an Extraordinary Place to Work
Edited by Sue Umbdenstock and Rosemary Shiels, 92 pages
What do you do to stand out as an employer? What makes your staff and attorneys want to come to work every day? Read about the events, activities, special recognitions and other best practices in place at some of your peers' firms - ways to foster a culture of integrity, caring and camaraderie. From food fests to a "respectful workplace" policy, you're sure to find something here that will help you make your own firm an extraordinary place to work! This book is available from the Association of Legal Administrators. Visit www.alanet.org

The ABA Guide to Professional Managers in the Law Office
Edited by Carolyn Thornlow, published 1996, 188 pages
Hiring professional managers to handle the administration of your law firm frees your lawyers up to do what they do best-practice law and develop new client relationships. Here's your complete toolkit for interviewing, hiring, and training professional managers in administration, finance, information management, human resources, marketing, facilities services, and more.

Anatomy of a Law Firm Merger: How to Make or Break the Deal 3rd Edition
Hildebrandt International, Published 2004, 208 pages and CD-ROM (Table of contents...)
A well-planned merger brings many benefits for the merging firms - regardless of size or specialty. Here's a clear, concise, step-by-step guide to the art and science of the merger deal, covering everything from making the decision to merge and analyzing whether the merger makes sense, to arriving at the decision and integrating the two firms. The accompanying CD-ROM contains dozens of exhibits that provide a structured framework for successfully designing and executing the merger, including a strategic merger checklist, pro forma schedules - even sample meeting agendas. Written by worldwide experts in the field, it's the one resource you need when contemplating - and implementing - a merger.

The Busy Lawyer's Guide to Success: Essential Tips to Power Your Practice
Reid F. Trautz & Dan Pinnington, published 2009, 156 pages (Table of contents...)
Busy lawyers do not have dozens of extra hours to conduct research looking for new tips and ideas to streamline and enhance their practice of law. They need "just-in-time" learning to acquire the knowledge necessary to build their practices. This convenient pocket guide is the "best ever" collection of practical tips, ideas, and techniques to help you survive, thrive, and find success in the practice of law.

The Complete Guide to Designing Your Law Office
Suzette S. Schultz and Jon S. Schultz, published 2005, 312 pages with CD-ROM (Table of contents...)
Here's the information you need to create an impressive, efficient law office that meets your business requirements. Learn the best approaches for designing every area in the law office, including offices and work stations, conference rooms and reception areas, and more. You'll be guided through every step of the process, from determining your optimal square footage, to selecting the right security systems and technology, to hiring and working with movers. In addition, helpful checklists, schedules, forms, and letters are included on an accompanying CD-ROM to make your renovation or relocation as easy as possible. For anyone contemplating a new or redesigned office, this is the book that covers all the details.

Easy Self-Audits for the Busy Law Office
Nancy Byerly Jones, published 1999, 352 pages with diskettes (Table of contents...)
Here's a valuable, easy-to-use tool to help you conduct your own management self-audits in minutes! Whether you need to streamline procedures, foster teamwork, or build client relations, this book will help you identify your practice's (or department's) "problem" areas, as well as ideas for improving them. Simply select the audits that have the most relevance to your practice and invite your employees to complete the corresponding questionnaires. With all of the audits available on diskette, you can easily download, customize, print, and distribute the audits to suit your office's specific needs.

The Essential Formbook: Volume I: Partnership and Organizational Agreements/Client Intake and Fee Agreements
Gary A. Munneke & Anthony E. Davis, 288 pages, 3-ring binder with CD-ROM
Part I of this volume addresses traditional and alternative partnership agreements, including the Limited Liability Partnership Agreement, and law firm dissolution agreements. Part II walks you through the client intake process, including how to effectively gather information on new clients, manage the client selection process, make judgments, and use engagement and nonengagement letters.

The Essential Formbook: Volume IV: Disaster Planning and Recovery/Risk Management and Professional Liability Insurance
Gary A. Munneke & Anthony E. Davis, 452 pages, 3-ring binder with CD-ROM
Part I in the final volume of The Essential Form book series provides guidance on both planning for disaster and on recovery after such an event, including contributing to the disaster relief of others. Part II examines in detail professional liability insurance for lawyers.

Flying Solo: A Survival Guide for Solo and Small Firm Lawyers 4th Edition
Edited by K. William Gibson, published 2005, 679 pages (Table of contents...)
The new fourth edition of this comprehensive guide includes practical information gathered from a wide range of contributors, including successful solo practitioners, law firm consultants, state and local bar practice management advisors, and law school professors. All the contributors share tips and advice that can be easily implemented in your solo or small-firm practice. This classic ABA book first walks you through a step-by-step analysis of the decision to start a solo practice, including choosing a practice focus. It then provides tools to help you with financial issues including banking and billing; operations issues such as staffing and office location and design decisions; technology for the small law office; and marketing and client relations. What's more, the final section on quality-of-life issues puts it all into perspective. Whether you're thinking of going solo, new to the solo life, or a seasoned practitioner, Flying Solo provides time-tested answers to real-life questions.

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't
by Jim Collins, published 2001, 260 pages
The defining management study of the nineties showed how great companies triumph over time and how long term sustained performance can be engineered into the DNA of an enterprise from the very beginning. But what about the company that is not born with great DNA? How can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness?

Handling Personnel Issues in the Law Office: Your Legal Responsibilities as an Employer
Francis T. Coleman & Douglas E. Rosenfeld, published 1996, 140 pages (Table of contents...)
Here's your guide to preventing workplace-related legal action. This important reference is packed with tips on "safely" recruiting, hiring, training, managing, and even terminating employees.

How to Start and Build a Law Practice Platinum 5th Edition
Jay G. Foonberg, published 2004, 704 pages (Table of contents...)
This classic ABA bestseller has been used by tens of thousands of lawyers as the comprehensive guide to planning, launching, and growing a successful practice. It's packed with over 600 pages of guidance on identifying the right location, finding clients, setting fees, managing your office, maintaining an ethical and responsible practice, maximizing available resources, upholding your standards, and much more.
You'll find the information you need to successfully launch your practice, run it at maximum efficiency, and avoid potential pitfalls along the way. If you're committed to starting - and growing - your own practice, this one book will give you the expert advice you need to make it succeed for years to come.

Keeping Good Lawyers: Best Practices to Create Career Satisfaction
M. Diane Vogt & Lori-Ann Rickard, published 2000, 230 pages (Table of contents...)
Now that your firm has recruited top legal talent, do you know how to maximize it? Keeping Good Lawyers is filled with easy-to-implement suggestions for building and maintaining high levels of motivation and career satisfaction within the work environment. Management will discover how to train and retain good lawyers and keep them emotionally engaged with their work, their career development, and the success of the firm. Lawyers will learn how to find the balance between personal and professional goals, avoid boredom and burnout, and truly enjoy life.

Law Office Policy & Procedures Manual 5th Edition
Robert C. Wert & Howard I. Hatoff, published 2006, 336 pages with CD-ROM
Every law office needs an office manual to formalize basic operating policies and procedures, prevent miscommunications, and centralize information about the firm's responsibilities to its employees and clients. A comprehensive office manual will also save time and aggravation as a training tool for new lawyers and staff, and as a reference guide for your temporary workers. This updated manual covers every facet of basic law office operations, and also includes material on COBRA, stress injuries, AIDS/HIV, and much more. The entire manual is provided on an accompanying CD-ROM, making it an easy way to create a complete office manual customized to your firm's specifications.

Law Office Procedures Manual for Solos and Small Firms 3rd Edition
Demetrios Dimitriou, published 2005, 152 pages with CD-ROM
This newly revised and updated edition provides you with everything you need to develop and compile a succinct, comprehensive procedures manual, geared toward the unique management issues of a solo or small firm. This step-by-step guide offers direction on setting policy and procedures for your firm, and provides sample language and documents, both in the text and on the accompanying CD-ROM, to allow for easy customization. Proper implementation of sound policies and procedures will help ensure your firm operates effectively, efficiently and productively, resulting in optimal delivery of legal services to your clients.

The Lawyer's Guide to Buying, Selling, Merging and Closing a Law Practice
Sarina A. Butler & Richard G. Paszkiet, published 2007
If you are considering buying, selling, closing, or merging a law practice, this book is a valuable resource for information on things to consider before and during the process. The guide includes handy checklists, forms, sample agreements, and sample letters as well as a material from the ABA's Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

The Lawyer's Guide to Creating a Business Plan: A Step by Step Software Package
Linda Pinson, published 2007, CD-ROM software package
Start planning so you can make the right decisions for a successful, profitable future. This updated and revised version of The Lawyer's Guide to Creating a Business Plan will take you step by step through the process of writing a winning business plan for your law firm. This stand-alone software is customized for law firms, so you will be able to easily produce a comprehensive and effective road map that will serve as a lifetime guide for your law firm.

The Lawyer's Guide to Governing Your Firm
Arthur G. Greene, published 2009, 240 pages (Table of contents...)
Good governance and a positive culture in a law firm go hand in hand. It is difficult to find a law firm that has achieved success without having a superior culture, one that creates the best work environment and helps everyone succeed. This new guide, The Lawyer's Guide to Governing Your Firm, is a practical and valuable resource for those firms that want to provide better client service, as well as improve the working environment for both lawyers and staff. It provides strategies to change the culture of the law firm, boost morale, and effectively and efficiently manage and govern the firm. It provides you with guidance on leadership and partnership issues and basic running of the law firm.

The Lawyer's Guide to Strategic Planning: Defining, Setting, and Achieving Your Firm's Goals
Thomas C. Grella and Michael L. Hudkins, published 2004, 230 pages with CD-ROM (More info...) (Table of contents...)

The Lawyer's Guide to Strategic Planning: Defining, Setting, and Achieving Your Firm's Goals
Thomas C. Grella and Michael L. Hudkins, published 2004, 230 pages with CD-ROM (Table of contents...)
This practice-building resource is your guide to planning dynamic strategic plans and implementing them at your firm. You'll learn about the actual planning process and how to establish goals in key planning areas such as law firm governance, competition, opening a new office, financial management, technology, marketing and competitive intelligence, client development and retention, and more. The accompanying CD-ROM contains a wealth of policies, statements, and other sample documents. If you're serious about improving the way your firm works, increasing productivity, making better decisions, and setting your firm on the right course, this book is the resource you need.

Leveraging with Legal Assistants: How to Maximize Team Performance, Improve Quality, and Boost Your Bottom Line
Edited by Arthur G. Greene, published 1993, 176 pages (Table of contents...)
This essential guide reveals the ways legal assistants can help you maximize team performance, improve work quality, and boost your firm's bottom line. Part One explores how the effective use of legal assistants can lead to better client service, lower costs, enhanced profits, greater stability of service, and improved firm growth. Part Two describes ways to expand the role of legal assistants in a variety of practice areas.

The Lawyer's Guide to Records Management and Retention
George C. Cunningham and John C. Montana, published 2006, 304 pages with CD-ROM (Table of contents...)
Law firms of all sizes must attend to legal and ethics compliance when it comes to management and retention of both paper and electronic files. This book will help the firm create and maintain an effective and well-organized records management program, including administration and storage of client files and administrative records in all types of media. Firms will learn to implement an efficient information, document, and file retrieval system, thus reducing costs, avoiding ethics violations, and ensuring client satisfaction.

Managing Partner 101: A Guide to Successful Law Firm Leadership 2nd Edition
Lawrence G. Green, published 2001, 152 pages (Table of contents...)
This completely updated and expanded second edition of an ABA bestseller is designed to help managing partners, lawyers, and other legal professionals understand the role and responsibilities of a law firm's managing partner. The book will shorten the learning curve for mastering successful management techniques for the new or experienced managing partner, through helpful guidelines, tips, and examples presented throughout the text. Of particular value is the author's extensive experience and his discussion on the importance of leadership to the effective managing partner.

The Of Counsel Agreement: A Guide for Law Firm and Practitioner 3rd Edition
Harold G. Wren & Beverly J. Glascock, published 2005, 266 pages (Table of contents...)
This updated third edition will provide every lawyer who is currently Of Counsel or contemplating such a position, and every firm that recognizes the status with the background, with the understanding and language required to protect the interests of all concerned. This practical and comprehensive guide will help to clarify the duties and responsibilities of an Of Counsel position, apprise lawyers of recent case law on Of Counsel, and provide samples to help draft the correct Of Counsel agreement. This edition also includes sample agreements on CD-ROM.

Paralegals, Profitability and the Future of Your Practice
Arthur G. Greene & Therese A. Cannon, published 2003, 176 pages with CD-ROM (Table of contents...)
This is the essential guide to effectively integrating paralegals into your practice and expanding their roles to ensure your firm is successful in the next decade. If you're not currently using paralegals in your firm, the authors explain why you need paralegals and how to create a paralegal model for use in your firm-no matter what the size or structure. You'll learn how to recruit and hire top-notch paralegals the first time. If you are currently using paralegals, you'll learn how to make sure your paralegal program is structured properly, runs effectively, and continually contributes to your bottom line. Finally, eight valuable appendices provide resources, job descriptions, model guidelines, sample confidentiality agreements, sample performance evaluations, and performance appraisals. In addition, all the forms and guidelines contained in the appendix are included on a CD-ROM for ease in implementation!

Recruiting Lawyers: How to Hire the Best Talent
Marcia Pennington Shannon & Susan G. Manch, published 2000, 144 pages (Table of contents...)
The greatest asset to any law firm is its intellectual capital-the lawyers. Recognizing the importance and complexity of lawyer recruitment, authors Shannon and Manch have thoroughly researched law firm hiring practices and its many shifts over the past 30 years. Recruiting Lawyers is the culmination of their efforts, providing you with practical searching and screening strategies, smart hiring practices, and constructive ideas that you can incorporate immediately into your recruitment procedures. Recruiting Lawyers addresses the myriad needs of a variety of law office environments.

Risk Management: Survival Tools for Law Firms
Anthony E. Davis & Peter R. Jarvis, published 2007, 200 pages
Risk Management: Survival Tools for Law Firms helps your firm establish solid policies, procedures, and systems to minimize risk. This completely revised edition and accompanying CD provides a comprehensive overview of risk management, offers a practical approach to risk management evaluation, and steps to take to create a "best practice" plan.

You'll learn the three elements of effective risk management policy: how to establish uniform standards; be ready for compliance with minimum intrusion and expense into other areas of the practice; and how to develop strategies to control risk. Using case studies and Quality/In Control (QUIC) Survey for law firms questionnaires to evaluate your firm's state of risk management, this book provides solutions tailored to your organization.

The Successful Lawyer: Powerful Strategies for Transforming Your Practice
Gerald A. Riskin, published 2005 (available as 256 page book or 6 audio CDs, 330 mins) (Book review...)
Global management consultant and trusted advisor to many of the world's largest law firms, Gerry Riskin goes beyond simple concept or theory and delivers a book packed with practical advice that you can implement right away. By using the principles found in this book, you can live out your dreams, embrace success, and awaken your firm to its full potential. Large law firm or small, managing partners and associates in every area of practice-all can benefit from the information contained in this book. With this book, you can attract what you need and desire into your life, get more satisfaction from your practice and your clients, and do so in a systematic, achievable way.

Strengthening Your Firm: Strategies for Success
Edited by Arthur G. Greene, published 1997, 200 pages (Table of contents...)
Here's an "owner's manual" for the successful management of today's law firm. Editor Arthur Greene and a team of experts share valuable insights and practical advice on important topics such as: adapting to change, meeting partnership challenges, dealing with financial problems and governance, improving leadership and communication, and more. Plus, you'll find an extensive financial glossary and working documents to help you design your own financial reports.

How to Get and Keep Good Clients 2nd Edition
Jay Foonberg, published1994, 600 pages
Includes: "Foonberg's Favorite 51 Rules of Good Client Relations for the Busy Lawyer," "How Turning Down My First Case Led to 19 Cases," "How to Handle People Who Hate Lawyers or the Legal System," "Fee Allocation Formulas to Encourage Marketing," "Cost-Effective Classified Newspaper Advertising," and much, much more! Also features sample letters, homespun advice, and personal anecdotes.

The Lawyer’s Field Guide to Effective Business Development
William J. Flabbery, Jr, published 2007, 150 pages (Table of contents...)
The Lawyer's Field Guide to Effective Business Development is much more than a "survival guide"--it is a "success guide." Having trained more than 10,000 lawyers from around the world in client relationship management, business development and effective communication skills, William J. Flannery, an ex-IBM executive and J.D., focuses on practical ideas and approaches for business growth and relationship improvement. Flannery's approach to winning and retaining long-term, attractive clients is detailed and sensible. He proves that with the right approaches, the appropriate homework and diligence, and a little bit of courage, any lawyer can not only be smart, but effective as a client relationship manager and advocate.

The Lawyer's Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies
Dennis Kennedy & Tom Mighell, published 2008, 314 pages (Table of contents...)
This first-of-its-kind guide for the legal profession shows you how to use standard technology you already have and the latest "Web 2.0" resources and other tech tools, like Google Docs, Microsoft Office and SharePoint, and Adobe Acrobat, to work more effectively on projects with colleagues, clients, co-counsel and even opposing counsel. In The Lawyer's Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies: Smart Ways to Work Together, well-known legal technology authorities Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell provides a wealth of information useful to lawyers who are just beginning to try these tools, as well as tips and techniques for those lawyers with intermediate and advanced collaboration experience.

The Lawyer's Guide to Marketing on the Internet 3rd Edition
Gregory H. Siskind, Deborah McMurray & Richard P. Klau, published 2007, 192 pages (Book review of 3rd edition...)
In today's competitive environment, it is critical to have a comprehensive online marketing strategy that uses all the tools possible to differentiate your firm and gain new clients. The Lawyer's Guide to Marketing on the Internet, in a completely updated and revised third edition, showcases practical online strategies and the latest innovations so that you can immediately participate in decisions about your firm's Web marketing effort. With advice that can be implemented by established and young practices alike, this comprehensive guide will be a crucial component to streamlining your marketing efforts.

The Lawyer's Guide to Marketing Your Practice 2nd Edition
Edited by James A. Durham & Deborah McMurray, published 2003, 328 pages with CD-ROM (Table of contents...)
This expanded and revised edition of The Complete Guide to Marketing Your Law Practice will help you master the creative marketing solutions you need. It's packed with practical ideas, innovative strategies, useful checklists, and sample marketing and action plans to help you implement a successful, multifaceted, and profit-enhancing marketing plan for your firm.

The Lawyer's Guide to Yellow Pages Advertising 2nd Edition
Kerry Randall & Andru J. Johnson, published 2005, 224 pages (Table of contents...)
Although Yellow Pages advertising should be a major profit-building business marketing strategy for many law firms, the harsh reality is that most ads simply don't work. This book will provide you with the information you need to create effective, powerful Yellow Pages ads and drive your client development programs forward. You'll find information on identifying and focusing on your target market, as well as how to plan and design the perfect ad that not only reaches potential clients, but motivates them to call.

Lay Words for Lawyers
William Drennan, published 2008, 109 pages
A must-have for lawyers as well as wordsmiths, this book provides verbal "ammunition" for the legal practitioner. The key words and analogies featured in the book are intended to elicit strong mental--but particularly strong emotional--images or memories in the hearer, to stimulate in the listener a flood of associations with these words in order to effectively communicate with clients, witnesses, and jurors. Each category highlights words that may be unfamiliar to the lawyer and then provides definitions on meanings and examples of common usage.

Marketing Success Stories: Conversations with Leading Lawyers 2nd Edition
Hollis Hatfield Weishar & Joyce K. Smiley, published 2004, 240 pages (Table of contents...)
This practice-building resource is an insightful collection of anecdotes on successful and creative marketing techniques used by lawyers and marketing professionals in a variety of practice settings. Whether you work in a firm of 1 or 1,000, these stories of marketing strategies that paid off will inspire you to greater heights. You'll gain an inside look at how successful lawyers market themselves, their practice specialties, and their firms. Learn from your colleagues what really works, and how to incorporate these winning initiatives into your own practice!

Personal Marketing and Selling Skills
Catherine A. MacDonagh and Beth M. Cuzzone, published 2007, 146 pages (Table of contents...)
This is the first volume in ABA's new groundbreaking Law Firm Associates Development Series, created to teach important skills that associates and other lawyers need to succeed at their firms, but that they may have not learned in law school. This volume focuses on personal marketing and sales skills. It covers creating a personal marketing plan, finding people within your target market, preparing for client meetings, "asking" for business, realizing marketing opportunities, keeping your clients, staying in touch with your network inside and outside the firm, and more.

Through the Client's Eyes: New Approaches to Get Clients to Hire You Again and Again 3rd Edition
Henry W. Ewalt and Andrew W. Ewalt, published 2008, 300 pages (More info...) (Table of contents...) (Book review)

Through the Client's Eyes: New Approaches to Get Clients to Hire You Again and Again 3rd Edition
Henry W. Ewalt and Andrew W. Ewalt, published 2008, 300 pages (Table of contents...) (Book review)
This updated edition of the two-time bestseller Through the Client's Eyes is for every attorney who has struggled with the love-hate traits inherent in the practice of law. Used as a comprehensive guidebook, you'll learn how to better cultivate your existing client relationships without compromising your own interests -- and increase your bottom line. Substantively expanded to address distinct issues for law firms, solos, government attorneys, and corporate counsel, the detailed table-of-contents directs you to the topics most pertinent to your practice: from billing to forming alliances to enhancing your web site. Through the Client's Eyes was written to help you build on the foundation you've already established in your profession -- whether you're a new attorney or further advanced in your career. Surpassing the sales cliché to "put the client first," it teaches you how to anticipate your client's human needs, and how to redeem yourself and your practice in the process.

Women Rainmakers' Best Marketing Tips 2nd Edition
Theda C. Snyder, published 2003, 142 pages
If you're looking for an action-oriented and realistic approach to rainmaking that will enhance your professional and personal life, then Women Rainmakers' Best Marketing Tips should be number one on your reading list! The book contains well over a hundred tips you can put to use right away. These are ideas that have worked for other successful rainmakers and can work for you. Learn creative marketing techniques that will build your client base. Discover new action plans that fit your personal style and strengthen your rainmaking skills.

The 2010 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide
Sharon D. Nelson, John W. Simek & Michael C. Maschke, published 2010, 297 pages (Table of contents...)
This annual guide is the only one of its kind written to help solo and small firm lawyers find the best technology for their dollar. You'll find the most current information and recommendations on computers, servers, networking equipment, legal software, printers, security products, smart phones, and anything else a law office might need. It's written in clear, easily understandable language to make implementation easier if you choose to do it yourself, or you can use it in conjunction with your IT consultant. Either way, you'll learn how to make technology work for you.

The Electronic Evidence & Discovery Handbook: Forms, Checklists, and Guidelines
Sharon D. Nelson, Bruce A. Olson & John W. Simek, published 2006, 768 pages with CD-ROM (Table of contents...)
The use of electronic evidence has increased dramatically over the past few years, but many lawyers still struggle with the complexities of electronic discovery. This substantial book provides lawyers with the templates they need to frame their discovery requests and provides helpful advice on what they can subpoena. In addition to the ready-made forms, the authors also supply explanations to bring you up to speed on the electronic discovery field.

Information Security for Lawyers and Law Firms
Edited by Sharon D. Nelson, David Isom & John W. Simek, published 2006, 350 pages (Book review...)
Written for lawyers and law firms, this book provides sound advice and offers valuable guidelines and assistance to bridge the worlds of law and technology on important information security issues that face the legal professional every day.

Internet for Lawyers: How to Use the Internet for Legal & Investigative Research - A Guide for Legal Professionals 8th Edition
Carole A. Levitt & Mark E. Rosch, published 2006, 205 pages
Written by the authors The Lawyer's Guide to Fact Finding on the Internet, here's a comprehensive reference guide to free legal and investigative resources available on the Internet. This new and expanded eighth edition features the best federal legal research resources and essential information for locating state and local resources for all 50 states. You'll find detailed reviews of the most useful free legal sites on the Internet, and extensive recommendations for investigative and people-finder resources. This guide has been added to numerous county, academic, and corporate libraries. Add this book to your collection and put the authors' years of research and training experience to work for you.

The Lawyer's Guide to Adobe Acrobat, 3rd Edition
David L. Masters, published 2008, 284 pages (Table of contents...)
The Lawyer's Guide to Adobe Acrobat, Third Edition was written to help lawyers increase productivity, decrease costs, and improve client services by moving from paper-based files to digital records. This updated and revised edition focuses on the ways lawyers can benefit from using the most current software, Adobe® Acrobat 8, to create Portable Document Format (PDF) files.

The Lawyer's Guide to Concordance
Liz M. Weiman, published 2008, 250 pages (Table of contents...)
In this age, when trial outcomes depend on the organization of electronic data discovery, The Lawyer's Guide to Concordance reveals how attorneys and staff can make Concordance the most powerful tool in their litigation arsenal. Using this easy-to-read hands-on reference guide, individuals who are new to Concordance can get up-to-speed quickly, by following its step-by-step instructions, exercises, and time-saving shortcuts. For those already working with Concordance, this comprehensive resource provides methods, strategies, and technical information to further their knowledge and success using this robust program.

The Lawyer's Guide to Creating Persuasive Computer Presentations
Ann E. Brenden & John D. Goodhue, published 2005, 288 pages with CD-ROM (Book review...) (Table of contents...)
This book explains the advantages of computer presentation resources, how to use them, what they can do, and the legal issues involved in their use. You'll learn how to use computer presentations in the courtroom, during opening statements, direct examination, cross-examination, closing arguments, appellate arguments, and more. Brenden and Goodhue also offer advice on using computer presentations outside the courtroom, during meetings, pretrial proceedings, and seminars.

The Lawyer's Guide to CT Summation iBlaze
Tom O'Connor, published 2009, 114 pages (Table of contents...)
CT Summation iBlaze gives you complete control over litigation evidence by bringing all you need--transcripts, documents, issues, and events, to your fingertips in one easy-to-use software program. Working in close collaboration with CT Summation, author and noted technology speaker Tom O'Connor has developed this easy-to-understand guide designed to quickly get you up and running on CT Summation software. Fully up-to-date, covering the latest version of iBlaze, the book features step-by-step instructions on the functions of iBlaze and how to get the most from this powerful, yet easy-to-use program.

The Lawyer's Guide to Extranets: Breaking Down Walls, Building Client Connections
Douglas Simpson & Mark Tamminga, published 2003, 200 pages (Table of contents...)
Well-run extranets can result in significant expansion in clientele and profitability for a law firm. This book can help your firm get ahead of the emerging technologies curve and discover the benefits of adopting this new information tool. This book will take you step by step through the issues of implementing an extranet, and how to plan and build one. You'll learn how extranets can improve client relations, and how to overcome the barriers that exist in effective internetworking technologies. You'll learn the legal and ethical issues that many law firms fail to consider when planning an extranet. Get real-world extranet case studies, and learn from the successes and failures of those who have gone before. Make sure your firm is ready for the future by ordering your copy of The Lawyer's Guide to Extranets today!

The Lawyer's Guide to Fact Finding on the Internet 3rd Edition
Carole Levitt & Mark E. Rosch, published 2006, 712 pages with CD-ROM
This up-to-date and expanded third edition is a complete hands-on guide that shares the secrets, shortcuts, and realities of conducting fact finding on the Internet. Written for legal professionals, this comprehensive desk reference lists, categorizes, and describes hundreds of free and fee-based Internet sites. Useful for investigations, depositions, and trial presentations, as well as company and medical research, gathering competitive intelligence, finding expert witnesses, and fact checking of all kinds. The book also includes information on browsers, search engines, Weblogs, library databases, public records, and much, much more. In addition, a CD-ROM features all the links contained in the book in one handy PDF file. Find the link you're looking for, and click on the hyperlink to take you there-no typing of URLs required!

The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Excel 2007
John C. Tredennick, published 2008, 148 pages (Table of contents...)
Did you know Excel can help you analyze and present your cases more effectively or help you better understand and manage complex business transactions? The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Excel 2007 will show you how. Designed as a hands-on manual for beginners as well as longtime spreadsheet users, you'll learn how to build spreadsheets from scratch, use them to analyze issues, and to create graphics presentation.

The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2007
Ben M. Schorr, published 2008, 256 pages (Table of contents...)
Outlook is the most used application in Microsoft Office, but are you using it to your greatest advantage? The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2007 is the only guide written specifically for lawyers to help you be more productive, more efficient and more successful. More than just email, Outlook is also a powerful task, contact, and scheduling manager that will improve your practice. From helping you log and track phone calls, meetings, and correspondence to archiving closed case material in one easy-to-store location, this book unlocks the secrets of "underappreciated" features that you will use every day.

The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Word 2007
Ben M. Schorr, published 2009, 234 pages (Table of contents...)
Microsoft Word is one of the most used applications in the Microsoft Office suite -- there are few applications more fundamental than putting words on paper. Most lawyers use Word and few of them get everything they can from it. Because the documents you create are complex and important -- your law practice depends, to some degree, upon the quality of the documents you produce and the efficiency with which you can produce them. Focusing on the tools and features that are essential for lawyers in their everyday practice, The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Word explains in detail the key components to help make you more effective, more efficient and more successful.

The Lawyer's Guide to Practice Management Systems Software
Andrew Z. Adkins, published 2009,376 pages (Table of contents...)
What can practice management systems software do for your law practice? With the right system in place, you and your staff will have the ability to automatically route items, tasks, documents, and events to certain people based on their role in the case or matter, as well as manage deadlines, improve responsiveness to clients, reduce malpractice insurance rates, and boost overall productivity. The challenge is to find a program that best serves the needs of your firm.

The Lawyer's Guide to Balancing Life & Work 2nd Edition
George W. Kaufmann, published 2006, 258 pages with CD-ROM (Book review...)
This newly updated and revised Second Edition is written specifically to help lawyers achieve professional and personal satisfaction in their career. Writing with warmth and seasoned wisdom, George Kaufman examines how the profession has changed over the last five year, then offers philosophical approaches, practical examples, and valuable exercises to help lawyers reconcile their goals and expectations with the realities and demands of the legal profession. You'll find information on empowering yourself to take charge of your environment and how to achieve your plan for personal growth. Interactive exercises are provided throughout the text and on the accompanying CD, to help you discover how to reclaim your life. New lawyers, seasoned veterans, and those who have personal relationships to lawyers will all benefit from this insightful book.

The Lawyer’s Guide to Healing: Solutions of Addiction and Depression
Don Carroll, J.D., published 2006, 183 pages (Table of contents...)
Stress, power, and high expectations of the legal profession leave lawyers especially vulnerable to addiction. What’s more, personality traits that contribute to a lawyer’s success – among them, grandiosity and a need to control – can impede recovery. As director of the North Carolina Lawyer Assistance Program, Don Carroll has helped hundreds of colleagues overcome addiction and depression. In this candid and insightful book, Carroll discusses addiction in general, how addiction affects lawyers specifically, and how recovery can help lawyers reclaim their professional and personal lives.

Making Partner: A Guide for Law Firm Associates 2nd Edition
John R. Sapp, published 2002, 96 pages (Table of contents...)
Many factors come into play in achieving the goal of making partner: the quality of your work; how you relate to your superiors, fellow associates, and staff; how you entertain your clients; your choice of outside activities; even publications you read. It may take six to nine years, or more, to make partner from associate. Do you know what you should and should not be doing? Do you really know what your chances are at your firm? This concise, straightforward book looks at all these factors and provides detailed advice on how to create your own strategic plan for success. It's also the perfect primer to give to all new associates!

Never Enough: One Lawyer's True Story of how he Gambled His Career Away
Michael J. Burke, published 2008, 250 pages
Never Enough is the shocking, true story of Michael J. Burke, who went from being a successful lawyer, loving father and husband, and respected member of his community to a closet alcoholic and gambling addict to the tune of $1,600,000, using client's trust account funds.

Non-legal Careers for Lawyers 5th Edition
Gary Munneke, William D. Henslee & Ellen S. Wayne, published 2006, 176 pages (Table of contents...)
Great opportunities exist for law students and practicing lawyers outside the traditional practice of law-you just have to find them. This user-friendly guide has been updated to cover the latest opportunities in nonlegal careers. You'll learn when and how to choose a nonlegal career; the specialized skills legal training provides; and how to plan and conduct a job search. It's perfect for law students or any practicing lawyers considering a move outside the traditional practice of law. You'll find information on careers in business and industry, government and public service, associations and institutions, and entrepreneurial ventures. Includes an updated comprehensive resource section compiled by Ellen S. Wayne, Dean of Career Services, Columbia Law School.

Women-at-Law: Lessons Learned Along the Pathways to Success
Phyllis Horn Epstein, published 2004, 392 pages (Table of contents...)
Discover how women lawyers in a wide variety of practice settings are meeting the challenges of competing in an often all-consuming profession without sacrificing their desire for a multidimensional life. Women-at-Law provides a wealth of practical guidance and direction from experienced women lawyers who share their life stories and advice to inspire and encourage others by offering solutions to the challenges - personal and professional. You'll learn that, with some effort, a motivated woman can redirect her career, her home life, and her interests, in the long journey that is a successful life. If you are a law student, a practicing lawyer, or simply a woman considering a career in the law, you'll benefit from the guidance offered in this unique resource.

Through the Client's Eyes: New Approaches to Get Clients to Hire You Again and Again 2nd Edition
Henry W. Ewalt, published 2002, 302 pages (Table of contents...)
This revised edition covers every aspect of the lawyer-client relationship, giving sound advice and fresh ideas on how to develop and maintain excellent client relationships. Author and seasoned practitioner Henry Ewalt shares tips on building relationships and trust, uncovering some unlikely ways to make connections in addition to traditional methods. Marketing techniques, including brochures, newsletters, client dinners, and sporting events are discussed. Other topics that are covered include client intake, client meetings, follow-up, dissemination of news, fee setting and collection, and other client issues. Completely revised and updated, including information on using e-mail communications and more. This book is a must for any firm concerned with client acquisition and retention.

Law Practice: The Business of Practicing Law
Law Practice is the ABA Law Practice Management Section's award-winning magazine. Law Practice Magazine provides insightful articles and practical tips on marketing/client development, practice management, legal technology, and finance. Click here for a list of archived issues. We have full sets of issues back to April 2005.

Law Practice: The Business of Practicing Law
Law Practice is the ABA Law Practice Management Section's award-winning magazine. Law Practice Magazine provides insightful articles and practical tips on marketing/client development, practice management, legal technology, and finance. Click here for a list of archived issues. We have full sets of issues back to April 2005.