By Diane Rifkin, Esq.
There are numerous factors that influence relationships, many of which are under-appreciated and neglected. Too busy to attend seminars on business development? Short of extra cash to spend on professional coaching sessions? Here are some simple ways that you can maximize opportunities to connect with people.
APPEARANCE: Most people recognize the importance [...]
By Diane Rifkin, Esq.
President, Rifkin Consulting
Times have changed! In the past, there was a distinct demarcation between learning, working and fun. Today, people expect to have fun even when they are learning or working and networking has gained unprecedented importance in every facet of life. Understanding GEN-NET lawyers will play a significant role with regard [...]
The Attorney’s Biggest Dilemma
You’ve made good grades in college, scored high marks on the LSATs, gotten your JD from a top tier law school, and landed a job at the law firm of Big, Bigger & Best. Congratulations!
Two or three years later – after billing more hours than you knew there were in a year [...]
By Diane Rifkin
President, Rifkin Consulting
We work with clients who want to hire top attorneys, and applicants seeking to work with the best law firms and companies. On a daily basis, we are faced with changes in the recruiting industry – primarily as a result of increased internet use.
For example, many law firms require that attorney candidates be [...]
Part 2: Strengthening Client Relationships
What are some of the best ways to strengthen client relationships?
Strategy 1: Understand the True Value of Referrals
A referral to another requires more than the initial gesture to be valuable. Always follow up with the referee to inquire how the referral has worked out.
When accepting a referral, always keep the referrer [...]
(Part 1 of a series to help you kick start 2010)
Recently I was chosen to do a series of Webinars on the subject of Networking for Attorneys, each with a focus on a specific practice area. Although a daunting task, during my preparation I confirmed that there are more similarities than differences. We are firm believers [...]
This has been such a tough market for attorneys all over…but I’d be surprised if any market has been tighter than in California. Thousands of jobs have been lost and careers stymied. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma regarding laid-off associates – despite the broad knowledge that the downturn in the economy was largely responsible.
We [...]
Labor Day marked more than just the end of summer vacations and wearing white! During September we experienced a small but encouraging uptick in legal jobs. Long-awaited and fiercely competitive, the practice areas that opened up are labor and employment and litigation. Although labor and employment has remained one of the most consistent areas of [...]
It’s vital to learn – and remember – that success is not accidental. You’re not going to achieve your goals unless you clarify them, periodically review them, adjust them when necessary, and maintain a good plan for accomplishing them.
Life has probably shown you that you don’t accidentally have good relationships – they require a thoughtful process [...]
If you’re like me, in the last nine months you’ve been tempted more than once to cancel the newspaper, turn off the internet, and watch nothing on TV more thought provoking than the Cartoon Channel. Humans are creatures of habit, and clearly many of the old habits no longer apply as we’ve all reeled from [...]
