Coaching for Lawyers: 10 Ways a Lawyer Can Benefit from Working with a Professional Coach

D., CPCCMarie kept noticing that Diane seemed to be sailing through her career and receiving nods from the partners. According to Marie, Diane was extremely successful in handling her cases, developing strong relationships with her clients and seemed to be building a successful career on all fronts. Diane was viewed as a rising star in the firm and was getting several choice assignmentsmany of which Marie had hoped to get. After inviting Diane to lunch, Marie learned that Diane had been working with a Professional Coach. Diane reported that she credited her Coach with helping her develop a strategic action plan designed to help her succeed by improving weak areas in her performance and by enhancing and strengthening her professional image.
One week later, Marie hired her own Coach.
Professional Coaching is for lawyers who are ready to excel, enjoy a better quality of life and gain an edge on the competition.
Lets face it, the legal profession is all about successful outcomes and lawyers are trained to succeed in achieving favorable outcomes for their clients.
Coaches are trained to help clients achieve powerful results. There are systems of accountability incorporated into the coaching process to move clients forward and deepen insights.
Coaching is a collaborative process that is focused and results oriented. A Professional Coach can help lawyers overcome challenges, increase strategic thinking and improve communication skills. In addition, many lawyers hire Coaches to help them develop a savvy professional image, cultivate ongoing career and personal goals and to achieve greater work-life balance. Unlike a consultant, a Coach doesnt come in and solve the problem for you. Instead, a Coach partners with you to assess how best to resolve issues and achieve your goals.
A Professional Coach can provide the insight, accountability, resources and strategic planning that a lawyer needs build a successful career and fulfilling personal life.

Below are 10 ways a lawyer can benefit by working with a Professional Coach.
1. Achieve better focus. When the majority of your time is spent juggling cases, keeping track of clients, meeting goals for billables and balancing your personal life, it's hard to focus on anything other than making it through the day. A Professional Coach will help you focus your energy so you can achieve your goals with greater ease despite your hectic schedule.
2. Manage and Develop a Successful Legal Career. Developing a successful career depends largely on your ability to structure your career in alignment with your personal and professional goals. Coaching can help you clarify your vision and goals. When was the last time you considered what YOU want in your legal career and in your personal life? The practice of law is fast paced and its tough to find time to slow down and ask yourself some meaningful questions. Through Coaching, you'll have the opportunity to examine what you want, what motivates you, where you get stuck or distracted and much more. The coaching process allows you to learn about what you value, what it will take to build a fulfilling career and how you can design a balanced personal and professional life. When was the last time you had a conversation with someone who was fully committed to you and your success? Thats the job of a Professional Coach.
3. Develop a Values-Based Professional Development Plan Success doesnt happen by accident. You must PLAN what you want to achieve and determine the best way to go about getting there. Consider your career plan as the roadmap for your career. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? How will you get there? What resources will you need? A Coach can help you create a plan that is in alignment with your personal and professional values and overall vision for your life and career.
4. Increase Productivity. Productive people have the ability to complete their work on time and in an efficient manner. How many times committed to completing a task to only have the needs of someone else get in the way? At the core of Professional Coaching is accountability. Knowing that you've made a commitment to yourself AND told someone else about it, makes you more likely to stay on task. Your Coach holds you accountable for what you say you want to accomplish, and then continues to work with you as you achieve your goals and increase productivity.
5. Navigate a Job Change or Career Transition. Too often, lawyers get locked into a job because they lack the tools needed to determine their next steps. Changing jobs, starting in a new practice area or transitioning to a new career can be tough. So tough in fact that many lawyers end up STUCK in an unfulfilling career. A Coach can provide you with the insight, resources and feedback needed to make concrete decisions regarding your career. If its time to move up or outa Coach can help you make that decision faster and with greater ease than you would on your own.
6. Improve Time Management and Practice Management Skills. Lawyers are slaves to time yet few if any law schools provide training on how to successfully manage time. Case files, motions, clients, conference calls, deadlines, e-mails and meetings are simply a fraction of what goes on in a typical lawyers day. Too often everything feels like a priority and lawyers report feeling overwhelmed, stressed and ultimately burned out. A Professional Coach can help you to take an honest look at your schedule and how you currently spend your time and manage your practice... Based on this information your Coach can help you create a strategy where you can achieve more in less timeoften with more time for a healthy personal life. Goodbye burnout!
7. Develop your unique brand for improved marketing. The practice of law is competitive and its important to create a brand that effectively communicates your value to your employer, colleagues and potential clients. Why should they hire you over another lawyer? A Coach can help you create and develop your unique value proposition and help you communicate it to others in a way that helps you develop a successful reputation and career.
8. Discover your Passion in the Law. Have you met lawyers who report feeling disillusioned with the law or report feeling lost? These feelings tend to emerge in a career when there is a misalignment between the work the lawyer is involved in and his or her personal and professional values. Sustaining a successful career in the law requires the pursuit and attainment of work in alignment with your passion, interests and strengths. Through Coaching youll have the opportunity to gain clarity about your ideal work and work environment and then take the necessary action steps toward designing a successful and gratifying legal career.
9. Create Boundaries. Working with a Professional Coach can help you evaluate what you say "yes" to because you want to and what you need to quit saying "yes" to. A Coach can help you find the cure for the "disease to please" and the inability to delegate effectively. What do YOU need to say "yes "to or "no" to in order to respect your boundaries and function more effectively in your legal career?
10. Achieve Work-Life Balance. Lawyers are required to maintain hectic schedules under incredibly stressful, high pressure situations. After keeping up such a pace many lawyers experience burnout, depression and other stress related illnesses. Lawyers are people too...and we all need to find a balance of mind, body and spirit. A Professional Coach is there to help you find that in your life. We cannot be our best selves if we are stressed, overwhelmed and unhappy. A Coach will help you to take charge and create a more balanced life. Through Coaching you can find a way to design and adhere to a daily practice that will renew you mentally, physically and spiritually.
One week later, Marie hired her own Coach.
Professional Coaching is for lawyers who are ready to excel, enjoy a better quality of life and gain an edge on the competition.
Lets face it, the legal profession is all about successful outcomes and lawyers are trained to succeed in achieving favorable outcomes for their clients.
Coaches are trained to help clients achieve powerful results. There are systems of accountability incorporated into the coaching process to move clients forward and deepen insights.
Coaching is a collaborative process that is focused and results oriented. A Professional Coach can help lawyers overcome challenges, increase strategic thinking and improve communication skills. In addition, many lawyers hire Coaches to help them develop a savvy professional image, cultivate ongoing career and personal goals and to achieve greater work-life balance. Unlike a consultant, a Coach doesnt come in and solve the problem for you. Instead, a Coach partners with you to assess how best to resolve issues and achieve your goals.
A Professional Coach can provide the insight, accountability, resources and strategic planning that a lawyer needs build a successful career and fulfilling personal life.

Below are 10 ways a lawyer can benefit by working with a Professional Coach.
1. Achieve better focus. When the majority of your time is spent juggling cases, keeping track of clients, meeting goals for billables and balancing your personal life, it's hard to focus on anything other than making it through the day. A Professional Coach will help you focus your energy so you can achieve your goals with greater ease despite your hectic schedule.
2. Manage and Develop a Successful Legal Career. Developing a successful career depends largely on your ability to structure your career in alignment with your personal and professional goals. Coaching can help you clarify your vision and goals. When was the last time you considered what YOU want in your legal career and in your personal life? The practice of law is fast paced and its tough to find time to slow down and ask yourself some meaningful questions. Through Coaching, you'll have the opportunity to examine what you want, what motivates you, where you get stuck or distracted and much more. The coaching process allows you to learn about what you value, what it will take to build a fulfilling career and how you can design a balanced personal and professional life. When was the last time you had a conversation with someone who was fully committed to you and your success? Thats the job of a Professional Coach.
3. Develop a Values-Based Professional Development Plan Success doesnt happen by accident. You must PLAN what you want to achieve and determine the best way to go about getting there. Consider your career plan as the roadmap for your career. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? How will you get there? What resources will you need? A Coach can help you create a plan that is in alignment with your personal and professional values and overall vision for your life and career.
4. Increase Productivity. Productive people have the ability to complete their work on time and in an efficient manner. How many times committed to completing a task to only have the needs of someone else get in the way? At the core of Professional Coaching is accountability. Knowing that you've made a commitment to yourself AND told someone else about it, makes you more likely to stay on task. Your Coach holds you accountable for what you say you want to accomplish, and then continues to work with you as you achieve your goals and increase productivity.
5. Navigate a Job Change or Career Transition. Too often, lawyers get locked into a job because they lack the tools needed to determine their next steps. Changing jobs, starting in a new practice area or transitioning to a new career can be tough. So tough in fact that many lawyers end up STUCK in an unfulfilling career. A Coach can provide you with the insight, resources and feedback needed to make concrete decisions regarding your career. If its time to move up or outa Coach can help you make that decision faster and with greater ease than you would on your own.
6. Improve Time Management and Practice Management Skills. Lawyers are slaves to time yet few if any law schools provide training on how to successfully manage time. Case files, motions, clients, conference calls, deadlines, e-mails and meetings are simply a fraction of what goes on in a typical lawyers day. Too often everything feels like a priority and lawyers report feeling overwhelmed, stressed and ultimately burned out. A Professional Coach can help you to take an honest look at your schedule and how you currently spend your time and manage your practice... Based on this information your Coach can help you create a strategy where you can achieve more in less timeoften with more time for a healthy personal life. Goodbye burnout!
7. Develop your unique brand for improved marketing. The practice of law is competitive and its important to create a brand that effectively communicates your value to your employer, colleagues and potential clients. Why should they hire you over another lawyer? A Coach can help you create and develop your unique value proposition and help you communicate it to others in a way that helps you develop a successful reputation and career.
8. Discover your Passion in the Law. Have you met lawyers who report feeling disillusioned with the law or report feeling lost? These feelings tend to emerge in a career when there is a misalignment between the work the lawyer is involved in and his or her personal and professional values. Sustaining a successful career in the law requires the pursuit and attainment of work in alignment with your passion, interests and strengths. Through Coaching youll have the opportunity to gain clarity about your ideal work and work environment and then take the necessary action steps toward designing a successful and gratifying legal career.
9. Create Boundaries. Working with a Professional Coach can help you evaluate what you say "yes" to because you want to and what you need to quit saying "yes" to. A Coach can help you find the cure for the "disease to please" and the inability to delegate effectively. What do YOU need to say "yes "to or "no" to in order to respect your boundaries and function more effectively in your legal career?
10. Achieve Work-Life Balance. Lawyers are required to maintain hectic schedules under incredibly stressful, high pressure situations. After keeping up such a pace many lawyers experience burnout, depression and other stress related illnesses. Lawyers are people too...and we all need to find a balance of mind, body and spirit. A Professional Coach is there to help you find that in your life. We cannot be our best selves if we are stressed, overwhelmed and unhappy. A Coach will help you to take charge and create a more balanced life. Through Coaching you can find a way to design and adhere to a daily practice that will renew you mentally, physically and spiritually.

Jatrine Bentsi-Enchill is the founder and director of the Esq. Development Institute, an organization committed to helping lawyers excel personally and professionally. The Esq. Development Institute specializes in Executive and Personal Coaching for lawyers as well as training and assessment processes for law firms in the areas of leadership, communication, diversity and cultural competence, management development and work-life balance.

Defense Lawyers, Do You Need One?

Sometimes people end up in trouble and in need of a defense lawyer. If this is you, the first thing you need to do is find a qualified defense lawyer to pull you out of it. But, where will you look? Should you rely on the court appointed defense lawyers as your defense lawyers? Perhaps you are wrongly being accused, who is going to fight for your rights? Defense lawyers are quite in demand. No matter if a crime or wrongdoing was actually made or not, it is still important to have a defense lawyer present to help you resolve your case.

Sometimes people end up in trouble and in need of a defense lawyer. If this is you, the first thing you need to do is find a qualified defense lawyer to pull you out of it. But, where will you look? Should you rely on the court appointed defense lawyers as your defense lawyers? Perhaps you are wrongly being accused, who is going to fight for your rights? Defense lawyers are quite in demand. No matter if a crime or wrongdoing was actually made or not, it is still important to have a defense lawyer present to help you resolve your case.

Defense lawyers are available to help just about anyone in just about any case. Lets say that you are being accused of drug crimes. You will need a defense lawyer to help you win your case. Perhaps it is a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Perhaps you were helping a friend. Perhaps you know that you did do the crime. In any of these cases you will need a defense lawyer to help you. You need that defense lawyer to sort through the charges, to understand your side, to interpret the meanings of the case. In serious cases like drug crimes, you may find yourself lost in what should be happening and who to trust as your defense lawyer. One way to get a better understanding about what drug crimes are and what defense lawyers do is to look online. Websites like www.thesmartattorneys.com express information about these situations in regards to defense lawyers.

Where will you find a defense lawyer then to handle this drug crimes charge? Who will you trust to do the best they can to help you get out of this situation? Defense lawyers are available in every state. But, when you do not know anyone, should you simply just open the phone book and pick a defense lawyer? You would not feel safe with your choice in a defense lawyer this way. Instead, use websites like www.thesmartattorneys.com to help you find qualified defense lawyers who truly want to help defend you against these charges.

No matter what the situation, whether it is drug crimes or something else, if you are in a situation and need a defense lawyers, you will have to do some research, find a reliable defense lawyer, and do your best to help them win your case. It is hard to say whether or not you have a case or not. Only your defense lawyer will know. But, rest assured that your defense lawyer will tell you how to act, what to say, and what to do to get out of your situation. Defense lawyers are invaluable resources in times of need like these.

S A Baker is staff writer at http://www.thesmartattorneys.com

 

17 Fatal Marketing Mistakes Lawyers Make

Lawyers who rely on traditional marketing methods are fast discovering that many "time-proven methods" no longer work. Lawyers could dramatically improve their marketing results by avoiding the following mistakes and heeding this up-dated advice. Lawyers who rely on traditional marketing methods are fast discovering that many time-proven methods no longer work.

MISTAKE #1: Relying on referrals. When you depend on referrals as your sole source of new business, you allow middlemen to control your flow of new clients. You may discover that whether you receive referrals has nothing to do with your knowledge, skill or experience. Instead, it may be based on your ability to return the referrals. ADVICE: In addition to referrals, make sure your marketing program attracts inquiries directly from prospects. This allows you to manage your marketing program, rather than relying on third parties over which you have little or no control.

MISTAKE #2: Depending on media exposure. Without question, articles in the print media and interviews on radio and television can help you attract new clients. But many lawyers rely on publicity as their entire marketing program. True, exposure can increase your credibility. But often exposure by itself isn't enough. Lawyers routinely report, "We were very happy with the number of articles about our firm, but we didn't get a single new client!" In addition to exposure, you need something that causes you to interact with prospects.

ADVICE: Make sure your marketing program brings about interactions between you and your prospects, such as over the telephone or in person. Interaction is a critical step in the marketing process -- and the step most attorney marketing programs overlook.

MISTAKE #3: Relying on networking groups as a primary source of new business. Networking is a time-consuming exercise in meeting prospects and cultivating referrals. And while networking may bear fruit, lawyers often underestimate the time required.

ADVICE: Pursue opportunities to meet and talk with genuine prospects, but don't put networking above other marketing strategies.

MISTAKE #4: Competing on low price. When you lower your fee to attract new clients, (1) you undermine your credibility because clients conclude your services were not worth what they previously paid, (2) you attract clients who will leave you when competing lawyers offer fees lower than yours, (Note: Clients who are loyal to the dollar are never loyal to you.) and (3) you'll probably lose money because the cost of attracting a volume of new clients is often greater than the profit you can earn from those clients.

ADVICE: Instead of competing on price, compete on value. You're better off being the most expensive lawyer in town and having prospects appreciate your knowledge than being the cheapest lawyer and having prospects question your skill.

MISTAKE #5: Delivering an incomplete marketing message. Many lawyers believe common marketing methods don't work because those lawyers didn't get the results they wanted. But usually the problem isn't the marketing method, it's the message. If your message lacks even one essential element, your efforts will fail.

An estate planning lawyer delivered a seminar to 84 prospective clients, yet almost no one came into his office for a free consultation. After I reviewed his presentation, we added less than five minutes of information to his program. At his next seminar, 10 of the 11 couples in attendance requested appointments.

ADVICE: Before you implement your marketing program, make sure you create a competent marketing message. Without a powerful message, your marketing program is doomed.

MISTAKE #6: Not effectively reaching your target audience. A tax attorney who represents doctors before the IRS advertised his services in a weekly "shopper" newspaper distributed free to homes. Not surprisingly, he was disappointed with the response. Before running the ad, the lawyer could have saved his $2000 investment had he asked himself, "Will doctors look for a tax attorney in a free weekly newspaper?" I don't know about doctors, but that's certainly not the first place I would look.

ADVICE: Choose different methods that you believe will reach your prospects. Then test each method on a small scale before you invest serious dollars. This way you'll know which method is most effective at reaching your target audience and how well it attracts the clients you want.

MISTAKE #7: Making decisions by committee. The quality of a marketing decision is based on how long it takes to make the decision and how much the decision has been watered down by compromise. One person working alone has the potential to make good decisions. When two people work together things begin to bog down. And if you're waiting for three people to agree -- well, don't hold your breath. Marketing is like football. Can you imagine how long it would take if the entire team offered their ideas and everyone had to agree before they could make the next play?

ADVICE: Choose one quarterback to direct your program. If you don't get the results you want, change strategies or change quarterbacks. But don't compound your quarterback's problems by bringing in more people to help make decisions.

MISTAKE #8: Not taking the leadership position in your market. When prospects perceive you as the leader in your field, you have a substantial advantage over other lawyers. Yet, many marketing programs aren't designed to attain this powerful, profitable position.

ADVICE: Look at your position in the marketplace. From your prospects' point of view, is any lawyer clearly the leader in that category? If not, design your marketing program so you take control of your niche. If that niche is already dominated by other lawyers, create a new category for yourself. Then promote the category so prospects see you as first in that new area. One of my clients created a new category and successfully dominated his niche for five and one-half years. You gain an extraordinary advantage when prospects perceive you as the leader.

MISTAKE #9: Not delivering your marketing message until prospects come into your office. Attorneys usually have no problem persuading a prospect to hire their services once the prospect is in their office. But getting prospects through the door is another matter.

ADVICE: Develop materials you can send to prospective clients. Then create a marketing program that uses the print and broadcast media to attract inquiries from prospects who ask to receive your information. When prospects call your office, you respond by mailing your packet and adding their names to your mailing list. This allows you to put your marketing message into their hands regardless of their location, rather than waiting for them to come to your office. If your materials are powerful and persuasive, you'll find that prospects call you and request appointments.

One of my lawyer clients received 426 calls from prospects after offering his materials on a radio talk show, over 500 calls after a television news interview, and another 400 calls after an article in a local newspaper.

MISTAKE #10: Not marketing to your practice mailing list. Your mailing list is your own personal area of influence. It should contain the names of all your past clients, current clients, prospective clients and referral sources.

ADVICE: Make sure you mail your newsletter at least quarterly. And don't think that you must make your newsletter an 8- or 16-page treatise. A simple educational letter of even one or two pages works just fine. Your newsletter's size is not nearly as important as how often you mail it and the value of the information you present.

MISTAKE #11: Taking marketing shortcuts. Lawyers who achieve success often trim back their marketing programs hoping to save money by eliminating the bells and whistles. What they often don't realize is that many of the so-called "bells and whistles" are not bells and whistles at all. They are the essential components that make their programs work.

An attorney hired me to refresh his seminars. When we kicked off his program, he attracted 247 prospects to five seminars, an average of 49 people at each program. His calendar filled up almost overnight. After six months, he took his marketing in house and began cutting corners. Within 90 days, his results were as dismal as they had been before he called me.

ADVICE: When you shortcut your marketing on the front end, you shortcut the number of new clients on the back end. If you want to streamline your marketing and determine if any steps might not be needed, start slowly and track your results. Be careful not to cut away the steps that are responsible for your success.

MISTAKE #12: Not making marketing a priority. For most lawyers, practicing law is their highest priority. When they get busy, they often reduce their marketing efforts because they need that time to work on their clients' behalf. They operate under the false hope that their momentum will attract new business long into the future. But when they cut their marketing efforts, they actually shift their marketing into neutral. As a result, inertia takes over and things slowly coast to a standstill.

ADVICE: Make marketing a priority for you or someone in your office. Or hire an outside consultant so you make sure the work gets done. Don't turn your marketing on and off like a light switch. Keep your program in gear so you always attract an ongoing flow of new clients.

MISTAKE #13: Writing an intricate marketing plan that becomes impossible to carry out. Many marketing plans look like jigsaw puzzles with dozens -- even hundreds -- of pieces. And while the plans might work, most lawyers and their staffs don't have the hours needed to administer the plans.

ADVICE: Make sure your marketing plan is built on simple steps that have proved to be effective and efficient. In my 30 years in marketing, the most profitable, efficient and effective method I've found is education-based marketing.

MISTAKE #14: Never completing -- and therefore never implementing -- your marketing plan. Many lawyers get so caught up in gathering facts that they never stop designing their plan. They collect data, add more steps, collect more data, revise their plan, collect more data....

ADVICE: Implement your plan at the earliest possible moment. A poor marketing plan that is up and running is infinitely more profitable than the "perfect plan" that never gets off your hard drive.

MISTAKE #15: Delaying your marketing program until your cash flow improves. More often than not, lawyers who use this reason never start marketing because they aren't aware that their logic is backwards: Their cash flow won't improve until they start their marketing program.

ADVICE: Maintaining an effective marketing program is the most important investment you can make. Why pay for an office and staff if you don't have enough business to justify the overhead? Start your marketing program now so you have an ongoing flow of new clients.

MISTAKE #16: Carrying out a marketing program that does not achieve the four essential steps for success. Your marketing program must (1) establish your credibility, (2) generate interactions between you and your prospects, (3) gain your prospect's commitment, and (4) maintain your client's loyalty. Programs that don't achieve all four steps will fail.

ADVICE: Any time you evaluate a marketing opportunity, consider how well that method will accomplish these steps.

MISTAKE #17: Promoting your services. When you promote your services, you take on the role of a salesperson hawking his wares. This method, called selling-based marketing, undermines your credibility and causes prospects to question whether they can trust you.

ADVICE: Instead of promoting your services, promote your knowledge by educating prospects. Education-based marketing gives prospects what they want, information and advice, and removes what they don't want, a sales pitch. It attracts prospects who come to you because of your knowledge, skill, judgment and experience.

To win at marketing, you don't have to be the biggest player or have the biggest budget. All you need is a simple, proven marketing method that gives prospective clients what they want, information and advice -- and removes what they don't want, a sales pitch. That's precisely what my method of Education-Based Marketing does because I designed it that way. That's why the American Marketing Association featured my method on the front page of its national publication, MARKETING NEWS. TREY RYDER LLC Education-Based Marketing for Lawyers. Lawyer Marketing Advisor http://www.TreyRyder.com Trey Ryder is the Lawyer Marketing Department Sponsor For Jersey Justice. http://www.JerseyJustice.com

TIPS FOR LAWYERS: Creating Effective Habits in the New Year.

It's that time of year where we all feel enormous pressure to make resolutions for personal and professional improvement. Lawyers are no exception! The problem is too often we set the new goals without a real plan of how we're going to avoid reverting to our old habits!

Habits can be a friend or foe. Think of a habit as a pattern of behavior. Successful habits can help us to achieve success, while other habits undermine our efforts to achieve.

Here is a great exercise for getting rid of old habits and replacing them with habits designed to help you to more effectively achieve your objectives.

STEP ONE:
List 3 or more habits that are currently holding you back from achieving your goals and describe how these habits negatively impact your life.
EXAMPLE:

Habit: Spend too much time on socializing during the work day.

Impact: Always playing catch up in order to meet deadlines causing everyone to stress out. Makes me seem unprofessional and unfocused.

STEP TWO
List successful habits you will choose to adopt in place of the "bad" habits and the benefits of adopting the new habit

EXAMPLE:

Successful New Habit: Develop effective time management strategy that includes limit socializing with other lawyers in the office.

Benefits: Increase productivity, meet or exceed billables, decrease stress.

STEP THREE

Create a 3 step action plan to jumpstart each new habit. Be specific, pick a start date, a completion date and begin.

EXAMPLE:

Action Plan

1) Develop Time Management System that fits my work-style.
2) Create blocks in the day where I close my door and work for 2 hours without interruption.
3) To satisfy my desire to socialize, schedule lunches and after-hour meetings with colleagues so I stay connected.
4) Keep conversations to 3 minutes or less.

Start Date: January 7
Completion date: January 17th

Implementing new habits, new patterns of behavior, will take time. Stay committed to the process and youll soon achieve your desired results.
It's that time of year where we all feel enormous pressure to make resolutions for personal and professional improvement. Lawyers are no exception! The problem is too often we set the new goals without a real plan of how we're going to avoid reverting to our old habits!

Habits can be a friend or foe. Think of a habit as a pattern of behavior. Successful habits can help us to achieve success, while other habits undermine our efforts to achieve.

Here is a great exercise for getting rid of old habits and replacing them with habits designed to help you to more effectively achieve your objectives.

STEP ONE:
List 3 or more habits that are currently holding you back from achieving your goals and describe how these habits negatively impact your life.
EXAMPLE:

Habit: Spend too much time on socializing during the work day.

Impact: Always playing catch up in order to meet deadlines causing everyone to stress out. Makes me seem unprofessional and unfocused.

STEP TWO
List successful habits you will choose to adopt in place of the "bad" habits and the benefits of adopting the new habit

EXAMPLE:

Successful New Habit: Develop effective time management strategy that includes limit socializing with other lawyers in the office.

Benefits: Increase productivity, meet or exceed billables, decrease stress.

STEP THREE

Create a 3 step action plan to jumpstart each new habit. Be specific, pick a start date, a completion date and begin.

EXAMPLE:

Action Plan

1) Develop Time Management System that fits my work-style.
2) Create blocks in the day where I close my door and work for 2 hours without interruption.
3) To satisfy my desire to socialize, schedule lunches and after-hour meetings with colleagues so I stay connected.
4) Keep conversations to 3 minutes or less.

Start Date: January 7
Completion date: January 17th

Implementing new habits, new patterns of behavior, will take time. Stay committed to the process and youll soon achieve your desired results.

Jatrine Bentsi-Enchill, an attorney and Certified Coach, is the founder of the Esq. Development Institute (EDI), an organization committed to helping lawyers excel personally and professionally. EDI specializes in Professional Coaching for lawyers and training processes for law firms in the areas of leadership, communication, diversity/cultural competence and work-life balance. JBE@esqdevelopmentInstitute.com, www.EsqDevelopmentInstitute.com.

 

Child Injury Lawyers - Oklahoma

Child injuries are devastating and tragic events. Children are the most susceptible to many types of severe bodily injuries because of their participation in so many dynamic activities. Child injuries can vary from skinned knees and broken bones to permanent disability and sometimes even death. The leading cause of death in Oklahomans under the age of 19 is accidental injuries. These numbers are constantly on the rise, and are not slowing down.

Even the most protective parents cant watch their children all the time. Dangerous chemicals, asbestos and toxins can cause children to develop life-threatening disabilities and can interfere with their growth and development. Caring for an injured child can involve great emotional and financial costs. Sometime parents are left with no choice other than watching helplessly as their child struggles through life.

Parents have the legal right to be compensated for both the financial drain and emotional injury that comes from caring for an injured child. A child injury attorney can help you receive the compensation you deserve. For more information on child injuries please visit our website at http://www.askanoklahomalawyer.com

This article may be freely reprinted as long as all links stay in-tact and this resource box is included. For more information please visit http://www.askanoklahomalawyer.com , http://www.oklalawyer.com and http://www.oklahomacriminallawcenter.com

All About Car Accident Lawyers

 If youve been seriously injured in a car accident, you have to contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Take note that car accident cases can be really complex and a legal specialist can help you understand your legal rights and options. In such accidents, you may be entitled to compensation especially when youre not the one at fault of the incident. If you want a speedy and peaceful process, you can file a personal injury claim against the party of the accident who is at fault to get a car accident settlement.

A car accident lawyer can help you receive proper medical care for the injuries youve acquired from such incident. On the victims part, he has to present his attorney with important relevant documents to help in the evaluation of his case. Remember that once you avail the services of your lawyer, he has to accomplish various tasks such as gather information from authorities, obtain your medical reports, and look for other documents that will support your claim. Also, he can act as an intermediary between the involved parties.

Prior to a car accident which may be caused by defective products such as bad tires or an automobile defect, you also have to contact your insurance company. You have to give them significant information such as drivers license numbers, name of the persons involved, and other relevant details about the car accident. By doing so, you can get compensation for lost income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages. Therefore, you have to keep in mind that it is really important to gather accurate information to establish whos at fault.

Indeed, a car accident lawyer can assist you in your car accident claim for you to be able to receive the proper compensation that you deserve. An attorney is essential both for an out-of-court or court settlement so that the defendants will not be able to trick you regarding financial compensation which means that the right amount will be given to you. In addition, if the aggrieved party doesnt agree with an out-of-court settlement, the court can determine the amount that will be given to them.

You can search the Internet for competent car accident lawyers and for information on car accidents. The web offers vast information of this type of accident and the injuries that it can cause. You can also learn the liabilities of drunk and reckless driving online. A car accident attorney can help you make a better decision on how to manage your claim successfully. That is how critical the task of your lawyer is in your personal injury case.

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Boating Accident Lawyers Know Best

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a boating accident, you need an individual who basically understands what youre going through especially when you are considering to file a lawsuit against the person who is at fault of the incident. I am referring here to a boating accident lawyer who knows the legal implications of your trial and who will be your greatest support along the process.

Basically, you need an experienced and competent boating accident lawyer to back you up in your case. Who would want a lousy lawyer? No one. And so, if youre in this situation, youll want an attorney who has all the important set of skills and a winning professional background. What youre going through isnt easy so you really need somebody to support you, aside from your family and friends, in the persona of your boating accident attorney. Hell be the one to evaluate your possibility of having a case and the amount of compensation that you deserve.

There are lots of boating accident lawyers who can be found wither online or locally. You can ask your friends and co-workers for recommendations. Also, have a lawyer recommend a boating accident attorney whom he knows too. Remember that a lawyer only recommends lawyers whom they trust and whom they believe in. You can also try online referral services where previously-screened lawyers will be matched to your lawyer requirements. This is the most efficient way to locate a proficient legal specialist.

Boating accidents bring pain and suffering to its victims especially to those people who have lost their loved ones from such incidents. Therefore, it is really important to have outstanding legal care to depend on so that you can recover faster. And as expected, your lawyer will guide you all throughout the legal process and towards a successful lawsuit. In addition, an experienced lawyer will always prioritize your case above anything else.

When a boating accident lawyer has already been practicing this area of law for quite some time, you can expect him to become a better establisher of truth and justice. He can already view every angle of the situation and say what legal actions to be given consideration. And as a victim, you also need to be knowledgeable and confident on your lawyer that your case will soon end up successfully. This is indeed a benefit on the part of the victims of the accident as you work together in your case.
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Train Accident Lawyers to the Rescue!

Train accidents have become very common nowadays. They are more often in the news and still counting. They usually cause untimely death which brings trauma to the victims friends and relatives. And surviving dependents or survivors of train accidents always feel the need for justice to be served to them. Also, they also want to ask for proper compensation for the physical, financial and emotional harm that theyve endured from the incident.

Whenever youre confused or overwhelmed of what you have to do prior to a train accident, never think twice to look for an experienced train accident lawyer who can help you understand your legal rights and options. This legal specialist knows everything about train accidents inside and out so theres a big chance that youll succeed in your case. He will certainly work to the best of his ability and through his dedication in applying the unique facts of your case to the legal process.

When youve been through this traumatic experience, you have to focus your attention in getting your life back to its normal state. And I think this can be achieved through the aid of a competent legal counsel. You can expect him to guide you all throughout the entire legal process. Aside from your truthful testimonies, you also have to prepare all the necessary documents to support your claim. Therefore, both of you work together in identifying the best action that must be taken to achieve a winning case.

For you to be able to work with a top professional in train accident laws is a privilege. Through him, you can expect for the best possible things to happen to your lawsuit. And after having been into this stressful situation, you only deserve a top representation in your case. Thus, you have to be confident that youre well-supported during this time because you have a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer on your side.

Indeed, if youve been in a major train accident and youre in need of legal representation, always make sure that your lawyer has vast experience and true dedication to his job. Both of these elements are important for a legal specialist to possess. After all, hell be the one to put up a strong, dexterous effort towards your success. But both of you have your own roles towards the achievement of this goal.

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In Focus: Construction Accident Lawyers

Accidents happen unexpectedly in our lives. They usually occur in our homes, in the office, in the streets, and in almost all places where we go. No matter how careful we are in what we do, these incidents are actually unavoidable especially when we overlook some necessary precautions for our safety. These accidents are really disturbing and destructive. Same is the case in construction accidents.

The effects of serious construction accidents are really hard to bear. And if youve been bothered by intense physical pain, emotional suffering, and huge amounts of financial responsibilities, you can be entitled to compensation due to what youve endured. However, it will be hard for you to determine the right amount that you deserve to receive just by yourself. You need somebody to help you get through this problem by winning your construction accident settlement. I am referring to a competent construction accident lawyer.

Construction accident attorneys know how it feels to be a victim of construction accidents. As legal specialists, they will only want to support you in going through your painful experience. In choosing one, you must look for a proficient and experienced lawyer who will be at your side all throughout the legal process. You have to consider the professional background of your lawyer and his geographic region. By doing so, youll be able to bring your legal concerns to a top professional who basically knows everything about this area of law.

In addition, you have to keep in mind that the law is very complex. Even though it exists to serve us and protect our rights, the legal process especially for construction accident cases can be truly threatening. And because of this fact, only skilled and knowledgeable personal injury lawyers must be with you every step of the way. With them, you will be able to discover every option to pursue strength and happiness. Nevertheless, you only deserve the best legal help possible from these lawyers.

Indeed, being injured in a construction accident is stressful. Basically, your construction accident lawyer knows and understands this fact, and your lawsuit will surely be treated with proper care and sensitivity. He will focus on identifying the best possible approach towards the success of your construction accident case. After all, your attorney only wants you to continue with your life peacefully after fully recovering from a construction accident.
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Electricution accident lawyers in Los Angeles

After an electricution accident, contact your insurance company and your lawyer as soon as possible. There are situations when no one is responsible of an accident, but that's definitely the case with any electricution accident. All lawyers in Los Angeles will be delighted to take your case to the court. Why? Because (1) someone HAS to be guilty in this kind of accident and (2) it's probably not your fault.

The only possible reason for an electricution accident

No one deliberately risk one's life playing with electricity, so generally speaking the only possible way to get a "natural" electricution is to be struck by lightning. In all other cases it is someone's fault. Most electricution accidents are caused by ungrounded electric-powered appliances or other machines, so it is usually clear that someone who is responsible for maintaining them made a mistake and thus gave some work for electricution accident lawyers. Los Angeles ones are no exception here and they really look forward to getting their part of the cake.

Coping with the results of an electricution. Accident lawyers from Los Angeles might really help!

Of course the first and the most serious effects of electricution are the health hazards or even death. But in this article we deal mostly with things that happen afterwards. The moment you get to hospital the battle begins - the institution that is potentially responsible of the accident starts marshalling its arguments. They look for any possibility that the electricution accident was only your fault and sometimes even your deliberate action. The latter is potentially disastrous, because your insurance company will do everything to cancel your insurance and any argumentation that shows the possibility of your deliberate action will be quickly adopted by your insurance company. So better don't hesitate and hire some electricution accident lawyers. Los Angeles is full of them, so you shouldn't have any problem with finding the proper lawyers. I know they may be expensive, but you simply need someone who will defend you, especially if you're still in hospital.

Possible problems

If your health hasn't suffered much, the rest will be fairly easy. It is much simpler to prove that the accident was caused by somebody's mistake than that it was only your fault.

Dave Hoffman is the founder of Personal Injury Atorneys a website providing information on personal injury law

Personal Injury Lawyers at your service

Accidents and personal injuries can never be prevented. It can happen anytime and anywhere without even knowing it. You are unaware with the things that are going to happen with your surroundings. Since this is unstoppable, there are certain rules to compensate with your losses and injuries. In doing so, consulting a lawyer will ease the burden and you can fight for your rights just the way it should be.

Some people and victims decline to consult a lawyer with the thought that seeking one will only make them spend a lot of money without winning anything and make it even worse. Sometimes they fear of making their case get too complicated so they remain silent and still. Everyone has the right to be defended and reserves to fight for their rights.

It is true that cases and hearings are too stressful and nerve-racking but if you caught a good lawyer to handle your case, it is never a problem at all. You just leave it to your lawyer and you will be left worry-free.

If by chance you get involved in a personal injury case, you should claim for your compensation with no second thoughts. It will never be difficult in dealing with it as long as you find the right lawyer to guide you with the proceedings. Filing a case will never be a hassle if you have a lawyer because they all do the steps for you and all you have to do is state your claims.

This is never a problem anymore because there are so many lawyers to consult. One good thing is you will never think that your lawyers will not exert their efforts because they will be paid if your case gets successfully resolved. So you will never have to pay for nothing and waste a big amount of money. Plus, you get fully compensated with all your claims and make sure you are left with nothing.

Your compensation will cover repairs, medical treatment, doctor fee, damages on your vehicle and other evident physical injuries. So if you experienced all these, it is very necessary for you to consult a lawyer. They are designed to keep your case on the right track. So when you feel that your rights are violated, do not have doubts to consult a lawyer before you miss it all!

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Karen Nodalo came across writing when she was about 11. The whole craze for writing started when she first wrote her diary during elementary years. After school, she would write in it first before doing homework. She finds it cool and until now she still keeps one.

The Search for Personal Injury Lawyers

Finding the right personal injury lawyer to assist you in your personal injury case can really be overwhelming especially when you dont have any idea on where to go and who to run to. As we all know, after seeking medical treatment prior to an accident, finding a lawyer is the next step that you have to do when you are involved on any other matter relating to personal injury. There are definitely various ways on how to locate the best personal injury lawyer for your lawsuit.
As with what most people would recommend, one sure way to find a personal injury lawyer is through legal matchmaking services. Through this, you are assured that youll be able to get in touch with qualified and experienced lawyers because these services offer only the finest, most credible legal specialists to handle your case. These lawyers are all being screened to meet certain standards in terms of legal qualifications, profile evaluation, and practical experience.

Online legal matchmaking services are also widely used nowadays. What you need to do is just fill-up an online form and submit it. After careful assessment of some online attorneys if they can handle and help you out with your case well, they will then contact you as soon as possible. From there, you can also evaluate the capacity of the lawyer to take charge of your lawsuit through his personal profile before deciding to avail his services.

In addition, you can also visit the sites of these legal matchmaking services if you are having some doubts about how well can they answer your legal demands and concerns. After doing some rigorous research about these law firms and attorneys on personal injury, you can now contact the services with which you were most impressed and fill out their form. You must take note that you have to do it in a little rush because your legal problems can definitely be solved in just a few hours.

These methods in finding a personal injury lawyer have all been tried and tested through the years. Some can be effective for you, others cannot. You can try all of them and see for yourself if which is the best way to locate the perfect attorney for your personal injury case. Please just remember that you have to be careful in doing so because if youll commit even a small mistake in choosing your lawyer, you might not get the proper attention and defense that you deserve.

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Examining the Value of Auto Accident Lawyers

Through the year, the automobile has helped us experience greater mobility and higher productivity. However, despite the fact that the automobile has become an important part of our everyday living, it has its own way of getting its payback for the good life that it brings us. I am speaking here about the various automobile accidents that happen in our busy streets everyday. At present, auto accidents are responsible for lots of deaths especially of innocent pedestrians.
When you or your loved ones have been involved in an auto accident and suffered various injuries or even death, you can avail the services of an auto accident lawyer. An auto accident lawyer can be found anywhere in the community. He specializes in auto-related injuries and knows everything about the various laws on national roadways and other relevant matters. The question now is whats the best way to locate the most credible and experienced auto accident lawyer?

Basically, there are lots of ways to find the auto accident lawyer that you need. First, there are lots of online lawyer referral services that can recommend competent legal counsels. You can also ask for the recommendations from your friends, relatives or officemates who have gone through auto accident claims. You can also ask a non-injury lawyer if he knows an auto accident lawyer whom he trusts. You can try all these methods in searching for the perfect lawyer for your auto accident case.

When you finally have a list of possible auto accident lawyers to assist you in your claim, you can now set an appointment with them for consultation. Most of these lawyers offer this type of consultation for free. Through this, you will be able to get to know the lawyer and he can also make the proper assessment on your case. Take note that it is important for you to be able to get along with your lawyer well to assure you of a successful legal battle. Having full trust between the lawyer and the clients part is very important.

In addition, being comfortable with the auto accident lawyer is also a benefit for both parties. After all, auto accident injury claims can really become a big headache. You have to go though lots of paperwork to file and a lot of protocol to follow before getting the compensation that you dream of. Whether the auto accident is minor or serious, youll definitely need legal assistance from an auto accident lawyer to help you understand your legal rights and options.
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