BarTalk October 2003
Volume 15, Number 5

New Web resources for busy lawyers

Learning about the law is one thing; learning about the practice and business of law as a profession is quite another. Luckily, you’re not alone.

Here in B.C., we’re fortunate to have many useful resources online, including the Practice Resources Section of the Law Society Web site (www.lawsociety.bc.ca) and a soon-to-come extension of B.C.’s CLE Society pilot project of online publications and resources (www.cle.bc.ca).

Until now, however, there’s been no single ‘portal’ that offers a full compendium of peer advice, tips, practice links and Web-based presentations to help you tackle the everyday challenges of starting, running and surviving life in a legal practice. Now, the CBA has a new way to help.

The CBA has launched its latest member benefit: PracticeLink, an online ‘legal portal’ to the resources you need if you’re in law. Take a moment today to look around: there are myriad articles written by lawyers and other experts, checklists for survival and success, taped presentations on everything from marketing your firm to managing people, and a thousand other resources you never expected to find conveniently housed in one searchable location.

Here’s just a taste of some of what you’ll find:

Guerilla Tactics on Getting Paid: 94 practical and creative tips on how to get clients to pay outstanding accounts – a real challenge for many lawyers.

Planning Ahead for Partner Retirement: Practical ideas on how to make the transition straightforward and beneficial for both the firm and the retiring partner.

Client Partnering: What’s the changing nature of the client-lawyer relationship, and how can you revitalize existing client relationships?

Legal Practice and the Internet: Marketing Strategies: How to use the Web as part of your firm’s marketing strategy.

Guide to Human Resources for Law Firms: How to create, maintain, and end the employment relationship.

Stormy Weather or Clear Skies? The Future of the Legal Practice: What’s ahead, and how best to respond.

Putting Happiness Back Into Your Practice: 30 ideas for how to get more happiness and satisfaction from your work environment.

Independence Day: Starting Your Own Law Firm: Learn how to quickly develop a firm yourself, from someone who’s really done it – from staff to furniture and even stationery.

The Legal Practice Technology Plan: Your guide to the architecture and implementation of a technology plan that can help you become more effective, efficient and organized.

Technology for the Solo, Home or Mobile Office: Mobile Computing: The name says it all.

‘Test drive’ your newest CBA benefit: go to www.cba.org/CBA/PracticeLink, sign in with your CBA membership number, and tell us if it meets your expectations. Suggestions and ideas for new resources are very welcome.

This article was published in the October 2003 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2005, all rights reserved.