There could be a multitude of reasons why you are leaving your current software program for another. Whether you are leaving for more streamlined services, better monthly prices, and the overall look, there are still a couple of other housekeeping rules to consider.
1.Getting the staff on board
Your staff needs to know if you are strongly considering making a change in programs. It gives them time to prepare and adjust to change. They could even provide their insight from an employee perspective on changes that come with switching software programs.
2.Organizing data before the switch
Know what data you want versus what you do not. Gathering data from years and years of service can be daunting but it is absolutely necessary. You may find that there is data you do not need to bring over. This also gives you and your staff an opportunity to become better organized with materials and processes.
3. Implementing the change
Yes! Okay, we got the staff on board and the software is in our hands. It can be scary dipping your toes into a new program or a new anything. Give yourself and the staff time to adjust and make room for improvement. Be intentional about working together and learning from each other during this time of fine tuning.
So, while there are many considerations to think about, you do not have to do it alone! There are many ways to go about informing your staff for support, organizing firm/client information, and implementing it all. Here at Practice42, we can help to tailor your materials and processes to best suit your needs. Let us help! We encourage you to call us at 850-933-5072 to schedule a free Strategy Session with our team to find out more about what we can do for you.
Do you know your ABCs? Not the ones you learned in grade school, but the ones surrounding cybersecurity that can protect your practice. Ready to relearn them? Let’s begin!
Always read, learn, and understand what is required of you in your cybersecurity insurance policy. Many lawyers today still do not read the fine print when it comes to the legal insurance policies. Do not forget to read the fine print of your cybersecurity insurance policy to learn what you need to do to ensure it works.
Bar rules related to cybersecurity and cyber ethics matter. Know your bar rules.
Cybersecurity defined: “Cybersecurity is the measures taken to protect a computer or computer system (as on the Internet) against unauthorized access or attack.” (Merriam-Webster)
Data ethics and your firm. Train your team to understand data ethics. The information you hold is a person, and how would they want their mother treated? Further, data collection policies should reflect the data you actually need, not what you don’t. Consider all data you collect subject to vulnerability and at risk of being stolen. Do you still want it?
Email is always a risk. Create team trainings to help your team understand what the risks are and teach them how to protect the firm. If you need help, hire a professional for the trainings.
Fire drills can help! Do not wait for a problem to know your setup works. Act as if there has been an attack on your practice and bring in your team and your IT professional to learn where the vulnerabilities are.
Get the help you need. We are lawyers. This is not easy. Hire a paid professional, learn what you need to protect yourself, and stay vigilant.
Hire the help you need. Whether it is an employee, a contractor, or a company you want to outsource to, identify and hire who you need in your practice. Do not wait for a crisis to happen.
Install back up and redundant servers and file protections. Test them. Make sure they work.
Just do it. This is an overused phrase, I know. But many of us need that additional push out the door to make a difference in our practices, consider this yours.
Keep an eye out for weird things. Slow computers, zombie computers, misspelled words, unusual file extensions, talking computers…if you start to see this, call your IT professional.
Logins, passwords, and access codes are vulnerabilities. Protect them the best you can. Follow industry best practices, such as sentence structure or a password company, to best protect your access to important information.
Maintain a strong relationship with a local IT professional. Period.
Never leave devices unattended or unsupervised or password unprotected. Threats and breaches occur even in the safest ecosystem. Do not open the door to potentially dangerous activity. Have a cleaning staff in your building? Lock down your devices at night. Meeting with clients in a conference room? Lock down your devices before you leave the room.
Opening attachments should always be an action of LAST RESORT. Find a different way to share data. Train your employees and yourself to never open attachments. That is one of the easiest ways for a cybercriminal to attack you.
Partner with your clients. Cybersecurity breaches are not a matter of IF, they are a matter of WHEN. Tell your clients of the risk. Explain it to them. Ask them to acknowledge it and agree to it. The ones who want to work with you will work with you regardless.
Quietness is not a virtue when it comes to cybercrimes. If you see something, say something. If you even barely suspect something, speak up and get help.
Read, read, read. Read, learn, and understand what is required of you in your cybersecurity insurance policy. Many lawyers today still do not read the fine print when it comes to legal insurance policies. Do not forget to read the fine print of your cybersecurity insurance policy to learn what you need to do to ensure it works.
Safeguard protected and private data. Take measures to protect the data you use in your law firm. You have some of the most vital data for each of your clients. Be careful to protect it thoroughly.
Train your team. As with every area of your practice, your team will not know how to best protect you and cannot be its most productive if you do not train them. Make the commitment.
Up to date software is a MUST HAVE. Only get your updates from trusted sources.
VPNs are your best friend. You need a VPN on all your devices. It is an easy layer of security to add. This is especially important if you work on a device that may not be in your ecosystem such as unsecure hotel Wi-Fi at conferences. Wi-Fi networks should never be unsecured. It may be “just general lobby Wi-Fi” but there is no such thing. Access to your Wi-Fi is access to your Wi-Fi, no matter what label you put on it.
Xenolalia may seem farther away than it actually is. The more you train yourself on the tech you need the more natural it will become for you, and you will find yourself speaking the foreign language of technology before you know it.
You. This all starts with you. You could make the commitment to do whatever you need to do to succeed in this area, or not. It is up to you. It is your practice.
Zero regrets. When you are the victim of a cyber attack, that is where you want to be. Do not waste time. Get started. Learn what you need to do. Get help. Choose to make smart answers to tough questions. After all, it is your practice, protect it.
We understand that you may have questions, serious questions, when it comes to cyber security, employment practices related to cyber security, and how to best protect yourself, your practice, and your clients. We are here to help. We build successful law practices nationwide. Do not wait to schedule a free 30 minute strategy session so we can discuss how to best support you in your practice.
When you implement your marketing campaign it gives you the opportunity to interact with your audience. Social media for law firms can help you do this! Your custom social media strategy can include campaigns that reach out to your clients, potential clients, local professionals, and your community as a whole.
One of the best parts for law firms using social media is it is a way to interact with potential new customers and help ensure your current clients are more loyal. Unfortunately, without social media, the only interaction you may have with your potential clients and professional network may be if they are already familiar with you or if your law practice. You need to be there when your audience has questions that only you can answer!
Need some tips on how to do this the right way in your social media campaign for your law firm? Let us share three tips for law firms using social media with you right here!
Tip 1: Answer questions! Your potential clients are looking for answers to their questions. Makes sure you are answering them. Keep a running list each week of the most frequently asked questions. Each week, post both the question and the answer on your law firm social media pages.
Tip 2: Stay engaged when it comes to social media for law firms! Don’t let more than a day or two go by without engaging with your audience. They want to hear from you, even if it is just a quick tip!
Tip 3: Keep your contact information current! Most importantly, never make it hard for an existing client or a potential client to reach you. There will be frequent software updates to your law firm social media accounts. Make time to ensure all your accounts are up-to-date at all times because you always want your clients to be able to reach you.
Nowadays, consumers interaction matters more than ever. Therefore, when we talk to law firms, we are always quick to point out that you can use your law firm’s social media to gain insight on what your clients are thinking. What are they interested in seeing or learning? Social media for law firms allows us to gain more insight into the important data we need in our firms!
The age of the internet changed the ways that law firms function. Law firms need real results that can be generated from custom law firm social media campaigns. Are you doubting whether or not your potential clients and professional network actually use social media? Did you know there were over three billion social media users in 2018? We have seen tremendous growth in this area since 2000. That year, it was reported that only one hundred people had access to the Internet. In 2018, 77 percent of Americans have a social media profile.
These numbers matter. They stress the importance of social media for law firms and the influence on your clients, potential clients, and community.
Nowadays, it is a mistake if a business is not taking advantage of social media. Not only are they missing out on marketing opportunities, they may be behind their local competitors that are taking advantage. In today’s marketplace, more studies show that consumers do not trust a business that do not have a social media presence.
Social media allows your law firm to create brand awareness and educate your potential clients by answering their questions. Your social media can act as the face of your law firm. This channel allows you to communicate as a brand and develop a voice that educates your local audience. Further, this visibility gives your firm the opportunity to acquire new customers and gain loyal followers. In fact, according to a recent study, 53% of Americans who follow brands online are more loyal to those brands.
Your law firm’s visibility through social media helps gain client support. When someone is looking for a new doctor or lawyer to go to, the first thing they do is research. They’ll look for a law firm’s website but also at the social media. Creating great social media law firm profiles and consistently posting to it will help build trust with your prospective consumers.
We know that as a busy attorney, law firm social media may be the last thing on your mind. You’re in the midst of trying to manage your clients, your employees, and generate new business. Although it may be hard at times, we encourage you not to ignore law firm social media in your firm! We encourage you to learn more from our team on how to make a difference with law firm marketing. We provide custom solutions to firm’s just like yours and want to support you in your journey to success.
