A positive legal outcome depends on a well-researched case.  But how do you make sure your research is both efficient and effective?  Here are a few tips:

• “Just the facts, ma’am”.  Know the facts of your case and define what you need before you dig.  Knowing how your research will be used in court is also important.  What is the desired outcome?
• Don’t rely on one source.  Yes, it’s important to use legal resources such as Westlaw and NexisLexis.  However, Google Scholar and other free search options might provide valuable information as well.
• Digging up the dirt.  Social Media can provide valuable insight into an individual’s personal life, activities and interests.  It may provide key ideas or avenues to further investigate.
• Use what you have.  If you find a helpful case, use that as a springboard to other helpful cases.  Search using that case as the key terms, to find similar cases or other cases that used it as a reference.
• Think outside of the box.  Just because you find a similar case with an undesired outcome, you could use facts from that case to argue how your case differs.  “Unlike the Jones case….”  and list why previous cases aren’t indicative of the outcome in the current case.
• Don’t be dated.  Generally, more current cases are best. However, if you find a less recent case, don’t be afraid to reference it, just make sure it wasn’t overturned elsewhere.
• Check the dictionary.  This sounds strange, but consulting a legal dictionary can give you key terms to help narrow your search using online resources.
• Where are you?   Make sure that your research covers the correct jurisdiction. Federal and State Laws can vary so make sure your research is relevant to the court system where the case will be argued.

These are just a few tips to save time and make your legal research more efficient and effective.  Every case is different and sometimes good research requires using several resources, so it’s good to keep your research tool box full of ideas and even unconventional methods.

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Every attorney needs a blog.

We bet you’ve heard this phrase before…

While it may seem like a frivolous addition to a crowded weekly schedule, blogging is an important element for your firm. Blogs allow attorneys to connect with potential clients in important ways.

For example, if you are a construction litigator and you blog about things like latent defects or other construction items that homeowners should keep an eye out for, you not only provide vital information to an unsuspecting public, you also give them something much greater: peace of mind.

This should be a big goal on your list of marketing milestones.

Creating peace of mind for clients is an attorney’s job. They want to know that you are on their side and that you’ll protect them from potential legal fallout. If you can provide this service before a person becomes your client, you get a giant head start on your competitors.  By giving your prospects advice via your firm’s blog, you place yourself in that highly coveted column labeled TRUSTWORTHY.

That is the ultimate point of a blog. It’s not just about networking with clients and colleagues, it’s about building trust.

If you’re feeling lost on how to go about establishing a blog for your firm, check out this great post on building a blog in 2018!

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Select Court Reporters provides exemplary court reporting services to attorneys and law firms throughout Central Florida, including but not limited to Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Orlando, Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, and Kissimmee. We are currently expanding our client base in Seminole and Orange Counties and would love to connect with you. Contact us today to discuss your needs.
Phone: (407) 977 – 7725
Email: selectcourtreporters@gmail.com
“Select Court Reporters you can count on!”

The post Here’s Why Every Attorney Needs a Blog appeared first on Select Court Reporters.

It’s true – mother nature can make your firm more successful.

Here’s how:

There is a theory that, by incorporating nature into your daily life, you will improve workplace performance.  The theory is tied to the hypothesis of Biophilia – an idea that suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life.  According to studies, incorporating elements of nature, even through artificial means, can improve well-being significantly. It decreases stress and increases the release of dopamine in the brain.  This positive stimulation creates a sense of happiness and employees are more inclined to want to be at work.

So, it would seem that bringing nature into the workplace on the daily can make you and your legal staff happier and more productive workers.

Could you ask for anything more?

Also, Biophilic design contributes to a greater sense of sustainability and will push you and your employees to be ever mindful of our planet.

When we are connected to Mother Nature – the greatest mother of all – we care about what happens to her.

This will urge firms to be more renewable and embrace a system that maintains cleanliness in the office (i.e. far less paperwork to sift through) and supports our environment.

Examples of Biophilic design include:

• Wide windows that provide plenty of natural light and a connection to the sun
• Areas of “shade” that provide breaks from too much sunlight
• Nature sounds, such as falling rain or wind in the trees
• Aged wood with a noticeable patina
• Rocks and geodes assembled in a natural formation
• Mathematical patterns – such as fractals – in simple variations (not too overbearing)
• Natural or artificial plants in designated areas

Try incorporating a few (or all) of these elements into your office and see if it improves your workflow and productivity.  At the very least, being surrounded by natural elements will provide a sense of calm and serenity as you work, which can lead to better concentration and improved cognition.

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Select Court Reporters is proud to work with attorneys throughout Central Florida. We provide exemplary legal support to law firms in Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Apopka, Kissimmee, Winter Garden, Clermont, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, etc.

Contact us today to discuss your priorities and legal support needs.

Phone: (407) 977 – 7725

Email: selectcourtreporters@gmail.com

The post Going Green: How Mother Nature Can Make Your Law Firm Successful appeared first on Select Court Reporters.

Marketing in the legal field is no longer limited to print ads, television commercials, and radio spots. The process extends far beyond the stereotypical advertising gimmick, into the realm of daily work life. Marketing should be a part of every firm’s regular routine. Promoting the firm is vital to maintaining current clients, retaining new ones, and even for obtaining reputable employees.

Because let’s be honest—everyone wants to work for the savvy and successful law firm.

Truth be told, the majority of legal marketing is done through word of mouth, so print ads, while somewhat beneficial, are not generally the funnel through which new clientele will flow. Real marketing begins with the clients a law firm or attorney already has. Consider them liquid capital. If a firm invests in them, it will see a great return. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, but the most important method—other than winning cases—is communication. Whenever a firm or attorney communicates with a client, they are given a chance to market their business. Open and frequent communication with clients is key to creating a strong business relationship. If a client feels taken care of by a particular firm or attorney, that client will have no qualms about referring a friend or business associate in need of legal services. Moreover, every time an attorney or member of the legal staff communicates with a client via email, phone, or at an in-person meeting, a firm has direct access to pitch new business to the client. Marketing should be a part of every piece of written communication, every telephone conversation, and every client conference.

In order to make this possible—without spamming—firms need to develop a strategy. Logos and business slogans should always be part of email signatures and letters, but beyond the visual aspects of advertising, we have emotional psychology—the heart of marketing. At the end of the day, whether a client refers a law firm to a friend or associate depends on whether they have developed trust in that law firm. This is where non-visual marketing comes into play. Firms should make it a weekly routine to call or email clients to check in and update them on the status of their case. Even if there has been no movement on the case whatsoever, touching base with a client to let them know and to see how they are doing can make all the difference down the road.

Humans like to feel appreciated.

A firm’s unique communication process should also include perceptive listening. If a legal secretary or receptionist is speaking to a client, or even a potential client, she or he should be mindful of what that person is saying. If a client mentions offhand that they are starting a new business with a friend, the legal secretary should take note of this and pass it along to the attorney so they can reach out to them to either assist with the formation of the company or provide the name of an associate who can help them. Even in situations where a firm does not end up taking a particular case, the interaction that potential client had with the firm is integral to obtaining clients later on. These brief exchanges make an impact. They are “prime real estate”—an opportunity to get in front of a person and promote a firm’s prowess.  Therefore, educating the legal staff in the principles of marketing and relationship building should be an important goal for all firms, no matter the law type.

Take it from Paul J. Meyer: “Communication – the human connection – is the key to personal and career success.”

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Select Court Reporters is proud to provide exemplary court reporting services to attorneys and firms in Central Florida, including but not limited to, Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Apopka, Kissimmee, etc. Contact us today to discuss your priorities and legal support needs: (407) 977 – 7725 or selectcourtreporters@gmail.com.

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