Outside Counsel

Gatekeeper status is incompatible with the function of attorneys, argues Keith Paul Bishop of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP.

“Commitment” topped the list of most important qualities in outside law firms listed by inside counsel in an ABA-conducted survey, and the Wicker Park Group lists a few ways firms can show their commitment to current and potential clients.

Only 28 percent of surveyed managing partners said lateral hiring was “highly effective,” yet 96 percent of say such hiring is part of their firm’s growth strategy. Applying rigorous due diligence efforts to hiring strategies could help optimize lateral hires.

Lawyers using social media can avoid a world of headache by taking a few precautions, says Jonathan Rubens, principal at Javid Rubens LLP. To begin with, avoiding online comments about active matters and include a disclaimer on websites and blogs, he suggests.

A few steps to getting the most out of conferences or CLE events, including: review attendee lists; reach out to clients who have previously attended; and make note of follow-up ideas.