It should be the goal of every law firm to deliver exceptional client service. Just as good food and good atmosphere are part of what make good restaurants, exceptional client service makes good law firms. In addition to providing sound legal advice, three areas in which law firms can enhance their services include providing a comfortable and professional office, a quality initial consultation, and personalizing the services being offered.

There are a number of considerations when deciding whether to hire a summer law student, including time, cost, and commitment. Having said that, the benefits of finding the right student for your firm can lead to long-term prosperity for both parties. I think of hiring a summer law student as an investment. As with any investment, there are risks and costs; however, if the investment is wisely made, your choice student can end up being a valuable asset to your firm today and in the future.

Around this time of year, thoughts of Christmas bring peaceful images to mind. Unfortunately for many lawyers Christmas time brings images of stress and worry as we try to wind up our practices before the new year brings another 365 days of fires to put out. It is no wonder why talk at the water cooler often seems to centre around who put coal in your stocking that week. So before we become someone’s holiday nightmare, consider the advice of Don Miguel Ruiz from his book The Four Agreements. In it he speaks of four simple “agreements” that can help you act with integrity.

The legal profession is full of important traditions. Since the 1400s both the bar and bench have engaged in customs regarding attire. While today these customs are still recognized by the robes worn by the judges and justices, for the most part lawyers have much more liberty about what they wear in the office and at the courthouse.

As the summer comes to an end and we head back to our desks, we shift our focus from vacation to work; from golf shifts to suit jackets and gardening gloves to a briefcase. September is a time of renewed commitment to our profession for many of us. Law students across Canada are doing the same thing and they are looking to us for guidance. To that end, many lawyers participate in mentorship programs through bar associations and other organizations. For those of us taking on this responsibility, here are some things to consider.

One of the many challenges facing the small firm is attracting and keeping quality staff. For a small firm the challenge can be significant and costly. Replacing staff is time-consuming — significant time typically goes into training new assistants. Replacing staff can also be expensive as it means less billable time being spent on your files. The purpose of this article is to share some tips I have employed or know other small firms have used to achieve this goal and protect their investment.

In my previous column, I highlighted a number of iPad apps that I thought would be of value to the legal profession. Here is the second round.

A few months ago, I bought myself an iPad2. At first, I thought I would be using it primarily as my e-reader. However, as I started to become more familiar with the device, I realized it also had serious potential of being an effective and powerful tool in my law practice.

Lawyers, particularly those new to the practice, often wonder whether they should be charging an initial consultation fee. The dilemma is obvious: lawyers want to get new clients in the door but, at the same time, also want to be paid for their services.

While most of us now use computers to generate our documents, not everyone uses document management software or has a system in place for organizing the files on their computers. For those who do not, much time (lawyer and staff) is often wasted searching for data and files that are sitting on the very computer or network we are using. The primary purpose of a file management system is to ensure you can quickly find what you are looking for when you need it, whether it be a case on point, a letter, a pleading, or a document painstakingly prepared on another file but required now on a new matter.