See Your Colleagues’ Law Firm Resolutions for 2018

Curious how lawyers across America are planning to improve their practices?

We are too.

So right before the holidays, Firmidable President Nathan Chapman asked our law firm clients to share their New Year’s resolutions for 2018.

Here’s what they said:

Remember to Turn Off “Lawyer Mode”

“I am simply tasking myself with doing a better job of listening,” said Todd Lichtenberger of Tuggle, Schiro, Lichtenberger & Themer in Central Illinois.

He faces the challenge of switching gears between personal injury, workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability cases.

Dealing with lawyers and insurance adjusters in injury and workers’ comp cases requires him to go into argumentative “lawyer mode.”

But helping disability applicants means showing empathy and compassion.

Those lawyers and adjusters “think and talk like me,” he said. “Disability is a different animal.”

Following Up on Every Law Firm Lead

At Silver & Silver, a Philadelphia firm practicing personal injury, disability, workers’ compensation and employment law, the goal is to better track the status of new client leads.

Which leads turned into cases? Which ones didn’t pan out and now need to be dropped?

Debbie Yondorf, office manager at Silver & Silver, said she plans to get a “firm grip” on leads in 2018.

“Firm grip means not having leads lost,” she said. “No leads hanging around with unknown final status.”

Staying on Top of Fee Letters

By the end of 2017, Cuddy Law Firm — a special education practice with offices in New York, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Carolina — had a backlog of fee demand letters to send out.

President and Managing Attorney Andrew Cuddy resolved to stay on top of those, on a weekly basis, in 2018, “so I don’t get this log jam again.”

Aiming for Law Firm Growth

Joe Houle, a managing partner at Levine Benjamin Law Firm in Detroit, is looking for more cases in 2018.

“I want to have enough work to add another attorney,” he said.

Working with Firmidable, Levine Benjamin has a new marketing and growth plan for the year, so Houle is on track to generate the work to meet that goal.

The firm handles Social Security Disability, long-term disability, workers’ compensation and personal injury cases.

Aiming for Law Firm Efficiency

Craig Mitchell of Mitchell & Associates, a workers’ comp firm in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, said his goal is to cut any waste in his firm’s processes and streamline operations.

Hiring New Associates with Care

Jeff Diamond of The Jeff Diamond Law Firm — with offices in New Mexico and Texas — said lawyers entering the Social Security Disability field often underestimate what it takes to succeed.

“Building a huge client base, having Social Security cases in the pipeline, and finally getting paid by (the Social Security Administration) for earned and approved fees takes a great deal of time and patience,” he said.

When he hires new associates in 2018, he’s going to look for lawyers who understand that.

Taking On New Cases with Care

Personal injury attorney Nick Schiro has resolved to be more discerning in the types of cases he accepts in 2018.

If a prospective client at his firm — Tuggle, Schiro, Lichtenberger & Themer in Illinois — has had problems with a previous lawyer, that’s a red flag, he said.

Resolving Not to Make Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions — think dieting, exercising, saving money—have earned a bad reputation when it comes to follow-through.

So Don Derse, a Social Security Disability attorney at Crowe & Shanahan in St. Louis, has resolved to steer clear of them altogether.

“Typically, my resolution is not to make silly resolutions that I don’t intend to keep,” he said.

Whatever you do — or don’t do — in 2018, Firmidable wishes you a prosperous and fulfilling year at your law firm.

Firmidable is the nation’s best legal marketing agency. If you’d like to grow your legal practice, call (504) 525-0932 or contact us via e-mail.