Economic hardship has impacted every facet of life – and that is also true for law firms (yes, I know you find that hard to believe, but they are experiencing layoffs as well).  One law firm has stepped up, listened to their clients, and answered a need clients were complaining about.

I read an impressive story that will be published in the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s latest edition. Foley and Lardner, LLP, raised the bar in client satisfaction, and erased the biggest fear of anyone who is thinking of hiring a lawyer.

That fear is about receiving a bill for more than they expected in legal fees.

Its a universal problem – people don’t hire lawyers even when they should, because they do not believe they can afford to.  It’s not just the initial retainer, it’s the fear that once the attorney is retained for a matter, the bill becomes an unknown quantity – a day to day worry that they may have a second legal issue to deal with when they can’t afford to pay their lawyer.

Foley and Lardner, LLP get an A+ in client care, because they LISTENED to their clients, and answered their concern.

In fact, they may create a World Wide Rave as defined by David Meerman Scott in his book of that title.  They gave up control to the client – Rule 3 of the Rave!!   When it comes to billing and budgeting of legal matters, they have successfully taken away the fear of  that big ulgy surprise when their clients open the envelope containing their legal bill every month.

In response to client concerns (this is a concern of ANYONE who hires a lawer for ANY legal matter),  they developed a proprietary software system, part of which allows clients of all 1000 of the lawyers in the firm to interactively share real-time billing information and keep their legal matter on a budget.  Clients can go online anytime and see trending in the billable hours by their lawyer,  and make contact to discuss options for their case BEFORE they go over budget and have yet another legal matter to deal with.

The full story was reported in the Wall Street Journal on Jan 5, 2010.

To be honest, this system does more than just allow the client to manage their legal bills and budget, and that is why it cost $1 Million to put in place.  However, this is a true investment in the firm.  It serves as a management tool, as a client communication tool and as a marketing tool to attract new business!

Smaller firms will say they can’t afford $1Million investment to do the same thing.  They don’t have to.  Small firms can do the same thing, very easily, using much simpler tools.  The real question has always been:  will they come out from behind the curtain on fees and allow the client control?  Will they allow the client to speak honestly and hold them to a budget the client can afford?  If they are smart, they surely will do that – and reap the rewards of (a) honest communications with their clients; and (b) growth of their law practices.

The bar has been raised – let’s see if a precedent in billing practices has now been set,  and which lawyers and law firms creatively  rise to the occasion!

On February 12, 2009, more than five hundred students came together at Full Sail University in an attempt to create a Guinness World Record.

Imagine the power this group could bring to solving a problem like hunger, rescue efforts in Haiti….Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.  Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has!  [Margaret Mead 1901-1978]

In an online article from Media Post,  Robert Half Technology conducted a recent study and found that in regard to social networks,  businesses complained that “time-sucking social networks hurt their productivity”.

“It takes away from primary responsibility,” Dave Knapp, regional vice president for Robert Half told the San Francisco Examiner. “When socializing on sites such as Facebook, we lose track of time.”

[Is he even SERIOUS? Makes you wonder what kind of people he thinks he employs!]

According to the study, other concerns of these companies included being worried about employees leaking sensitive information.  The survey indicates an amazing 54 percent of these businesses block social networking sites.

So, in 2010 will these Corporate Giants realize the VALUE social media offers to their bottom line and be more creative in using it – or will they continue with the same old rhetoric of productivity losses?

The key issue here is simple:  these companies lack the creativity to do what is best for their bottom line.  In corporate environments C-level executives have an “all-or-nothing” mentality.  Either ALL employees get access, or NONE get it.  Why?  They certainly have IT professionals on staff who can manage their server traffic.  Why not give it to their recruiters and marketing department?

Leaking sensitive information?  I don’t know about you, but that sounds like an excuse to me to continue the “norm”.  After all, how many employees that are not a C-level do you know that have access to sensitive corporate data?  My experience shows that answer to be “NONE”.  If it is the C-level Executives you are worried about leaking it, then WHY are they in those positions?  RHETORIC.

My Solution:  Attend our Feb 18th, 2010 Seminar given by David Meerman Scott, a true Thought Leader!

Don’t use ‘attendance’ as your excuse, either!

We will be providing a LIVE STREAM of the event – and you can experience the power of social networking while you attend because we will have a live chat, Facebook and Twitter feeds!  Our roving cameras will provide you with a front seat so it’s just like being there – and on breaks they will be talking to VIPs, Attendees and even our Presenter, David Meerman Scott!

C-level Executives!  I challenge you to come get creative and increase your bottom line for the New Year!

Source:  Media Post;   SanFrancisco Examiner

***UPDATE***Monday, November 9, 2009:

Oh snap! Just as I thought: Headlines in today’s Jacksonville Business Journal:
“Mortgage Fraud Defendant Gets 7 years”….. here is an excerpt from that story:

“According to court documents, during 2004 and 2005, Gonzalez contracted to purchase 55 properties. For each property, Gonzalez directed an appraiser to significantly inflate the property’s value and submitted the inflated price to a lender to support a mortgage loan based on that price.”

OK HOLD ON A MINUTE. HE “directed” the Appraiser to do this? WOW. What a farce! I have a question: HOW did he direct the Appraiser do this? HOW? Damn, I tried to “direct” an Appraiser 10 years ago to include the REAL value of the swimming pool I had just paid to install (I even presented the receipts and cancelled checks!) and he told me to go to hell! It wasn’t worth crap when it came to the value of the house.

So…what did Mr. Gonzalez do to get his better outcome? Threaten the guy? Pay him off? Is anyone but ME asking that?
Seriously.

This guy seems to have been riding the greed train, and I am not saying he doesn’t deserve his 7 years given the scope of the mortgages and properties – I mean, hell, I didn’t have the guts to take out ONE mortgage during this real estate frenzy because I was afraid — after living here 35 years I KNEW the bottom was going to fall out – and I didn’t want to go down the tubes with it!

Like I said, this guy got really REALLY greedy, so he needs to pay the piper – but still, no one is asking the hard questions here.
That is what is getting my ire up!

The rest of the story: Jacksonville Business Journal (via email newsletter today)

—November 5, 2009 – Original Post—–
Oh seriously! Florida is #2 in Mortgage Fraud. Florida is “ground zero”. .. NO!

More like NO KIDDING!

I would bet you, right now, that ZERO of those arrested are from Wall Street, bankers or mortgage brokers! If they are, I would be SHOCKED.

Let me tell you, in 2008 I had to quit going into my bank’s branch office in order to prevent myself from being accosted by the employees who wanted me to “sign and drive” a mortgage loan. No qualifying necessary! Just make it up!

My first instinct? RUN LIKE HELL.
Trust me, there is always a reprecussion! Here is a headline that proves it, not more than a year later.

Tell me WHY investors and regular people are the first to be arrested and not all the “professionals” who were involved in these transactions. Tell me!

I am livid. Back on a rant. It’s either health care or mortgage foreclosure or jobs that get me going. I was having a fairly nice spell of just focusing on health care. Not any more.

DOES ANY OF THIS IMPROVE WHAT THE REST OF US ARE GOING THROUGH?? NO!

I think if they broke the law, they should pay the price, but let me ask you something. Doesn’t this seem like the Feds are more interested in the “easy cases” than really going after the troublemakers….you know, the ones we bailed out – Wall Street, etc.

I really don’t know what this Country has come to stand for. Right now it clearly looks like greed and a lot of other negative things and I frankly am sick of it!

Source: Jacksonville Business Journal