Re-cap: Five Things a Business Needs to Survive
Every business needs five things to survive and thrive. Those things are "clients," "administrative procedures," "procedures for getting the work done," "a method to bill," and a "way to collect the bill." In the past few weeks, we have been discussing the third of these five categories.
During these discussions, you should have been keeping track of your score. We have gone over quite a few tips of law office marketing, management and economics. How many of these tried and true tips we have been talking about do you actively practice in your firm?
The following is a quiz that will tell you if you are actually using these tips in your firm's daily routine.
If you are not practicing these tips and receive a score of 50 or below, you are In the Stone Ages.
If you score between 90 and 100 points, your firm is Operating on the Cutting Edge and you should give yourselves a round of applause.
Good luck and look for next week's article where we start our series on "billing."
Customers/Clients Quiz
(Check each item and give yourself five points if that item is routinely accomplished in your office.)
5 ( ) A. Keep Everything Organized
5 ( ) B. Utilization of Work Assignment Form
5 ( ) C. Case Lists
5 ( ) D. Things to Do Lists and Caselist Meetings
5 ( ) E. System for Designating Tasks and Responsibility
5 ( ) F. Hard Cover Books, In House CD-ROMs and Database Internet Services
5 ( ) G. Litigation/Docket and Calendar Meetings
5 ( ) H. Trial Outlines for Litigation and Non-Litigation Matters
5 ( ) I. Using a Time Line
5 ( ) J. Critical Path Method
5 ( ) K. Utilization of Expert Consultants with Individuals Having Superior Expertise
5 ( ) L. Law Professors or Other Qualified Counselors, Cooperative Agreements and Work Assignments
5 ( ) M. Update your Office with the Proper Computer Hardware
5 ( ) N. Software Packages to help you Get the Work Done
5 ( ) O. Office Procedures for Establishing a Work Flow Process
5 ( ) P. Before 4:44 p.m. rule
5 ( ) Q. 24-Hour Rule when Returning Phone Calls
5 ( ) R. Nonverbal Communication Rule
5 ( ) S. Proofing Rule and the Spell Check Rule
5 ( ) T. Opinion Letter Rule
5 ( ) U. 5:00 pm Mail Rule, Overnight Mail Rule, When in Doubt, Document it in Writing Rule
5 ( ) V. Blue Card Rules
5 ( ) W. Royal-we Rule
5 ( ) X. Thank You Letters to Those who Refer you Business when Files are Opened and Closed
5 ( ) Y. Utilization of an Office Calendaring System
5 ( ) Z. Utilization of a Personal Calendaring System
( ) AA. ADD YOUR OWN: FIVE POINTS PER ADDITION
Write In: _____________________________
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_____________________________
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X 5 = + WRITE IN SUBTOTAL = YOUR TOTAL
POINTS: 90 - 100: "ON THE CUTTING EDGE"
80 - 90: "GETTING THERE"
70 - 80: "COASTING"
60 - 70: "IN NEED OF HELP"
50 - 60: "INERT"
UNDER 50: "IN THE STONE AGES"
Jim Wirken is a civil trial attorney and the Chairman of the Board of The Wirken Law Group in Kansas City.